April 22, 2012

Elisabeth/Elizabeth and Ann

Greetings, everyone! I wanted to post on my progress on Elisabeth Easdon, on which I've been stitching steadily for the last couple of weeks. The colors in this shot are fairly true. There are tons and tons of motifs in this--it's simply scattered with trees, baskets, birds, etc. This is another sampler that I'd like to complete and get framed this year. Seems likely.


This photo was taken in September (bad light).


Remember Ann Anthony? Here's a little progress. More about Ann in a moment.


I discovered this "book of patterns and instructions" for American Needlework (by the Editors of Woman's Day) dated 1963 in my father's basement. Probably my mom had bought it years ago, although I'm not ruling out the possibility that I picked it up at a book sale sometime in the 70s and left it there. It features pattern sheets for "reproducing Other Early American Designs in Embroidery, Crewel Work, Cross-Stitch, Needlepoint, Patchwork, Applique, Quilting, Hooking, Candlewicking and Rugmaking." This album of designs is available on the 'net (I checked both Abebooks.com and Amazon). There seems to be a companion hard cover book that I do not have--it possibly has the color photos missing from the charts and instruction booklet.


This thumbnail photo caught my eye; I identified it immediately as a Rhode Island sampler design. Intrigued, I looked inside, taking out the pattern sheets for the half-dozen cross stitch designs.


Look at Ann Anthony's photo. Do you see the little thumbnail? Hint: bottom row of people.


Yep, it's Ann Anthony! This is the "American Needlework" version of Ann. It's almost the same as the Essamplaire version, except that Am. Needlework suggests charting your own name in the "white" row beneath the alphabet. I don't agree with that. I sometimes sign my name to repro samplers in a small, out-of-the-way area, but I don't hijack an entire section of the design. The AA chart (although it's entitled "Colonial Sampler") is copyrighted 1961, so I imagine the rights ran out on the Woman's Day pattern.


There are other appealing charts in this volume as well: "Brick House Sampler."


I want to do this one: "Cat Sampler." Have you seen this anywhere else? I'll note, by the way, that if you want to acquire this book of designs, the charting is pretty terrible. You can see it, but they took a lot of shortcuts in the charting. Note the left-hand column with the blank lines. They have charted two border flowers, which are shown elsewhere, and you are expected to duplicate those on each of the lines. All designs are charted for DMC, by the way--after all, it was the 1960s.


We have a new family member! Meet Elizabeth! Elvis found himself a girlfriend--he fell in love with her while he was boarded at Bunny-Lu in Haymarket. Bunny-Lu's owner had noticed that he seemed depressed that Pink and Peaches were so tightly bonded, and since bonding attempts between Elizabeth and other bunnies had failed, she placed Elizabeth with Elvis and it was love at first sight between these two lionheads. He's so happy to have a girlfriend. Tom says to Elvis "hey, your girlfriend has a mustache!"


Awwwww. We were going to adopt through Pink's rescuer, and in fact, my own choice would have been another uppy-eared white bunny (frankly, lionheads are stubborn and obnoxious), but as Woody Allen would say, the heart wants what it wants, and I wasn't going to argue with Elvis!


Happy week ahead!

33 comments:

Laurie in Iowa said...

Awww... it was love at first sight. I'm so glad Elvis found his Elizabeth.
Both your WIPs look wonderful. I have the AA book and box of charts. I'm going to have to check it out.
Hope the new job is going well.

marly said...

OMG your samplers are so grogeous. Glad to see a post! Now that looks like true love. I'm so happy for Elvis. His bride is a beauty.

Cari said...

Oh my gosh...aren't you so excited to discover stitching treasures?? This was way too much fun to read. Both of your samplers in this post are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

So happy that Elvis found his love. They are a very handsome pair. Too much fun. Gotta love the bunnies.

Have a great stitching week!!

Scout and Sage said...

One day I'm going to mail you cookies so you can explain samplers to this 'stitch clueless Canuck. :)

Elizabet is BEAUTIFUL .. Don't you listen to her about uppy rabbits with no manes, Miss Beth. My little Scout Bunny was an ND-Lionhead and a complete Napolean, OCD, perfectionist who was great at framing her sister for all crimes performed and .. .. wait, she may have a solid theory..

Margaret said...

Love your Elizabeth progress, and Ann too. So interesting about the old book having the same sampler in it! Weird out! Love that cat sampler. As for Elvis, good for him for finding his new mate!

barbara said...

I feel all warm and fuzzy inside, knowing that Elvis has his true lady love. :)

d. moll, l.ac. said...

