2014 November 14 Issue No November Sampler of the Month The Scarlet Letter s Eleanor Parr 1816

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1 Where Samplers Rule Just 15 minutes from the Airport at the SE CORNER OF DOBSON & GUADALUPE 1837 W. Guadalupe Rd, Suite 109 Mesa, AZ THE ATTIC TELEPHONE (480) T O L L - F R E E : ATTIC 2014 November 14 Issue No November Sampler of the Month The Scarlet Letter s Eleanor Parr 1816 What sampler lover wouldn t absolutely fall in love with this sampler with its magnificent bird border?! Here s what Marsha of The Scarlet Letter writes about this sampler: Eleanor Parr created this amazing and unique sampler sometime before 1835 (The 1816 refers to her birth year.). The border of birds encircled by vines and leaves is unprecedented. Fleur-de-lys embellish each of the four corners surrounding a central reserve containing a traditional verse, floral sprays and garlands, and two elegantly clad young girlfriends enjoying a frolic in this amazing landscape. The verse reads: When his lost sheep the shepherd finds He calls his friends around Rejoice with me my friends he cries, My wandering sheep are found. The reconciled father joys, To see the sinner weep, And Jesus with extended arms, Welcomes his ransom'd sheep. Eleanor was born in 1816 in Burscough near Ormskirk in Lancashire to John and Ann Parr. At the time of her birth her father was a boatsman on the canals, but in a later census he is described as a farmer. Eleanor married a farmer by the name of Joseph Webster. In fact there are still Websters farming in the Lotham area today. Eleanor lived to be nearly 81 years old. Eleanor's extraordinary sampler, employing only cross stitch, petit point and stem filling stitches, is a magnificent testimony to what the simplest stitches can accomplish given creativity, motivation and of course access to some very good materials. The range of color and the intricacy of the design, such that one can identify the birds she has stitched, astound the viewer and the needleworker to this day. During November save 15% when you p u r c h a s e a minimum of 2 of the following: Chart: $35 (charted for AVAS) ~ design size: 426w x 490h Linen: Varies, depending on the count & margins ~ 40c, $58 Silks: Au Ver A Soie, $$193.50; 12-ply Overdyed Silk, $258; Tudors, $ Many of us fell in love with this most incredible sampler when we saw the antique, above, and so we have done an overdyed silk conversion keyed to the antique s reds & brick shades. With 34 colors in the thread legend, I m sure you can appreciate the time involved in completing this conversion. Before we select a silk overdye, we look at how it works with its surrounding colors in all of the places it appears in the sampler and how it works with the overall palette, including the linen. The linen color we have selected is also a more golden color as in the antique, which we think is splendorous with the rich reds, greens, and gold/browns. We offer you several choices for your silk: the Au Ver A Soie solids as charted (11 colors call for 2 skeins); an overdyed silk conversion keyed to the reproduction colors shown at the left; and also an overdyed silk conversion keyed to the antique.

2 THE ATTIC! More from The Scarlet Letter PAGE 2 Right, Mary Hurst, a sampler from England s Fitzwilliam Museum, is a stunning Scarlet L e t t e r reproduction of an English band sampler that begins with a whitework s e c t i o n a n d continues with a queen, a princess, a boxer with a bishop s crosier, and lovely arcaded pattern bands featuring roses, acor ns, h o n e y s u c k l e, p o m e g r a n a t e, p a n s i e s a n d daisies. It is currently a SAL (stitch-along) project for a group on the Internet and, as such, enjoying much deserved popularity, with its wonderful a r r a y o f techniques and stitches, including counted satin, c r o s s, M o n t e n e g r i n, buttonhole filling, double running, Croatian flat, queen, and rice, several of my favorites. Below, we are fortunate to have on display two versions of this stunning tentstitch needlework picture, A Parrot, A Leopard, A Lion ~ the one on the top is The Scarlet Letter model stitched over one on 35c, and the one below it is Courtney s version, stitched over one on 40c, and Courtney used an overdyed linen for the ground fabric and chose not to stitch the background.

