2012 July 13 Issue No July Co-Samplers of the Month

Transcription

1 Where Samplers Rule Just 15 minutes from the Airport at the NE CORNER OF CENTER & MCKELLIPS 106 E. McKellips Rd, Suite 111 Mesa, AZ THE ATTIC 2012 July 13 Issue No TELEPHONE (480) T O L L - F R E E : ATTIC July Co-Samplers of the Month Anne Lansac 1843 from Gigi R Above, the antique and, right, the reproduction finished. Gigi says, On the original sampler there was only one robe of Christ. I added one on my sampler but for the purists they can stitch only one. I thought it looked... as if I had forgotten something in that empty space. Land of the Free from Willow Hill Samplings The

2 THE ATTIC! PAGE 2 More About Our Co-Samplers of the Month As our Co-Sampler of the month, save 15% on your purchase of two of the following during June: 1) chart $22 2) linen (40c w/2-inch margins = $42; please specify mottled or not mottled) 3) threads (as charted w/gast = minimum $42.90) ~ (overdyed silks keyed to the GAST colors = $95.25) ~ (overdyed silks keyed to the photograph = $81.25) skein requirements may increase the thread price; information not yet available With the very hot weather in Wisconsin last week, many of our plans were changed ~ and I was able to spend some time stitching on Anne s beautiful sampler. Thank you, Deb, for allowing us to use your beautiful sampler for our Sampler of the Month. Deb changed several of the colors as charted, and her model is stunning, with the perfect frame, I think. Here s what the designer says about her design: I designed "Land of the Free" as a tribute to the members of our armed forces who have served our country from its humble beginnings to this day, and also to their families. Both service members and families sacrifice time spent with loving spouses and children and must be brave in the face of uncertain futures in order to protect the freedoms of those they care for and those they do not even know. I am proud of my brave husband and all of his brothers and sisters in uniform. Charted for hand-dyed cottons, of course we ve done a conversion to overdyed silks. As our Co-Sampler of the month, save 15% on your purchase of two of the following during June: 1) chart $12 2) linen (40c w/2-inch margins = $15 ~ price for other counts and different margins will vary) 3) hand-dyed cottons $$26.70 as Deb stitched hers; overdyed silks $75.50

3 THE ATTIC! PAGE 3 The Attic s Summer Sampler Soiree, Friday ~ Sunday, August 17 ~ 19 We re so excited about the cornerstone piece for our To the Ladies Sampler Soiree, the beautiful Attic Treasures box created by the combined talents of Linda Danielson/Samplers Remembered and Nancy Mills/Five Times Blessed, and we wanted to show you some close-up shots. The stitched verse mounted on the top of the box Inside the box, showing the removable shelf & monogrammed lid The reverse side of the shelf, a photo of Linda s antique that inspired this project Underneath the shelf some of the treasures are showing. The Sterling Silver hornbook charm with the ribbon

4 THE ATTIC! The Attic s Summer Sampler Soiree, PAGE 4 Repro Chili Pinkeep & Mini "Think of Me" Sampler Friday ~ Sunday, August 17 ~ 19 To The Ladies While rosy cheeks their bloom confess And youth thy bosom warms Let Virtue and let Knowledge dress Thy mind in brighter charms Attic Treasures Sewing Box w/sampler examplar Sampler Pincushion & Fob Front & Back of the Hornbook Button Keep Garden Delight Pincushion & Fob More updated photographs to show these fabulous projects that we have planned for you. We re getting very excited as we re only five weeks out! Learn to Lucet and Lucet Pocket Monogrammed Scissor Keep Friday night after hors d'oeuvres at 5 p.m. Nancy and Linda D. will guide you through the process for making the cornerstone piece for the weekend, the Attic Treasures Box shown on page 3. Our participating local (residing here in the Phoenix area) faculty: Linda/ Samplers Remembered, Gloria/Milady s Needle, Vickie & Maegan/ NeedleWorkPress, Linda/Needlemade Designs, Bunny & Apryl/Priscilla s Pocket, Tanya/The Scarlett House, and Nancy/Five Times Blessed. Workshop fee for this project- and fun-filled weekend, including food Friday night - Sunday noon, $360!!!!! This event is again being held at Hyatt Place Mesa. The hotel is offering us amazing rates: $89/night for both King and Queen/Queen. Call HYATT.HP ( ). Local phone number is and ask for the Attic Needlework group rate. On Saturday night we re having a PJ Party (and a Show & Share, an opportunity to share your finished or in-progress needlework with others), and I hope you ll join us! Me and several local-area needleworkers are having an away girlfriends weekend at this very affordable room rate! Two or three can share a suite (the spacious living area features a comfortable sofa-sleeper that is separated from the sleeping area). Go to to read about all of the amenities at the hotel. And everyone who is a registered guest at the hotel for the two nights will qualify for a drawing for a $100 Attic Gift Certificate!

