Needlepoint Kits from Samantha Taylor Needlework Tapestry Designs

Select a photograph above - to view each Collection. As you finish touring each section - you will return to this page.

To purchase - there are buttons - on each page which will take you to a Secure Site. If uncomfortable - with on-line shopping - e-mail us - and we will process your orders by phone. We use FedEx door-to-door Worldwide Shipping.

Needlepoint Kits from Samantha Taylor Designs - for the Discriminating Needle Worker - offering Needlework Kits and Canvases based on Historical European to Contemporary Designs - Online Shopping for Kits - Canvases - Designs - Tapestries - Charts and Patterns for Beginners to Experts

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Our Designs are basically Historical European Needlepoint to Contemporary - or Modern.

Within these Internet pages - we show and explain how each Design may be worked and finished into Pillows - Cushions - Rugs - Chair Seats - Coasters - Panels - Frames - Bench Covers - and much more. Detailed instructions are supplied within each tapestry kit - including full sized colored charts ( with symbols ) - photographs - fibers - needles and painted canvases.

Our Designs are available as both > Kits - ( view all of Our Needlework Kits on this one page - if you are in a rush ) - or as Canvases only. The Fine Line are all - canvas only at this time ( except for *Deco Dance* ).

We have also designed the perfect needlepoint tote bag as an accessory. This tote becomes a comfortable back rest. A classic design incorporating two utilities into one product - carry your project in the tote - then use the tote as a chair. To view - select the Beach Chairs Link - on the side bar - above.

We break this Needlework Catalog of our Web Site into different Collections which you may view by selecting the desired photograph above - by using any one of the Navigation bars placed on the top of each page - or - - the side navigation bar placed to your top left. The following Menu also describes the contents of each needlework section ( or collection ).

We include the historical development of the designs as well as the original source of inspiration for our Needlepoint Collections on each individual page. We hope you will enjoy the originality of our selections as we are constantly investigating new needle point themes.

Any suggestions would be well received as to what your interests are - by filling out our E-mail form ( select the *Sign Up* button above ) or just writing to us directly >

We are presently creating a whole line of new needlework designs - which will be - useful additions to your lives - and never thought of - to date. Precise finishing instructions - with photographs ( for you - or your professional finisher ) - are included with these new kits and canvases - as well as finishing packages - with the necessary fabrics and accessories.

Our first design is now available - > letters kits - the first of many - mouse pads.

This first Collection is composed of eight different designs - joined together and titled The Trades of Talavera.

The first photograph shows The Trades - as a Rug on the floor - where we exhibit this Collection. The following page you will see the eight designs joined as a successful > Wall Hanging where you may view the finished - blocked and joined panels closer up. On the following page - you will enjoy another close up of the finished Rug Kits alone - followed by this same Tapestry - informally draped over a chair outdoors in a private estate in Avila. We include an extensive history of Spanish Ceramics throughout these pages.

This collection is adapted from Seventeenth Century tiles from Talavera de la Reina - Spain.

Within this same collection - we then take you to the Heraldic Borders - Rugs - showing you the four border designs joined together. These Four Different Needlework Designs ( forming the Frame seen previously ) may also be used as a Table Cover or Headboard and Bedroom Bench. These needlepoint kits may be joined to form different sized rugs - tablecovers - headboards - bench covers - used separately as bell pulls or - to pull back drapes.

The next Collection are the Four Central Motifs from the Trades of Talavera Collection. First we show - The Proclaimer - matted and framed - placed in our Breakfast Room - and available as Kits - Canvases. The Proclaimer - a close-up view of this Designer Needlepoint - matted and framed in a matching blue stained wood. The Countrywoman - framed is seen on the following page - The Hunter matted in ecru and framed - The Weaver - finished in a frame and - finally - the Four Motifs are seen together and finished in natural wood frames. This series of designs may also be made into Needlework Pillows and Cushions - as well as chair pads.

On loan from the

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

The Frick Collection

Phone: 212-288-0700 - Fax: 212-628-4417

http://www.frick.org/ - E-mail: info@frick.org

1 East 70th Street ( between Madison and Fifth Avenues )

New York, NY 10021-4967

The Memling Collection - based on a Hans Memling painting - shows three different Patterns Designs - ( large - medium and small ) - available in three different color combinations. The original painting may be viewed within this section.

The first two pages show the joining of two large Memling Green panels in two different directions to create a hall runner Rugs - as well as Area Rugs. On the following page - we show you the Green Memling Rug - also seen as a Piano Bench Cover - followed by the same pattern > then a close up of this > Patterns design.

Our Silk - Pillows - Memling Gul ( medium ) - in the Original Colors follows and shows how these panels may be finished into a cushion or pillow.

These follow with - Memling Motif ( small ) - the front of the packaged > Kit - the next page will show you the Original Painting seen on the back of this Beginners Project - we then show you three different Finishing solutions for this pattern design > a close up of Memling Motif in Our Frames - a Needle Point Coaster and a Pillow insert.

Finally - you will view the Medieval Kits in the Original Colors of the Hans Memling Tapestry - followed by the Blue Memling Needle Point Panels and then - the Green Memling Patterns shown packaged as Kits - although they are also available as canvases only. We have just added a new design to this collection > Table Runners and Place Mats with matching Trivets.

The Napoleon II Needlepoint is a single and very magnificent > Chair Cover - as seen in this first photograph. We then show you the Napoleon Tapestry reproduced by ourselves and now available for purchase - followed by the Original Needlepoint showing the front and back sides.

Napoleon may also be finished as a Pillow or Cushion as well as a Fire Screen.

