More Needlework Book Offerings...

As I mentioned in my previous post - my studio bookshelves are overflowing and I have been needing to simplify and narrow them down for months...and although I adore my book collection, it is time to start letting a few of them move on to new homes where they will continue to be loved and cherished. If you collect books about needlework or antique samplers or have a love for historical needlework, then you just may find a treasure you have been searching for...

Over the coming weeks, I will be posting photos (scans of front and back cover) and details of the actual books in my collection, along with pricing information in US dollars. If you are interested in any of the listings, simply send me an e-mail. E-mail messages will be honored in the order received. I will provide you with shipping options (please tell me where you are located or your mailing address in your e-mail message, so I can give you an exact quote), then I will send a PayPal invoice. I ship world-wide, package items very promptly and carefully, and I will combine shipping if you are interested in multiple books. Once a book is spoken for, I will remove it or mark it as sold as quickly as possible. I have treasured these books and taken extremely good care of them - they come from a smoke-free home - and I will try to provide you with as many details as possible. My hope is to find new, loving homes where these special books will continue to be enjoyed...

Many of the books listed are rare and/or out of print (OOP) - they are priced in-line with the current market value. Serious inquiries/e-mails/comments only - thank you! Please click on photos for larger images.

A Winterthur Quide to American Needlework by Susan Burrows Swan
Good - $5.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 1976 - 5.5" x 8" - 144 pages - black and white images
ISBN: 0-517-521776  Publisher: Crown Publishers, Inc.
Cover wear and sticker residue - all pages intact - no markings inside.

"Behold the Labour of My Tender Age" Children and Their Samplers, 1780-1850
by Gayle A. Rettew, William H. Siener, and Janice Tauer Wass
Very Good - extremely rare/hard to find - $200.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 1983 - 8.5" x 11" - 60 pages - black and white images
ISBN: None  Publisher: Rochester Museum and Science Center
Great condition - very light cover wear.

British Samplers: A Concise History by Jane Toller
Very Good (like new) - $24.50 plus shipping
Softcover - 1980 - 5.5" x 8.5" - 63 pages - color and black/white images
ISBN: 0-85033-383-0  Publisher: Phillimore & Co., Ltd.
New condition - small original price sticker inside front cover.

British Samplers by Mary Eirwen Jones
Good - $8.50 plus shipping
Softcover - 1988 - 7.5" x 9.75" - 96 pages - color and black/white images
ISBN: 0-7134-5634-5  Publisher: B. T. Batsford Ltd.
Slight cover wear, sticker residue on front cover, and minimal
writing inside front cover.

The Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin Volume 24, Number 2 April 1959
Includes: New England Crewel Embroideries
AND
The Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin - Volume 52 - Summer/Fall 1987
(Includes:  A Middletown Cameo: Mary Wirght Alsop and her Needlework by Glee Krueger)
Both Very Good (like new) - $25.00 plus shipping for 2 book set
Softcover - 6" x 9" (both) - 1st listing 64 pages, 2nd listing 230 pages,
black/white images
Both in great condition.

Discovering Embroidery of the 19th Century by Santina M. Levey
Very Good - $5.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 1983 - 4.5" x 7" (pocket size) - 64 pages - black/white images
ISBN: 085263398X  Publisher: Shire Publications Ltd.
Very light cover wear - original owner wrote name in pencil
inside front cover, then erased.

Embroidery Motifs from Old Dutch Samplers by Albarta Meulenbelt-Nieuwburg
Good - $40.00 plus shipping
Hardcover - 1974 - 6.5" x 9.75" - 192 pages - black/white images
ISBN: 0 684 13678 3  Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons
Dust jacket is worn, but cloth book is in excellent condition - original
owner's name written inside front cover.

English Embroideries of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
in the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum by Mary M. Brooks
Very Good (like new) - $16.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 2004 - 5.85" x 8.25" - 96 pages - color images
ISBN: 1-85444-192-2  Publisher: Jonathan Horne Publications London

Guide to English Embroidery (Victoria and Albert Museum) by Patricia Wardle
Good - $22.50 plus shipping
Softcover - 1970 - 9.5" x 7.25" - 93 pages - black/white images
ISBN: 11 290030 5  Publisher: Victoria and Albert Museum
Slight cover/corner wear - original price in pencil inside front cover.

