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The Dirty Brown Sampler (2001)

Beside the Hearth by Janet Morse

Mystery linen from stash

Needlepoint Ink Silk 587 Burnt Umber Range 2+ skeins

Gentle Arts Sampler Threads Gold Leaf, Mulberry, Forest Glade

This sampler has been in my stash for years!  Yes, Janet Morse released the design in 2001--seventeen years ago!  Both Debby and Rita from the Homespun group have stitched this sampler, there may be others in the group who have stitched the sampler just can't recall right now.

What is it about this sampler?  Is it the simplicity, the undulating border, or the cartouche?  Janet's alphabets are beautiful and stitching with just one color except for the cartouche adds a special touch.  If you are looking for a quick stitch--Dirty Brown Sampler is your girl.

You know my mantra:  finish a sampler, start a sampler.  Who is next?  There are several contenders:  Sally Spencer by Birds of a Feather, Anna Grater by The Scarlet House, and Justice for All by Blackbird Designs

In an attempt to rightsize my stash, I have been sorting, passing and prioritizing.  One of the things I have discovered in this process is the rediscovery of older charts in my stash which I really like and I keep asking myself why I have never stitched them.  It is hard for me to resist the call of new releases.

I am not sure how long Sally Spencer has been released, let's just say she is not one of the newer girls on the block.  Sally Spencer or Mustang Sally as she was nicknamed by Mischievous Stitches has beautiful colors and who can resist Sally's mantra:  Sooner Begun, Sooner Done.  This sounds like something Grandmother Bessie would have said to me in her very pragmatic voice,  (see #mustangsallysal on Instagram)

Anna Grater by The Scarlet House is another contender.  Anna Grater was a club project Tanya designed for the Sampler Club at Country Sampler.  Tanya released Anna at the 2018 Nashville Needlework market and Lynette at Homesteading on the Homefront floss tube also did a SAL with Anna.  (see #annagratersal n Instagram)

Contender #3 is Justice for All by the Blackbird Girls which was released in 2002--another colder design and perfect for all the red, white and blue at my house.  I found some 36 count Patriot's Brew linen by R & R Reproductions and some NPI Williamsburg Blue in my stash.  Seems all the elements are coming together for this sampler.  Am thinking of changing the date to 1780 (the Battle of Kings Mountain) and adding the initials JSS for Grandmother Julianna Stentz Shultz.  I will add Grandfather Johan Martin's story and his contribution at the Battle of Kings Mountain and attach to the back of the sampler.  The alphabet on this sampler just sang to my heart, there are only two colors in this sampler.  (I think Emma Lerch wore me out with all the greens she used in her sampler)

Finish a sampler, start a sampler!