Shhhhhhhhhhhh - this is the page you don't want your secret sister to see! It's full of items just perfect for a gift exchange, a hostess gift, or just "because" for your favorite stitcher!

Naturally, all our items can be good gifts, but these were designed just for this kind of gift and we think they'll be especially appreciated by stitchers.

To place an order from outside the United States, please contact us!

Boxed Sets

We love these little boxed sets - whether you call them "tool boxes" or "toy boxes" - they are fun! They were fun to make and we think they look terrific on display with our other needlework tools.

Each papier-mâché box is hand painted with a grain-painted finish, and filled with lots of "toys".

Adam and Eve

This hexagonal shaped box is a really special set. The bottom of both the box and the little "button box" is covered with felt chosen to coordinate with the colors of the featured sampler. On that ground rests a needlebook, complete with needles in that same coordinating felt, a thread palette with four coordinating silk threads, a pin keep and a scissors fob. The hand-painted ivory ruler on a recycled piano key and a variety of mother-of-pearl buttons inside the button box are included, though the scissors are not. Because it is illegal to export ivory, this set is available in the US only.

Each box and the accompanying toys are adorned with high-quality images from an antique sampler. The images are the same on each set, but the grain-painting is, of course, different - the colors are the same, but the "faux finish" varies from box to box. This particular batch is a lovely summer green enhanced with a golden brown, inspired by the scene on the box top.

These are limited editions - once they're gone they're gone!

.R.S. 1738. German. Private collection.

New!

Adam and Eve Boxed Set $47.50*

Blueberry Hill

This is a lovely set made from one of our favorite samplers. The bottom of both the box and the little "button box" is covered with felt chosen to coordinate with the colors of the featured sampler. On that ground rests a needlebook, complete with needles in that same coordinating felt, a thread palette with four coordinating silk threads, a pin keep and a scissors fob. A variety of mother-of-pearl buttons inside the button box are included, though the scissors are not.

Each box and the accompanying toys are adorned with high-quality images from an antique sampler. The images are the same on each set, but the grain-painting is, of course, different - the colors are the same, but the "faux finish" varies from box to box. This particular batch is a vibrant blue enhanced with a deeb brown-black, inspired by the scene on the box top.

These are limited editions - once they're gone they're gone!

Jessie Brown,13. August 4,1827. Scottish. Private collection.

New!

Blueberry Hill Boxed Set $38.50*

Boxed sets are available for retail sales only.

*$2.50 per item handling charge will be added to boxed sets at checkout.

New!

We have been so excited that Giulia Punti Antichi has designed a wonderful Adam and Eve Etui just to hold some of our Adam and Eve products! The design is gorgeous, based on motifs from our Caroline Reeves sampler. It may be purchased at many of your local needlework stores!

The coordinating Adam and Eve Cards, Finishing Labels, Bookplates, Needlebook, Thread Palette and Pin Keep are available now as a set.

Adam and Eve Set $38.50**

**$1.50 handling charge will be added at checkout

Schwenkfelder Days of Remembrance

2008 Engagement Calendar and Catalog of

Schwenkfelder Samplers and Needlework.

This lovely desk calendar gives you a week at a time with a place to mark your engagements. The facing page for each of the 52 weeks in 2008 features a color picture of needlework from the Schwenkfelder collection. This is a great catalog of this important collection. Schwenkfelder samplers are at once different and similar to other Pennsylvania samplers - find out for yourself! This is a great addition to your sampler research library - something you will use with pleasure for years to come in your study of samplers and other needlework.

Don't forget your birthday buddies or secret sisters - what terrific gift this makes for your needlework friends. And it's not too early to start thinking about Christmas.....

$21.95 plus shipping and handling** Your purchase of this wonderful book supports the samplers - a portion of every sale is donated to the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center for the preservation of the samplers.

See a preview: Sample.pdf Be sure to change the size to 100%

Must have Adobe Reader to view this file. Download the free version here:

Order now by emailing us.

**Please note - if you are placing an order which includes a Schwenkfelder Days of Remembrance book, please email us with your order instead of clicking on the order buttons and we will send you a PayPal invoice. This is the only way to order the book, since shipping will be difficult to standardize on multiple book orders. We will calculate each order separately.

Pin Keeps

Our pin keeps feature high quality photographs of antique samplers or contemporary pieces with an historic feel. They have 100% wool felt to protect your pins. These pretty pin keeps are the perfect finishing touch for your smalls collection. Actual size 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Elizabeth Bechtel 1833. Schwenkfelder collection.