3 THE ATTIC! A Favorite of The Scarlet Letter Reproductions PAGE 3 Left, coincidentally, just in time for our newsletter focus on Marsha s beautiful samplers, Diane brought in her Dorothy Walpole for framing last week, and I only wish that you could see it in person! Diane used the overdyed silk conversion that we did and put it on the overdyed linen we recommended. Oh, my, this is one in my stitching basket that needs to be finished! My favorite part, of course, is the bottom half ~ it is just exquisite! Diane said she changed the verse and lightened the colors a bit at the very bottom in the grass area.

4 THE ATTIC! PAGE 4 November As an Attic Addict save 15% in November on: * The Scarlet Letter Charts * All in-stock Au Ver A Soie Silks * All in-stock Colorscapes Linen Special Cuts Our Holiday Hours Sunday, November 16, Sampler Sunday, 1-4 ~ It s a crazy busy time of year, but this being the 3rd Sunday of the month, we ll see if any of you have time for this gathering of sampler devotees. Refreshments served; please register; fee $10 Saturday night, November 22nd, Our 17th Annual Silent Auction for Breast Cancer Research, 6-8 pm, at The Gathering Place, 1837 West Guadalupe, Suite 107, Mesa, right NEXT DOOR to our shop! Donations now being accepted, through mid-november! See p. 5 Saturday, November 29, Sampler Stitches 131, 1:30-3:30 ~ Linda continues this very popular series, covering your favorite sampler stitches with demonstrations and a comprehensive handout to take with you as a future reference. Stitches covered in this class: Rice Stitch, Long & Short Stitch, Tent Stitch, and Scottish Stitch. Fee $20 December Saturday, December 6, 10:30-12:30, Beginning Linen This monthly class in this busy season may not happen, depending on registration (minimum 2 students). The class is appropriate for both beginning stitchers and anyone wishing to refine their skills. The class project is Linda/Needlemade Designs s Tulip needlebook design, and the $30 fee includes her expert instruction + materials. Class fee is due upon registration. January 2015 February 2015 Wednesday, Nov 26, Close at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov 27, Thanksgiving Day, Closed Wednesday, Dec 24, Close at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec 25, Christmas Day, Closed Wednesday, Dec. 31, Close at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan 1, New Year s Day, Closed Two weekends for our 2015 Sampler Symposium and Merry Cox s optional class on the following Monday (All are sold out/waiting list only) ~ See pages 8-9 Our 2015 Junipine Retreat is scheduled for 3 PM Thursday thru Sunday noon, February 19-22, and as always, it is a waiting-list event. But please do add your name if you re interested because, as we ve seen in past years, life happens and there are cancellations. The dates have been reserved with the resort ~ more details to follow. Save the Date... for Summer School 2015, August (please note new date)... for some History Lessons... with a needlework bent! Saturday, December 20, 1-4 ~ Our Annual Kris Kringle Party. Hopefully by this date you will have all of your Holiday preparations done and will be ready for a relaxing and fun afternoon! Special Seasonal sweet treats and the Attic s famous fruit punch + ornament exchange for those wishing to participate. Please register for our planning purposes. August 2015 We only have a few BCRF cookbooks left! Support a great cause (all net proceeds go to breast cancer research) by buying a copy(s) of the Recipes for a Cure cookbook for a donation of $14.95 (or more) with fabulous time-tested recipes as well as complimentary designs from 11 designers. Finishing/Framing Deadlines Stocking & Pillow Finishing ~ The deadline has passed, and we re into the additional rush fee time, increasing as it gets closer to Christmas. Ornament Finishing ~ Monday, December 1 Framing ~ Custom Frames, Saturday, November 29; Ready-Made Frames, Saturday, December 13 November 2015 Three workshops with Jackie du Plessis: * Attic of Dreams Part 2 * September Morning (Photos on the following page) * Something New & Very Special Full details to follow in a future newsletter.

