Henry's Queens
This sampler was derived from a class I took in 2004. Linn Skinner and Eileen Bennett (with the assistance of Libby Streuli) presented "The Queen Sampler". This was not a stitching event where you went to stitch (thank goodness) it was much more. It was the history of Henry VIII and his six wives with a presentation complete with slides and it was captivating. The kit we got consisted of fabric, DMC floss and a charted band for each wife. Eileen designed bands for what was referred to as the three "good queens" while Linn had the three queens that Henry seemed to have issues with, one was even called "a tart in the cart". We were encouraged to take our kits home and be creative and make our own sampler from what we were given. I frankly could not wait and set off designing a simple layout using the alphabet that Eileen provided and topped if off with six crowns. This was a most enjoyable stitch, so much so I hated to see it end.
Our battle cry during the class was "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived." I've traveled near and far taking classes, but this class was hands down the best class I have ever taken and I will forever remember the fun we had that night.
Anyway, it was time to get it framed so I can get it hung up to enjoy. Here you see it pinned to the coreboard, so I could play with the alignment. (Who says I NEVER frame anything I stitch??? Such TOTAL BS).
Once I had it where I wanted it, I laced the back of it across and then up and down until it was secure on the coreboard. This entire process is very labor and time intensive (and frankly I'd rather be stitching) and for that reason I have to have a block of time where I can finish what I have started and I have to be totally in the mood to stretch, pin, lace and frame the piece. I have long considered framing part of the "process", much like doing the finishing work on smalls and I'm always happy with the results I get in the end.
This is the final product. I used a gold metal frame to set off the gold metallic stitched crowns that closely border the bands.
I didn't want to go to work, I just wanted to sit and look at this all day once it was done.
A crown for each wife.
Thanks Linn, Eileen and Libby for a most enjoyable evening. We will have many more.
posted by Adana at
10:00 AM
16 Comments:
Wonderful ! I love it...
Adana it is simply incredible! I absolutely love it. Can't wait to see it in person at Rockome. Wish mine was stitched up. It really was a fantastic class.
Just stunning Adana! Sounds like it was a wonderful class.
Adana, you are sure to win and you must enter it. It's lovely. Such a great job and a good history lesson. That framing job looks perfect too. What talented fingers you have.
Beautiful! Good job!
~Lana~
Its lovely and the frame really complements it.
It is absolutely beautiful anmd your framing is superb!!
You took this project up a notch and made something beautiful to remind you of the fun we had that night. And you'll never forget Henry's queens.
Love it! I am really interested in Henry VIII, I've been watching the Tudor series on Showtime, very loose with the history, but fun. I am reading Alison Weir's Henry VIII and his court.
That is just beautiful. You did a great job with the finishing too.
Are you watching the Tudors on Showtime? It's better then I expected.
What a treasure!! It is lovely!
It's a lovely piece.
This is just lovely. I look forward to seeing it in the NCCSS!
Will you be at Rockome this year? Look us up at the Comfort Suites in Mattoon and come and stitch with us for a bit.
Denise, would love to come stitch with you and all my other buds who will be in town during "the" show (which I'm prohibited from speaking the name of). Email me gf and we can exchange numbers, we so need to catch up.
What a treasure. It's just beautiful!
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