Where Samplers Rule Just 15 minutes from the Airport at the SE CORNER OF DOBSON & GUADALUPE 1837 W. Guadalupe Rd, Suite 109 Mesa, AZ 85202 TELEPHONE THE ATTIC (480)898-1838 2015 February 1 Issue No. 15-2 www.atticneedlework.com TOLL-FREE: 1.888.94.ATTIC February Sampler of the Month Gigi R Designs’ “The Big Cat Sampler” (Mary Ann Johncock 1841) Here’s what Gigi says about this sampler on the back of the chart: This beautiful sampler was stitched by Mary Ann Johncock in 1841. Mary Ann was 28 years old at the time. The original sampler has been stitched on very fine linen with silk threads (approx. 22 threads per cm). The linen of the original is slightly uneven-weave and because of that the original has more square-like appearance than our reproduction. Colors on the front side of the sampler are fairly faded. The back side reveals that originally the sampler has been more colorful, but not bright. Colors for our reproduction are selected from the back side. The sampler of Mary Ann is rather large. It is 318 stitches wide and 350 stitches high. It is densely packed with lovely motifs. The most prominent of all is a big bear-like cat in the center of the sampler. It is dark brown and looks slightly overwhelming. If you want to make it less dominant choose lighter color of threads. There are more cats on Mary Ann’s sampler, as well as many dogs, birds, flowers, deer, windmill, domestic utensils and two Trees of Knowledge with Adam & Eve beneath. Only crosses over 2 threads are used throughout the whole sampler, except a little bit of counted satin stitches in some flowers and whiskers of the cats. One strand of cotton thread is used if stitched on 40c linen. Left, Inguna started her model in the lower left and, right, I started it in the upper right. I’m stitching mine on 52/60 Lakeside linen with Tudor silks. During February save 15% on your purchase of a minimum of 2 of the following “kit parts”: • chart ~ $24 • linen (40c w/2-inch margins) ~ $45 • silk overdyes, $144.75; Tudors for 45c or 52/60 $99.75 The Attic, Mesa, AZ Toll-Free: 1.888.94-ATTIC (1.888.942.8842) www.atticneedlework.com PAGE THE ATTIC! More from Gigi R Designs 2 “Little Dutch Sampler” $18, 151 x 145 ~ below, Anka’s beautiful finish of this very charming sampler, with a few changes, she says: black cat & her children’s initials under the crowns. We’ve done a silk conversion for both samplers on this page. “ATS Saxony Sampler” $24, 237 x 670 The Attic, Mesa, AZ Toll-Free: 1.888.94-ATTIC (1.888.942.8842) www.atticneedlework.com PAGE THE ATTIC! More Beauty from Gigi 3 Bonnie’s completed “Anne Auriol,” featured in our April 19, 2013 eNewsletter Anne’s beautiful sampler is filled with a number of religious motifs, including the magnificent altar that forms the centerpoint of the sampler, with “Allelyua” below it. I LOVE this sampler, a must-stitch for me! Right, the overdyed silk conversion we did for “Anne” includes 14 luscious silks, $101.75. Left, “Isabella Fox 1827” $24, 250 x 275 Above, “Mary Hart” $15, 143 x 149, our model stitched on 52/60 linen with Tudor silks, only 4 colors! Love, love, love the frame Sandy chose for it! The Attic, Mesa, AZ Toll-Free: 1.888.94-ATTIC (1.888.942.8842) www.atticneedlework.com PAGE THE ATTIC! “The Betrothed W&E September 1889” 4 Above, the overdyed silks in our conversion with the Lakeside linen we chose for this stunning sampler (the linen color didn’t photograph well at all ~ it’s much more golden than it shows here. Several of us are stitching this stunning reproduction from Gigi. Clockwise from the right: Molly’s sampler on 40c Lakeside double-dyed linen with GAST ~ Bénédicte's “The Betrothed” (I’m sorry, I don’t know the specifics) ~ and mine, on Lakeside’s 52/60 with Gloriana’s Tudor silks The Attic, Mesa, AZ Toll-Free: 1.888.94-ATTIC (1.888.942.8842) www.atticneedlework.com PAGE THE ATTIC! 5 Customer Appreciation/Stitch-In, Thursdays, 4 - 8 PM Every Saturday, March 21, Beginning Hardanger Part 1, 10 - For as long as I can remember, The Attic has been open on 12 ~ Learn the basics of this beautiful Norwegian Thursday Thursday nights and, along with that, provides the setting for embroidery technique while creating a lovely sachet from customers to gather to share their needlework with others. Janice Love's "Hardanger Bible," Basics and Beyond. The book This is an opportunity for me to host a weekly time with our ($15) will be the text for this class with its very excellent and customers, to show them the newest and greatest, preview new comprehensive instructions, and it includes the class project design as well designs