5 THE ATTIC! PAGE 5 Jackie s September Morning Coming November 2015

6 THE ATTIC! PAGE 6 Our 17th Annual Silent Auction for Breast Cancer Research with Proceeds Benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) Location: Gathering Place, 1837 West Guadalupe Rd, Mesa, AZ See map below. Date & Time: Saturday night, November 22, 6-8 p.m. final bids ~ Bidding closes at 8 p.m. Each year the handmade donations raise thousands of dollars for research. All proceeds are donated to BCRF. To read about this A+-rated organization, go to their Website A few words about the auction and how it works: Donations are currently being accepted. Total receipts for the auction will be published soon after the auction close. Individual winning bids for donated items will not be published but, rather, our focus is on what we all can accomplish together. Unfortunately, an individual bid, taken out of the context of the evening, may give a very wrong impression. Thank you for your understanding. Auction newsletters listing the item number and minimum opening bid will be posted to our Website, and notification of their postings will come to you if you re in our enewsletter database. Bidding can begin by any of you from afar by or phone (our toll-free number, ); to place a bid, please ensure that we have on file your contact information as well as your credit card. Final bids are placed on Saturday night, Nov 22 The night of the auction we will not be able to accept phone bids. To ensure your successful bid, you may wish to place a type of buy-it-now bid. Payment is best made by a personal check payable to BCRF; its tax-deductibility is a matter between you and your accountant ~ but credit card or PayPal transactions will be accepted if you insist. Above, the Gingerbread Church, Part 3 of the Gingerbread Village designed by The Victoria Sampler Above, a four-sided mouse house, with each side reflecting a season, and the tiny mouse resident sits in the loft. The bottom of this seasonal house features this verse: For every stitch There is a season. Attic, Mesa, AZ Toll-Free: ATTIC ( )

7 THE ATTIC! PAGE 7 Our November 2014 Workshops w/sherri Jones of Patrick s Woods are now just a wonderful memory ~ here and on the following page, images from a weekend of beautiful needlework projects! Thank you, Sherri! Several beautifully finished Blue Ribbon Sewing Boxes! The Attic, where old friends meet! A peek into the Gathering Place and the food, refreshments & auction donations. Back row, Bernie from Belgium & Sherry from Texas Front row, Robin & Sue from Australia & Sherri ~ and behind them, some of the BCRF auction donations Marie from Minnesota Merry, Nita and Nancy ~ and more of the auction donations in the background!

8 THE ATTIC! More from Our Sherri Jones Weekend PAGE 8 John, Rhonda & Carolyn Melissa from Colorado & Amy from Arizona Laurie & Sharon from California Bernie & her almost finished Patriot Patty box Nancy very nattily dressed for our Patriot Patty workshop, including her beautiful handmade tote! A half dozen beautifully finished Patriot Pattys! Melanie with her almost finished Patriot Patty box Ramona is wearing her Patriot Patty

