Ann Sandles 1846 Update...

After another week of stitching here is an update of the Ann Sandles sampler, photo courtesy of model stitcher Suzanne. Suzanne lives in Ohio and myself in Iowa, so it is with digital photos and email that I watch the progression of the Ann Sandles sampler being reproduced...isn't technology fabulous? As you can see, Suzanne has now made her way to the larger-then-life border. Young Ann didn't mess around with small dainty borders, she loved them big! Everything in this sampler is big, relatively speaking, to the size of the overall sampler. Not much spacing between motifs on this piece. For some reason I don't picture Ann as a dainty 13 year old...

The larger then normal border was another feature of this antique sampler that grabbed and wowed me...I liked it's uniqueness. There are some leaf placement errors made by young Anne (age 13), throughout the border. In keeping true to the original sampler, the pattern will be charted with these errors as well.

The windows are waiting for their cute little white panes and there is outline stitching in red around the blue letters that will be stitched yet, before the piece is done. This outline stitching in the red really makes the letters pop.

Wait until you see the top portion of this sampler...this is where you'll find Adam & Eve, some birds, apple trees, frolicking puppies and other star-shaped motifs...and of course, a serpant hiding within the apple tree.

This is the final sneak peek, the next showing will be of the finished piece...stay tuned!

With thy Needle & Thread,

Brenda