We do find a Jane Harth born in around the year 1854 recorded in the 1871 census working as one of two servants in the household of George Shepherd, a retired grocer, and his adult son. This Jane was born in Tetney, Lincolnshire. If this was our Jane, then she would have stitched her sampler when she was 14 years old. We would not expect a humble servant to have remained in school until this age.

There is a recorded sampler stitched by Margaret Spender in 1810 that features the same distinctive vase with carnations either side of a tulip. Whilst this is much faded, it is unmistakably the same motif that Jane stitched 58 years later."

Hands Across the Sea - Jane Harth 1868 ~ A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

Hands Across the Sea - Ann Matthews 1859 ~ A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

$86.00

Ann Matthews~ A Little Gem is the 6th in a series of “Little Gems” from Hands Across the Sea Samplers.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit Options :

Choice of purchasing thread only or as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice + 19 skeins of Soie d'Alger thread and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

37 ct Fat Eighth - Legacy Linen Corn Tassel - 17.5" x 18"
30 ct Fat Quarter - Legacy Linen Pecan Shortbread - 17" x 35"
30 ct Fat Quarter - Legacy Linen Mariner's Map - 18" by 35"
30 ct Fat Quarter - Legacy Linen Victoria Sponge Cake - 18" by 35"

19 Skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes:

SDF 165 – Navy blue ~ very dark
SDF 523 – Golden olive ~ light
SDF 622 – Straw ~ light
SDF 1753 – Straw ~ dark
SDF 1836 – Hunter green ~ very dark
2 Skeins of SDF 2135 – Parrot green ~ very dark
SDF 2625 – Burnt orange ~ dark
SDF 2915 – Salmon ~ dark
2 Skeins of SDF 2923 – Christmas red
SDF 3334 – Antique violet ~ light
SDF 3343 – Beaver grey ~ light
SDF 3715 – Khaki green ~ medium
SDF 4112 – Desert sand ~ very light
SDF 4132 – Coffee brown ~ ultra dark
SDF 4545 – Brown ~ light
SDF 5381 – Sky blue ~ very light
SDF F09 – Hazelnut brown ~ light

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales.

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Ann is a beautiful little Welsh sampler worked with a palette of bright colours that pop out from the linen. The sampler is framed by a simple but very effective border using sumptuous red and duck egg blue silks, and she continues to use some very vibrant colour combinations.

Ann lived in Glamorgan, South Wales and was born in 1849 in Aberavon near Port Talbot, which is just a few miles from Margam Church which she depicts. She tells us that she was 10 years old when she stitched her sampler in 1859. The earliest reference to Ann is from the census taken in 1851, where she is living near Margam with her father David, her brothers Morgan and John, and her sister Margaret. Her father is a widower, and his parents are living with the family, presumably to help look after the children, of which Ann at 2 years old is the youngest. Her father’s occupation is a collier (miner), and the area she lives in is dominated by coal and copper mining.

There is no record of Ann’s mother or when and how she died. The living conditions in the towns and villages were very hard, and diseases such as cholera and typhus were commonplace."

Hands Across the Sea - Ann Matthews 1859 ~ A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

Hands Across the Sea - Only One Rose ~ A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

$63.00

Only One Rose, a postcard from the heart ~ A Little Gem is the 5th in a series of “Little Gems” from Hands Across the Sea Samplers.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit Options :

Choice of purchasing thread only or as full kit.

Full Kit options:

Includes linen of choice + 14 skeins of Soie d'Alger thread and 2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Linen Choices:

37 ct Fat Quarter - Legacy Linen Corn Tassel - 18" x 35"
30 ct Fat Quarter - Legacy Linen Mariner's Map - 17" by 35"
30 ct Fat Quarter - Legacy Linen Pecan Shortbread - 17" x 35"

14 Skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Kit Includes:

SDF 216 - Pistachio green ~ ultra dark
SDF 236 - Forest green ~ very dark
SDF 523 - Golden olive ~ light
SDF 945 - Christmas red ~ dark
SDF 1013 - Salmon ~ light
SDF 2232 - Straw ~ light
SDF 2916 - Raspberry ~ dark
SDF 2932 - Salmon ~ medium
SDF 3026 - Raspberry ~ very dark
SDF 3341 - Pearl grey ~ very light
SDF 3446 - Pewter grey – very dark
SDF 3724 - Pine green ~ medium
SDF 4221 - Beige brown ~ ultra very light
SDF 5022 - Blue green ~ medium

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales.

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"This sampler is a postcard from the heart. The sampler, designed and stitched by Nicola as a gift to her husband, has been inspired by samplers in her private collection and conveys several messages to her husband.

The ‘language of flowers’ was a Victorian-era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken.

The English are famous for their roses, and roses are deeply implanted in the English heart. They bring a sweetness of fragance and beauty of colouring, the rose is the queen of an English garden blooming from early summer until the Christmas bells ring out."

Hands Across the Sea - Only One Rose ~ A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

Hands Across the Sea - Jane Fiddes 1835 – A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

$123.00

Jane Fiddes, 1835 is another sampler from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. Jane’s sampler is possibly Irish in origin and is filled to bursting with motifs that vibrate with color. The more you study the sampler the more you will see.

