Confessions from the Needle

NPI (Needlepoint Silks) for sale!

2009-09-21T17:43:00.000-07:00

I have 39 Full Skeins of Needlepoint Silk (NPI) for sale.

If you're interested, please contact me at:
bronzemom@gmail.com

NPI are selling retail at $3.70 and I will sell mine as a whole for a total of $97.50 (that's just $2.50 per skein) + $3.00 S/H USA / $5.50 CANADA.

I accept PayPal only.

Thanks!Terri

Saint Clare, Patron Saint of Needleworkers

2008-08-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

(Adapted from a web article from The Little Sisters of The Poor)

Saint Clare (1193-1253)

Clare di Faverone was born into Nobility to a family of the town of Assisi. She was educated accordingly. Assisi was known for its fine embroidery and, as part of her education, Clare would have learned how to demonstrate the most intricate patterns and stitches of that time.

Clare met Francis di Bernadone (Saint Francis of Assisi) and became a follower of his teachings. At eighteen, she discarded the privileges of her birthright to live the cloistered life of a nun.
Many years later, Clare became ill, and she spent the next 30 years as an invalid. In spite of her illness, she tried to be of service in whatever way she could. She turned to needlework. Accounts from that time tell that Clare was never idle, even in illness, and had herself propped up in bed so that she could stitch.

It is known that Clare spun flax into thread, and after the linen was woven, she made altar linens for many of the churches around Assisi.
The Feast of St. Clare is celebrated on August 11. (Since 1970, the Feast Day has been set as August 11th, formerly celebrated on August 12th)

Meg Shinall has designed a really lovely chart of Saint Clare and you can see it and order it at the web address below:

www.flowerthread.com/St%20Clare.html

There are two lovely articles about Saint Clare here:

http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/CLARA.HTM

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04004a.htm

PART IV

2008-07-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

31. The Stitcher's Prayer

I pray that,
risen from the dead,
I may in glory stand —
a crown, perhaps, upon my head,
but a needle in my hand.
I 've never learned to sing or play,
so let no harp be mine;
From birth unto my dying day,
plain sewing's been my line.
Therefore, accustomed to the end,
to plying useful stitches,
I'll be content if asked
to mend the little angels' britches.
~~ Edward Field, 1850-1895 ~~

32. A Stitcher's Prayer

Lord, Grant that I may see to stitch
Until my dying day,
And when my last short thread is clipped
And scissors tucked away,
The work that I have done live on,
That other folk may see
The pleasure I have known, Lord,
In the skill you gave to me.

-- Mary-Dick Digges –

33. The TAO of Women

She allows the daughter,
sitting beside her,
to take the first stitch.
The wise woman does not rush in
to take it apart.
She smiles, acknowledges,
and continues to sew her own stitches.
The daughters model the mothers.
Act wisely.
The daughters are watching.

-- The TAO of Women -- by PK Metz and Jacqueline L. Tobin, 1995

34. Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.

-- Simone Signoret –

35. The Needleworker's Prayer

Creator God,

who hast knitted together our souls

and bodies and woven us close into the tapestry

of Thy creation,

so embroider us with the threads of Thy grace

that our lives may be for Thee

and for one another a fitting ornament to adorn

Thy glory.

-- Unknown --

36. Virtuous Woman:

Who can find a virtuous woman?

For her price is far above rubies.

She seeketh wool, and flax,

and worketh willingly with her hands.

She layeth her hands to the spindle,

and her hands hold the distaff.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;

her clothing is silk and purple.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;

and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and honour are her clothing;

and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Give her of the fruit of her hands;

and let her own works praise her in the gates.

-- Excerpts from Proverbs, Chapter 31. –-

37. Children seldom achieve greatness,

in the way of sewing,

unless it is thrust upon them;

few take to it naturally,

and a child's definition of a needle would probably be,

'Something to prick one's fingers with.'

-- Ella Rodman Church, 1882

38. How much to be prized and esteemed is a Friend On whom we may always safely depend. Our joys, when extended, will always increase And griefs, when divided, are hushed into peace.

