Delaware Retreat part 2

I'm all caught up with shipping and paperwork, so I can get back to sharing my adventures in Delaware.

While still at Winterthur, we also got to see an exhibit, The Diligent Stitch , where we were allowed to take photos, so below are some of the wonderful items on display.

What a special day!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Saturday, I met with the rest of the ladies who were taking the class .  They did the prestitching for this little stitch book  I designed for them, so after painting, waxing, distressing, and lining the little boxes during class, they were actually able to go home with a "finished project".

I thoroughly enjoyed everyone that came to class......they were all willing to jump in and get messy when they had to and hopefully were inspired to tackle other finishing on their own !!

Sunday, I taught my one and only "Teaching Piece" , The Unfinished Sampler, which is a reproduction that is only partially finished.  In class we discuss how it could be completed and I supply info on the history, symbolism and then offer charted motifs to use in the completion.  It's always interesting to me to see what people plan on doing to put their own twist on the completion.

Ruth and Stacy, working on assembly of the "Delaware House Stitch Book".

Debby, brought show and tell of some of her fabulous finished stitchery........

These pieces are all "Just Nan" .....absolutely gorgeous !!!

The rest are my designs....... I loved how she finished those little "kits" I offer each year.

This last one is a comparison of my model of "Scarlet's Summer Sampler" on the right on 36ct linen, and Debby's done on 40ct........the smaller version is just too sweet !!

All too soon the "fun" was over and I was heading back home to face all the work and projects needing my attention.......

Thank you again Stacy, for all the special treatment over the long weekend, I enjoyed every minute of it !

And to all of the Guild members I had the pleasure to meet, what a wonder group of women you all are.  I was honored to spend the weekend with you and get to know you all a bit!!

Hopefully, our paths will cross again soon!!

Still Obsessed !!!!! Delaware Retreat part 1

Yes, I'm still obsessed with "Jack's Bash" by Paulette Stewart/ Plum Street Samplers !!!!  But now I can show you my finished piece.....just put the last of the grass in this morning !!!

It was such a fun piece to stitch.......and I actually finished in in one season !!!!  Thanks again, Paulette, for a wonderful design!


Last week, I had the pleasure of teaching for a very talented group of women who make up the Delaware Valley Historic Sampler Guild .  I came in a day early and Stacy (far right in picture below) who organized the entire weekend, also arranged to go to the Winterthur Museum for a private tour of the drawers and cupboards that house their sampler and other stitchery collections.  No pictures are allowed, but just to be in the presence of all of these precious pieces was unbelievable !!!!!  We also got to tour the 7th floor which was the DuPont"s private quarters and also filled with more samplers, needle necessaries, and a wide array of other textiles.

This trip has been on my "bucket list" for years and was better than I could ever have imagined !!!!  Thank you again, Stacy, for making it possible !!

And as an added bonus, the Downton  Abbey Exhibit was going on in the Museum, so we took that in as well. 

The exhibit compared the daily life at "Downton Abbey" with the activities at Winterthur during the same time period, which proved to be remarkably similar.  The costumes are absolutely unbelievable.  We could get really close to each piece, and see all the beautiful details.  The attention to detail is amazing !!

Below are a few picture of the exhibit.

That's enough for today......I'll be back soon with the rest of the weekend.  Until then....Happy Turkey preparations !!!