Pemberley Pillowcase

Well here is my first attempt at some Jane Austen inspired needlework. At first I had resolved not to cheat and do everything by a free hand. Then I figured out how hard it was to embroidery cursive letters without some kind of guidance. However, despite my little short cut I do believe it was very well done and I'm very happy with how it turned out as well.

As you see here I used a 'Mark-B-Gone' marker (local craft stores and walmart carry them) that washed out with a little bit of water.

Using my outline to stitch along the letters.

And the finished pillowcase. Over all it didn't take me but two hours to make it. (it would have taken less but I was trying to read Emma at the same time...so I got a bit distracted at times)

Sampling the samplers?

Samplers have been a way for young women to 'sample' there work for centuries. Girls spent hours bent over material working out different stitches and designs. Their samplers turned into everything from Bible verses, landscapes, family trees, to portraits of life events. Now with the help of printed samplers things are much easier. Trust me I should know! When I was only six my Grammie set out to teach me how to 'free style' and that free style turned into a large knot of tangled thread and needles. However, once again I'm setting off on an adventure of a life time. A 'free hand' sampler with a twist. Now bear with me (or is it bare? I can never seem to remember) as I try to keep my needles, fingers, thread, and computer from turning into one big knot.