Three More Days…

For years I've wanted to own an antique sampler.

Or I at least wanted to be able to look at one.

But mostly I wanted to own one.

And then I met my friend Tanya of The Scarlett House, and now I own one. Or maybe it's more than one… I can't remember exactly, and that's the story I'm sticking with.

The moral of the story is this: If you want something bad enough, Tanya will persuade you to get it.

The 1837 Crown Sampler was the very first antique sampler that came to live with me, and I love dearly. What attracted me to it was the lovely coral and salmon-colored floral band on it, as well as the verse, which can also be found on other samplers from this era. I remember feeling so excited as I removed the sampler from behind the glass and just held it in my hands, marveling that someone worked on this very piece 176 years ago, by candlelight. It was breathtaking to me! Then I drove it over to my mother's house, and my dad stood by with the smelling salts as we swooned.

Here is a picture of the original sampler:

And here is the reproduction of it (which was first presented to the Sampler Guild of the Rockies back in May of this year):

1837 Crown Sampler

Stitch count: 294(w) x 229(h)
Fabric used: 32 ct. Vintage Examplar by Lakeside Linens
Threads used: Weeks Dye Works in…

Holly (2 skeins suggested)
Chrysanthemum
Hazelnut
Oak (3 skeins suggested)
Bright Leaf
Havana (2 skeins suggested)
Teal Frost
Confederate Gray
Pea Coat
Pelican Gray
Kudzu (2 skeins suggested)
Light Khaki

For those of you wondering about the name of this sampler, you'll find two crowns stitched in Pea Coat in the top portion. I love the symmetry of this beautiful sampler, and I found it to be a very enjoyable piece to work on. It actually went by rather quickly!

And for those of you who have been following Katrina's progress on hers, I'll have you know she's supposed to be framing it today, but is outside as I type this, mowing the lawn instead. 🙂 She came up with an outstanding conversion for hers, using a softer palette that included one of our favorite Gentle Art colors, Mountain Mist (in place of WDW Confederate Gray)…

I liked Katrina's conversion so well, I decided that my next reproduction will have two colorways: one that is true to the original, faded colors of the antique, and one that is a bit more lustrous and overdyed. 😉

As far as market goes, I've got everything boxed up and ready to load into the car. My only fear is that it won't all fit, in which case I'll need to get a side car for Soph and Mike to ride in.

Wish me luck, and I'll see you soon!