The Cottage Orné Quilt

The Cottage Orné Quilt
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Saturday 1 December 2012

Quilts and Samplers

Quilts and Samplers seems to go together! They do for me anyway and it seems, from looking at other blogs, that many of you share this twin interest?

In the past, when I have suggested to a publisher that a book combining them would be a good thing, they weren't keen at all!  I am not sure why?  Maybe they think that one subject dilutes the other, or maybe they think we can't cope with two specialties?

The fabrics in the central area date from the 1820s, whilst the outer pieced squares frame dates from the 1840s. There is a cross stitched name and date 'I (heart shape) M March 8 1844'. Quilters' Guild of the British Isles Collection.
I own a sampler very similar to this one and I believe it was worked near Richmond, Yorkshire.

I pursue both with a passion but I don't sew samplers anymore. My sampler interest is now mainly research.  It isn't of an academic standard,  it's making an attempt to record the content of Welsh samplers and drawing conclusions on what I find.  I do this by trawling the internet auctions and with the help of an antique dealer friend who has access to private collections.

I also like to think that my experience of teaching the subject for many years gives me an insight into the thought processes of  female stitchers, which may help a little to understand how certain designs evolve. After although our lives are so very different, human nature hasn't changed much?

All of this is by way of a trailer to my other blog Welsh Folk Art Samplers you can click on it here or access it regularly from the picture of its header at the right hand side of this page.

WARNING - I am having major problems with my computer and there maybe a break in this blog.  If this happens, please keep tuned in as I will return as soon as possible. 


3 comments:

regan said...

Now don't I feel silly.....I always thought the use of I (heart shape) U was something new! Imagine that!

Susan Briscoe said...

I wonder if editors feel that readers are unlikely to be both quilters and cross stitchers? The two subjects would make a very interesting book, especially as there's shared imagery and subject matter between the two. Why not self publish on this?

Little Welsh Quilts and other traditions said...

Self publishing anything with samplers is expensive unless you own them. Then there is the photography, because ideally they would have to taken out of the frame. All very problematical. Quilts are easy in comparison. I have thought about it but quailed at the prospect, which is why I started my new blog. This way I can use the internet as a resource and it is a rich one!