Oldest Sampler???

As often as we hear about the Jane Bostocke antique sampler, we might wonder about earlier examples of sampler needlework.

Are you aware of the Peruvian sampler that is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York? This sampler is dated to the 2nd century BCE. This sampler shares designs of unusual animals, geometric art, and other figures worked in an array of directions with cotton on camelid ground. Camelid is the family of animals that includes alpaca and llamas. These animals and their fur are found easily in Peru. This sampler measures approximately 28.5" x 42". This wonderul historical needlework is from the Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection (bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979).

To see this photo of this sampler, go the Metropolitan Museum of Art .

English 16th Century Sampler

The pictured sampler is indeed a work of art. During the sixteenth century samplers were often a record of the life and times of that period. Few examples of these samplers exist. Jane Bostocke's sampler of 1598 includes the embroidered date. This is the earliest known sampler to include a date. The date commemorates the birth of a child. The needlework is of a very high quality, and Jane may have been hired for her needlework abilty.

An amazing visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England would allow the visitors to hold this and other historical needlework in their own hands. The needlework is encased in a wooden tray with a glass covering. This means that the sampler can be viewed with time and the closeness that a stitcher would want to fully appreciate this work of so many years ago.

The beams of light flashing across this sampler were the results of my inexperienced photography. I took this picture with the simplest of cameras a few years ago.


During the three years of "A Journey with Needleart-From the past to the the future" we will not feature needlework from the 16th century. Examining a historical sampler with all the fine details and threads of long ago can help each stitcher and lover of needlework appreciate the work of that period and those of our time.

Recognize this Sampler?

Do you recognize this beautiful piece of needle art and history?
Do you know the country where this piece can be found?
Do you know the museum that gives this special sampler a great home?
Answers in the next post..........stay tuned.

Sounds and Tastes of Philadelphia

If you find yourself humming a good tune when you think of Philadelphia, perhaps one of the following that mentions Philly would be a good choice:

• Boyz to Men Motown Philly
• Will Smith Summertime
• Survivor Eye of the Tiger
• Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia
• Elton John Philadelphia Freedom
• Martha Reeves Dancing in the Streets
• Lifehouse Midnight In Philadelphia
• Hall and Oates Fall in Philadelphia
• James Taylor Sailing To Philadelphia
• Flatt And Scruggs Philadelphia Lawyer
• Neil Young Philadelphia
• Mark Knopfler Sailing to Philadelphia

Who wants to view samplers, travel, read, or sing about Philadelphia on an empty stomach??? No one! If you wish to taste the best food that Philly has, then you must go to the Dining Guide to see the summary list of the 359 Downtown Philadelphia restaurants. Look over the amazing list of delicious possiblities, and you will add another good reason to be in Philadelphia in August.

Philadelphia Authors

You most probably have read about Philadelphia’s part in the history of the US, but you might not be aware of the many authors who have brought a touch of Philadelphia to their writing. These are merely a few of those authors:

• Benjamin Franklin. Poor Richard's Almanack. He was an important figure in American letters. Not only was he the editor and publisher of The Pennsylvania Gazette, but he also wrote essays, articles, pamphlets, satires, and speeches throughout his life.

• Edgar Allen Poe. Stories and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe. Although he was born in Boston to a Virginian family and lived in cities throughout the East Coast, Poe wrote many of his most memorable works in Philadelphia, including "Tell Tale Heart" and "The Fall of the House of Usher." His influence on American short stories is immeasurable.

• James A. Michener. Chesapeake. Although dismissed by literary luminary Ernest Hemingway as "that gifted Philadelphia writer," James Michener never used eastern Pennsylvania as a backdrop to one of his epic bio-geographies. The closest he came was in this novelistic history of one of Philly's favorite summer playgrounds.

• Lisa Scottoline. Everywhere that Mary Went. Native Philadelphia mystery writer Lisa Scottoline, after earning a B.A. in English at the University of Pennsylvania, went on to practice law and later write many legal mysteries. Scottoline continues to live and work in Philadelphia. Furthermore, she uses Philadelphia as the backdrop for most of her books. If you have read any of her books, the street names will bring back memories of legal thrills.

Philadelphia Attractions

As a visitor to Philadelphia, you will want to take a cursory trip on the official website of Philadelphia, http://www.visitphilly.com . The city is a bustling, thriving location beckoning to one and all. If you wish to hear your Philly information, tune in on hotels, restaurants, and Philadelphia happenings from KYW Newsradio reporters to HearPhilly!, an online radio station - a first-of-its-kind endeavor produced in partnership with CBS Radio station KYW Newsradio. Up-to-the-minute segments are updated regularly with trip-planning tips and inside scoops on what to do and where to go http://www.visitphilly.com/hear-philly/ .

Stepping into the main attractions of Philadelphia puts you in touch with the history of our country, names that you have read about, and a movie that is unforgettable. Below is a short list of ten of the top attractions:

1. Franklin Square
2. Philadelphia Museum of Art
3. Valley Forge National Historic Park
4. The Liberty Bell Center
5. National Constitution Center
6. Longwood Gardens
7. Independence Hall
8. The Franklin Institute
9. The Barnes Foundation
10. The Rocky Statue

A "Journey" in Philadelphia

Whether you think of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as “Philly”, “City of Brotherly Love”, home of the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich, or some other nickname, think of Philadelphia as the 2012 home of the American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) Seminar and “A JOURNEY WITH NEEDLEART – From the past to the future” (www.NeedleartJourney.org) .

August 2012 will be a special time in Philadelphia. From August 3-31 ANG and the Philadelphia Art Alliance (PAA) will work together to bring needlepoint from the past, present, and future to gallery visitors. At the PAA gallery, 251 South 18th Street, you will be enthralled by a wonderful display of historic samplers, contemporary samplers, and originals for auction.