Birth Sampler Ideas Needed

Ok, so considering the fact that I'm giving birth in 12 hours (planned C-section), I'm about 9 months late deciding on a birth sampler pattern for my baby girl! I've looked around a little bit, but everything I've found is just so.....nauseatingly cutesy. So, I guess I'm looking for ideas or ways some of you have turned "regular" patterns or samplers into birth samplers. My tastes tend to run toward Teresa Wentzler (for the challenge but not the fantasy), Lorri Birmingham (for the classic elegance), or MLI. I'm not a fan of Precious Moments, Stoney Creek, teddy bears, or "country home" quickie type things. I'm not opposed to something religious in nature. Maybe something "timelessly classic" in it's heirloomness. I don't want to look at it hanging on the wall in five years and wonder what in the heck I was thinking choosing that design. Ok, so I'm a little finicky!

I need some inspiration here, so hopefully I can get something made for her before she turns 1. I make stuff for everyone....I can't believe I'm already failing my first born!

Jinx

Reply to
Jinx the Minx
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What about the Victoria Sampler "Heirloom Birth Sampler?" Or the VS "Summer Dreams?" Both of those are very classic. I know I've seen a few others here or there, but they're not coming to mind at the moment.

Best wishes, Ericka

Reply to
Ericka Kammerer

DS's "birth sampler" (stitched when he was 13, LOL!) is the TW "Fantasy Sampler"

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than do the alphabet in the middle, I chose a scripture passage from Proverbs. Then I used the alphabet to stitch his full name and DOB, his parents' names (DH and my maiden name) and his sisters' names. Had I done it at birth, he wouldn't have had his sisters on there, since he's the oldest. My intention with a birth sampler is not so much the *birth* as the *life.*

(However, this procrastination may have an odd result with DD#2. Her "birth sampler" is a TW UFO (the carousel), and hers will have not only her DOB, but her high school graduation and college graduation, LOL! She became engaged last week, so I may pull it out an add her wedding date to it, once that's set. Now THAT truly is a LIFE STORY sampler!!!)

Now DD#2, the youngest of the lot by a decade, actually had her birth sampler before her first birthday - it was the first one I did. Hers is a Permin design,

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think it was the second thing I ever stitched on linen, and my first really big stitching project. Like you, I'm not so much into "cute", and I don't bother with time, weight, all that detail. On DD#2, in the spaces for those I put "daughter of..." and "sister of...." To me it's the date and the family relationshsips that are of long-lasting importance.

HTH, sue

Reply to
Susan Hartman

LOL! I know *just* how you feel! I, too, make stuff for everyone, but DS is getting married next month (they've had the date set for over a year!) and I didn't even *think* about stitching them something until recently. sigh.

Others will have good ideas for you, I'm sure!

Joan

P.S. Good luck with the c-s! One hint: sweat (or loose) pants are

*great* afterwards!
Reply to
Joan E.

I'd like to second the recommendation for the Victoria Sampler's birth sampler and mention that Lesa Steele Designs has a lovely one, too.

Elizabeth

Reply to
Dr. Brat

I took a regular alphabet sampler and at the bottom just stitched the baby's name and date.

MLI has Baby in a Basket which several people have used for birth samplers again, just add the relevant info in an empty space.

Reply to
Karen C in California

You can turn almost any pretty sampler into a birth announcement simply by choosing the colours carefully and inserting a band that contains baby's name and date of birth. Sandy Vanosdall is a favourite of mine and I've used a number of her samplers (including her quick and easy Sweethearts series) for exactly this purpose. I simply stitched the sampler down to a point where I thought the name would insert well, added that, stitched on and then added the birth details in a later band.

Another birth announcment was made from a lovely Noah's Ark design by Sue Hillis. I just stitched the Ark in isolation and then added DD's details above and below it.

If you use the sampler idea, you can add a 'baby' flavoured charm to enhance it. I've added cherub charms and a bow of the appropriately coloured ribbon to this end. Depends on what sort of sampler you might like. Victoria's sampler and Lesa Steele do lovely hardangery ones. Sandy Vanosdall does smaller ones with more detailed stitching. Just Nan's are more cross-stitch based...

