We have a new flosstube where we look at new scissors, new linen and new sampler releases.

We hope that you enjoy.

Ann Borrett’s beautiful band sampler is highly decorative and even though  she “rovght” her sampler three hundred and seventy-four years ago, the colours are still intense today.  A vibrant red, a peacock blue, a deep navy blue and a mouth watering selections of greens delight the eye.

The first two bands of Ann’s sampler also appear in the band sampler stitched by Jeane Vally in 1646. Jeane’s sampler is in the Goodhart Collection at Montecute House and is featured in the book “The Goodhart Collection” on page 88.

When we first saw Eliza’s pretty sampler, we were both excited, intrigued, and puzzled. Eliza tells us that she was 13 when she finished her sampler on June 12, 1828 which was a Thursday. George IV sat upon the British throne, he was considered to be “The First Gentleman of Europe” and an object of contempt and ridicule. He was known for his manners and charm but also his drunkenness, spendthrift ways, and scandalous love life.

Eliza chose a very fine material called “tiffany fabric” to stitch her sampler. Tiffany fabric is often used on darning samplers. The fine linen had become fragile over the years, and her sampler was stabilised and conserved some years ago. We were unable to access the reverse of her sampler to view the colours without causing damage. Therefore, we have  reproduced Eliza with the beautiful oranges, pinks, and greens we see on the front of her sampler today.

The year and the weeks are flying by. In the last week we made an important announcement regarding the Ann Morison Stitch-a-Long and Heather M Jardine’s sampler in Flosstube #155

Heather’s sampler has enchanted me, she is so addictive and I cannot stop working on her.

I am stitching my version of Heather from my stash using colours that take my eye and changing/tweaking the motifs here and there. This sampler is a gift for a young child so I want her to be bright and appealing to a very young child.

Last night I stitched the bird above the teddy bear. Is it a turkey or a peacock? In the North Island of New Zealand there are wild turkeys and peacocks. I used seven different colours in the bird. It is such fun to have the freedom to stitch from stash. We hope that you stitch Heather from your stash and have fun experimenting with colour.

This is Anka’s finish of “Walter” Anne Thomas 1845. Anka tells us that she changed a few of the colours and used white 40ct linen. How beautiful her finished Anne looks.

For more information on Anne please visit https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/product/anne-thomas-1854/

Finally I uploaded a Flosstube #156 yesterday in which I talk about a little bit of this and a little bit of that. You can view the video by clicking HERE

Wishing everyone a good week ahead.

I have just uploaded two videos. This weekend we are looking at Agnes Husband a new pdf download, my work in progress, lots of new linens, a wonderful seamripper, non reflective glass, framing and lots more.

Included in the second video I talk about Ann Morison. There is going to be a special treat for everyone who purchases a copy of her booklet. More information will follow, probably next weekend, we are just putting some finishing touches to our thank you gift.

I have decided to stitch Ann Morison too. After seeing Rose’s monthly plan for the stitch a long I realised that I had time in my day to stitch her. I am very excited !!

Part 1

Part 2

We have just uploaded Flosstube #149 which showcases the beautiful Scottish sampler Ann Morison and the giveaway Scottish sampler Eliza Nibet.

Ann is exclusively available through Traditional Stitches as a celebration of the store’s 20th anniversary. For more information and to purchase please click HERE

The stitch a long Facebook group can be found at HERE

Hands Across the Sea Samplers are delighted to present to you the 2020 Queen of the May the stunning band sampler Mary Carter 1712.

Mary is one of the most beautiful band samplers that we have ever seen.

Available now for pre-order from our website https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/product/mary-carter-1712-the-2020-queen-of-the-may/

and your needlework store.

Hands Across the Sea Samplers are pleased to present to you another Little Gem,from our series of pdf downloads.

Ann Matthews 1859, a Welsh sampler is now available on our website at https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/…/ann-matthews-1…/

We also have a video presentation.

With grateful thanks to my dear friend Susan Hyde who not only stitched the model but guest wrote Ann’s story.

Have you ever wondered what a group of stitching friends get up to during lockdown on a sunny afternoon in May. You may be surprised!

On a more serious note a short video about orientating your linen.

What a strange year 2020 has been ! It seems if my carefully planned year has morphed into something quite different. Every holiday we had booked has been cancelled and four workshops I was teaching postponed to 2021 and one cancelled outright by the store. A further three I was attending postponed as well.

