Everything we make, we make with our four hands. Individual differences will occur in any handcrafted item. It's these differences that make them special!

All of our items are made in limited numbers - when they're gone, they're gone! We do not make more. Instead, we move on to something new! Check back often to see what we're up to!

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". Because they are hand-painted, each is different. The photo features just one painted design of many.

Honeysuckle Cottage Boxed Set

The Honeysuckle Cottage set is made from images of the Grace Roberston/Isabel Davidson 1815 sampler. The thread palette is the image of the signature line: "Grace Roberston shewed this with Isabel Davidson 1815 aged 9" and is adorned with silk threads whose colors are drawn from the sampler. The pinkeep shows the gorgeous peacock with Grace's initial - one of our favorite features of the sampler. Filled with Swarovski pearl- beaded pins, this peacock is very proud indeed! Inside the bitsy box is an abalone waxer made with beeswax. The Lace scissors sport a honeysuckle fob and the house needlebook opens up to show special peacock adorned pins and two needles, and the little booklet holds pages of charts for motifs from the sampler.

The pièce de résistance is the little ivory ruler made from an antique piano key and hand-painted with one of the birds from the sampler. Because of the law against exporting ivory, the Honeysuckle Cottage Boxed Set is available only to be sent to U.S. addresses.

We've been working on Honeysuckle Cottage Boxed sets for the past few weeks - they will be ready to ship in time for Christmas. We think they'd make a lovely Christmas gift for yourself or someone special. Let us know if you'd like us to send it as a gift.

We are waiting for just one item to arrive in our workshop, then we will have them all boxed up and ready to ship by December 14th.

Boxed sets are sold retail only. They are limited editions - when they're gone, they're gone, so hurry and place your order!

Honeysuckle Cottage Boxed Set $39.75*

SOLD OUT!!! THANK YOU!

Mademoiselle's Peacock Accoutrements

We have imagined a sweet mademoiselle sitting and stitching on a fine summer day. She is wearing her best ensemble, and has arranged herself in the formal gardens on her family's estate. Rows of elegant flowers abound and peacocks wander through the hedgerows, showing off their fine feathers every once in awhile. Feeling very grown up, indeed, she assembles all her stitching accoutrements about her as she settles in for an afternoon of "samplering". Each is a needlework tool fashioned in the form of something you might find in any young lady's wardrobe. All these matching pieces are taken from the same piece of peacock tapestry - undated.

Peacock Pocket

This lovely piece holds a gorgeous set of Swarovski crystal adorned peacock pins and a peacock thread counter, as well as needles all nestled in 100% wool felt. Fold up the pocket and tie it with silk ribbon to keep your supplies neat and handy.

Mademoiselle's Peacock Pocket $15.00*

This pretty glove holds a pair of embroidery scissors while showing off the fine feathers of the fanciful peacock on the gauntlet. A scissors fob features a close-up view of the peacock. Tied up with silk ribbon and glistening with a mother-of-pearl button, Mlle's glove is a dainty thing sure to please the discriminating needleworker.

Mademoiselle's Peacock Glove Scissors Pocket $12.00*

For Mademoiselle's dainty foot - a slipper befitting Cinderella! This clever design features an antiqued gold thimble heel and Swarovski crystal headed pins hidden in the toe in a bed of 100% wool felt. The shoe is decorated with tea-dyed lace and all tied up with a silk bow on a mother-of-pearl button.

Mademoiselle's Peacock Shoe Etui $10.00

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

Mademoiselle's Oak Tree Folly Thread Palette $6.50*

Mademoiselle's Oak Tree Folly Bookmark $2.50*

From the hand of Tomasa Barrera, November 29, 1844 at the age of 6 years. Mexico. Private collection.

This pretty piece reminds of all the wonderful French alphabet samplers, so we named it Abecedarie! Swarovski crystals adorn your pins, nestled, along with a tapestry needle, in 100% wool felt!

Abecedairie $3.00*

Boxed Sets are Sold Out - Thank You!

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".