9 THE ATTIC! PAGE 9 Registration and Hotel Information January 2015 Sampler Symposium... Registration is Full ~ Waiting List Only... Friday night, January 9 thru Sunday, January 11 OR... Friday night, January 16 thru Sunday, January 18 Please register for the weekend of your choice by . All of the addresses that you may have for me and the shop all work so it is not necessary to send more than one . Please do not phone the shop to register. We will be happy to answer your questions, but registrations will only be accepted by . Receipt of your registration will be acknowledged by , and after your registration has been received, you will be notified by and asked to phone our toll-free number with payment information. A nonrefundable deposit of $50 completes your reservation. Space is limited by the size of the room to 49 students. Because an address is needed for each of you to provide additional information along the way, we are looking to registration as the best method for the entire process, to ensure fairness for everyone, most importantly. I am very pleased to present the weekend faculty for this event: Friday night, 6-9 PM, Merry Cox s Souvenir Book with a 5-6 PM supper. Saturday morning, 9 AM, 19th Century Mourning Practices, a PowerPoint presentation by Sandra Ball that includes mourning samplers and embroideries as well as a coffin quilt and many other interesting facts from the Victorian era. Following a midmorning break, Sandra will also present a lecture on gravestone art, also touching on the vampire scare in early New England. Saturday afternoon, 1-4 PM, Holly Rison will teach the Gentle Art of Scrimshaw. Saturday evening, 5 -? PM, reception at The Attic, with food, refreshments including adult beverages served. Sunday, Merry Cox s Eternal Love Stitching Tray w/accessories, 9-2 PM, with the last hour for lunch. Your $495 fee for the Symposium includes all classes, kits, and lectures, a light supper on Friday night, breakfast, lunch, and coffee/tea breaks on Saturday, a Saturday night reception at the shop with refreshments and supper, and Sunday breakfast and lunch. All classes will be held in Meeting Rooms A+B at Hyatt Place Mesa, where they have available an Attic Needlework room block with prices of $134 for King rooms and Queen/Queen rooms. Here is their Website. Free shuttle service to the shop is provided (airport transportation is not), so renting a car is optional and really not necessary. Souvenir Book by Merry Cox Friday night, 6-9 PM. A souvenir is a memento which serves as a reminder of past events or a keepsake with sentimental value. What better way to remember a special trip or event or our love of stitching than with this unique souvenir pull-out book. There is a stitched bookplate for the first inside page plus a lovely miniature sampler for the 4th page. You will construct the book with beautiful paper and use scrapbooking techniques to make pockets with fun embellishments with lots of space for pictures and personalization. In addition to making the souvenir book, you will make a drawstring bag with vintage ribbons for your book. Stitched on 35-count linen with Nun Stitch, Feather Stitch and over 1 tent stitch. Kit includes all stitching materials and finishing materials.

10 THE ATTIC! PAGE 10 January 2015 Sampler Symposium (continued) Saturday morning, 9-10:30 AM, 19th Century Mourning Practices. Sandra Ball s PowerPoint presentation will include mourning samplers and embroideries, mourning clothing, jewelry, and other Victorian mourning customs, including a coffin quilt. Following a mid-morning break, at 11 AM Sandra will continue with a presentation on gravestone art, also touching on the vampire scare in New England. The Scarlet Letter s Mourning Sampler 1832, with the name and date left blank to be filled in with the name of your loved one, is one of a few charts available. Examples of Holly s scrimshaw Saturday afternoon, 1-4 PM, Learn the Gentle Art of Scrimshaw. Embellish your beautiful pieces of needlework with colorful scrims! You can do it! Become a scrimshander! Holly will teach you two methods, freehand and transfer. The class will use vintage piano keys to achieve lovely works of art that you can take home from the class! You will create a monogram piece and a lovely colorful painted piece. You will receive all the tools necessary to create these pieces. Eternal Love Stitching Tray with Accessories by Merry Cox Sunday, 9-1 PM. Eternal Love is the name of a poem Merry wrote for the foreword of Sampler Motifs and Symbolism by Patricia Andrle and Lesley Rudnicki. Merry has always wanted to incorporate her poem into a needlework project, so she designed this 6 x 6 stitching tray with the poem, charming birds and vines. Of course, we must have accessories to complement the tray and then, of course, we must also have a box... a wonderful papier-mâché painted box with a stitched nameplate on top. The accessories include a mattress type pincushion/pin keep and a scissors holder, both finished with ultra suede. Stitched on 35-count linen with Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch over 1 and Nun Stitch. Kit includes all stitching and finishing materials. (Scissors not included)