Or, you might prefer to choose, say, a baby animal design or a guardian angel motif? Just about anything can be adapted, especially if you use your chosen nursery colours.

Best of luck with the CS and remember to WALK TALL afterwards. If you crouch, you'll wind up with the great granny of all backaches! ;->

Reply to
Trish Brown

First of ALL i hope you have an easy labour ,,,, since you did leave it so late , maybe cahnge your strategey ,,, make her a work that will grow with her [at least in her firstr year ,,,

First embroider her name , date and hour [opptional] of birth , add names of parents +dates of birth [ooptional] , now you can prepare a Smile a Tooth etc, and add the date you first see it !!!! Embroider 1object with the number 1 beside it , 2 objects with the number 2 ,, etc.....

Best of LUCK mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

Jinx -

Two of my favorites are Pat Rogers' "Roots and Wings Birth Sampler" and TIAG Baby Garden. I did P Buckley Moss' "The Newborn" for my granddaughter (who just turned 18) and she still loves it.

Wishing you luck

Kathie in VA

Reply to
Kathie Williams

How about the Noah's Arc by Dimensions. Put the baby's name & date in the arched box on top & the birth info in the box on the bottom. Great for a girl or a boy.

Last year I stitched up the Waxing Moon Roots & Wings & it turned out really nice. It's something that Shelbi can always keep out if she wants. Not too babyish. Her name & birth info was stitched onto a seperate piece of fabric & put in a 5"x7" matching frame & attached to the 8"x10" R&W frame with ribbons. The smaller piece can be removed & put into her baby book when she gets too old to have it hanging in view of her little friends, but the R&W will still be appropriate.

Good luck in surgery tomorrow. And enjoy the new little darling!

Hugs n' Stitches - RoseAnn - IN

Reply to
roseannl

Ditto on the VS and Lessa Steele. Thinking of what is in the shop, I believe that both Indigo Rose and Drawn Thread have lovely pieces. There are some lovely "classic" not cute ones out thre. Long Dog has one, there is a newish chart from My Big Toe that is a lovely border, kind of Celtic, with some words on the inside, which works well as a birth or wedding piece. The French ones are really nice - just a quakerish design border with the information in the center. Also, have some from Rhouge de Rhin, and Historical Sampler Company. If you want to go "quickly" - JBW - the country French Bunny or Lamb work really well as Birth samplers with whatever you wish to write on the bottom. We have a lot of European designers in stock, so I get to see things which might be a bit less common.

Good luck finding what you like. I understand if you don't want the "cutesy" - I hope you have an LNS where you can browse, or just keep web-searching!

And congrats on the new arrival!

Ellice in No Virginia

Reply to
ellice

JInx, Does it have to be a sampler??? Why not select a design that you like (no matter what the genre) and just add your daughter's info at the bottom, or wherever it seems appropriate. I can see taking a wonderful Celtic Knot pattern and putting her info all around the outside of it..... Just another idea.....

Hugs, Dee

Reply to
headway

Also, have you looked at the JBW "Country French" Designs? There is a Rabbit meant to use as a birth thing - very nice (lots of little motifs inside the bigger one) and a chart for putting in the name, date below. She also die a lamb which is popular for this. And she has a gorgeous pillow (actually 2 different ones) that are meant for a rectangular piece (we just had a trunk show, and the pieces are really lovely, and straightfoward to stitch).

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at the Frecnh country bunny and the baby sampler. Sampler also has a"hush, baby sleeping" chart. Ellice

Reply to
ellice

I did three birth samplers when the SMDGD was born -- one for MOI, one for DD and one for the kiddo's room. The one for the room was a Noah's Ark theme and very cute and went with the layette, etc. The ones for DD myself were both band samplers with rows of pulled work, cut work and some hardanger. Both designs are from The Victoria Sampler. The one for DD is "A Precious Gift" and the wording is simply "A precious gift from heaven above" with the name and birth date. I added extra rows for the weight, length & time of birth. Mine is the Heirloom Birth Sampler (this one has a heart swag of SRE roses) and the wording is "During your life we wish for two things, One is for Roots and the other is Wings". this one also has room for the name and date of birth so I added another row to include the weight, length & time of birth. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

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