Sailor's Ditty Box

This is a really fun set made from one of our favorite samplers. We've been taken with nautical themes for some time, and have been working on the Sailor's Ditty Box off and on since this time last year! An accordion-foldout nests inside and is decorated with motifs from the sampler, some small charts of some of those motifs, a gorgeous pair of fish scissors with nicely colored scales, a mother-of-pearl fish thread winder from Kelmscott, abalone beaded pins and tapestry needles in 100% wool felt, a ship's wheel thread-counter and silk threads chosen to coordinate with the set.

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 seafoam green, inspired by the scene on the box top.

The Sailor's Ditty Box is about 8 inches long, 4 inches wide and 3 inches deep.

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

Ann Wilson her work finisheb Ogust the 25, 1810 agb 11 (sic) English. Private collection.

Sailor's Ditty Box $29.50* SOLD OUT!!!!

If, like us, you love everything Nautical, you will need to get your own Itty Bitty Ditty, too! Conceived of as a travel etui - everything in this little set is self-contained for stitching on board ship (or aeroplane) without losing your scissors or needle, and without leaving your orts for someone else to clean up! Of course, we couldn't resist adding a few "toys"...

The Itty Bitty Ditty contains a pair of Kelmscott's Little Gem Scissors (safe for travel), which are attached to the lid of your ditty with a lovely chiffon ribbon. They are held in place on the lid by a magnet, which is also a needle-minder. The bottom of the box is lined in 100% wool felt, and we've added a nautical pin keep, a fish thread-winder, an abalone needle threader and a shell mini-waxer made of sweet-smelling beeswax. This is a perfect gift for your stitching pal, or yourself! You'll find yourself taking it everywhere!

Painted to coordinate with the Sailor's Ditty Box, each is different with it's own faux finish and charm. Like the Sailor's Ditty Boxes, these are a limited edition. When they're gone, they're gone!

Itty Bitty Ditty $19.75* SOLD OUT!!!!

Billet-Doux**Love Notes

Swan Lace
A.H. 1862. The Netherlands. Private collection.
Our Swan Lace Scissors Pocket holds a pair of Kelmscott Lace Scissors, lovingly nestled in a pocket adorned with sampler motifs and tied up with silk ribbon and mother-of-pearl button!
Swan Lace Scissors Pocket $19.75*

The Swan Lace Etui is a smaller version of the Swan Lace pocket. This one holds a card with glass head pins and a needle, and is adorned with "two swans a-swimming". A very sweet gift for a stitching friend!

Swan Lace Etui $8.50* SOLD OUT!!!!

Regency House Bookmark $2.50*

Tag the Bag!

Now I Know My ABC’s

Royal Blush

South of the Border

Swan

“Many suitcases look alike – please be sure you have the right bag!” – Haven’t we all stood at the baggage carousel wondering which non-descript black bag is ours? Worry no more! With our sampler luggage tags, you will identify your own in no time. And if your suitcase should somehow be lost, never fear – your name, address, phone numbers, email (whatever you want, really) are all on the back so the airline can reach you when they find it! Four designs: Now I Know My ABC’s, Royal Blush, South of the Border and Swan . Specify which and fill out the form so we know what information you want on your tags – they will be custom-made for you, and sent out with the rest of your order. Tag’s actual size is 4 1/2” x 2 3/4”. Design size is 3 3/4”x 2 1/2”.

Tag the Bag! Two tags - mix and match designs $10.00 *

Please fill in the form - your luggage tags will be custom made for you, using the information you provide. You will receive a confirmation email shortly after you submit your form by email to: inthecompanyoffriends@gmail.com

Once you've filled in the form, please save it to your computer for your records and send us an email with the form as an attachment, or cut and paste the information into the body of your email. inthecompanyoffriends@gmail.com

We add new items as fast as we can think them up! Always featuring antique needlework and especially samplers, our products are made with loving care and an eye to detail. Watch for new brainstorms!

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

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

*A small handling charge will be added to actual shipping costs at checkout.

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