11 THE ATTIC! PAGE 11 Classes are Full ~ Waiting List Only Monday, January 12, 2015 OR Monday, January 19, AM - 4 PM A Young Lady s Workbox Imagine a very young lady being at school ( Dewitt Academy for Young Ladies ) in the 1800 s and receiving her first sewing workbox. As the instructress issues each painted workbox, she informs the young ladies that they will be perfecting their sewing and stitching skills with examples to fill the compartments within this special workbox. Inside the painted workbox is a stitched tray with a poem Merry wrote. The tray (with a very unique finishing) can be removed to hold threads, buttons, scissors, ruler etc when working on a project. Pincushion to the right lifts out to reveal the perfect place for a thimble and other treasures. Pinkeep is placed in the back compartment along with ribbons and threads. Needlecase features the Dewitt Academy, a basket of flowers and personalization. Inside the case is a stitched needle page, an ultra suede scissors holder and scrimshaw ruler holder. (Scissors and ruler not included in kit.) When ready to close the workbox, the needlecase is placed inside the linen tray. This is an all-day class with Merry Cox, an optional class, i.e., not included in the Symposium Weekend. Registration for this class will be accepted by only. We will be happy to answer your questions, but registrations will only be accepted by . Receipt of your registration will be acknowledged by , and you will be notified by of the status of your registration and asked to phone our toll-free number with payment information. In addition to your kit, the workshop fee includes breakfast, lunch, and a mid-morning break. Workshop fee, $230. Because an address is needed for each of you to provide additional information along the way, we are looking to registration as the best method for the entire process. A nonrefundable deposit of $50 completes your reservation.

12 THE ATTIC! Happy Birthday, Gigi! PAGE 12 Gigi in her USA sweater, a Ralph Lauren, she says. Today, November 14, is Gigi s special day, her 82nd (yes, that s not a typo!!!) birthday, and I know there are many of you out there in Samplerland who join me in wishing her a joy-filled celebration. And as we honor her on this special day, we pay tribute to this amazingly energetic woman who has added so many pleasurable hours to our needlework passion by sharing some of her outstanding collection of samplers by their reproductions. And I am thrilled to introduce the latest Gigi reproduction on page 13, The Betrothed W & E September 1889 The manor house Gigi and her family called home some years ago. The breadth of her collection astounds me, as do the size of several of her sheets of needlework. This one, filled with Little House Needleworks designs, she donated to an annual fair in Belgium this past September, with lottery ticket proceeds going to the benefit of UNICEF. Another sheet of samplers, this one to commemorate the 2006 Ackworth School Symposium.

13 THE ATTIC! PAGE 13 Let s get to know Gigi just a bit better! I ed Gigi and said, I'm preparing this week's enewsletter, with special page(s) on you, your birthday, and your samplers. And I thought it would be very interesting for all of us to get to know you a bit better, so I have prepared several questions that will help me write this page. I m certain you will find this as interesting as I did. Here are my questions, and her answers: How did you come to love and appreciate samplers and antique needlework? I just always loved anything handmade and used to watch my mother knit funny looking dresses for us with angora wool that made me sneeze each time I wore them But she was always creating something That was years ago so I think that the bug was well implanted Years later I tried a stamped cross stitch design of a sampler then started looking for more and gradually became a sampler addict.my maternal grandmother came over to us each Wednesday to do some sewing and mending for the family and when she had finished using an old sewing machine (the ones that you have to make your feet go back on forth on) Then, when she had finished, she would get little pieces of cloth out of her Mary Poppins bag and start embroidering Just like that with no example. It always fascinated me. On those Wednesdays she would give us each a little round piece of money that had a hole in the middle and that was to pay the ice cream man for our weekly When did you begin collecting? I started collecting round about 1993 more or less What is the breadth of your collection? For example, the exquisite schoolroom samplers that you both donated to the auction and gifted me with, first of all, is that the correct term for them? If not, what are they best called? Those are very hard to find but as most come from Belgium I had the good luck to have two sellers on the Sunday flea market at Tongres Belgium (one of the best known flea markets in Europe) and they would call me to see if I would be interested. In Belgium we call them rouleaux d écolières meaning schoolgirl rolls But in Holland they are called Souvenir de ma Jeunesse. Do you still have the very first sampler in your collection? If so, what does it look like? I really do not remember. That was long ago and faraway. How many of your samplers have you now reproduced? I will have to go to gigirdesigns to see. By heart I have no idea I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to my two right arms : Inguna and Meriem. Without their skills there would be no reproductions Merci Inguna and Meriem. Of all in your collection, which one(s) is/are your favorite(s) and why? I like Isabella Fox a lot because of all the red apples on the tree. How will you celebrate your special day? With your children and grandchildren? With my family all of them One of my daughters has a high tea each year (very british) with homemade scones, Eton s Mess, homemade cakes etc etc but what it is going to be this year I have no idea A lot of whispering is going on but ends as soon as I appear. But whatever it is it will be welcome. And anything else that you think our readers will find interesting. You know that you are a fascinating person to each of us. And you also know that we are so very grateful for you and your samplers and their reproductions because you have added so much pleasure to our embroidery. I would like to say that I was very happy to be able to have been brought up in London even though it was WW2. To me England is still memories of the days of my youth and also the ability of being able to communicate with my English speaking friends I love coming to Nashville and the other TNNA markets ( to see Zoe of course) and I would like to express a big thanks to all the stitchers that like my reproductions and to the people that work behind the scenes. You for one Jean. Just one more thing : I also collect antique linens mainly from Alsace in France where they are still plentiful and beautiful and best of all affordable..but that is another looong story.

