STITCHIN' ON 

the Frontier

A NEEDLEWORK RETREAT

Hardanger

Description

Learn Hardanger technique with Donna Olson, choose the right class for you beginner, intermediate or advanced.

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Class Schedule

Thursday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Friday: 9:00am - 4:30pm

Saturday: 9:00am - 4:00pm

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**Note: a minimum of 12 students required

BY DONNA OLSON

BY KURDY BIGGS

Counted Canvas

Description

Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow…Edelweiss. Using shimmering threads of white on Antique Blue canvas your garden will be stitched with Crescents, Jessicas, Sprats Heads and Wrapped Eyelets. Our garden will grow using silks of Elegance and Petite Silk Lame’ Braid and to capture the glisten of snow we will use Crystal Braid and Glisten. For additional radiance pearls, crystals and beads will be added for depth and luster. Edelweiss will be 6“ x 3“ on 18 mono canvas and may be finished as a framed piece or an ornament. Edelweiss is available on three colors of canvas; Antique Blue, Victorian Red and Victorian Green with matching crystals and pearls.

Your kit will include an 8” x 10” canvas, the threads named above, beads, crystals, stitching and beading needles.Your instruction booklet will have everything you need to stitch your design.

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Special Techniques

Wrapped Eyelets, Bead Clusters - 4 Variations, Beaded & Pearl Clusters

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Stitches

Crescent & variations, Jessica & variations, Sprats Heads and variations & Wrapped Eyelet

Edelweiss

Stitcher to Provide

8” x 10” stretcher bars and tacks or staples to attach the canvas to stretcher bars, usual stitching supplies including light, laying tool, frame stand or weight, magnifier and extension cord if needed.

Class Schedule

Thursday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

                 6:00pm - 9:00pm

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**Note: a minimum of 12 students required

**Students to choose canvas color: Antique Blue, Victorian Red and Victorian Green

Through the Looking Glass

Description

Come join me on a stitching journey Through the Looking Glass as we stitch this stunning kaleidoscope inspired piece.  We start our passage at the center of the kaleidoscope with an exquisite three layer Jessica and continue our exploration of stitches including Double Fans, Walnetos, Jessicas, Crescents, Sheafs and Wrapped Eyelets as we progress outward. Our stitches will use luscious silk and metallic threads from Rainbow Gallery, Kreinik, Bi Joux and Accentuate in a color palette ranging from creamy white to vintage gold and on to shimmering bronze. Once the stitching is completed beads and crystals will be added to complete the kaleidoscope design.  Finished piece is a 9” circle.  A yellow colorway will be available as well.

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Design Size 

Approx.  9” x 9” Circle

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Special Technique

Layering of stitches on center Jessica - students get to decide on the order of the layers and colors.  Double Fans, Wrapped Eyelets, Walnetos, Bead Clusters

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Stitches

Crescent & variations, Double & Diagonal Double Fans, Jessica & variations, Wrapped Eyelet, Plaited Rays, Rhodes, Sheaf, Sprats Head & Variations, & Frosty Walnetos

Stitcher to Provide

14" x 14” stretcher bars and tacks or staples to attach the canvas to stretcher bars, usual stitching supplies including light, laying tool, frame stand or weight, magnifier and extension cord if needed.

Class Schedule

Friday: 9:00am - 4:30pm

Saturday: 9:00am - 4:00pm

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**Note: a minimum of 12 students required

**Students will choose colorway: brown or yellow

Sampler Lectures

Antique Sampler Stories Presentation:

The presentation includes 40-50 photos of Scottish, English and American samplers in my personal collection that are dated from the early 1720s through 1850.  The photos are divided into Scottish, English, and American categories.  Before looking at the sampler photos and telling stories from the lives of the girls and women who made them, I will briefly discuss the shape and style of samplers as they evolved from long narrow memory aids to frame worthy examples of accomplishment.  I will review the types of fabrics and threads that were used to make the samplers and will consider the structure of childhood education in Scotland and in England during the time period.  We will also take a quick look at historical events taking place during the 1720-1850 time period that my samplers represent.  

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Attendees will be given a charted cheat sheet and will quickly learn to identify the combination of design elements that make Scottish Samplers unique.  Students will hunt for identification clues as we see the samplers and I will share what I have learned about some of my Scottish sampler makers.  We will move from Scottish Samplers to English Samplers as we compare three Ten Commandment Samplers.

I have found that English sampler identification clues are less specific than those on Scottish samplers, but there are some guidelines. I will review hints based on the time period of creation, the selection and placement of motifs, color combinations that are associated with a range of years, and clues based on the location in which the samplers were created.  I will share a bit about female education in England and highlight details from the lives of some of my sampler makers as we move through the samplers.  

We will end the lecture by looking at two American Samplers.  The first one is a Quaker Sampler made in 1801 by Ann Wilson in Bucks County, PA.  The second American sampler is a  Memorial Sampler made by Lydia Caulk when she attended Folwell School in Philadelphia circa 1810. 

Class Schedule

Thursday: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

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Cost

$30 per student

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**Note: a minimum of 12 students required

BY CISSY SMITH

Antique Scottish Sampler Presentation & 

BY CISSY SMITH

Ten Commandment Mini Sampler Class

Scottish Sampler Presentation

My Scottish Sampler Antique Show Presentation lasts for 2 hours.  I will discuss the materials that were used, the Scottish approach to education, and look at the historical context of the 1750-1850 time period before showing the antique Scottish samplers.  Students will learn the unique combination of design elements that can be used to identify Scottish Samplers and much more.  As we look at examples and the samplers, members of the class will have an opportunity to hunt for the identification clues and I will talk about the lives of the girls who created my samplers.  

Scottish Mini Ten Commandment Sampler Class

My rare and charming antique Scottish Ten Commandment Mini Sampler measures 8 ¾ inches by 5 ½ inches and was stitched using silk threads on 57 count linen in the 1740-1770s.  

The sampler maker included Queen, Double Running, Back Stitch, Cross Stitch over 2 and over 1 in her compact project.  During class we will compare a full sized antique Scottish Ten Commandment and a full sized English Ten Commandment Sampler from my collection.  

The kit will include 32 count or 40 count Zwiegart Summer Khaki linen, Au Ver A Soie silk threads along with charts and instructions. 

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Students will Choose

32 Count linen

40 Count linen

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Class Schedule

Friday: 9:00am - 12:00pm

           1:30pm - 4:30pm

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**Note: a minimum of 12 students required

Needle Case

Description

Enjoy a class with Fern Ridge Collections as they walk through step by step in putting together a needle case.  Your choice of design.  Pre-stitching required.

Class Schedule

Thursday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

                 6:00pm - 9:00pm

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**Note: a minimum of 12 students required

BY FERN RIDGE COLLECTIONS

Scissor Fob

Description

Enjoy a class with Fern Ridge Collections as they walk through step by step in making a Fob.  Your choice of design.

Class Schedule

Friday: 9:00am - 12:00pm

           1:30pm - 4:30pm

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**Note: a minimum of 12 students required

BY FERN RIDGE COLLECTIONS

BY FERN RIDGE COLLECTIONS

Pin Cushion

Description

Enjoy a class with Fern Ridge Collections as they walk through step by step in making a Biscornu.  Your choice of design.

Class Schedule

Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00pm

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**Note: a minimum of 12 students required