Inspiration for a Modern Sampler

Many years ago, I took my granddaughter Taryn, who was 10 years old at the time, to London, England. One of the highlights of the trip was the day we spent in the Victoria and Albert Museum, which houses what is generally regarded as the world’s greatest collection of the decorative arts.

As a cross-stitch designer, the visit wouldn’t have been complete for me without viewing the collection in the needlework room. We had the wonderful opportunity to see the earliest known sampler to include an embroidered date, which was stitched in England by Jane Bostocke in 1598. To explore the museum’s collections online, visit www.vam.ac.uk/collections. Search for Jane Bostocke to view an image of her 1598 sampler.

When I began designing my Pieces of History sampler, I took inspiration from the amazing works that we viewed in the museum so many years ago. I envisioned a versatile design that would allow stitchers to select from historical motifs according to their personal preferences, and then artistically place those stitched motifs, along with embellishments or heirlooms, throughout a finished piece.

I decided on 14 motifs that I felt encompassed options that would appeal to a variety of stitchers, each with its own historical symbolism. The alphabet is also included for further personalization.

I decided to finish my stitching as a pillow, adorned with buttons and pearls found in my mother’s keepsakes. I am so pleased with the finished result and am proud to add this treasure to my own needlework collection. May you also find pleasure in creating your own piece of history.