Free Jigsaw Download

Here is a nice simple sampler jigsaw for you to get to grips with this week. It is a little German example with a pretty, large alphabet and corner motifs, all stitched in wool.  However, sadly, this is not going to work for Mac users. Instructions: Click here next Click Open, then click the .EXE file name and click Run, when you see the jigsaw puzzle, click Play Too many pieces? Try clicking on Trays on the top tool bar to create any number of resizeable trays to sort your pieces ........ you can also click the Cheat button and watch the puzzle solve itself! The software is by David Gray designer of Jigsaws Galore - the powerful jigsaw player and creator for Windows.

Quilt Museum Collection On-Line

The Quilt Museum in York, England now has its collection on line. The Museum holds a unique collection of quilts and related artifacts from around the British Isles dating from the earliest piece in the collection the 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet. Open throughout the year the Museum hosts heritage exhibitions and shows by contemporary makers. And there is more to the museum than just quilts - below you can see a quilted pocket and there are other examples of quilted clothing and domestic items.

The Museum is independently managed by The Quilters' Guild of the British Isles and is funded and through admissions and grants. For more details or to see the collection on-line, click here.

Martin Ex and His Samplers

Many years ago now - it must be around 10 - I had the great good fortune to meet Martin Ex in his shop in Amsterdam and spend quite some time looking at his fabulous stock of samplers. As much as studying the samplers was a wonderful experience, it was listening to Martin and becoming aware through his depth of knowledge, imparted gently, of the intricate historical background of these precious documents that did much to propel me into the field of sampler study. Do visit his wonderful shop or marvel on-line. Martin is always so helpful and knowledgeable.

The stunning sampler above is a rare Portuguese example. The interesting thing about this piece is that it turned up in Scotland! How on earth did it arrive there, I would like to know. Below you can see the image from the auction house which shows the sampler in its rather unsympathetic frame.

Auction Round Up

It is very rare to see English samplers with depictions of the Crucifixion and often such depictions are associated with Catholic schools (Protestants usually depict an empty cross as a symbol of the risen Christ). This is a Regency example having a central image of Christ upon the cross above a religious verse reading - 'Dear Saviour Oh! What ails this Heart....', within foliate scroll borders. It is in a glazed frame and measures 40cm x 30.5cm. It is for auction with Reeman Dansie in Colchester on 19/20 June. it is lot 1111 with an estimate of £500-£700. Click here for more details.

And to see two samplers depicting the Crucifixion at the same auctioneers - again Reeman Dansie of Colchester - is beyond coincidence. This sampler is headed with Adam and Eve and assorted animals and below this a scene depicting Christ upon the cross. It was worked by Sarah Harding aged 10 and is dated May 1820. It is in a glazed frame and measures 33cm x 30.5cm. It is lot 1110 in the same sale as above, with an estimate of £500-£700. Click here for more details.

This last is a gem of a sampler. Dated 1741 it is a George II sampler by Deborah Cornthwaite with religious script and floral decorated borders. It is possible that she is the Deborah Cornthwaite who was born 8 September 1730 in St Leonards, Shoreditch, London, England. The sampler is framed and measures 30 x 23cm. It is lot 714 and comes with a very low estimate of £40-£60. The auctioneers for this sampler are Ewbank Clarke Gammon Wellers of Woking and the sale is on 20/21 June. Click here for more details.