Jane’s sampler has been rated as suitable for intermediate and advanced needle workers but is not beyond a confident beginner. The sampler is an ideal choice for those who wish to expand their repertoire of stitches.

**Please note, Sampler Thread Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.

Kit Option 1: 37 ct Corn Tassel Version of Full Kit Includes:

Fat Quarter of either Legacy Linen Corn Tassel -37 ct (18" x 35")
21 Skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger
2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

1 each of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Silk Thread colors include:

SDF 944 - Christmas red
SDF 1434 - Antique blue ~ medium
SDF 1436 - Antique blue ~ very dark
SDF 1745 - Grey green ~ dark
SDF 1814 - Grey green ~ light
SDF 1845 - Blue green ~ dark
2 Skeins - SDF 2146 - Khaki green ~ dark
SDF 2213 - Olive green ~ medium
SDF 2234 - Straw ~ dark
SDF 2645 - Salmon ~ very dark
SDF 2914 - Salmon
SDF 2926 - Garnet ~ medium
SDF 3026 - Dusty rose ~ ultra very dark
SDF 3846 - Beaver grey ~ ultra dark
SDF 4236 - Brown ~ light
SDF 4524 - Hazel nut brown
SDF 4644 - Antique mauve ~ very light
SDF 4645 - Antique mauve ~ dark
SDF 5384 - Turquoise ~ light
SDF F18 - Old gold ~ light

Kit Option 2: 21 Skeins of Soie d'Alger Only

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales.

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"On first viewing the sampler, when it was listed in an auction catalogue, we thought that the sampler was Scottish. There are numerous sets of initials scattered throughout the sampler, together with a house with the lawn below executed in Turkey work, and both features are characteristic of Scottish samplers.

When the sampler arrived, in an old but not necessarily original frame, we discovered on the backing board a label that indicated that the sampler had been framed in Dublin, Ireland. Was Jane born in Ireland, did she or one of her descendants marry an Irishman, was the sampler acquired by a collector who took the sampler to Ireland? Regrettably, we shall never know as we cannot link the initials Jane diligently stitched to the Janes that appear in family history records.

This charming sampler has been mainly executed with cross stitch over two threads with a small amount of cross stitch over one thread for Patch the dog. Other stitches used are double running stitch, satin stitch, Algerian eyelet stitch, four-sided stitch, plait stitch and stem stitch. "

Hands Across the Sea - Jane Fiddes 1835 – A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

Hands Across the Sea - Mary Eliza McMillan 1869 – A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

$77.00

Mary Eliza McMillan, 1869" is the 4th in a series of “Little Gems” from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. The Mary Eliza McMillan sampler is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities, no speciality stitches are required.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit Option 1: 37 ct Corn Tassel Version of Full Kit Includes:

Fat Eighth of Legacy Linen Corn Tassel -37 ct (18" x 17.5")***
14 Skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger
2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

***This fabric cut gives you a 2" margin on the top and bottom of the Sampler. If you would like a larger cut, please purchase a Fat Quarter and the thread kit alone.

1 each of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Silk Thread colors include:

SDF 523 - Mustard ~ medium
SDF 2125 - Moss green ~ dark
SDF 2143 - Olive green ~ medium
SDF 2757 - Grey green ~ medium
SDF 3343 - Beaver Grey ~ light
SDF 3414 - Shell grey ~ dark
SDF 3423 - Fern Green
SDF 3445 - Pewter grey ~ very dark
SDF 3822 - Tan ~ very light
SDF 4224 - Straw
SDF 4545 - Brown ~ light
SDF 4611 - Desert sand
SDF 4623 - Straw
SDF 4633 - Antique mauve ~ medium

Kit Option 2: 30 Ct Pecan Shortbread Full Version of Kit Includes:

Fat Quarter of Pecan Shortbread 30 ct (18" x 35")
14 Skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger
2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

1 each of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Silk Thread colors include:

SDF 523 - Mustard ~ medium
SDF 2125 - Moss green ~ dark
SDF 2143 - Olive green ~ medium
SDF 2757 - Grey green ~ medium
SDF 3343 - Beaver Grey ~ light
SDF 3414 - Shell grey ~ dark
SDF 3423 - Fern Green
SDF 3445 - Pewter grey ~ very dark
SDF 3822 - Tan ~ very light
SDF 4224 - Straw
SDF 4545 - Brown ~ light
SDF 4611 - Desert sand
SDF 4623 - Straw
SDF 4633 - Antique mauve ~ medium

Kit Option 3: Soie d'Alger Thread Kit Only includes:

1 each of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Silk Thread colors include:

SDF 523 - Mustard ~ medium
SDF 2125 - Moss green ~ dark
SDF 2143 - Olive green ~ medium
SDF 2757 - Grey green ~ medium
SDF 3343 - Beaver Grey ~ light
SDF 3414 - Shell grey ~ dark
SDF 3423 - Fern Green
SDF 3445 - Pewter grey ~ very dark
SDF 3822 - Tan ~ very light
SDF 4224 - Straw
SDF 4545 - Brown ~ light
SDF 4611 - Desert sand
SDF 4623 - Straw
SDF 4633 - Antique mauve ~ medium

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales.

