Cross Stitch? It's All The Vogue My Dear! ........... (And Free Draw)

Latest News - Read All Abaht It. Get Yer London Evening Standard. Banner Headline. All across London, hip and happy fans are finding cross-stitch easy, cool and creative. So there you have it - it's official.. (er ...um....wasn't it yesterday, and the day before?) Thank you, Susan Albury, for sharing this fun topic with us.
And if you can't make it to the Hip Capital of Cross-Stitch this summer, then please don't fret.

I have one beautifully illustrated, full colour, 100 page, spare Buckingham Palace Official Souvenir Guide to give away in this week's draw - just click on the flying angel below and tell me how long you have been cross-stitching. The winner of the draw will be notified next Monday. Good luck!

Embroidered Altarpiece of 1522 by Hans Plock

Hans Plock was a religious man of his time. We know that in his youth he obtained a print by Martin Schongauer entitled Death of the Virgin. Hans Plonk stated: This image was judged in my youth to be the finest work to have come out of Germany, therefore I pasted it in my bible. A committed act at the time that was irrevocable and expensive. Born in 1490, Hans developed his artistic sensibilities with needle and thread - and pearls. For a time he was Pearl Embroiderer to Albrecht, Cardinal of Brandenburg and Master Embroiderer at the Court of the Archbishop of of Halle. Around 1522 he was commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz to create the outstanding embroidered triptych, known as the Hassentstein Altarpiece, which is now to be admired in Nelahozeves Castle (about 35 km north of Prague). Against a background of precious metal threads encrusted with semi-precious stones and pearls, raised embroidered figures are set in dioramas. In the outer wings can be seen the Angle Gabriel descending with his special message for Mary, while she is at her devotions. Although this altar piece is normally pictured with the Angel Gabriel to the left as was the decorum at the time, the German narratives are back to front - so I have flipped the image to have the text reading in the right direction. It is interesting to lovers of early samplers that all the Ns are reversed!

Well, I'll Eat My Needles and Pins

Well we know about squirrels eating power cables, but who will eat pins and needles? Cotton reels and buttons? With their feet up and a pot of tea? OK, you've guessed already. Me! These lovely biscuits are sent as gifts by Biscuiteers, and I thought you might like to see. What a pity I can't share them!

And if you didn't get to London this year - here is a little consolation to wash down with some nice Earl Grey. And don't go to sleep in the teapot, we have a nice little giveaway on Monday for you.

The Full Monty - Limbering Up Exercises for the Dorothy Ward Sampler

The long awaited re-issue of Amy Mitten's seminal work on Montenegrin Stitch: An Autopsy of the Montenegrin Stitch will soon be ready. This version has been significantly expanded. Those of you who already own the original version will find that adding the new edition: Exhumed to your library will be
like adding a completely new resource. Exhumed includes 112 full colour pages, 3 different methods for working the Montenegrin Stitch, pictures and blow ups of the Montenegrin Stitch from antique samplers, a couple of little charts for you to practice the Montenegrin Stitch and more. The quality of the stitch diagrams is excellent. Also included is advice on how to read charts for the Montenegrin Stitch and on working it over 2 or 3 threads. You can place your order now with Janice at Traditional Stitches - just click here.

As you might remember, the inside cover of our new book has, as a special bonus, a full colour chart for you to stitch a replica of the gorgeous Dorothy Ward band sampler of 1687, which you can see pictured here. While this sampler can be stitched in cross stitch for those unfamiliar with Montenegrin Stitch - why not start your limbering up exercises now with Amy's book to find out how to stitch like Dorothy!