Our release dates for samplers (usually meticulously planned 12 months ahead) are all over the place, either due to scarcity of silks or the frustration of not being able to progress production due to the UK having been in lockdown.

Hands Across the Sea Samplers are pleased to present to you a new release “Only One Rose ~ a postcard from the heart”. This is a pdf download from our Little Gems’ series. More information can be found HERE

There is also a video that you may enjoy that explains the unspoken words that the chosen motifs convey.

A Stitch-a-Long for Jane Fiddes 1835 has just been announced on Attic Addicts. It is always so much more fun stitching in the company of other needleworkers.

Cheri Cluff Edington is going to lead the SAL which will start on July 4th and is sponsored by The Attic Needleworks, Needle In a Haystack and Traditional Stitches.

I will be putting up some draw prizes for the end of the SAL.  First prize will be an antique sampler and there will be also be two £50 vouchers for Hands Across the Sea Samplers.

I have just uploaded a video with more information about the SAL

The sun has well and truly risen in the southern hemisphere and Hands Across the Sea Samplers are pleased to present to you our May 1st releases.

The magnificent Mary 395 – 1869 a Bristol orphanage sampler and the beautiful Jane Fiddes 1835. We hope you love them both as much as we do.

Please visit our website to find out more information about both the samplers. For Jane https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/…/jane-fiddes-18…/ and Mary https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/…/mary-395-1869-…/

We also have a flosstube video.

We are so excited to share with you another Little Gem – Mary Eliza McMillan 1869.

Stitched entirely with cross stitch over 2 threads she is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities and can be stitched on aida or linen.

Available via .pdf download HERE

You may enjoy our Flosstube video about Mary Eliza McMillan.

We are pleased to present to you Sarah Spencer the third in our series of Little Gems.pdf downloads. We hope you enjoy her as much as we have.

For more information please visit Sarah’s webpage HERE.

I have just uploaded a new flosstube video. Today we are looking at a band sampler, my WIP and making good use of our time. ENJOY and if you do please susbscribe to my flosstube chanel.

A look at stem stitch. This video is one of 11 that form the online workshop for Esther Benson 1739, a sampler that was reproduced exclusively for Sassy Jacks Stitchery. The workshop takes you through all the stitches required to complete this particularly beautiful sampler.

Whilst we are in isolation the video on stem stitch is available free of charge to view. Let us make use of our downtime to learn new skills, have some fun and go on an adventure with our needlework.

We are excited to launch the first sampler in our “Little Gems” series of downloads. Some small and fun samplers to keep us stitching during these troubled times. We hope that our Little Gems will brighten days.

For more information about Mary can be found HERE.

I want to share with you a VERY SPECIAL version of the Bristol Orphanage sampler “Louisa Coulimore”. A version that has filled my heart and one that I will cherish. 

I always say in my talks and workshops to stop and really study a sampler and it will whisper to you. Please stop and look at Louisa and see all the extra special touches then read what Barb has said about her sampler below.

“Rarely does a day go by that I don’t hook rugs, knit, or most often, stitch. I rarely post  my work other than on specific group pages, but for several reasons I’m sharing this piece. The design, “Louisa Coulimore, a Bristol Orphanage Sampler”  from the design studios of Hands Across the Sea Samplers comes with the story of the Muller Orphanage and specifically, the life story of Louisa Coulimore. Louisa’s childhood and mine are more different than alike, but like her, my earliest childhood was lived in an orphanage and I have added some of my personal information to my sampler, making it more special to me. 

Thank you, Nicola Parkman for this amazing design, and special thanks to Patti Nicolosi, By My Hand Needewerks for your perfection framing.

And to my stitchy friends seeing this, I stitched over two on 40 count with my personal information done over one on Lakeside Vintage Pearled Barley linen with GA Rose Garden.” – Barb Albrecht

With grateful thanks to Patti Nicolosi of By My Hand Needl’werks for allowing us to use her photograph. 

More information about Louisa can be found HERE.

Jane Banister 1855 stitched by Kim Dalziel

Huge congratulations to Kim Dalziel on not only winning first prize in her class, but for going on to win best exhibit for needlework and then the ultimate win of Best in Show at the Berwick Show in Australia.