14 THE ATTIC! PAGE 14 The Betrothed W&E September 1889 The linen color, much more golden than it photographed, is one of Lakeside s beautiful double-dyes, and the 40c cut is $47. I am thrilled to introduce this latest Gigi reproduction, an absolutely stunning sampler honoring a wedding. If I start it now, maybe it will be finished in time for our 50th wedding anniversary! By my calculations, that gives me a few years! Here s what Gigi says about this sampler: This lovely sampler probably has German origin. An inscription in the center of the sampler says September 4, 1889 W & E. And there is a courting couple from Siebmacher s Modelbook straight under the inscription, which leads us to think that it has been made to mark an engagement of a wedding. The original was stitched on perforated paper with silks. Stitches used were half cross, full cross, and a little bit of backstitch. Our reproduction is charted for 40c linen and only full crosses over 2 threads of linen are used, with exception of a few backstitches. The front side of the sampler has been faded and some colors have been altered over the time. The back side reveals that initially the sampler has been much more colorful. Since some may find initial colors too bright and hard, we propose two alternative color lists for your choice - one from the front, another from the back. The reproduction is charted for overdyed cottons from both Classic Colorworks and The Gentle Art. We have done a silk conversion to the colors shown on the front. The chartpack includes alternative color lists, one for the more faded front side, shown above, and another for the more bright and colorful back side. As usual, I fell in love with the front, and that s how we keyed our silk conversion. The chart is $24; linen prices vary depending on the count ~ the design size on 40c is 17 x 13.5; overdyed silk conversion, $172; Tudor silks, $126. Order a complete kit for this beautiful sampler, that is, chart, linen count of your choice, plus threads of your choice, and receive a 15% discount.

15 THE ATTIC! A Few of Gigi s Beautiful Samplers PAGE 15 These images, taken from both Gigi s FaceBook page and her Website, represent a small portion of the reproductions available to our needles. Sweet Adeline 1873 $15 Mary A. Bunce 1846 $22 The Rose Wreath Sampler (C. Matthews 1841) $24 Maria s Sampler 1831 $24

16 THE ATTIC! PAGE 16 More Gigi Samplers! Elizabeth Read Sampler 1738 $24 Anne Auriol 1841 $22 Elizabeth Precious 1817 $18 Mary Hart $15

17 THE ATTIC! And More from Gigi PAGE 17 Virginie Grimoux $22 Ann Dowding 1831 $24 Anne Lansac 1843 $22 And Gigi s favorite, Isabella Fox 1827 $24

18 THE ATTIC! PAGE 18 Gigi s Generosity The items on this page Gigi generously donated from her personal collection to our BCRF benefit. Look for more information in next week s Auction Newsletter. 2 photos necessary to capture the length of this

