1 January 2017

A Stitch In Time






It seems incredible that sixteen years have gone by since the millennium.  A couple of years before 2000 dawned I started a craft project to mark the occasion – a counted cross stitch Millennium sampler.  It is made up of significant dates and names in world history since the 1066 Battle of Hastings.  William Shakespeare, Robert the Bruce, Captain Cook’s discovery of Australia and the more recent Space Shuttle are all featured.  


The millennium arrived and the sampler was unfinished.  At the time I had my hands full with career, husband, two young daughters and Daisy the dog, with little time to do cross stitch. But when we used to travel on holiday the cross stitch came too and gradually progress was made.



When I retired in 2005 I was determined to complete the piece.  It had become a bit of a standing joke.  Everyone kept asking me if I would finish it before the next millennium.  I bought a magnifying glass to help me see what I was doing.  It was finally completed in 2008.  A family heirloom to pass on to my daughters?  Probably not!


Happy New Year everyone!

 

20 comments:

  1. That is so beautiful!! I do cross stitch and made a family tree for my parent's 40th wedding anniversary, starting from the great grandparents down to the gran children. so I know all the hard work that goes into it. You have so many hidden talents, Sue!

    I wish you and Paul a Happy New Year, a 2017 full of good things for you and your family!
    Greetings Maria xx

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    1. I love the idea of a family tree cross stitch. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year Maria xxx

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  2. Where or what is Heglesburg Sue?...By the way, I think your cross stitch design is splendid and I congratulate you for finishing it. Better late than never.

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  3. Thank you. Heytesbury, a small village with two pubs and a post office in Wiltshire (Siegfried Sassoon lived in Heytesbury House.)

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  4. I love it too ! I'd be very happy to hang it on my wall. I have a cross stitch framed and on the lounge room wall. I don't think my eyes could handle doing another.

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    1. Thanks Helsie. My eyes definitely wouldn't cope now.

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  5. I thought you were going to say you got it out today to finish it.

    It is very nice. I did cross stitch things when I was 8, tray cloths were my speciality. I don't suppose anybody uses a tray cloth these days.

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    1. The only time I have ever done cross stitch before was when I was at primary school and we did sewing every Thursday afternoon while the boys played football. We made book marks and dressing table sets.

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    2. Yes, like me. Our teacher obviously didn't go for dressing table sets. I enjoyed those classes and you may recall I was reminiscing with Jackie recently about the pipe-cleaner ostrich I made with the coloured feathers.

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  6. I think that is beautiful! So much work went into that. I, too, have a cross-stitch that needs finishing. Some day... -Jenn

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    1. Thank you Jenn. It took me a long time to finish it.

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  7. You've made a beautiful memento, and definitely a family heirloom. But no Buddy on there.
    All the very best to you all for 2017

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    1. Hm, I wonder if I could add him ... except he wasn't even born in 2000!

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  8. How beautiful. Truly, I'm impressed.

    Happy New Year!

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  9. They'd be crazy if they don't treasure it. I use to have a collection of Early Georgian Samplers... now all gone. I love them.

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  10. I also started this same sampler around the millennium, and I am still trying to complete the last four squares.
    Unfortunately I just got back from holiday and find I left the pattern behind and no one can locate it! Do you perhaps still have your pattern? I would love to get a photocopy of the bottom quarter, to enable me to finish it. Here's hoping...

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    1. I wish you had contacted me a few weeks ago! We have just moved house and I have a horrible feeling that I may have thrown the old pattern out. But I will check and let you know.

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    2. I'm so sorry, I've had a look but I can't find it. I'm pretty certain I threw it out last month.

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