-- (from a 1799 sampler) –

39. "I took my sampler ones,
of purpose, for the nones,
to sowe with stytchis of sylke
My sparow whyte as mylke"

- John Shelton, "Phyllyp Sparowe" -

40. "Now, when examplers, and to persue which work would doe beste in a ruffe,
whiche in a quaife, whiche in a caule,
whiche in a handcarcheef; what lace would doe beste to edge it,
what seeme, what stitcher, what cutte, what garde;
and to sitte her doune and take it forthe by little and little,
and thus with her nedle to passe the after noone with devising of things for her owne wearynge”

~ Barnabe Riche's "Of Phylotus and Emilia," 1581 ~

Needlework and Sampler Quotations: Part III

2008-07-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

21. My hand delights to trace unusual things,
And deviates from the known and common way,
Nor will in fading silks compose,
faintly the inimitable rose.
~~ Virginia Woolf. A Room of One's Own ~~

22. Embroidery has continually played an integral part
in the history of man and woman.
It not only signified certain status and wealth through
the ages but it has also given countless hours of satisfaction
to those who could create something of beauty with a
needle and thread.
~~ Margaret Pierce ~~

23. An invisible red thread
connects those who are
destined to meet
regardless of time,
place or circumstance.
The thread may
stretch or tangle
but it will never break.
~~ Chinese Proverb ~~

24. The eye that directs a needle in the delicate meshes
of embroidery will equally well bisect a star with the spider
web of the micrometer.
~~ Maria Mitchell ~~

25. “Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination.”
~~ Voltaire ~~

26. “And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen,
and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen,
and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.”
~~ Exodus 28:39 ~~

27. From the manner in which a woman draws her thread at every stitch of her needlework,
any other woman can surmise her thoughts.
~ Honore de Balzac ~

28. Has the pen or pencil dipped so deep in the blood
of the Human Race as the Needle?
~~ Olive Schreiner, From Man to Man ~~

29. Young Ladyes fair,
when youthful minds incline
to all that's curious, innocent, and fine
With admiration,
let your worke be made,
the various textures and the twining thread,
then let your fingers with unrivaled skill
Exalt the Needle,
Grace the noble Quill
-- From an 18th Century Sampler, (Boston?) –-

30. Hem your blessings with thankfulness
so they don't unravel.
~ Author Unknown ~

Needlework Quotes and Sampler Verses: Part Two

2008-07-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

11. Amidst my learning and my care
Nothing can equal God most dear
Nor ought with him my heart to share
Quick as my fingers move this thread
Under just rules do act with speed
In wisdom paths still may I thread
Giving to virtue constant heed
Love to be good and therefore wise
Youth finds in these the greatest pride

~~ (verse from Ann Quigley's sampler of 1814) ~~

12. Oft as thine eye shall fondly trace
Those fine lines I here exact
Whate'er the time where'er the Place
Remember me my Friends

~~ (from a 1784 sampler) ~~

13. Take your needle, my child,
and work at your pattern.
It will come out a rose by and by.
Life is like that --
One stitch at a time taken patiently and
the pattern will come out all right like the embroidery.

-- Oliver Wendell Holmes --

14. How much to be prized and esteemed is a Friend
On whom we may always safely depend
Our joys when extended will always increase
And griefs when divided are hushed into peace

~~ (from a 1799 sampler) ~~

15. The canvas thus in colours laid
Gives a just emblem of mankind
Thus education good or bad
Shows on the canvas of the mind

~~ (from an 1827 sampler) ~~

16. Young Ladyes fair when youthful minds incline
to all that's curious, innocent, and fine
With admiration let your worke be made
the various textures and the twining thread
then let your fingers with unrivaled skill
Exalt the Needle, Grace the noble Quill

~~ Thought to be From an 18th Century Schoolgirl Sampler, Boston --

18. "Ah deary me! what needles! - well really I must say,
All things are sadly altered - (for the worse too) since my day!
The pins have neither heads nor points - the needles have no eyes,
And there's ne'er a pair of scissors of the good old - fashioned size!"
The very bodkins now are made in fine new-fangled ways,"
And the good old British thimble - is a dream of other days!"

~~ Excerpt from Mrs. Harris's Soliloquy, While Threading Her Needle - By Lady Dufferin ~~

19. A fair little girl sat under a tree,
Sewing as long as her eyes could see;
Then smoothed her work and folded it right,
And said, "Dear work, good night, good night!"

-- Lord Houghton --

20. There is just one person,
Who still thinks I'm the best,
Who even after all these years,
Has yet had time to rest.
The one who toils to pave a road,
Down which her child may safely tread,
And sews that child a quilt of dreams,
Then drapes it 'round her head.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

My 2008 HDF Finishes

2008-07-03T17:42:00.001-07:00

Needlework Quotes and Sampler Verses, Part One

2008-07-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

1. " ...Methinks it is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics, when women of high thoughts and accomplishments love to sew, especially as they are never more at home with their own hearts
than while so occupied."

-- Hawthorne's "Marble Faun" --

2. "We should have nothing in our houses,
which we did not either know to be useful
or believe to be beautiful."

