A Band sampler is a long narrow sampler, where designs are stitched in rows or bands across the width of the fabric. This type of sampler was popular in the 17th century.  Some of my favorites to stitch are those done by Prairie Schooler. This [...]]]> What is a band sampler?

Summer Sampler from Prairie Schooler

A Band sampler is a long narrow sampler, where designs are stitched in rows or bands across the width of the fabric. This type of sampler was popular in the 17th century.  Some of my favorites to stitch are those done by Prairie Schooler. This particular sampler hangs in our kitchen. It is from the Summer Samplers Book 77. All of them were worked on 14 cont Fiddlers Lite and use the brass bell pull hardware available from Nordic Needle.

I’ve woeked a number of these as gifts for family and friends but failed to take pictures of them which is my loss. The ones I have stitched include :

• Band Samplers – Book 40
• Garden Samplers – Book 45
• Garden Verses – Book 49
• Spring Samplers – Book 60
• Christmas Samplers – Book 63
• Summer Samplers – Book 77

I first stitched this sampler when Jim and I were traveling in our 21′ Sunline travel trailer. It hung in the trailer during all of our travels. When Jim’s daughter, Martha, and her husband, Paul, started using an old family farmhouse as a summer retreat, I [...]]]>

Home Sweet Away From Home Sampler

I first stitched this sampler when Jim and I were traveling in our 21′ Sunline travel trailer. It hung in the trailer during all of our travels. When Jim’s daughter, Martha, and her husband, Paul, started using an old family farmhouse as a summer retreat, I thought this would make a nice gift. So I pulled our the chart again and made it for them as a Christmas gift (2007.)

The sampler is worked on 14 court khaki Aida and finished with red bell pull hardware.

NOTE: This pattern appeared in the April/May 1991 issue of Cross-Stitch Quick & Easy magazine. I am not sure if the magazine is still being published or not. I have had several people contact me about this pattern which I was finally able to locate again so please feel free to get back to me.

My niece, a brand new doctor, had her first baby in June, a little boy. This was stitched for him. I finally got it stretched, matted, and framed and will be delivering it over the Thanksgiving holiday.

It was stitched on 28 count cream Jobelan, one of my favorite fabrics to work on. [...]]]>

My niece, a brand new doctor, had her first baby in June, a little boy. This was stitched for him. I finally got it stretched, matted, and framed and will be delivering it over the Thanksgiving holiday.

It was stitched on 28 count cream Jobelan, one of my favorite fabrics to work on. The chart is one of the Heirloom Samplers from Vera K. Designs.

UPDATE: Delivered the baby sampler to my niece and her husband on Thanksgiving Day. They loved it.

NOTE: As of December 2008, I have not been able to locate anyone who still has this chart available and I have already given away my copy of it.

Why God Made Little Boys Author: Unknown

God made the world out of His dreams Of [...]]]> This design “Why God Made Little Boys” from the Stoney Creek Collection was stitched for my grandson, Travis Lee Martin and given to him in 1990. The design is still available but it has changed considerably from this original one.

Why God Made Little Boys
Author: Unknown

God made the world out of His dreams
Of magic mountains, oceans and streams,
Prairies and plains and wooded land,
Then paused and thought “I need someone
to stand On top of mountains,
to conquer the seas, Explore the plains
and climb the trees. Someone to start out small
and to grow, Sturdy, strong as a tree…”
And so, He created boys,
full of spirit and fun, To explore and conquer, to romp and run.
With dirty faces and banged up chins,
With courteous hearts and boyish grins.
When He had completed the task He’d begun
He surely said “A job well done”.

I stitched [...]]]> This Folk Art Wedding Sampler was stitched for my niece, Megan Wells. The chart is from the Sudberry Series Book #4. It was stitched on ivory 28ct Jobelin over two threads. It is single matted in green with an ornate gold frame. The finished piece measures 14″ x 14″ framed.

I stitched this same pattern for my husband on our 2nd wedding anniversary and placed it in one of the Sudberry Square Trays.

The Shenandoah Valley Sampler was worked on 14 count ivory Aida from an individual graph by W. W. Reynolds of Cary NC. I have no idea if it still available. The piece was professionally stretched, triple matted, and framed and was a gift to my husband on his 70th birthday. He is [...]]]>

The Shenandoah Valley Sampler was worked on 14 count ivory Aida from an individual graph by W. W. Reynolds of Cary NC. I have no idea if it still available. The piece was professionally stretched, triple matted, and framed and was a gift to my husband on his 70th birthday. He is now 93! Later the entire framed piece was disassembled to put glass into the frame.

The poem at the bottom of the sampler reads -

I love the mountains wreathed in mist,
The twilight skies of amethyst.
I love the gorgeous trumpet flowers,
Wild rose and honeysuckle bowers.
I love the laughter of the rills,
Cloud shadows stretched athwart the hills.
I love the martial ranks of corn,
Thin blades agleam, with lights of morn.
I love the love of native sod.
The simplest faith that trusts in God,
In old Virginia.

The words surrounding the sampler are Shenandoah – Daughter of the Stars and all the counties that make up the Shenandoah Valley.