The Fourth of Joan Edwards' Small Books on the History of Embroidery
Gertrude Jekyll - Embroiderer, Gardener and Craftsman (1981)
Good - Rough spot on cover, slight bend lower right corner cover,
sticker residue on back.
AND
The Fifth of Joan Edwards' Small Books on the History of Embroidery
Sampler Making 1540-1940 (1983)
Very Good - light cover wear, pricing marks on cover
$25.00 (two book set) plus shipping
Softcover (both) - 5.85" x 8.25" - 1st listing is 24 pages, 2nd listing is 20 pages, black/white images
ISBN: 0-907287-03-4 and 0-907287-04-2 Publisher: Bayford Books

Old-Time Tools & Toys of Needlework by Gertrude Whiting
Very Good (like new) - $14.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 1971 - 6.5" x 9.25" - 357 pages - black/white images
ISBN: 0-486-22517-8  Publisher: Dover Publications, Inc.

Patterns of Childhood: Samplers from Glasgow Museums by Rebecca Quinton
Very Good (like new) - $20.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 2005 - 5.85" x 8.25" - 96 pages - color images
ISBN: 0-7136-7476-8  Publisher: Herbert Press

Pioneer Memorial Museum Samplers - Daughters of Utah Pioneers
Very good (like new) - $16.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 2004 - 9" x 7.5" - 67 pages - color images
ISBN: 0-9749100-0-7  Publisher: Wasatch Marketing

Samplers by Pamela Clabburn
Very Good (like new) - $9.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 2002 - 5.85" x 8.25" - 40 pages - color images
ISBN: 0-7478-0365-X  Publisher: Shire Books

Samplers from A to Z by Pamela A. Parmal
Very Good (like new) - $16.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 2000 - 8.75" x 9.5" - 64 pages - color images
ISBN: 0-87846-481-6  Publisher: MFA Publications

The Theodore H. Kapnek Collection of American Samplers (Sotheby's Exhibition/Auction Guide)
Good/Very Good - $63.95 plus shipping
Softcover - 1981 - 8.75" x 9.25" -172 pages color and black/white images
ISBN: None  Publisher: Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc.
Slight cover/corner wear.
This is a sale catalog for an auction held at Sotheby's York Avenue
showroom on January 31, 1981. Sale # 4531Y. The sale consisted of the remarkable
 collection of American samplers assembled by Theodore Kapnek. 

This Have I Done: Samplers and Embroideries from Charleston and The Lowcountry
by Jan Hiester and Kathleen Staples
Very Good (like new) - $35.00 plus shipping
Softcover - 2001 - 8.25" x 8.25" - 46 pages - color images
ISBN: 1-928584-03-9  Publisher: Curious Works Press and The Charleston Museum

For additional available titles, please see yesterday's post...

If you are looking to add to your needlework book collection, please check back over the coming weeks, I still have a large list to add. If you are looking for a specific title, please e-mail me and I will let you know if I have it available....and you are welcome to send me a message with any questions you may have...

Thank you so much for all the inquiries and purchases - I am so glad my collectible books are finding good homes!

Handwork and Historical Samplers

My studio bookshelves are overflowing and I have been needing to simplify and narrow them down for months. For some reason, my collection keeps growing - could it be my obsession for all things done with a needle/thread and my endless quest for knowledge?? - I'm guessing so - in all honesty, I just love curling up with a beautiful and inspiring book...but when the book collection is starting to get stacked on the nearby table and on the floor, it is time to do a little house cleaning. Years ago, I began a large collection of books about handwork and historical samplers - quite a few of these books are out of print (OOP) or very rare....but it is time to start letting a few of them move on to new homes where they will continue to be loved and cherished. If you collect books about needlework or antique samplers or have a love for historical needlework, then you just may find a treasure you have been searching for...

Over the coming weeks, I will be posting photos (scans of front and back cover) and details of the actual books in my collection, along with pricing information in US dollars. If you are interested in any of the listings, simply send me an e-mail. E-mail messages will be honored in the order received. I will provide you with shipping options (please tell me where you are located or your mailing address in your e-mail message, so I can give you an exact quote), then I will send a PayPal invoice. I ship world-wide, package items very promptly and carefully, and will combine shipping if you are interested in multiple books. Once a book is spoken for, I will remove it or mark it as sold as quickly as possible. I have treasured these books and taken extremely good care of them - they come from a smoke-free home - and I will try to provide you with as many details as possible. My hope is to find new, loving homes where these special books will continue to be enjoyed...

Please click on photos for larger images.

