Friday, August 31, 2007

Jane Self Sampler

Unfortunately my Jane Self Sampler mentioned in my previous post didn't come out. I finished this last year and it is also on 32ct linen over one with one strand of DMC cotton. I like working on 32ct over one as the finished result is much more finer. It also saves on wall space.

I have been working on a shop model of The Goode Huswifes Seven Sailors Sampler for my friend Karen's beautiful needlework shop called Dragonfly Dreams in Katoomba.

The last few days in the mountains have been absolutely beautiful. You can tell that Spring is on the way. I have been picking bunches of one my favourite flowers violets. I have a few varieties of single mauve violets and also white parma violets. Love the smell.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Dutch Beauty and Friends

As promised these are the photos of Dutch Beauty. I don't know what the second one is called but it is a Dutch Spot Sampler dated 1826. The third one is called Jane Self, 1817. They are all on 32ct worked over one, with one strand of DMC thread.



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Thursday, August 16, 2007

WELCOME

Welcome to my blog. My name is Sandra and I live in the Blue Mountains of Australia. I have been doing needlework since I was small. My Great Grandmother taught me to knit when I was 5 years old. I have been doing cross stitch since I was 13 years old.

As I have 3 sons I thought a few years ago that I would make a collection of reproduction antique samplers for them as a family heirloom from their mother. My eldest son is 22 and has moved down to Sydney and has taken a few of the ones that I have given him with him. Some of my really good ones I have given away to my mother as presents and they look lovely in her beautiful home. Some of the ones that my mother has I have changed the names on them to names and dates of my Great Great Grandmothers. One of the ones that I have done has my G.G.G.G. Grandmothers name and birth date and as she was Spanish, Madrid.

Unfortunately I do not have any photos of these one at the moment but when I go to Sydney to visit her I will take some photo's to show you.

The last sampler I finished was Dutch Beauty. She is worked on tea-dyed 32ct linen and is worked over 1 stitch with one strand of DMC cotton. I will post a photo of her when my camera's battery has charged up.

I have alot of favourite samplers that I want to do. I have started Sarah Moon but I think I might wait until I can get some 40ct linen as I think she is going to be to big for me. I like doing things over 1 as it saves on wall space and the finished product is so much finer. I have now done 3 samplers entirely over 1 and they look lovely.