Oh no!!

Ann Lockart's thread key included with the new release charts has a printing error.  Please ensure the chart you purchased is an updated one.  If your chart reflects NPI 843 (Pumpkin Range) this is incorrect.  The correct number is NPI 863 (Pumpkin Range) which has been updated on the remaining charts as well as corrected for future printings.  My apologies for any issues this may have caused.

Mary Utley - 1837

Mary Utley - 1837

Original Sampler

This weeks newsletter from The Attic Needlework in Mesa, Arizona featured in addition to Susanah Rayment my new release Mary Utley.  The colors of Mary's original sampler are bold and bright, which  is why it reminds me so much of a child's drawing.  Anyone who knows me well, knows I am a traditionalist in my decor and I love bold statement colors.  Color is definitely something I am not afraid of if used properly.  The NPI colors selected for Mary definitely reflect this about the sampler.  The Attic selected beautiful silk conversions for those who like the more subtle aged look and the palette is absolutely beautiful.  I thought I would share the photo's of Mary's original sampler.  Unfortunately, when I began my research there are hundreds of Mary Utley's in the States during the time she would have been born since she very conveniently provided this information on her sampler. 

Mary Utley - 1837

Original Sampler

However, for England only a few appear.  I believe the sampler is British, however, since I purchased from a dealer here in the States and he was not sure where it came from I can't be certain.  She may have been born in England and moved here or her family had already settled here in the States hence the motifs and layout.  

Mary Utley - 1837

Original Sampler

There is really just no way to narrow down the search given her name is fairly common and there are no other clues.  This however, does not take away from the charm or the love I have for her sampler.  Enjoy!!

Very Exciting News!!!!

Susanah Rayment was selected by The Attic Needlework of Mesa, Arizona as the sampler of the month.  What an honor to have one of my samplers selected.  As well as my other samplers featured in their newsletter.  I love school girl samplers and Susanah is definitely a special one to me.  She was the first "real" sampler I purchased, first one I reproduced and one of my first releases.  I love the history behind samplers, researching, hoping to find the real story behind the stitcher responsible for the sampler.   The fact young ladies actually stitched them around the same time I originally learned is not lost on me either. 

I was taught cross-stitch by a neighbor I was a mother's helper one summer for.  I was intrigued by the little ornaments she was making.  When the baby napped she worked on a set of Hummel children Christmas ornaments.  I would watch and ask her a ton of questions (anyone who knows me is not surprised by the ton of questions - some things never change).  Finally, she asked me if I wanted to learn.  Looking back not sure if she really was sure she wanted to teach me or if she thought maybe, if she is busy, she will quit asking all of these questions.  She gave me some fabric, hoop, floss and one of her books to borrow.  Once she explained to me how to make my first x - I was addicted.  I can remember making my mom take me to every craft store around to find charts, fabric and floss (may be why she was so glad I finally had my license) and to this day I still search them out whenever I travel somewhere.

I have many of my early projects and periodically I will come across them in my stitching collection.  I will look at them, shake my head, and wonder what in the world I was thinking.  I can assure you 150 years from now anyone who stumbled across the efforts of my infant hands would wonder the same thing.

The quality of my ten year old hands may be extremely different from the young ladies a couple of centuries ago, but there is one common theme between us both that transcends time - our love of bringing fabric and thread together to pass our time away.