5 July THE ATTIC! PAGE 5 As an Attic Addicts Club member, during July save 15% on the following in-stock items: All Gigi R Charts & Willow Hill Samplings Charts All Hand-Dyed Silk Threads Picture This Plus Linens, In-Stock Custom Cuts Unicorn Wedding Sampler Stitch-Along ~ go to page 16 to find Linda s detailed information on getting started on this exquisite heirloom Sunday, July 15, Sampler Sunday, 1-4:00. It s mid-summer here, a bit hot and over 20 of you want to come in under our fans and stitch! We ll be overflowing to the tables in the main part of the shop. Call/ to register. Fee $10 Saturday, August 4, 10:30-12:30, Beginning Linen This class is appropriate for both beginning stitchers and anyone wishing to refine their skills. The class project is Linda s Tulip needlebook design, and the $30 fee includes her expert instruction + all project materials. Merry Cox November 2012 The pre-stitching kits have all been shipped, and we are waiting to hear from several on our waiting list. There may be space available in either Thursday s or Sunday s workshops. If you are interested, please let me know as soon as possible. Our weekend of workshops with Merry Cox is scheduled for Thursday ~ Sunday, November Each workshop runs from 9-4 p.m., with lunch included. Registration for all of the workshops (Le Nouveau Palais Royal twice, Sweet Little Blossoms, and So Dear to Thy Heart, the 2011 Williamsburg piece) at this time is closed, but if you wish to be on a waiting list, either Thursday or Sunday s sessions for Le Nouveau Palais Royal is your best bet. All workshops will be held at Mesa s Hyatt Place, where there is a room block being held under Attic Needlework with a $99 King or $104 Queen/Queen option. Phone HYATT HP. You may go to Merry s Web site for more information about these projects, and many more of her incredible designs: Saturday, August 4, Our Semi-Annual Framing Frenzy. This is your opportunity to save 20% on your custom framing order, including frame, mat, and fillets, when you let Sandy use her expertise in selecting the perfect frame to enhance your needlework. Give her your budget, your likes and dislikes ( I don t like gilded, but I love primitive ), make a $20 deposit, and she will do the rest. The discount does not apply to the framing labor charge nor to readymade frames. All orders will be processed in the order received, and orders with deadlines are ineligible for the FF discount. Additionally, you should know that any non-ff incoming orders will receive preference in the order of completion, which makes it difficult to give a time estimate, but to save the 20% it is important that you understand the order of completion. We still have some 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. Above, So Dear to Thy Heart, Merry s 2011 Williamsburg project, includes the beautiful box shown. Friday, 9-4 p.m. Workshop fee: $240 Clockwise from above left: Sweet Little Blossoms Saturday s workshop from 9-4 p.m. includes the lovely Shaker box. Workshop Fee, $200 ~ Le Nouveau Palais Royal, what some consider Merry s pièce de résistance, will be taught Thursday AND Sunday. Kit includes beautiful box & sweet scissors. Workshop Fee, $275 The Attic s 2013 Sampler Symposium We re also planning another event at Hyatt Place Mesa on Martin Luther King Weekend, The Attic s 2013 Sampler Symposium, Friday, January 18 ~ Sunday, January 20 (with a possible additional separate class on Monday, January 21) Faculty: Lorraine Mootz, Celle, Germany, co-author of Samplers and Designs: Three Centuries of European Samplers, Sherri Jones/Patrick s Woods, and more. More details will follow in a future newsletter as soon as they are available.