Blue Ribbon Sampler: A Prize Winning Cross Stitch and Counted
Thread Sampler by Olwyn Horwood
SOLD Very Good (like new) - $190.00 plus shipping SOLD
Softcover - 2000 - 8.5" x 11" - 88 pages - color images
ISBN: 09-582105-3-5 Publisher: Georgeson Publishing Limited

Olwyn's Treasured Samplers by Olwyn Horwood
SOLD  Very Good (like new) - $47.50 plus shipping SOLD
Softcover - 2002 - 8.25" x 10.75" - 88 pages - color images
ISBN: 0-958-21058-6 Publisher: Georgeson Publishing Limited

Samplers by Rebecca Scott
Very Good (like new) - $22.50 plus shipping
Softcover - 2009 - 7.5" x 10" - 128 pages - color images
ISBN: 978-0-74780-706-3 Publisher: Shire Books

Emblems for a Queen: The Needlework of Mary Queen of Scots by Michael Bath
Very Good (like new) - $65.50 plus shipping
Softcover - 2008 - 8" x 10.5" - 172 pages - color images
ISBN: 978-1-904982-36-4 Publisher: Archetype Publications

Youth is the Time For Progress: The Importance of American
 Schoolgirl Art 1780-1860 by Olive Blair Graffam
SOLD - Very Good (like new) - $50.00 plus shipping - SOLD
Softcover - 1998 - 8.5" x 11" - 76 pages - color images
Publisher: National Society Daughters of the American Revolution - DAR Museum
 Catalog of the exhibit of samplers Dec 5, 1997 - May 4, 1998 at the
National Society of the DAR, Washington DC

A Gallery of American Samplers: The Theodore H. Kapnek Collection
by Glee Krueger
SOLD Good - $13.50 plus shipping SOLD
Softcover  - First Edition (1978) - 8.5" x 11" - 96 pages - color images
ISBN: 0-525-47515-X  Publisher: E. P. Dutton
Originally purchased used - cover corners/edge wear.

New England Samplers to 1840 by Glee Krueger
SOLD - Good - $62.50 plus shipping - SOLD
Softcover - 1978 - 7" x 8.5" - 227 pages
Illustrated with black and white photographs.
Publisher: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Originally purchased used - cover wear, edge wear
- all pages present - see scanned images.

Needlework: An Historical Survey by Betty Ring
 (Antiques Magazine Library)
SOLD - Good - $55.00 plus shipping - SOLD
First Edition (1975) - Softcover - 8.5" x 11" - 17 pages
Illustrated with black and white photographs.
ISBN: 0-87663-922-8 Publisher: Main Street/Universe Books
Originally purchased used - small tear in lower left front cover,
original price blacked out on back cover - all pages present
 - see scanned images.

Samplers by Carol Humphrey (Fitzwilliam Museum Handbooks)
Very Good (like new) - $20.95 plus shipping
Softcover - 1997 - 7" x 9.5 "- 140 pages - 64 color plates.
ISBN: 0-521-57592-3 Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This is just my very first offering - if you are looking to add to your needlework book collection, please check back over the coming weeks, I have a large list to add. If you are looking for a specific title, please e-mail me and I will let you know if I have it available. You are welcome to send me a message with any questions...

For now, I am back to stitching on my 2014 Komen 3-Day special design - it is nearing completion and I can't wait to share it with you...

Arriving In Ocean City...

The Lankford Hotel - Salty Yarns

I returned home late last night from my first trip to Ocean City, MD...I was teaching for Salty Yarns at their Ocean City Stitcher's Jamboree. I arrived in Maryland last Thursday night for my stay at the Lankford Hotel on the Ocean City Boardwalk (and home to Salty Yarns). Friday morning I woke up early and was ready to do a little exploring - after stepping out on the balcony outside my room for a few photographs, I headed down to walk the boardwalk to see the area....I walked to one end of the boardwalk and back (about three miles)...and took a little walk on the beach (where I was greeted by an adorable seagull). After a leisurely walk and a cup of hot tea, I met some of my needlework friends in the hotel lobby to go out to breakfast and take in an exhibit at the Julia A. Purnell Museum in Snow Hill, MD.

The view from the balcony outside my hotel room...

My first walk on the Ocean City Boardwalk...

A seagull that came up to greet me on the beach...

Angela, Joy, and Ramona (retreat attendees/stitching friends) were kind enough to invite me along to see some of the area. We ate breakfast at a place called Peppers Tavern...and it was delicious - I had a BLT breakfast sandwich (basically a BLT on an English muffin) and it was fabulous. We then headed to the museum in Snow Hill, MD. 