New!

Queen's Stags Pin Keep $10.00*

I.R.S. 1738. German. Private collection.

New!

Ring Around the Rosey Pin Keep $10.00*

Eleanor Dade aged 13 years on the 14th of May 1835. Private Collection.

New!

This gorgeous pin keep features pins bejeweled with Jet Swarovski crystals. We think this is our most elegant pin keep, hence the name!

Elegante Pin Keep $13.50*

Elizabeth Elliott. May 30, 1811. Private collection.

This dainty small incorporates two fun purposes - one side is a pin keep with 100% wool felt to protect your pins. The other side features a tiny needlebook. These pretty pin keep needlebooks are the perfect finishing touch for your smalls collection. Actual size 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Strawberry Stag Pin Keep Needlebook $12.50*

Wearable Pin Keep

©2007 Actual size approximately 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

1817. Sarah Almy’s Sampler Wrought in the 11th year of her age, 10th month. American. Private collection.

This is our spin on the "Nanny Brooch" of yesteryear! We thought our pin keeps were so pretty we wanted to wear them and decided "why not"? When you wear this brooch, you will never be without a straight pin! This piece is filled with 100% wool felt to protect your pins.

Wearable Swan Pin Keep $10.00*

Quick Start Sets

There you are at the beginning of a sampler class when the teacher says - "measure in three inches from the side and three inches down from the top to begin your stitching", and pandemonium reigns as everyone looks around for a ruler or measuring tape! While everyone else scrambles, you simply reach into your bag and pull out your Quick Start Set. The three-inch square sits at the top left corner of your linen and you put in your first stitches while your neighbor is still searching for a ruler.

The Quick Start set includes two inch, three inch and four inch squares - just place them on the corner of your linen, and you can put your needle in three inches down and three inches over from the edge. Get a quick start in class or when you're itching to start that next sampler... The three squares are adorned with high quality photos of antique needlework. They are mounted on artist's board and have a protective coating.

We have a lot of fun shopping for just the right ribbon to enhance your Quick Start set - but sometimes when we go back to buy more, we can't find exactly the same thing - so rest assured the ribbon which adorns your set will have been chosen to complement the designs in the set, even if it's not quite what you see in the pictures here.

Our Quick Start Sets are not only practical - they're gorgeous! They grace your stitching basket and make you look really smart!

Just place your quick start square on your linen and start stitching!

1. 2. 3.

1.Caroline Reeves, 1830 - her work. American - probably Pennsylvania. Private collection.

2.Eleanor Dade aged 13 years on the 14th of May 1835. Private Collection.

3. I.R.S. 1738.German. Private Collection.

New!

Adam and Eve Start Set $8.50*

1817. Sarah Almy’s Sampler Wrought in the 11th year of her age, 10th month. American.

New!

Quaker Quick Start Set $8.50*

1.&3. I.R.S. 1738.German. Private Collection

2. Original Design by Becky deVries-Wong

Three different views of birds from different samplers grace this set.

New!

Birds Quick Start Set $8.50*

2" IRS MDG 1738 3" Sara Jones Aged 9 1840 4" Jessie Brown, 13. August 4, 1827. Scottish. Samplers are from a private collection

Three different views of houses from antique samplers grace this set.

New!

House Quick Start Set $8.50*

Friendship Trifolds

Rosina Shultz 1817 Schwenkfelder Collection

A lovely token of friendship - just right for your stitching friends! Open the trifold to find bejeweled pins, needles and silk threads on mother-of-pearl rings. The outside of the case features motifs from an antique sampler, and all the embellishments were chosen to coordinate with the sampler.

New!

Friendship's Delight $11.75*

Eleanor Dade aged 13 years on the 14th of May 1835. Private collection.

New!

Adam and Eve Trifold $11.75*

A.H. 1862. The Netherlands. Private collection.

Only four left - when they're gone, they're gone!

A Token of Friendship $11.75*

Finishing Labels

Our finishing labels feature high quality photographs of antique samplers.

For the back of your framed pieces - it's not finished until it's identified for posterity! These lovely finishing labels make it easy to be sure all the important information is there for future generations. Self-adhesive. Eight per package.

©2007

I.R.S. 1738. German. Private collection.

New!

Bluebirds Finishing Label $10.00*

©2006

Caroline Reeves Garland Finishing Label $10.00*

All images are the property of In the Company of Friends™

*50 cents per item handling charge will be added at checkout