A Stitch in Time

I thought I'd share some of my miniature sewing items that I have collected over the past couple of years. As a lot of embroiderers do,  I collect antique sewing tools, and thought I should have a miniature version too!

 To contain them, I bought a delightful sewing table from Masters Miniatures, and made the stumpwork box box.

Inside the stumpwork box is a pair of working silver scissors by Don Henry (I think I bought them from S P Miniatures), a tiny pin cushion that I made from a scrap of silk and some entymology pins, and the most miniscule thimble I have ever seen.  As you can imagine, these items are safely put away in the box, otherwise I would lose them! (you can see the size of my sewing thimble in the background for comparison)  

The lid of the table lifts up to reveal its contents, nicely tidied away beetween projects

A button box, needles, an embroidery hoop, sewing threads, and a silk bag filled with skiens of silk, ready to be wound on to the thread winders. 

 Someone has recently finished a silk embroidery, with the inscription 'je vous aime, faites-vous de même' (I love you, do you the same), a motto I found on a tiny box from the 18th century, similar boxes of which with various mottos were given to sweethearts, and often kept in sewing boxes.  I am searching for the right size frame to put this embroidery in.

For my wedding last year, I received as a present this beautiful Georgian sampler, which has been in my family since it was made in 1834 by my great x 4 grandmother when she was nine years old! 

It is unfortunately very faded, as was obviously exposed to too much light, but I am so glad to have something with such sentimental value.  I would like to recreate many of the embroidery motifs, such as the rabbits and tree below,   This sampler is such a connection to the past, and I am very priviledged to be able to admire it up close every day.

While browsing at a local flea-market here in Lyon, I found another sewn treasure - perhaps not as impressive as the sampler above, but in its own way, very charming.  For the princely sum of 2 euros (really, you can find amazing treasure here sometimes), this poor, simple sampler was begging for a home.  

Made in 1904, though without a name, the colours are still really vibrant, but the stitching itself is damaged and incomplete.  It has such a naive style, most likely quite a young child made this.

This little sampler inspired me, of course, to start sewing some miniature ones, which I hope to finish and frame up soon.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour inside my miniature sewing box!

Jonquil