6 THE ATTIC! PAGE 6 Part 1 is here and below is a bit of a peak at the Very Scary Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler, the silks in our conversion 9$169), and, right, the bonus piece included with Part 1. I ve heard that some already have Part 1 stitched ~ and I m counting on Rhonda and others here to do the same so that we can show it to those of you interested but still a hold-out! More of Created Heirlooms Patriotic Project Bags are on the way! Last week s shipment was gone again in the blink of an eye! If you missed out, reserve yours today! At $28, it s understandable why we can t keep even one in stock. Looking for a special but quick-to-stitch summer project? Here s a favorite: NeedleWorkPress s Roses in July $8, an adaptation of an antique originally stitched on perforated paper, is perfect! A Lakeside Linens cut (40c, 9 x 9, $7) on your preferred linen count + Belle Soie silks ($45) is all you need to recreate this very lovely miniature. The

7 THE ATTIC! PAGE 7 Lots New from Karen/Rosewood Manor Karen Kluba/Rosewood Manor, has been very busy as you will see with her recent releases, each one beautiful and yearning to be stitched. And Karen always includes on the back cover an Artist Statement that I always find interesting. Clockwise from above: Witherspoon Manor $13, featuring the small trees Karen found on a circa 1800 s sampler that inspired this design ~ Marvelous nature $9 was inspired by Aristotle s words (In all things of nature there is something marvelous) in this small sampler ~ Nostalgia V $8 in her wonderful series featuring old sampler motifs ~ Two Blue Birds $11 with an alphabet hidden in the vines. What a fun stitch! And Karen s inclusion in her publications of her signature Be Creative smaller projects make each chart an excellent value! The

8 THE ATTIC! PAGE 8 More from Rosewood Manor Left and above, one of Karen s most beautiful designs, and there are m a n y, F l o w e r s o f Rosehall ($55 w/silks, $13 chart only) that she says was inspired by the beautiful silk fibers she used in the design, six lovely Valdani silks, right. CORRECTION FOR SS-103--FLOWERS OF ROSEHALL SAMPLER: For some unknown reason there are two "lines" of the chart missing all the way across bottom of the top three sections. Please add these to your stitching as you are working. Hopefully this graph will make it easier for you to place the stitches in the correct space. Please refer to the color chart for floss colors. SECTIONS AS SHOWN IN ORIGINAL CHART: Unfortunately, there was a computer glitch that omitted two lines across the design. Several of you bought the chart without this correction, so we re including it here, or we can you a PDF file of it. Section 1A: b b bbbb W W bbbb bbb bbwb W W bwbb SECTIONS ADDED: Below, Good in Everything $17 was inspired by a wonderful Shakespearean quote, And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything, and Karen s love of trees, and I share that for sure. I love this one! Oh, dear, so many lovely designs to stitch. I need to spend less time at the computer and more time stitching! Section 2A: Section 3A: Sorry for the confusion, I will correct this mistake at the next printing. Thank you for your support of Rosewood Manor. Karen

9 THE ATTIC! PAGE 9 More New in Our Attic! Clockwise from above: 2 new from Sandra/Homespun Elegance: A Family Homestead $10 with a real truism in its verse: Home is the nicest word there is ~ Ewe be Patriotic $7.50, an adorable pinkeep or cupboard hanger stitched on a blue linen, although the photography doesn t show that ~ Marc/The Silver Lininig s Lest We Forget $10 featuring beautiful Snow Drops and Forget-Me-Nots, dedicated by the designer to all who serve or have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of others (stitched over one on 28c it measures 5.3 x 9.5 ) ~ and Strawberry Stitches $17 from Jeannette Douglas Designs is another in her wonderful Stitches Series with the strawberries in the border stitched in a variety of stitches, i.e., over one in the 4 corners, right border in Queen Stitch, others in the Hungarian and Satin Stitch. A best buy: The embellishment pack with a selection of silks is $46

10 THE ATTIC! PAGE 10 And Even More That s New! Clockwise from above left: 3 new Belle Soie colors $7.50 each (with, in Sharon s inimitable style, very clever names: Aqua Velvet, Bleu Clair, and Serene Green) ~ August Doorbells/Word Play $9 from With Thy Needle & Thread ~ and 2 from filigram, Merry Christmas Banner $10 and Strawberry Plant $10 (we showed you this in February, but in this strawberry season, and having just seen beautiful Wisconsin robins, I wanted to show it again, with its lovely silk-ribbon strawberry blossoms! Below, 2 that we found from Deborah/Midsummer Night Designs while searching for others of her out-of-print designs, but we have very limited supplies of each, so if you like these, don t wait. On the left, Worlds Above $9 with a very charming verse and, on the right, Patriotic Summer $8

11 THE ATTIC! PAGE 11 New from A Mon Ami Pierre Perhaps not new new but new to us, clockwise from the left: Story from the Past $19 ~ Remember October $13 ~ Quaker A d d i c t $ 1 2 a n d Tradition Marquoir $12, both equally l o v e l y s t i t c h e d monochromatically ~ and Le Coq et L Oiseau $13