~~ William Morris The Beauty of Life lecture, 1880 ~~

3. "The British needlewoman follows blindly where the merchant leads."

--Ann Macbeth 1920 --

4. "They must be careful, diligent and wise,
In Needleworkes that beare away the Prise."

-- William Barley, 1596 --

5. As a knot appears unexpectedly in a thread,
so disappointment blocks the smoothness of life.
If a few deft strokes can untangle the skein,
life continues evenly.
But if it cannot be corrected,
then it must be quietly woven into the design.
Thus, the finished piece can still be beautiful --
even though not as perfect as planned.

~~ ANONYMOUS ~~

6. Happy the maid whose artless mind
In works of innocence can find
Amusement and delight,
The landscape on this canvass lay
By which the blended colors may
Give charm and please the sight

-- Verse from an 1826 sampler --

7. By this Exemplar I am taught
how letters great and small are wrought.
So by the example of the wise
May I true virtue learn to prize.

-- (From an 1817 sampler) --

8. Oh heaven preserve us from a wife
with fancy work run wild.
With hands that never do aught else
for husband or for child.
Our clothes are rent,
our bills unpaid,
our house is in disorder,
and all because my lady wife
has taken to embroider.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

9. This sampler wrought with so much care
Adorned with colours so rich and fair
My little friend let it impart
A moral lesson to thy heart
With like industry may it thou gain
That peace which will my mind sustain
In every trying time of need
Then wilt thou be happy indeed.

(from an 1825 sampler)

10. Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with the golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams beneath your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams...

~~ WB YEATS ~~

Stitch and Pitch 2008!

2008-05-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.stitchnpitch.com/

The 2008 Stitch and Pitch is here!

Take your needlework out to the old Ballgame! Check the website to see if / when your local Major or Minor League ball club will be participating!

My 2007 Finishes

2008-02-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

Italian Mystery Sampler

2008-01-04T21:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.ricamoletueidee.it/old_sampler.htm

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T14:24:00.000-08:00

May the coming days be Blessed.

Have a PINK Christmas!

2007-12-03T22:42:00.000-08:00

I charted a Christmas Design for the Breast Cancer Awareness blog, STITCH PINK.

You can see and download the design here:
http://stitchpink.blogspot.com/2007/12/have-pink-christmas.html

Hope you like it!

DMC Mentor Program

2007-11-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

If you enjoy sharing your love of Needlework, please consider becoming a DMC Mentor.
There are many wonderful benefits of becoming a Mentor including the satisfaction of knowing that you're passing on a wonderful hand-craft.

Check it out here:
DMC Mentor Program

Profile of a Needle Artist

2007-07-14T09:42:00.001-07:00

http://www.raymaterson.com/

Vikki Clayton's Silks -- Free offer!

2007-06-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.hand-dyedfibers.com/oscnuked/index.php

For an SASE (Self-addressed stamped envelope), Vikki Clayton will send you a sample of her silk floss.
Just click the link in her Mission Statement on the Main Page of the website.

I hope you'll enjoy stitching with Vikki's Hand-dyed fibres as much I do!

Free French Sampler

2007-06-06T22:15:00.001-07:00

http://perso.orange.fr/anne-les-petites-croix/grilles/grille3.htm

Free patterns here!

2007-06-03T06:57:00.001-07:00

http://pelintezer.zoomshare.com/1.shtml/Free%20Patterns

There are two pages of freebies here.

http://www.samplercovesales.com/freebies.html

Two Neat FREE Sites

2007-06-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.brookesbookspublishing.com/CrossStitchFreebies.html

http://www.rainbowgallery.com/freechartdownloads.cfm?ID=11

Legendary Samplers!

2007-05-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.hand-dyedfibers.com/download/legendarysamplers.pdf

WOW! I have... oh... five or six of the listed samplers. But I can think of so many I could add to that list!

It's a neat list, though, and it's a good start for sampler stitchers / collectors to be sure!

Cool Halloween Gameboard and SAL

2007-03-13T15:35:00.001-07:00

http://www.tanyameehandesigns.com/halloweensal.htm

Take me out to the ball game!

2007-03-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.stitchnpitch.com/

Take your needlework to a baseball game! Love this idea!

Whole lotta blogging going on!

2007-02-13T21:26:00.000-08:00

I'm reading more and more blogs.

It used to be, I'd get up in the morning and cruise the cross-stitch message boards... Heck... I was even an RCTN addict for a while.

Not anymore. I read my own board, of course, and two or three others... but for my needlework fix, I turn to the stitching blogs.

And, if you look in the box on the right of your screen, you'll see a lot of the blogs that I read daily.

Have fun reading -- I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!