Jackie du Plessis of It’s Fine-ally Finished
A Pansy Thread Trunk
Stitch a tiny hatbox-shaped thread holder adorned with pansies and stitched bands. Detailed finishing techniques will be discussed to show you how to finish your tiny treasure.
Joanne Harvey of The Examplarery
1794 Betsy Davis Sampler
One of the most prestigious groupings of embroideries worked in New England from the later part of the eighteenth century into the nineteenth century can be attributed to the Balch Academy in Providence, Rhode Island. The academy was conducted under the accomplished hands of Mary "Polly" Balch.
Many of the known Balch Academy embroideries are very sophisticated in both design and stitching techniques, yet very few examples have surfaced that can be attributed to the work of a particular child in her preparation for a more sophisticated sampler. We would like to share with you a preliminary work of Betsy Davis, which has come to light in recent years. Her sampler is signed "Betsy Davis's sampler wrought at 8 years of age Providence, October 22, 1794." Her preparatory sampler led to a more elaborate accomplishment three years later; the larger sampler is housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
The sampler will be worked on 28-count linen, using DMC floss, and measures approximately 7¼"x 11". The stitches include cross stitch over one and two threads, rice stitch, Algerian-eye stitch, queen stitch, and satin stitch.
This class will also offer a viewing of Betsy Davis’ elaborate silk work piece, which is housed at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Colonial Williamsburg. Class price includes the museum viewing; space is limited.
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