12 THE ATTIC! PAGE 12 Two More from A Mon Ami Pierre: Sampler de Leo $12, also beautiful in a monochromatic silk, and Story from the Past $12 Also New Clockwise from above, Crown & Thistle s The Sweetness of Life Project Bag $9 ~ Widgets & Wool Primitives The Love in Your Heart $8 ~ and Heartstring Samplery s The Strawberry Collection $12 for all three designs, 2 samplers and a Strawberry Pinbook ; and the Strawberry Band Sampler at the bottom of the three has a charming verse: Let us not be weary in well doing for we shall reap if we faint not.

13 THE ATTIC! PAGE 13 3 New Samplers from Jane Greenoff in the UK Above, A French Red Sampler $18 from the late 1860 s has been fully reproduced, including the lost areas in the border and a few other spots (282 x 272) ~ Right, Jannet Baird $18 has been reproduced with all the oddities included by an 11-yearold girl. One of three samplers stitched by three sisters, this is undated but probably from the early 1800 s. Keyed to a UK silk, Madeira, we are happy to do a silk conversion from the DMC s listed (148 x 279). Above, Sarah Maydman s 17th Century Sampler $25 is a stunning band sampler that was stitched in or around It is charted in DMC, and we will be pleased to send you the silks converted from the DMC s listed. Stitched on 36c, for example, this 178 x 445 sampler will measure 9.8 x 24.7.

14 THE ATTIC! PAGE 14 And More Wonderful New Stuff! Clockwise from above: Sock Monkey Tapemeasure $11 ~ Sheep Sherpa $16.50, an adorable addition to your stitching corner that also provides a great place to have your needlework tools close at hand ~ Birds of a Feather $10, the newest design from Willow Hill Samplings, designer of Land of the Free, one of our Co-Samplers of the Month (to see all of Kim s other designs, please go to her Website ~ Praiseworthy Stitches latest in their Simple Gifts Series, Faith $14 ~ and, left, another group of adorable pincushion kits from Just Another Button Company, Tall Tree Pincushion Kit $16; each kit includes supplies for one of the trees. We are happy to choose for you! Below, we received our second shipment of this now-retired Liberty Hill accessory, the Stitcher s Station, that I love! It s become a critical organizer for my needful things that I need to have at my fingertips. $55, including some of everyone s favorite needles by Bohin.

15 THE ATTIC! PAGE 15 New from Pine Mountain Clockwise from the right: Home of the Brave Flange Pillow Kit $22 ~ Liberty Typography Special Edition Kit $25 ~ Celebrate July All Tied Up Kit $22 ~ Americana Sampler pattern $6 ~ and June - Live Simply medium pillow kit $22 New from Mill Hill From the left: Four $7 complete kits, 2 in the Mill Hill Snow Crystals Series, Ice Crystal and Snow Crystal ~ and 2 in the Mill Hill Winter Holiday Series, Oli Elf and Joy Tree ; each kit includes beads, treasures, 14c perforated paper, floss, specialty threads, needles, chart, magnet, and instructions

