The Sampler Guild
'Home' page

Welcome

My name is Linda Hadden and I have been a sampler enthusiast for over thirty years. I became interested in the idea of starting a UK based Sampler Guild after meeting my good friend Kristy in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London nearly ten years ago. Kristy was visiting the UK from the USA and during our ensuing conversations, it rapidly became obvious that the UK had nothing like the USA and Canada in terms of a platform where fellow sampler enthusiasts could have a common forum to share ideas and information. The Sampler Guild developed from that chance meeting and all that has now changed...

With hundreds of members based here in the UK and throughout the world, the aim of The Sampler Guild (TSG) is to provide that forum, furthering the research of sampler history, providing the next step-up from Cross Stitch, promoting the preservation of antique samplers, continuing the art of sampler making and having lots of fun! There are three methods of contact with members, a quarterly newsletter that includes information on forthcoming exhibitions, articles by both experts and enthusiasts alike, and members requests for information and advice; this website, which is updated frequently (at least once a week) and the TSG Google Group, an online messaging facility that is only available to TSG members - see below.

We also have frequent and very popular 'Get togethers' and 'Meet-ups' which regularly take place all over the country. 2008 will be a very busy year for TSG members, so please see the quarterly newsletter and visit the  'Forthcoming Events' page for the latest details of what is happening.

The TSG Emporium offers a showcase of the best products from the UK and around the world including charts, books, linens and other essential items such as threadwinders, scissors etc. TSG members receive substantial discounts across a wide range of products, please visit TSG Emporium 'Contents' page for details.

In 2005 the first 'Gathering of Kindred Spirits' retreat (see TSG 'Retreat' page) took place in Cumbria and trips to Holland and the USA took place. For 2008 there has been a packed schedule of 'get togethers' and 'meet-ups' and trips to Paris and Belfast have taken place. The next 'Gathering of Kindred Spirits' retreat will take place in early 2009. Details and new pictures now available - please go to the TSG 'Retreat' page.

TSG on tour at Kristy's in North Carolina, USA

The Sampler Guild is fortunate in being able to call on a number of museum curators in the UK and Europe for expert advice. In addition a selection of well known Sampler Houses and Sampler Guilds in the USA, Canada and Europe have proved to be more than eager to share their vast wealth of knowledge with us.

I am very happy to discuss The Sampler Guild in more detail and to answer any queries you may have regarding membership and activities. Please do not hesitate to call me at The Sampler Guild office in Maidenhead. Office hours are Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, or e-mail me - see below for telephone number and e-mail address. Please note that personal callers are more than welcome, just call me beforehand to arrange a date and time and I will ensure that I am not out of the office on other business.

N.B. If this is your first visit to The Sampler Guild web-site, please take time to visit the different pages to get a better feel for what The Sampler Guild is all about...

E-mail: linda@thesamplerguild.co.uk      Telephone/Fax: +44(0)1628-785338

How to join The Sampler Guild

For details of how to become a member of The Sampler Guild, please visit  'TSG Membership' page

Write an article, receive a subscription to "The Gift of Stitching" online magazine

We have 9 annual subscriptions to give away for the online magazine "The Gift of Stitching". We have decided to give these subscriptions to the first 9 TSG members who submit an article that is accepted for publication in the TSG Newsletter.

This is not a competition, but we feel that it is the fairest way to distribute these subscriptions, so get your thinking/writing caps on and have a go! Perhaps you have a sampler in the family whose history you wish to share, or you have recently attended a sampler related event that might be of interest to other members for future reference? Send your articles to Linda and good luck...

Forthcoming Events

For news on the latest events and happenings, please visit TSG Forthcoming Events  page.

2008 Pulled Thread Challenge

For details of the '2008 Pulled Thread Challenge', please visit the TSG 'Forthcoming Events' page.

What's New

For information on the newest products, please visit TSG What's New  page.

TSG Google Group

Mike has set up a mailing service/bulletin board for TSG members, using Google Groups. This is a secure, invitation only, TSG member service. If you are a TSG member and wish to join and keep up with the latest news and developments in the sampler world, can you please send an email to  mike@thesamplerguild.co.uk  and he will ensure that you receive an invitation to join.

Please do not hesitate to either email, or call Mike at TSG office +44(0)1628-785338 if you have any queries about this service.

Links to other Web-sites

For details of links to other sampler related web-sites, please visit  TSG 'Links' page

And Finally...

 Technical Stuff

As part of the Sampler Guild's process of continuous growth and development, we are pleased to announce that we have restructured the layout of the web-site to enable you to gain faster access to the information and products you want. By increasing the number of product pages, but at the same time making them smaller and more focussed, you will find that you can reach the information you require in just a few clicks of the mouse instead of having to continually scroll down long pages.

One little tip - if the text appears too large or too small on your screen, click on 'View' on the tool bar above, then change the 'Text Size' to suit your preference. Try different sizes until you find the one that you feel is right, there are only five to choose from.

Your input is invaluable, hence the changes - if you have any comments, would like to see additions or have spotted any errors or omissions on the web-site, please e-mail Mike at  mike@thesamplerguild.co.uk  or call +44(0)1628-785338. Thanks in anticipation.

Click here for 'What's New'

 Click here for 'Forthcoming Events'

Click here for The Sampler Guild 'Gallery'

Click here for The Sampler Guild 'Retreat'

Click here for TSG Emporium 'Contents'

__________________________________________________ 

E-mail: linda@thesamplerguild.co.uk

Telephone/Fax: 44(0)1628-785338

Click here to go back to TSG Emporium 'Contents' page

Preserving the past for the future...

© The Sampler Guild - 2008