Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Samplers of Deborah Bryant

As I am having much trouble with my "secret project" and am positively butchering my waste canvas cross-stitching...my mind turns to the wife of my dear Uncle Hal, Deb, the most accomplished cross-stitcher I have ever known.

When I visited her last fall I tried to take pictures of just a few of the pieces she has been creating over the decades as her great life's work. The walls of her home have scores of them, all subtly different, and they lend a sense of wisdom and serenity to the atmosphere where she lives that is profound.

Here are but 9 of them; they were hard to photograph in their frames with no shadow or flash...Be sure and click on them to be able to see her magnificent stitching, and read the inspiring words, too.







...and the Masterpiece, which I believe took her two years:

The cumulative effect of being surrounded by all of this, as I have said, is calming and uplifting at the same time.
You can see a few of them on the wall behind us...

She gave me one of my very own, too, which I will always treasure:

I love you, Deb!

9 comments :

trillium said...

Are charts available for these designs?

allie aller said...

I believe she did use charts, but some are from many years ago. I will have to ask her....

Vicki W said...

She is talented! Do you think I could bribe her to finish my stupid cat?

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Lovely! One of my dreams is to someday do a sampler and I keep hunting for a perfect pattern. I'm starting to think I might have to cobble several together to get the elements I want. These are wonderful!

Debra Dixon said...

She loves the same style of cross stitch samplers I love. I recognize a few of them too! Lovely work!

Barbara C said...

What precious treasures, and how generous of her to give you one.

Marty52 said...

Beautiful, Allie! I used to do cross stitch and really enjoyed it. CQ captured my heart though and the partially finished cross stitch projects languish in the corners!

FredaB said...

Allie the one she gave you is perfect for you the flower and vegetable grower that you are.

Her work is beautiful and the style is one that I really like. I have never got bit by the cross stitch bug. Needle point was my favorite for a long time. Must take pics of some of mine when I get home.

Patricia said...

What gorgeous work and what a life time of work! I just love samplers and have two, but your Aunt's are amazing. I don't have that talent.
Pat
Patricia Rose-A Potpourri of Fabric, Fragrance and Findings
www.patriciarose-apotpourri.com
www.patriciarose-apotpourriof.blogspot.com
pmorello@citlink.net