An antique reproduction (Eileen Elizabeth Mason 1923) and two pin-pillows…
More of my time than I care to admit is spent searching online for antique samplers. Most are out of my price range, and many use very similar motifs, similar sentiments and have tried-and-true colour palettes. It was such a treat to find this relatively late sampler, that captures the soft-but-bright colours of the 1920’s, with a charming simplicity and a cheerful sentiment at that!
Just barely an antique, Eileen’s sampler is such a quick and easy stitch, and it’s wish – almost a blessing – is something I’d love to see on my wall every day. I adore the flowerpots too: so simply evoked in just a few lines…
I was intrigued to see if I could find anything about the stitcher, as I believe she had real artistic talent. With only a stitching date and no place (although I sourced the original from the UK- you can see it in my latest Flosstube), I wasn’t able to narrow down the stitcher using records – there are quite a few candidates with the same name. However, one of them, was born in 1895 and worked as a “silk embroiderer”. I can’t be sure this sampler was stitched by her, but considering the originality of the piece – I wonder.
In honour of Eileen (whoever she was), I designed two little pin-pillows building on the artistry of the original. These are quick, easy stitches perfect for a little gift. I hope stitching them, and/or the antique brings you “… mornings bright” and “the peace of the fireside at night”…
The model of the full sampler was stitched on 36-count “Silica” by Number12StitchCo on Etsy, using 1 over 2. It has a stitch count of 103w x 157h, and I’ve framed it in a standard 8 x 10-inch frame.
The models of the pin-pillows were stitched 2 over 2 on 32-count “Platinum” by Zweigart, but scraps of anything you have on hand would do. The stitch count for “Make Happiness” is 85w x 37h; and for “Be at Peace” is 80w x 37h.
All the models are stitched in a mix of Gentle Arts, Weeks Dye Works and Classic Colorworks, and a full DMC conversion is included. The colours chosen are a close reproduction to the original. Keep in mind that most of the colours are used in small amounts (scraps left over from Eileen’s embroidery work?), so feel free to use any overdyes that you have, and substitute in the DMC for the rest.
You can find the pattern in hard-copy or PDF in my Etsy store. Wishing you much happiness this day…
Mojo Stitches 