They make SUCH an ADORABLE couple!!! congratulations Elvis and Elizabeth <3

Lanie said...

Both Elisabeth and Ann are lovely! Hmmmm...one day I would like to stitch them as well. Look forward to enjoying your progress!

Erica said...

Glenna, you are making wonderful progress! They look stunning!
I have that book too. I remember there were some beautiful samplers and other items in it. It is probably buried under decades of dust, but I will have to make an effort to retrieve it. I remember there was a quilt in it I wanted to make too.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Welcome, Elizabeth, and a big congrats to Elvis! Wishing plates full of carrot greens to the happy couple!

Karen said...

I'm so glad that Elvis is no longer lookin' for love in all the wrong places :-) Elizabeth is such a pretty girl for him.

You're making great progress on Elisabeth -- she's really coming along. Thanks for the heads-up on the needlework book. Alibris has it also :-)

Karen M said...

Elizabeth is a real beauty! Good choice Elvis. Here's to many happy years together!

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Bunny love! AWWWW, she is so pretty.

Jan said...

And they called it bunny love (cue music) Elizabeth is beautiful. I'm so happy for Elvis!
Oh year, nice samplers LOL!

Melissa said...

Awww, that's so sweet! I am so glad Elvis and Elizabeth found each other! They look perfect together with their colouring too!

Gee, after that, what else can I say?

Oh yes, your wonderful stitching! That's so neat you found that book AND that Ann Anthony is in there. That's pretty cool!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Elizabeth is beautiful! I'm so glad that she and Elvis are so happy together - the photo of the two of them is adorable!

We used to have a lionhead and she was very sweet natured, stubborn sometimes yes but certainly not obnoxious!

Daffycat said...

Beautiful stitching, Glenna. The sampler book you found is really interesting.

Congratulations to the happy couple! Surely such cute bunnies couldn't ever be obnoxious or stubborn. You are making that up!

Krista said...

Great stitchings! And what a great find, a lot of interesting patterns. Elizabeth is such a cutie :)

Chris said...

AWW! Bunny love :)
You are making great progress. I love that you found that book. It looks like there are some wonderful things in it.

Giovanna said...

Your WIPs are just lovely! Keep going :-)

Katrina said...

Sweet new special friend for Elvis, they are too cute :-)!!!! Love both your WIPs too!!!!

Kristen said...

Awwwww, fuzzy love! So happy for Elvis (and Elizabeth, too)!

Lovely stitching, as always. :)re

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Wow, I actually have that book but I bought it for the quilt patterns. I'll have to go pull it off the shelf and look for the samplers! Fun stuff!

Anonymous said...

I have the AA book and charts also. Love them. Funny, I was just looking at them the other night and thinking I have to get started on some of these samplers.
I do love the Ann design. I am kind of collecting pictures and charts of other stitchers that did these designs similiar to Ann's. It is quite amusing and interessting to me to see the similar design changes. I am currently stitching Elizabeth Easton's repro sampler that is similiar to Ann. I am intriged to know more about the collection of these designs on a whole, the teacher and the girls.

Anna van Schurman said...

Adorable bunny story. I'm glad they found each other. As always, your samplers are fantastic.

valerie said...

I am so happy that Elvis found a companion. Elizabeth is beautiful! Great progress on your samplers!

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Bunny kisses for sure!

RG said...

Well that's what happened with Zoey and Chico too.

Elvis is a hppy camper, and Elizabeth too.

Siobhán said...

Awww, how sweet--bunny love! I'm so happy for Elvis and his Lizzie bunny.

Your samplers are gorgeous! That is so neat about AA and the box of charts--definitely a sign that you need to get that sampler finished!

Kellie said...

Awwww.... So happy for Elvis. It's a shame her name isn't Priscilla. LOL! They look very sweet and happy together. Elvis was feeling like a third wheel, I would imagine.

Ann Anthony is gorgeous!! Reminds me so much of Elizabeth Sheffield. And it is neat that you found the same design in the book in your father's basement.

Catherine said...

Aaawwwww.......sweet bunny love!!
Your samplers, as always, look great!
Interesting book you found too.

Vanessa said...

Hi! I am a lurker on your blog and always love drooling over your sampler WIPs. They are beautiful. I also love samplers, but am a one a a timer. I also love seeing all the pics of your bunnies, they are adorable, and I am glad that Elvis has a friend now.

I have started a blog and I would love it if you had a chance to stop by. OneXataTime@wordpress.com

Thanks, Vanessa

Brigitte said...

Two beautiful samplers that you show here. Elisabeth looks absolutely great, I love the trees very much.
Great sampler book!