16 THE ATTIC! PAGE 16 Unicorn Wedding Sampler Stitch-Along This from Linda Vinson, SAL leader: Welcome to Attic Needlework s stitch-along for Page Dorsey s wonderful Unicorn Wedding Sampler. I decided to stitch this sampler as a labor of love for my son and his wife, but in many ways it s a love that encompasses even more than a beloved son and the woman he has chosen to live his life with. I love the history that sampler-making embodies, I love developing intricate stitches with bright silk on a woven cloth, I love Pat Evans who hand-dyed the Vintage Bisque linen on which I m working, I love the way our dogs come and keep me company by curling up near my feet as I stitch, and just now, I loved looking out the back window as I sat stitching and watching a soft summer rain fall on our yard. In many ways, stitching helps me celebrate the many blessings in my life. I have every expectation that you feel much the same about your stitching. As we work together over the next several months (I am estimating that we will take about 8 months) I hope to pass along any tips or hints to you that may be helpful as you stitch your sampler. I ve enjoyed the first band and have a couple of thoughts to share. Colors I decided to deepen the colors chosen by the designer to better reflect the tastes of my son and daughter-in-law, preferring jewel tones in their decor. In case any of you would like to do the same, my color choices are as follows: for the fabric I am using 40-count Vintage Bisque from Lakeside Linens. Silks are all Au Ver A Soie, 2 types: Soie d Paris Dark Green 2136, Green 2116, Gold 2234 in both Soie d Paris & Soie d Alger; and Soie d Alger in Dark Salmon 2926, Salmon 2925, Dark Blue 1746, Light Blue 2757, and Blanc (White). There is a slight correction to the Stitch Count; the sampler is 150 stitches wide rather than 190. Standish Stitch For anyone who might not know the history, this stitch is named for Loara Standish, born in the Plymouth Colony about 1631, the daughter of Captain Miles Standish and his wife, Barbara. Loara stitched her sampler in roughly the year 1653, at her home in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Amazingly enough, this sampler is still in existence, having been preserved by the Standish and Alden families until it was donated to Pilgrim Hall Museum. Loara s sampler is an American treasure as both the earliest known American sampler and the earliest known sampler with a verse. If you have the chance to visit Plymouth, please take the time to visit Pilgrim Hall and see Loara s sampler in person. The Standish stitch is easy to work, completely reversible, and quickly forms a rhythm. The only problem I found I had was my tendency to forget to do the 9-10 stitch. (The numbers are covered on the diagram; the stitch also shows up as on the right side of the diagram.) The easiest way for me to keep a check on myself was to periodically turn my work over and look at the back. You don t notice the lack of the stitch on the front, but will see the empty space on the back if you forget the In the double-running stitch of Band 1, the little leaves are missing on the right-hand middle tendril of the first and last groups of flowers. Stitch the right-hand tendril to match the left. In working the gold satin stitch in Band 1, I found that I didn t care for how the Soie d Paris was laying. I substituted a Soie d Alger in the same color for the satin stitch in the flowers. There is less sheen, but I find the thread cooperates better for me in laying smooth and straight. Next time, we ll discuss working dividing bands 3-6 and Band 2.

17 THE ATTIC! PAGE 17 Our Customers Share Left, Threads of Gold s Caroline Braden $14, and Jean D. recharted the verse to be stitched over 2 (I LOVE the rose motifs in the lower left and right) ~ Right, Rhonda s Halloween Rules Double Flips from Lizzie Kate Left, Rhonda s Splendor XXI from Maureen/ The Heart s Content that Rhonda will be framing instead of finishing as a needlebook. She fell in love with the verse, changed up the fabric and thread, and it is very beautiful. I m sorry my photograph isn t better. I ll try again in another light and a different setting.

18 THE ATTIC! PAGE 18 A July 4th to remember... Our week in Wisconsin began with a memorable class reunion ~ and then only days to wait for a fun and fabulous 4th with parade and fireworks. Not! The fireworks were cancelled, but the parade was everything I remembered, complete with plenty of tractors ~ and then it was time to retreat indoors as the temperature rose above 100! Sister Gail and family hosted a fun July 3rd party, complete with a flag cake that was colorful and delicious! A special memory was a trip to Madison, to the Wisconsin Historical Society, where we saw this treasured sampler, Betsy Manchester, in person! You can view their entire collection here I ve had this Scarlet Letter reproduction in my to-do basket for years. It has just risen to the top! My brother s beautiful patio sat empty on a sunny holiday afternoon because it was simply too hot!!!!

19 THE ATTIC! PAGE 19 Miscellaneous Did You Know that stitching can be therapeutic? Of course you did! It s what keeps many of us sane! And many even find it to be a meditative practice. But did you know that joining a club/group that meets monthly can have an effect on your happiness equivalent to doubling your salary? And did you know that you can join an Attic stitch group every Thursday night and spend a few hours stitching and laughing, another very therapeutic activity, with a wonderful group of like-minded women? It happens every Thursday night in our classroom until closing time at 8 p.m. Maegan and Patrick also spent Independence Day in small-town America: Carnation, Washington, and Maegan was privileged to accompany her niece, Faith, in the parade after helping her decorate her bike. In the heat of July, our cats have the right idea about how best to use the treadmill: take a nap on it! It was at times very poignant... Our Wisconsin visit was extra special, for many reasons, to c e l e b r a t e Independence Day with family, to enjoy this special celebration in smalltown America and all the old-time traditions that are still in place, like veterans graves decorated with flags ~ and getting to spend time with beloved family. Here s John with my father s younger sister, my only surviving aunt ~ and she is an inspiration to us all! Our Twelve Days of Christmas Sale will begin on Monday, July 16. Watch your Inbox for daily specials that, we hope, you find irresistible!