Inspiration

Happy Sunday, all. I have a tale of exquisite inspiration later in this post. But first, something I've been fiddling with this week. Does anyone recognize this piece? I'm stitching it on 40 count Lakeside from my stash (something yellowy), using the called-for DMC.

It's an older Cricket Collection piece called "Winter Cabin." I stumbled upon it on ebay a while back. I don't remember ever seeing it in a shop. It has a copyright date of 1996.

I put in some time to finish the "G" block of Anagram Diffusion's Sampler Tendresse, and then started the "M" block, which will be illustrated by a white mouton. There are no specialty stitches in this sampler, but I wonder if I should stitch the sheep with french knots.

Someone asked last week what charts I had added to my stash, and here they are (I haven't started any of them yet; I'm waiting to see whether the St. Charles Market will offer up something I'm even more excited about, although I love all four of these). I've got a nice large piece of Picture this Plus in Heritage or Legacy for the Blackbird Designs series (I'll be stitching most of them), but it's tempting to buy a piece of the new 50 count Lakeside for the project.
There are a lot of birds here.

Here's the inspiration that I promised. Those of you who've been reading this for a while know that occasionally I post photos of houses for sale that particularly speak to me. IRL, I have looked at two houses (one a condo, one a house in my neighborhood) where there have been one or more originaly samplers, which is always a huge kick for me. Everyone else is busy looking at bathrooms and kitchens and noting the kind of material used in the countertops, and there I am, mooning over the sampler(s), making little mewing acquisition noises. And I'm a big fan of online house hunting as well, critiquing the decor and always, always keeping an eye out for really nice art, fabrics, furniture and samplers. But you know, samplers are as scarce as hen's teeth, even in traditional old Virgina, where every house, old or new, is described as a "colonial."
But look at this. What do you see going up the stairs? Inconclusive--could be simple artwork, right? But that piece with the ship--and the writing on the top. Sampler or not? By the way, note the scrollwork on the stairs. Looks old and substantial, doesn't it? The house was built in 1989.

This clarifies things, doesn't it? That IS a sampler over the fireplace. A quaker. Hand done by the occupant, or an original (Does anyone recognize the particular sampler? It rings a bell with me, but perhaps any quaker might)? Note that to the left and right of the fireplace there may be two smaller samplers. Or not--you decide. Note also the pillows and the bench/footstool.

[Edited to add:] Thank you, Dan...it is the Permin Vierlande 1826 sampler seen here (this photo from the permin website: http://www.permin.co.uk/traditional-collection.html)

Here's another sampler. The photo points out the stained glass window, but I wanted the photo to go a little lower!

For the entire set of photos, go here: http://www.fredericksburg.com/Homes/detail?list_numb=SP8152670&prevList=http://www.fredericksburg.com/Homes/Listings?prng=700000%7E799999&query_start=11 (I can't get it to do a proper link; try pasting it in your browser. Click on "virtual tour" for the photos.)
If for some reason the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it. The home is offered in Spotsylvania county, for $730,000, by Coldwell Banker's Locust Grove office. There are approximately 30 photos, and from room to room, there is a glorious but restrained series of quilts, toile, penny rugs, needlepoint, a hooked rug tombstone angel at the foot of a bed and various pieces of folk art. My question: needleworker or just someone with really good taste in handcrafted items? If they ever offer an open house, I'll be there, drooling. It's a beautiful and inspiring home.
Elizabeth: I can tell that they don't have bunnies, because none of the woodwork is chewed.

Happy week ahead!