For more information about Jane Bannister please visit her webpage HERE

We wanted to share with you Stephnie’s progress on Elizabeth Charlotte Cotton’s beautiful band sampler.

Stephnie’s progress on Elizabeth Charlotte Cotton

Stephnie is taking part in the stitch-a-long hosted by The Attic Needleworks and being led by Robert Harris. You would be very welcome to join us.

More information about the sampler and the online workshop can be found HERE.

In typical Australian style, the weather has moved from fire to flood with no decent respite in between for emergency crews.

On the 1st February 2020, mother nature took one last swipe with fire, releasing a raging wildfire which would move the better part of 6 km within 18 hours and present a significant containment challenge for crews in a landscape that had been baked completely dry. So dry even the gum trees were starting to give up.

With the fire being in the Wentworth Falls area, the brigade played a significant role in its management over the next few days up until the arrival of the rain. Not just a little bit of rain, biblical rain.

Australia is a land of drought and flooding rain, and this year was no exception.

In the same town where we were chasing a running wildfire a week earlier, we were suddenly helping members of the community clear fallen trees from their properties, unblock overflowing  drains and prevent drivers from travelling through flood waters. 400mm+ of rainfall within the space of 3 days to be specific, the most Sydney has seen in a single event for the last 2 decades. An immense amount of rain in an already distressed landscape meant flash flooding, landslides and problems at the other end of the scale for us.

In addition to emergencies, the brigade began the process of After Action Review (AAR). AAR’s are an incredibly important aspect of any firefighting activity as it allows everyone to reflect in a safe space and talk about what went well and what didn’t go so well so we can improve what we do next time, because although 5.5 Million Hectares (13.6 Million Acres) has burnt this year, it will only be in a few short years the bush will be ready to burn again.

With floods finished (for now), trucks cleaned & repaired and crews settling back into normal life, the brigade is now shifting its focus back to training as well as reflection of what happened during the 2019-2020 fire season, particularly the lives lost, firefighters and civilians.

Part of our reflection also takes us to thoughts of HATS and how a simple gesture has made such an enormous difference to a small brigade of volunteers from all walks of life in the Blue Mountains town of Wentworth Falls. For everything you have done for us, we thank you and all of your customers across the globe.

Tim Parsley

If you would like to contribute towards the Hands Across the Sea Samplers’ fundraiser Jane Marshall can be downloaded HERE

What a fun day with Claudia Dutcher Kistler​ and Sandra Murray. I hope you will enjoy our Needlework Natters.

Claudia Dutcher Kistler of Dutch Treat Designs is an expert in Bristol Orphanage Samplers please visit her website http://www.dutchtreat.com/ and a website created as a reference resource for Bristol Orphanage Samplers http://www.bristolsamplers.com/

We had planned to release two new reproduction samplers on June 12th, however, we find ourselves releasing them early – Hands Across the Sea Samplers are delighted (if somewhat surprised) to present to you an impressive Bristol Orphanage sampler, one of two, stitched by Harriett Salt at Ashley Downs and the sweet Elizabeth Atkinson 1829 my March travelling project. Both are suitable for all level of abilities. We hope they bring you many hours of pleasure.

There is a great giveaway for 5 x £50 HATS vouchers attached to Elizabeth Atkinson. How to enter is explained within the attached video.

Both samplers are NOW available for purchase and IMMEDIATE shipping from your needlework store or from hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com. Shipping from HATS is only £2 no matter where you live in the world or the size of your order.

Harriett Salt 1866 – https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/product/harriett-salt-1866/

Elizabeth Atkinson 1829 – https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/product/elizabeth-atkinson-1829/

We are having a giveaway in conjunction with #AccessCommodities. Two lucky needleworkers will win a kit comprising of the Legacy Linen in 37ct Wild Honey and the Au Ver A Soie d’Alger silks to stitch a gorgeous reproduction sampler from HATS that is releasing on June 12th. 

We are very pleased to announce that we have a new member at Hands Across the Sea Samplers. A very warm welcome to Veena Parrikar who is busy stitching the model of a stunning English sampler from the early 1800s.

Three new videos – Video 1 An antique band sampler, a look at the front and reverse. New linens and scissor holders. Video 2 How I would stitch Lucy Navier 1818. Video 3 I Bathya, the workshop.