Thursday, February 14, 2013

2013 Nashville Market Releases


I can't believe it's almost time for the 2013 Nashville Market!  I had hoped that my Ann Leech reproduction would be ready in time, but unfortunately I'm still plugging along on the model.  So Ann will have to wait until another day!

The two C Street Samplerworks designs that will be released at the Nashville market are Heavenly Paradise and Elizabeth Girling.

HEAVENLY PARADISE
An Original Adam and Eve Design

The Heavenly Paradise model was stitched on 28ct Light Espresso linen by R&R Reproductions, using Weeks Dye Works and DMC floss.  The stitch count is 105 wide x 93 high, and the design measures approximately 7.5” wide x 6.6” high, when stitched on 28 count linen.  A variety of stitches are used, including Cross-both over two and over one, Satin, Round Rhodes, Double Leviathan, Rice, Smyrna Cross, and Round Eyelet.

The verse is from a poem by Thomas Campion, an English composer, poet, and physician who lived from 1567 to 1620.  I found the quotation in my 1937 edition of Bartlett’s Quotations, and it fit in perfectly with the Garden of Eden theme.  Recently I have found that several sources quote the poem as “ wherein all pleasant fruits do flow.”  But I’m going to go with my trusty 1937 volume and stick with “grow”!


ELIZABETH GIRLING SAMPLER
A Reproduction of an 1813 English Sampler

The Elizabeth Girling model was stitched on 28ct Claire's Classic linen by R&R Reproductions, but if I were going to stitch it again, I think I'd use Lakeside Linen's beautiful Pecan Butter linen, which was not available at the time.

The stitch count of the reproduction is 96 wide x 152h, and when stitched on 28 count linen, and the size is about is 6.9 inches wide x 10.9 inches high.  That is very close to the size of the original sampler, which measures approximately 6.6 inches by 11 inches.

ELIZABETH GIRLING ANTIQUE SAMPLER

Elizabeth's sampler apparently was never framed, but was hemstitched and basted to a heavy laid rag paper of the type which was used in the 18th and early 19th centuries.  If you look closely, you can see a little loop at the top.  It is a buttonhole loop, and it's grubbiness tells me that Elizabeth's sweet little sampler was displayed proudly for many years.

Now that these two charts are all packed up and ready to go to Nashville, I am going to concentrate on finishing the Ann Leech model.  This is a reproduction of a delightfully colorful 1827 sampler which is loaded with fun-to-stitch motifs and borders.  I have researched the stitcher, and it appears that Ann was born in 1814 in the village of St. Bees, Cumbria, England Check out the St. Bees website to see what a picturesque and interesting place it is! 

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!