Have you ever looked at a piece of needlework in stunned silence, turned it around in your hands, looked closer, turned it over, touched it, studied it, then looked up and said to anyone willing to listen – “Oh gosh. You’re just not going to believe this thing!” And then shown it off, to find that your reaction isn’t an isolated one?
Well, that’s exactly how things went when I opened this amazing embroidered sampler sent as a Christmas gift from a friend. You might be tempted, at first glance, to say “Oh, it’s another sampler,” but I think once you see it in context, you can’t help but say, “WOW…!”
So here it is, for your first delightful glance:
And here’s the back of the sampler, which is neat and tidy:
Here’s a side shot:
And, finally, here’s the sampler in perspective, next to a postage stamp, a quarter, and an inch ruler:
That’s right – this tiny little detailed sampler is 1 3/8″ x 1 3/4″ – not a whole lot bigger than a postage stamp!
Christiana embroiders miniature things. She uses kitchen towels (flour sack towels) for her ground fabric, stitching over one thread in the towel. The stitches are half cross stitches (or tent stitch), and I think she uses one strand of embroidery floss – but it’s so incredibly tiny, that she might be using regular thread. She’ll have to enlighten me on that!
Now can you understand my reaction? I was awe struck! I never considered doing miniature embroidery like this, but I can see how it would be perfect for a number of little applications – doll houses, for example, come to mind. But there are other uses, too: a little special pendant or to adorn the lid of a little tiny box… I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with it yet. I’d like to find the perfect small frame for it, so I can display it.
I willingly and profusely admit that I love this little sampler! It was such a surprise gift! It came in a great little package:
Along with the sampler were some other treats: a spool of Tire Silk, some Japanese snippers, and a nice little package of Glorianna threads and ribbons!
Thank you, Christiana, for the sweetest of little Christmas presents!
I just “showed” the pictures of this miniature to my husband and as we went down and came to the one with the quarter he just said, “WOW” too. What a delight!
I have to admit I wasn’t all that impressed with the first few pictures of the sampler…just another sampler. I’ve done a few in my time and they are not my all time favorite needlework, but this one was pretty enough. But then the picture of the sampler next to the stamp and quarter…OH MY! Now THAT is a work of art! I am just curious to know what kind of heavy duty magnifying glass she uses to work this sort of miniature. I know my eyes could never handle something like that. Amazing!
I just thought of a real bonus for doing samplers this small…they probably wouldn’t cost a week’s salary to have them professionally framed!
MGM
Oh Wow!I signed in to respond to your amazing work on the liturgical thingy,which I’ll go back to, but I couldn’t NOT comment on such an amazing wee sampler!
Mary, I SO LOVE your site!Thank You!
With Every Best Wish for 2009!Charlie.x
This wee sampler is amazing once you get down to the postage picture, truly, WOW!! I think I would get a very nice tiny box, put this sampler on top and store my postage stamps in it so that I would see it and admire it every time I had to use a stamp. Besides that would keep it on top of my desk were I could glance at it all day long.
TO MG McNamara: Mag-eyes makes a 5x magnifying glass that attaches beautifully to your eye glasses, so it’s hand-free! I use it on 32 and 40 count fabric and it’s fabulous.
Mary – WOW! How fantastic! But even more amazing was the work you did to get the liturgical thingy (thanks, Charlie, for a name I can handle!) completed in such a short time. It is absolutely stunning. I am in awe of the work you do and look forward to seeing what’s in store for 2009. Happy New Year to you!
Oh. My. Goodness.
Like Charlie, I signed in to comment on the maniturgia (d’you mind if I say twice that I appreciate it?) but had to comment on this too . . . I’m on (vveerryy ssllooww) dial-up so I read the text before looking at pictures, but I think it would have been “what IS that?!” even if I’d seen the pics first. That is amazing. I 2nd the postage-stamp-box cover.
Fabulous but way out of my element!
My eyes are crossing just thinking about working this small! What a piece of wonderful art you have and what a special friend to make it for you.
AMAZING…not in my wildest dreams could I accomplish anything like this. It’s beautiful!!!!
Annie in very very cold Michigan
WOW!! What a wonderful piece of needlework! Thanks so much for sharing the pics with us… 🙂
You know, I think I would have this framed with a nice wide mat, to emphasize the teeny-ness of it. Amazing work!!!
I love this little miniature cross stitch and wish I had it. It is exquisite.
Hi Mary!
Re: Miniature Sampler posted on January 1, 2009.
I love the little miniature sampler you received from your friend Christiana!
Do you happen to know the name of the pattern, the designer? It is just so pretty!
Thank you
No, sorry, I don’t, but it is lovely, isn’t it?
Cindy, this is the “Heritage XIV” miniature sampler design by Annelle Ferguson, the doyenne of 1:12 scale needlework. She specializes in re-creating antique samplers in miniature — this one is based on a 1750 sampler from Massachusetts.
https://www.ministitches.com/kits/h14.html
I have worked some of her pieces — they are wonderful!