The Sampler Needlepoint Collection is basically one design offered in four different color combinations. You will see how eight colors combined produce a completely different finish as the colors of the yarn mix and change.

The Beige Baby Blue Sampler becomes a tinge of Green and shown framed on our parlor wall and - as a pillow - then a Close Up in a natural wood frame.

Shown with a Framed Finishing on our web site - the Samplers may also be finished as Pillows or Needlepoint Cushions

The Victorian Needlepoint Dolls Collection shows Abbey framed on our guest room wall - followed by Pearl and Ruthann - then a Close Up of Abbey with a very small history of Victorian Dolls and the Scotch Stitch - which we used for the background. Although shown in frames - these Victorian Dolls are also lovely as pillows or cushions. A good start for any Beginner to Needlepoint - and available as a either a complete Kit or Canvas only.

The Initials Needlepoint Alphabet Collection consists of twenty-six letters or initials from the Alphabet. Our first page shows the Initial C framed in our study. The same Needlepoint Initial is next shown in the Baby Room beside a Baby Crib. Following is a Close Up of the Letters Framed - followed by the Initial V - the small Alphabets - and finally the new > Letters - made into Mouse Pads . The entire alphabet is available and may be framed or finished as a Needlepoint Pillow or Cushion. Recommended Needlepoint Kits for Beginners. A nice gift for a Baby Shower - Anniversary or a Wedding - either stitched and finished - or as a lovely - gift packaged kit.

Our Fine Line Needlepoint Canvas Collection is based on Contemporary Original Oil Paintings. These modern paintings are available as canvases only and are all on 12 or 18 mesh ( holes per inch ). We use Zweigart Mono Deluxe and Interlock Canvases.

The first of these designs is Mini Memling - followed by Mini Samplers. The Art Deco Needlepoint is on the following page - showing one of our newer designs - Deco Dance - faithful to the Art Deco Period ( now available as a kit also ) - followed by Kabila - Resting - Sotogrande - Andalucia - Thinking - Needlepoint Pillow Thinking 2 - San Sebastian - Flower and Queen - in that order. These Finished Needlepoint Canvases may be framed or made into a pillow. We do not offer this more Contemporary Collection as Kits - at this time - although we did kit Deco Dance - seen above.

For those of you who are not familiar with our Products - we present this very complete section explaining the Product Presentation and Contents.

First is the closed Sampler Needlepoint Kits showing our gift packaged Kits. The Sampler Kit is found on the following page - opened and showing a photograph of the inside and kit contents. The Napoleon Tapestry Kit - Canvas and Original Tapestry together are on the next page - then we show you the inside of the Napoleon Kits including all contents - followed by a close up of our high quality Hand Painted Needlepoint Canvases.

The final two pages show a very detailed view of the Hunter > Pillow Kits with a Color Coded Tapestry Wool and charts followed by a general view of this same complete kit. Our Needlepoint Kits include everything you will need to stitch your project - as explained in detail within the above pages.

Our Shops list the Shops and Stores where you may acquire Samantha Taylor Kits and Canvases throughout the World. Each Store is listed with a complete address and phone number.

Samantha Taylor - Designers - Biography - tells you a bit more about Samantha Taylor and Jan Voich.

A tapestry wall-hanging brings interior beauty to your home - as well as a sense of history. European weavers have created these textiles throughout many centuries - including medieval - renaissance - Arts and Crafts periods - to this present day.

Tapestries have been woven for thousands of years and in many different cultures - ancient Egyptians and the Incas buried their dead in tapestry cloth. The most important buildings of the Greek Empire - including the Parthenon - covered walls with them - however - it was the French Medieval Weavers who brought the tapestry craft to the highest art form.

During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries - the Church recognized the value of tapestries in illustrating Bible stories for illiterate congregations. Few have survived - the oldest existing collection is - the Apocalypse of St. John - composed of six hangings 18 foot high - totaling 471 foot in length (woven from 1375 to 1379 in Paris). This was the center of production until the Hundred Years War (1337 - 1453) caused the weavers to flee north via Arras to Flanders (now Belgium and Northern France).

Tapestries became status symbols amongst the aristocracy in the Middle Ages. They also had much practical use - providing insulation for castle walls - covering openings and giving privacy around beds. Kings and nobles took them on their travels from castle to castle for reasons of comfort and prestige. Tapestries often changed hands after battle - and since the victor*s door and window openings might be a different size the acquired wall hangings might be cut up or even joined to other tapestries.

Medieval weavers extracted their dyes from plants and insects in a range of less than twenty colors. For example - red came from madder - poppies or pomegranates and wood produced blue (a process that was so profitable in 16th century France - that importing woad from the East was punishable by death).

Medieval weavers used working sketches which they freely adapted with imagination and sometimes humor. By the Renaissance these had become full-sized working drawings or *cartoons* - which were rigidly copied by the weavers.

Thus tapestries became mere copies of paintings rather than independent works of art. In 1515 Raphael was commissioned by the Pope to paint cartoons for the *Acts of the Apostles* tapestries in the Sistine Chapel. His introduction of perspective and composition together with the use of finer yarns dyed with up to 300 color shades led to the subservience of tapestry to painting for over 300 years.

More Information about Tapestries - from the Metropolitan Museum of Art - The Unicorn Tapestries are seen - starting on this page - a fabulous Collection - including a description of weaving techniques are included. Please do not miss this fascinating section of the Mets site - but be sure to return to visit us !!

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Copyright © 1995 - 2009 Jan Voich and Associates, SL All Rights Reserved. Paseo de la Habana, 14 l 28036 MADRID, Spain l Phone: 011 34 91 561 90 31 l E-mail: samantha_taylor@jvoichdesigns.com

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