Inspired!

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the home of Darlene Andersen, who used to co-own a cross stitch shop called Treasured Stitches. When Breanna was still in her stroller, Mom and I would walk up to the shop and admire all the sampler models on the walls, and then I'd add to my ever-growing collection of Fanci That and Shepherd's Bush patterns.

The shop closed eventually, and Darlene began traveling and lecturing on the history of Adam and Eve samplers (are you hearing this, Siobhan?). She has stitched 55 of them (if I'm not mistaken), and invited me over to take a look. I brought my camera with me, but truly had not realized just how many samplers she had hanging on her walls, or I'd brought a wide-angle lens. Please forgive me for the tight photos - I literally had no more room to back up!

Here are some laying on a bed, waiting for a place to hang...

This one is Darlene's favorite...

And this one was mine...

Hi Darlene! (Darlene was looking upward into her hallway, answering all my questions about her stitching.)

Hey Kim, remember Frances Eden? She's on my list of things I WILL complete for 2011! (Kim let me adopt her half-finished Frances bc she changed her mind on the fabric and fibers. I was more than happy to take it off her hands!)

This is one that Darlene calls her "Bubblegum Adam and Eve" bc of their bright pink complexions! (LOVE this one.)

I was astounded at all the Mary Beale stockings Darlene had stitched! And she did them all in a year!

She also had a gorgeous tree in her sun room, full of all of the ornaments she has stitched over the years. I can't recall how many she said there were, but they are all wonderful...

She had even taken my Eliza Pennance chart and stitched it 4 times, in memory of 4 of her loved ones that had passed. You can see one of them in the bottom left of the photo below...

What a lovely tree!

Darlene, thank you so much for allowing me to take photos of your stunning handwork. Your samplers are beautiful, and I came away feeling completely inspired to stitch and design! Your home truly is filled with treasured stitches.

Comments

[Siobhan]

Zoinks. I think I need to get some breathing apparatus, to help restore my breathing. OH. MY. GOSH. I am in heaven. Darlene sent me some CDs of her incredible stitching last year and they were so amazing and inspiring. Seeing her work in its 'regular habitat' is even more inspirational. WOW. I feel like Christmas just came. Thanks for sharing the inspiration through your amazing photography!! And then I see on your Twitter feed that (grabbing the breathing apparatus again...) you finished The Flood. Be still my beating heart.

[Connie]

Paulette thank-you for sharing pictures of Darlene's samplers and Christmas ornaments.I loved seeing it..

[Margaret]

Wow!!! Oh wow!!! Oh lucky you to visit Darlene! Thank you and thank Darlene too for allowing us to sample her wonderful, inspirational collection of stitching. OMG! I need to lie down now.

[Catherine]

I simply don't know what to write....that is one amazing lady! How lucky were you to get to visit and see such a collection and spend time talking with Darlene!!

Thank you so much for sharing!

[Kim]

O*M*GOOOOSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!! Beautimus stitching abounds!!! You would have had to literally drag my body, mouth agape, from one room to the next! Inspiration with a capital I!!! Where's my needle????? And..oh yeah...I want to restart Frances Eden in 2011! ;o)

[Vonna]

Oh my goodness....living there must be like a litte slice of heaven! What glorious, wonderful works surround her! Thank you so much for sharing with us :)

[KarenV]

Wow! What fabulous stitching. I love the tree and recognise many of the ornaments. Lucky you to be able to go and visit!

[Joy]

Gosh, what fabulous work she has completed. I'm so glad you got that special treat and that you shared it with us.

[Cathryn]

Wow! That is so amazing. It truly takes your breath away. What an amazing needlewoman. Cathryn

[Walfrida]

This store is like a pradise to me!!! Thank you for share these wonderful pictures ... they are more than inspiration to me!!!!
Happy Christmas!!!and New ear full of health, love and joy!!

[michele]

Wiping the drool from my chin! I will probably return to this post frequently to try and take in all the wonder! That is truly inspiring!

[LaDonna]

We are all now drooling!!!! Great photos, great stitching and oh my goodness where did she find the time to complete all the Mary Beale Stockings????? I am so envious.

[Dawn Moore]

Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing Darlene's samplers with us. Can you share the designer and name of Darlene's favorite sampler that you identified in your post? I love it as well.

[Sheryl]

that was truely beautiful. So many samplers. I wish we had a cross stitch store close to here and I would do tons of samplers too. I love them. Thanks for sharing.
Pals,
Sheryl

[Dovile]

fantastic! thank you for showing us:)

[Laurie in Iowa]

OMG... beautiful, gorgeous, fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing Darlene's work with us.

[Kristen from MA]

Wow! I want my walls to look like that some day!

Thanks for the amazing eye candy, Paulette. :)

[MARGIE]

AWESOME!!!!!!!
Such treasured works of art by hand!!
That is like walking into a museum!

AWESOME, AWESOME AND MORE AWESOME!!!!!!

[CAY]

Oh, these are FANTASTIC!!!!! Thanks for sharing! Darlene is a wonder! The stitching is sublime! I want my walls covered like that, too! If only we had the list of all those A&E samplers... :D We've got to start somewhere! Hehe. But thanks so much for sharing, Paulette -- really made my day.

[CarolG]

I am absolutely amazed at this body of work! How lucky you were to see all this...it makes me think I need to start keeping some (more) of my work instead of giving it away. Thanks for sharing!

[Leslie]

Holy Cow! What beautiful pieces. I truly enjoyed looking at the pictures you posted today. How does she keep them all dust free? I put glass on everything.

[Tedra Raden]

Wow, what a beautiful collection of samplers and ornaments - what a treat that must have been to see those up close and personal!
Tedra - Phoenix, AZ

[Natasha]

WOW!! Absolutly STUNNING works of art. How long did you spend looking at all those WONDERFUL samplers? I probably would have wanted to stay all day, and then the tree. STUNNING! That is what I long for in a few years a tree stuffed fulled of XS's ornaments.

Thank you for sharing such awesome photos

[Jan]

Oh my GOODNESSSSSS!!!!!!!

Inspiration is right, what an adventure!! Love you for sharing it with us!!

[Valerie]

Wow! Amazing...thanks to you and of course Darlene for sharing her home and samplers. I absolutely love the stockings hung on the mantle and all those wonderful ornaments too.