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!