19 THE ATTIC! PAGE 19 New from Kelmscott Designs Pere Noel & Snowflake Needleminders $9.50 each ~ Angel Mother of Pearl Threadwinders 2 x 2 (2/pkg) $9 Chocolate Acorn Scissor Fob, about 4 long, $10 ~ shown on the 2.5 Acorn Snips Scissors, $11.50 The Acorn Snips Scissors come in 3 finishes, Silver, Primitive, and Bronze, and each is $ new from The Primitive Jewel: above, The Feather Tree Necklace Kit $10 is as adorable as it looks, and quick to stitch for gift-giving. Below, Angles We Have Heard on High $6 primitive ornament chart that includes the twine hanger Wendy KC Designs Regal Amethyst Caddy $13, a lovely caddy to hold its matching smalls Lady K Needlearts Winter Blooms $9, third in The Patchwork Series

20 THE ATTIC! PAGE 20 New Designs On the Way to Our Attic 3 charming ornaments from Homespun Elegance, each $8.50 w/charm: Merry Christmas Wishes ~ Snowmen Everywhere ~ Olde Saint Nicholas Clockwise from the right: Pineberry Lane s Peace & Plenty $11, 135 x 82 ~ Rosewood Manor s Quaker Birth Sampler $9, 79 x 77 & Windham House Sampler $9, 109 x 109 ~ T.A. Smith Designs Pretty Little Square $8, 95 x 95 or the threadkeeper, 51 x 51

21 THE ATTIC! PAGE 21 Also Shipping to Us This Week 3 from Lili Violette: S a m p l e r d i Neve (Sampler of Snow) $17, 138 x 146 ~ Jour d Hiver (Winter Day) $14, 136 x 154 ~ Practically Perfect in Every Way $14, 214 x 122 From above left, Little House Needleworks Lantern Lane ~ My Lady at Christmas & December Calendar Girl Left, The Sampler Tree, 12 months of stitching beginning December 2014, Sampler-styled ornaments ~ and that s as much as we know about this at this time.

22 THE ATTIC! PAGE 22 Our Customers Share Melissa s beautiful Ann Bowers Sampler from The Examplarery ~ Melissa pinked up the strawberries a bit. This continues to be a favorite sampler for many. Melissa s ATS Saxony Sampler from Gigi R ~ Melissa did much research to find a suitable motif to insert in the empty space in the upper right. How wonderful that Melissa is making this sampler her own! Can t wait to see more as it progresses. Left, Jeanne s very beautiful Forever Young by Heartstring Samplery ~ love the colors, and even more, the verse! Roxy s Promise of Spring from Silver Creek Samplers on 52/60 with Tudor silks ~ her forwarding the photo said, I just finished my Silver Creek on your 52 count fabric! Love it!!!

23 THE ATTIC! Epilogue PAGE 23 Yesterday the FedEx driver brought us a HUGE box of charts, and our staff has begun pulling your orders and readying them for mailing, so you should begin receiving your orders for these sampler reproductions. Thanks for your patience while this last order was placed, printed, shipped, and now being processed. This is a must-have book for anyone who does counted threadwork that I was reminded to show you again as some of you are doing the Mary Hurst Scarlet Letter reproduction. The Proper Stitch presents projects and stitch illustrations by Darlene O'Steen that educate and improve your stitching skills. It is one of the few books available that actually shows both the front and back side of each stitch. It doesn't just show diagrams, it gives clear explanations for the stitches and how they can be done properly. This second printing features 24 new pages, 2 never before published projects, 5 new stitch illustrations, as well as updated photos and revised illustrations. 168 pgs. Now available at a special price of $30. Of special interest in the Winter 2014 Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly: A very compelling article, Connected by Threads: World War II POW Samplers as Effective Therapy for Trauma, written by Dr. Maureen Daly Goggin, Arizona State University Professor of Rhetoric who has lectured at several Attic Sampler Symposiums. It s football playoff time, and we re enjoying it to its fullest while it lasts. Right, Tyler with Danielle and sister Hannah!