Sampler c. 1937

This needlepoint sampler was made by William Parkinson, sometime between 1855 and 1995. Look at how these little stitches come together to make a complex and whimsical image! I'm thinking about Parkinson, how they carefully placed each stitch, one by one. There's a basket overflowing with flowers, flanked by two little red birds, and two cats at play. One paws at a small bird; the other is perched atop a decorative box. The palette is muted yet cheerful: pinks, greens, blues, yellows, and reds. This is such a lovely testament to domestic creativity and the simple joys of life. It reminds me of the work of Henriette Zéphir, but with a down-home, folk art sensibility. It’s a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places!