A World within a World during World War I - Elisabethville * Beamish Museum Samplers Now On Line

Martine kindly let me know that the Beamish Museum has now put its sampler collection on line. Click here to see. If the link does not take you directly to the samplers, click on Search the Collections on the left hand tool bar and then type Sampler in the search box.
Here is an example from the collection. At face value one might consider this sampler to be undistinguished. To be honest would you dwell for long on this sampler in a collection, or would you move on with little comment to the next exhibit with its house and park and flower pots? At the best one might take time to praise its tidyness and clarity. But for a sampler found in England it is decidedly unEnglish....

Now look at this, worked by the same girl, are you not just a little intrigued by Elisabethville? Might you not be tempted to take a note of the name and Google it? Go on, then, do it now. Now what do you find? Goodness me! A community of Belgian families in a specially constructed township of wooden houses known as 'The Huts' near Birtley. Where? Birtley lies between Gateshead and Durham in the North-East of England. Elisabethville, so called after the Queen of the Belgians, was a self-regulating town with its own police and was home to some 4,000 displaced Belgians during World War I who contributed towards the war effort by working in munitions production. The Belgian town also had its own school run by Ursulines, and here the children learnt to make these samplers. The school survived until the early 70's, but memories of the Belgians faded and just recently an exhibition was staged to remind the people of Birtley of the Belgian twin town on the doorstep. So, to return to the samplers, they are very special indeed, what might on the surface appear an undistinguished sampler, is a document of historic importance and a key to lives lived and not always forgotten.

It's Raining Auctions * Christie's * 3 December

(We have lakes and streams in unexpected places these days which makes travelling quite an adventure. I hope it will be cleared in time for our Sampler Guild get-together in Hascombe on 12 December.) In the meantime, here is another wonderful auction, this time tomorrow at Christie's in London. The first image is of a particularly gorgeous lady's sleeve circa 1610 - it seems a miracle not only that it has survived, but that the colours are so fresh and distinct.

This second image is of a gentleman's night cap of the same period as the sleeve. I am particularly intrigued by the lace infil which would have just eased the fit. Did someone take the measurements wrong when it was made - since heads rarely expand like the rest of the body? Did the wearer, once it was made, prefer it to sit lower on his head? Or, probably more likely, was it passed down the family and altered to fit the new owner? Secrets, always secrets!

Embroidered gauntlets are one of my passions and this one of a pair is shows the delicate crafting of the mid 17th century.

Tennants Auction * Leyburn * 5 December 2009

Tennants will be auctioning Dolls, Teddy Bears, Costume, Textiles and Samplers this Saturday and I thought you might like to see some of the delights you might find there. All the images are linked back to the catalogue, so just click on them to see more. Click here for an on-line Tennant's Catalogue. I sha'n't be bidding, but if I were I would find Lot 435 irresistable with its Aladdin's treasure chest of sumptious beaded pin-cushions and wall pockets. Can you see, towards the top of the right hand side, the Novelty Straw Hat needle-case? What fun! Just what I would give to Julie and Becky.

I know that Vivien Caughley, a sampler researcher in New Zealand, has a penchant for latter day samplers and perhaps this lot 563 might make an interesting present for her. Many of these samplers are still tucked away in private homes but are definitely not to be ignored.

I suppose this is why I love auctions, you never know what you will find in all those boxes. What exactly is the secret of Lot 425? There is a sampler taking up most of the bottom right hand side and I can just see a red aar sitting between a row of coloured numbers and some large capital letters. I bet this is a Dutch or Belgian sampler....a gift for those Best2Belgians Erica and Liliane.

I think I might be tempted to keep these special Goose Wing Yorkshire Dale Knitting Sheaths to myself. These were so handy for knitters, it meant that while you knit, you still had one hand free to stir the pot, wind the baby, pat the dog, mop the sweat from your husband's brow.....Lot 437 if you are thinking of bidding.

Dana has Already Completed Two Ornaments!

In fact, Dana Keish has already begun her third ornament. She is creatively designing new colour palettes as she goes and I expect her collection will be stunning when complete and a great enjoyment on her Christmas Tree - and Ackworth School's - for years to come. I do like the way the placing of the motif in the ornaments is slightly eccentric, imparting some movement to the design and preventing it from appearing static and dead - it's a good design tip to remember when you are composing your own designs.
Shall we all make a special Christmas Tree on the blog, too? I can take your images and compose a special tree for Christmas Day - and then we can look at it and think of all the new friends we have made this year.
Click here to send me an attachment.