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Mary Eliza McMillan has been in Nicola’s private collection for some time and has been whispering in her ear to be reproduced. Now, as we hunker down in isolation and time has lost any meaning, it seemed the right moment to do so.

Rather than a carefully planned symmetrical sampler, Mary’s needlework is very much a one-off example of a young child’s nonsensical art. Very similar to the scraps of crinkled, paint-smudged paper that can be found in countless homes today proudly displayed on fridge doors.

There is often a variety of wisdom and information to be found on samplers. Some samplers convey a message, others knowledge. Samplers illuminate the lives of their makers when they document moral issues, family histories, personal experiences, and national events."

Hands Across the Sea - Mary Eliza McMillan 1869 – A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

Hands Across the Sea - Sarah Spencer c. 1870 – A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

$50.00

Sarah Spencer, c 1870" is the 3rd in a series of “Little Gems” from Hands Across the Sea Samplers. Sarah is suitable for needleworkers of all abilities and would make an ideal “starter” project for those wishing to explore sampler.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit Option 1: 37 ct Corn Tassel Version of Full Kit Includes:

Fat Eighth of either Legacy Linen Corn Tassel -37 ct (18" x 17.5")
8 Skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger
2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

1 each of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Silk Thread colors include:

SDF 5383 - Grey Green
SDF 2532 - Straw - light
SDF 4622 - Salmon
SDF 3734 - Khaki green - dark
SDF 2636 - Terracotta
SDF 945 - Garnet
SDF 4623 - Salmon - very dark
SDF 2216 - Avocado green - dark

Kit Option 2: 30 ct Version of Full Kit Includes:

Fat Quarter of Mariner's Map 30 ct (18" x 35") OR Fat Quarter of Pecan Shortbread 30 ct (18" x 35")

Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Silk Thread colors include:

1 Skein of SDF 5383 - Grey Green
1 Skein of SDF 2532 - Straw - light
1 Skein of SDF 4622 - Salmon
2 Skeins of SDF 3734 - Khaki green - dark
1 Skein of SDF 2636 - Terracotta
2 Skein of SDF 945 - Garnet
1 Skein of SDF 4623 - Salmon - very dark
1 Skein of SDF 2216 - Avocado green - dark

Optional choice of purchasing just thread kit without linen.

Kit Option 3: Soie d'Alger Thread Kit Only includes:

1 each of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Silk Thread colors include:

SDF 5383 - Grey Green
SDF 2532 - Straw - light
SDF 4622 - Salmon
SDF 3734 - Khaki green - dark
SDF 2636 - Terracotta
SDF 945 - Garnet
SDF 4623 - Salmon - very dark
SDF 2216 - Avocado green - dark

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales.

About the Sampler from Nicola Parkman:

"Sarah Spencer is a very common name in England so we were unable to research our Sarah. You will note the reversed “S” in Sarah. It is not unusual for young children to reverse letters when they read and write but Sarah stitched the letter correctly in her surname. She could have simply got it wrong and did not take the time to correct her mistake. However, that does not tally with the neatness of her stitching and the diligence she showed in completing her sampler. We think it could be her way to record that although her name was spelt with an “S” it is pronounced differently like a soft vibrated “Z”."

Hands Across the Sea - Sarah Spencer c. 1870 – A Little Gem - Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

Hands Across the Sea - The Chequerboard House – A Little Gem – Soie d'Alger Thread Kit

$78.00

This cute Sampler is the second in a series of "Little Gems" from the popular Hands Across the Sea Samplers.

The Chequerboard House, EB 1860 sampler is the second in a series of “Little Gems” from Hands Across the Sea Samplers.

**Please note, Sampler Kit does not include chart. Purchase is required separately on Hands Across the Sea.**

Kit includes:

Stitcher's Eighth (18" x 17.5") of Honey Glaze Linen - 30 ct
14 skeins of Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger
2 Tapestry Size 26 Needles (Gift with Purchase)

Au Ver a Soie®, Soie d'Alger Silk Thread colors include:

SDF 524 - Mustard - Medium
SDF 1013 - Shell pink - very light
SDF 1424 - Navy blue
SDF 2143 - Olive green - medium
SDF 2236 - Hazelnut brown- very dark
SDF 2514 - Straw - Dark
SDF 2635 - Copper - Medium
SDF 2944 - Melon - dark
SDF 3026 - Raspberry - very dark
SDF 3346 - Beige Brown - dery dark
SDF 3414 - Shell grey - dark
SDF 3424 - Blue green
SDF 4112 - Desert sand - light
SDF 4232 - Old gold - light

***Please note, this item is excluded from any discounts or sales.

About the Sampler

The sampler features a brick house with a lawn stitched in Turkey work / Ghiordes knot that can be found in many Scottish samplers. The stone blocks the young girl used to “build” her house in a checkerboard pattern gives the sampler a distinctive look of its own.