and great needlework stuff, and also see what you’re as five other lacy sachets. As always, students receive a 10% discount on stitching! As a valued customer, you are invited to join us! the book + supplies purchased for this class, including scissors. Fee $20 As an Attic Addict save 15% in February on: Saturday, March 21, Sampler Stitches 401, 1:30-3:30 ~ The class February * Gigi R Charts number tells the story here, an upper-level class because the stitches * All in-stock overdyed silks covered in this class: Detached Buttonhole & Trellis Stitch. $20 Fee ~ * All in-stock Lakeside Linens Linda appreciates it if students avoid wearing perfumes to class. Saturday, Feb 7, 10:30-12:30 Beginning Linen Save the Date ... for Summer School 2015, This class is appropriate for both beginning stitchers August 21 - 23 (please note new date) ... for some and anyone wishing to refine their skills. The class History Lessons ... with a needlework bent! project is Linda/Needlemade Designs’s Tulip needlebook design, and the $30 fee includes her expert instruction + materials. Class fee is due upon registration. August Saturday, February 7, 1 - 4, Reversible Cross Stitch ~ In this 3-hour 2015 class you will learn four reversible cross-stitch methods: the marking stitch, the Italian reversible, and two other methods. You can do this on either linen, evenweave, or aida; give us your choice when you register. Fee $25 Sunday, February 15, Sampler Sunday, 1 - 4 ~ We’re back on track Three workshops with Jackie du Plessis: November on February’s third Sunday with our monthly gathering for sampler * Attic of Dreams Part 2 6-8 & devotees. Refreshments served ~ please register ~ fee $10 * September Morning (Photos on the following page) possibly 9, * Something New & Very Special Our 2015 Junipine Retreat February 19 - 22, 3 PM Thursday thru 2015 Full details to follow in a future newsletter. Sunday noon, is full. Watch for photos of our special time together. Saturday, February 21, Our Semi-Annual Framing Frenzy. This is your opportunity to save 20% on your custom framing order, including frame, mat, and fillets, when you let Sandy use her expertise in selecting the perfect frame to enhance your needlework. Give her your budget, your likes and dislikes (“I don’t like gilded, but I love primitive”), make a $20 deposit, and she will do the rest. The discount does not apply to the January framing labor charge nor to readymade frames. All orders will be processed in the order received, and orders with deadlines are ineligible for 2016 the FF discount. Additionally, you should know that any non-FF incoming orders will receive preference in the order of completion, which makes it difficult to give a time estimate, but to save the 20% it is important that you understand the order of completion. We only have a few BCRF cookbooks left! Feb 27/28 + March 1 ~ Nashville March Market ~ We will be there to shop for you! Support a great cause (all net proceeds go to breast cancer research) by buying a copy(s) of the Recipes for a Cure 2015 Nashville Market Day, Saturday, March 7 A special day cookbook for a donation of $14.95 (or more) with fabulous time-tested recipes as well as complimentary designs from 11 to shop, shop, shop for all of the latest and greatest in our industry. Doors open 9 AM for Attic Addict members and 10 AM for the general public. The Attic, Mesa, AZ Toll-Free: 1.888.94-ATTIC (1.888.942.8842) www.atticneedlework.com THE ATTIC! PAGE6 Jackie’s September Morning Coming November 6-8 & possibly 9, 2015 The Attic, Mesa, AZ Toll-Free: 1.888.94-ATTIC (1.888.942.8842) www.atticneedlework.com THE ATTIC! Now just a fond memory . PAGE7 ... our Sampler Symposia and Merry Cox Mondays, and I selected a few photos from the two weekend events that reflect a very special moment in time with lovely needleworkers from around the world. Merry Cox showing guests her Ophelia! Holly Rison with her examples of scrim Guests Sue & Robin from Australia. Sandra Ball presented several interesting and compelling lectures. I LOVE this photo of Merry! Below, the wonderful sentiment Sandra Ball used to end her presentation on Victorian mourning practices. Selecting transfers in Holly’s scrim class Guests Sandra & Grace from Great Britain. Guest Bernie from Belgium The Attic, Mesa, AZ Toll-Free: 1.888.94-ATTIC (1.888.942.8842) www.atticneedlework.com PAGE THE ATTIC! Coming at Nashville from Queenstown Sampler Designs 8 “Townscape” $28, an adaptation of a c.1850 sampler in a private collection featuring a panoramic town scene with Berlin work border, probably from Pennsylvania.