Country Sampler Stitch Camp - Part One

It’s been awhile since our last road trip! We just returned from a long weekend in the Madison/Spring Green area. As with any trip that takes us East on I-94, we made a stop at the Norske Nook and our stop was perfectly timed for lunch! 

I forgot to take a picture of the pie. I had a delicious piece of banana cream and my partner in crime had a piece of Cherry, Cherry Crunch. Onward we traveled. First stop Lodi, WI. We stopped in a couple cute shops and continued on. Spent the night in Middleton, a suburb of Madison.

Day two of our journey took us to Lynn’s of Madison. Lynn’s is a multi-craft store, selling art and needlework supplies. They have a wonderful selection of linen, and some of their older cross stitch charts were discounted.

My primary goal at Lynn’s was to work with them to get one of my antique samplers framed. Before leaving home, I had taken it out of it’s frame. A lot of dust came out with it! Fortunately, no bugs. The stitched piece had been basted to another piece of fine fabric and then the edges were nailed to a wooden frame. I gently vacuumed it front and back. Lynn removed all of the nails. Once we laid the sampler on a piece of white mat board we could see how beautiful she really was!

This is the front - not much damage! She used four-sided stitch for her first alphabet. There’s also a row of eyelet stitches. I think she then gave up on specialty stitches - the rest of the sampler is done in cross stitch. Toward the bottom, the house and the tree to the left of the house, the stitches were pulled very tight - maybe she was dealing with some stress in her life, or maybe she just wanted to get her sampler finished.

Here is the back. As you can see, the colors did not fade much on the front. The sampler was stitched by Eliza Guy in 1845 and she was 10 years old. Some day I’ll try to see if I can find out more about her. Thanks to Lynn’s this beauty will be preserved for many years (centuries) to come!

Which brings us to Thursday and that means the start of Stitch Camp at Country Sampler in Spring Green, but first a visit to the shop is in order. I took lots of pictures of their displays for you to enjoy. Such an inspiring place to be!

More shop photos later!

The retreat started Thursday night with dinner and a meet and greet with the designers, but the classes started on Friday. First up was Alma Allen from Blackbird Designs. I love everything Blackbird. I’ve probably stitched more Blackbird than any other designer! I’ve probably also had the good fortune to take more classes with Blackbird Designs than any other designer! Alma did not disappoint! Her project was based on motifs and colors taken from an old sampler she had acquired on eBay.

We’re just getting started! I will come back with Part Two either later today or tomorrow!

An April Finish - Though He Seemeth Sleeping

Loved this stitch from beginning to end. Though He Seemeth Sleeping from Lucy Beam. Stitched on 36 ct Mind Blowing from Fort Night Fabrics. Weeks, GAST, and Classic Colorworks.

April Shenanigans - Part 2

And the Cross stitch Extravaganza continued on Friday with a fascinating lecture on linen and needlework tools from Pat Ryan and Ann Robbins from R&R Reproductions/ Dyeing to Stitch.

They shared so much information and spoke for just over two hours. It was so interesting!

The afternoon designer was Stacy Nash! I’ve met Stacy before but this was my first official class with her. We received the kit to make this swan biscornu!

Here are some snapshots of Stacy’s trunk show!

The two days were over before we knew it, but the retreat did not disappoint. We enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones. It was an inspiring two days!

April Shenanigans - Part 1

April was a busy month. I usually like to update this blog with my travels, but I just didn’t have time.

My Partners in Crime and I headed down to the Kansas City area for the Quilter’s Station Cross Stitch Extravaganza. We really enjoy this retreat. It’s easy travel - straight shot south on I-35. Two days, four designers, and lots of familiar faces. Excellent shopping at Quilter’s Station. We didn’t make any extra stops this time, just traveled for the retreat.

I can’t remember the exact order of the designers anymore, so let’s just start with La D Da! Lori M never disappoints. Her project this time was a small pin pillow with the design taken from an antique sampler that she owns.

Each designer brings a trunk show with them. Here are some snapshots of Lori’s models.

I think we also heard from Vickie Jennett of Needlework Press that first day. She presented an interesting lecture on houses in samplers. Our project included a sampler with a red house! Of course, no project from Vickie is complete without a design for perforated paper.

The original is shown first followed by the reproduction.

Vickie had a lovely trunk show in display too.

Will tell you more about Day 2 tomorrow!

WIP Stitch-uation

Had time yesterday to pull out my pressing mat and take some pictures! Thought I would share photos of the projects I have been working on in April and May.

I am loving this design from Mojo Stitches. It’s called The Humble Stitcher. The colors are my jam. I’m stitching on a piece of Lakeside Linen 36ct Vintage Bisque, so it’s a relaxing and enjoyable stitch.

At the end of April, I started this older design from Plum Street Samplers. I’ve had this in my stash forever. Another piece of Lakeside Linen! I think it’s Vintage Sand Dune. Just a modest start…

My Blue Earth friends talked about starting a Sunday stitch in April and I wanted to partake in their fun. I have started this design three times now - just can’t find the right piece of linen. I might have it right now. This is from Amy Mitten and it’s a reproduction - Sarah Verrier - it’s the Lord’s Prayer in French!

While at the retreat in Amana, I worked on another Plum Street design that I plug away on a little bit each year. It’s called A New Constellation. Paulette has four samplers designed in this style (the fourth one will be released this fall). They are stitch heavy! I have a lot done and quite a bit to go.

In April, I attended the Quilter’s Station retreat in Lee’s Summit, MO. These last two projects are from that retreat. First up, La D Da. This motif is from an antique sampler in her collection. It will make a sweet little pin pillow when finished.

Last but not least, a design from Stacy Nash. This will be a biscornu when finished,

There you go! My current stitching projects! Only problem is…I’m itching to stitch patriotic. It’s that time of year!

A Lucky Find

I was reminded today that there are several people out there who still follow this blog. I need to do a better job of updating more regularly. It definitely would keep the Mad Tatter happy!

One of the fun things about visiting Amana is the variety of antique shops that can be explored. There are several shops within walking distance of the event center where the retreat is held. One of my favorites is called Grapevine Antiques. They have lots of variety - I found some vintage tatting shuttles, some old cookie cutters, and a few other things. The best find though was a vintage quilt! It was down in the basement, tucked away in a basket. 

I wasn’t really looking for a quilt, but this one grabbed my heart. There were 48 blocks and the flower designs had been hand embroidered. The fabric colors appealed to me too - bubblegum pink and green. I also could tell that the entire quilt was hand quilted.

Looking closer at the quilt, I could not find a single tear, there were no holes and no stains. Then I looked at the price tag - it was $46! What??? Decision made, this quilt was coming home with me. Here she is:

It fits the top of our queen size bed. I didn’t realize the significance of the blocks until I got back to the retreat. These are the 48 state flowers! Yes, you read that correctly, 48 states. That means this quilt was likely made before 1959. Based on the fabrics used, it might even have been made as far back as the 30’s.

It was such a lucky find. Someone put a lot of work in it. I feel fortunate to have it and will treasure it!

I forgot to post a dog photo last time and the Mad Tatter asked about it. We were dog sitting this weekend for our son so here’s Lizzie and Finn relaxing on the loveseat.

Thanks for stopping by. I will try to be better!