Here is a little information about the Julia A. Purnell Museum....

Julia was born in Snow Hill, Maryland in 1843. She married William H. Purnell, a storekeeper, in 1869 and had two sons. She created many types of needle art throughout her life, including quilts, cross-stitch and embroidery - then at the age of 85, she began embroidering scenes of homes, churches, and gardens in Snow Hill. Her works won the New York and Philadelphia Hobby Shows, and took the Grand Prize at the Wicomico Farm and Home Show - she became well known and in 1941 she was inducted into the National Hobby Hall of Fame.  Julia's son (William) was proud of her work and in 1942 he joined his mother in founding the Julia A. Purnell Museum. The museum housed many of Julia's works, her tools, and memorabilia from her long life. Julia Purnell died 2 months after her 100th birthday, in December 1943. The museum continued to grow as William added artifacts to the collection. He sought donations from the townspeople who gladly gave their old tools, toys, machines, cooking utensils, clothing, books, and curios - along with the stories behind them. William continued to accept donations until 1957 when he gifted the museum to the Town of Snow Hill. The museum is now no longer a tribute to one woman's art, but had a repository for the memories of the entire town. Today, the museum collection has over 10,000 artifacts, with about 20% on display at any given time - temporary exhibits are displayed each season in order to tell the abundance of heritage stories...

A photo of Julia and a display of her work...

A couple pieces of Julia's embroidery.

Crewel Embroidery by Julia A. Purnell

I loved this bicycle on display...
"Penny Farthing" Bicycle Circa 1880

Interesting "superfine sewing needles" that were 3"- 4" in length. (1914)

Mary Davis Sampler - dated with her birth of  March 22, 1803

Interesting display of early medicines, doctor and dentist tools, and signs
with healing instructions - a favorite:
Bleeding of the nose: Steep a linen rag in vinegar, burn it, and blow smoke
up the nose with a quill. (Click on photo to enlarge and read more)....

After touring the museum we continued on our journey...when seeing a sign for the town of Girdletree, we knew we had to visit...little did we know there wasn't much to see in Girdletree - we did stop at their post office (it was closed) and checked-in on Facebook at the Girdletree Volunteer Fire Department (the only place to check-in)...and then were on our way again. Next stop - historic downtown Berlin, MD (where the Julia Roberts/Richard Gere movie "Runaway Bride" was filmed)....a quaint area with antiques and shopping...and a tea room. We stopped in an adorable shop called TaDa (it was wonderful!)...checked out a few antique shops...and made our way to the Main Street Enchanted Tea Room for a late lunch. I loved this cozy little tea room....and as soon as I looked in the window I knew I had to step inside. We decided to stay for tea and lunch...lunch was a fabulous apple squash soup, chicken salad and/or ham sandwiches, choice of scone and tea. I had a cranberry orange scone (scrumptious) with Autumn Cranberry tea - it was yummy - and I loved my teacup with a little cottage scene. Sherry Gamble, the owner, was quite accommodating - she let me take an abundance of photos and shared lots of stories with us....it was an enjoyable visit.

It was then back to the Lankford Hotel for the event dinner, reception, and stitching...more on the event and the area tomorrow - for now I must get some sleep, as I leave for New Hampshire on Thursday...I have to get refueled for the next retreat...

Never Stop Growing

BRD-001 "Never Stop Growing"

I've recently been taking a look at Blue Ribbon Designs - where it all started, where it has progressed, and where it will be in the future. Not only has the cross stitch industry changed drastically over the years, but so has my design style. Looking back at my design catalog, each piece contains special memories...and it is so interesting to see how my design style has evolved over the past nine years. When I first started counted thread designing, I was extremely inspired by historical samplers and the history of needlework...I think you will always see a bit of that in my artwork....but now my signature style has grown immensely and become much more (for lack of a better word) modern. Taking a look at my very first design "Never Stop Growing", I have to smile and think about how far my work has come over the years - this design is very "spot motif" based....and although it is detailed, it is very basic. Looking at my latest designs, I have definitely left the "basic" historical sampler style behind, but I am still extremely inspired by the same organic motifs and themes...and everything just seems to "flow" a little better. As I look at the future of Blue Ribbon Designs and set new personal and professional goals, I can't help but reflect on my first design title and how very closely it relates to me (and my work) today - it is so true, we "never stop growing"...

A selection of recent releases (L to R):
BRD-104 "Beauty In Simplicity"- BRD-106 "Redwork Garden" - BRD-105 "Friendship Blooms"