The Making Of An American Sampler

Memory

2011-05-30T14:11:00.010-04:00

Good afternoon . . . I hope you're all enjoying the first summer weekend of the year. In ultra-typical New York City fashion, summer arrived -- wham-o! Overnight. After a very cool spring, we're looking at 100-degree days this week.

Remember the days when we used to put away our summer/winter clothes? Not anymore. You just have to keep your Gore Tex hip-length parka next to the tank tops with the spaghetti straps . . . and dress accordingly.

I did a wee bit of stitching this weekend . . . nothing major. Just a handful stars, which seemed appropriate this Memorial Day Weekend. Do you find yourself reaching for "patriotic" stitching projects during national holidays?

We managed to see a few ships that sailed into the harbor during Fleet Week. The ship that captured hearts is this one we spotted from our rooftop. The USS New York (above -- click photo to enlarge) was commissioned into service in 2009. It was forged from tons of steel recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

Is there a floss that color? If so, surely it must be called Battleship Gray!

As you spend this day with your families and friends, I wish you a peaceful Memorial Day. Thank you for remembering the many men and women who have served our country. Warm hugs to you all.

651 Quilts Take New York City By Storm

2011-03-31T13:48:00.014-04:00

Calling all quilters . . . I'm in awe of your skills!

I'm not a quilter, but I have enormous respect for this art. This exhibit of 651 red-and-white quilts (a birthday gift to the city of New York from collector Joanna S. Rose), drew massive crowds during its five-day run at the Park Avenue Armory.

To see millions of hand-sewn stitches in one place made me so darned proud to be a stitcher. I enjoyed watching businesspeople on their lunch breaks (many of them men!) gawking in admiration at the handwork.

That was the scene caused by The Joanna S. Rose Quilt Exhibit at The Armory this week. The multi-level, spiral display was extraordinary. My photos don't do it justice, but I wanted to share some favorite pieces.

Afterwards, I walked home inspired, humbled and dreaming of making a quilt some day.

Quilts suspended from the ceiling in a spiral formation

A simple rickrack design at eye level

Flowers, pinwheels, eight-pointed stars

The power of the repeated pattern

Closeup of hand-stitched artistry

See the airplane quilt at the lower left?

Geometry

My favorite quilt: Optical illusion with lush corner details

2011-03-10T15:47:00.009-05:00

Hello friends!
An article in today's New York Times reports on a photo-editing site called Photofunia.

This free site allows you to showcase your needlework on Broadway, in a museum,
on the Great Pyramids or any number of venues.
"Liberty," as President Lincoln envisioned it, makes a great billboard -- times three!

Pets and children are a natural subject source. It's easy as pie. Simply upload your favorite photos onto their website, and within minutes your dog or cat will be on Broadway.

Quincy the cat is ready to put on a one-cat show, should Spiderman need some time off to regroup. :)

Photofunia is a cute diversion on a rainy day!

2011-03-06T16:36:00.001-05:00

"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" ~Abraham Lincoln

Can you imagine Abraham Lincoln's Facebook page? He'd probably share tons of pictures of his kids and pets. He'd crack jokes every once in a while. But his main status message would probably be "Reading . . . "

It's a rainy day here . . . it's nice to stay in, pour a cup of tea and set up an official Facebook page for Primrose Needleworks. I hope you'll come by and say hello. Thanks everyone. Spring is just around the corner . . .

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Primrose-Needleworks/192756550757057?sk=wall

2011-02-12T13:29:00.012-05:00

"Happy 202nd Birthday, President Lincoln!"

202 years ago today . . . a baby was born in a one-room Kentucky log cabin. Abraham would grow up to be a farmer, rail splitter, store keeper, postmaster, flatboatman, surveyor, lawyer and 16th President of the United States.

I recently received a lovely note from Lori, who sent in these photos of her 272 Words finish (excellent work!). Lori included these thoughts about the Gettysburg Address. It's a wonderful birthday message to honor this day:

"I think Lincoln couldn't have chosen better words during that difficult period of our History to remind us that those that fell during combat did it to allow us to be free, all of us. I think as time carries on we tend to forget what has happened in the past. I think it's "All together fitting & proper" that we always remember those that gave their lives for our Freedom. The feelings that he spoke on November 19, 1863 remain true today."

Thank you, Lori.

What's a birthday party without some music? Here's the "Ashokan Farewell" (from Ken Burns's The Civil War). Now, how about a slice of cake?

2011-01-28T15:25:00.012-05:00

"The best thing about the future is that it
comes one day at a time" ~Abraham Lincoln

President Lincoln knew a thing or two about time management. I try to focus on one thing at a time, but sometimes life is overwhelming. My mind goes a mile a minute, and in all directions. Time to stop, make a cup of tea and . . . breathe.

It is said that the young Yo-Yo Ma learned a Bach cello suite by memorizing one measure per day. Just one measure per day. Breaking down large projects into manageable pieces. That seems to be the trick.

One thing that inspires me to no end is -- Stitchers Who Finish. I love cruising the blogs, admiring the amazing finishes of other stitching addicts. Their energy is contagious and maybe -- just maybe -- I'll get organized and finish that WIP that's been going since . . (gulp) . . . last March. Give me strength!

Last week I heard from Jennifer K., who finished her own version of "272 Words." She provided these pictures of her completed journey. Well done, Jennifer! Thank you for keeping President Lincoln's words alive and fresh in our minds.

Your "272 Words" finishes are important and ever-inspiring . . . please drop me an email if you've crossed the finish line. Or . . . if you're in the midst of stitching the piece, I'm equipped with bottles of chartreuse-colored electrolyte drinks and high-protein energy bars to vociferously cheer you on from the sidelines. Compression pants and sweat bands are available, as well.

Having stitched the piece myself, I had my own "commitment" issues! (Maintain your energy levels with chocolate.) It's tough sometimes, but we all complete marathons in our own personal way.

There's something about stitched words on linen . . . it's magic, isn't it?

2010-12-27T17:20:00.013-05:00

"Everybody likes a compliment." ~Abraham Lincoln

So true, Mr. President. So true. Compliments reveal themselves in various ways.

When we create something -- be it a meal, a painting, an article of clothing -- we are gratified to see our work become a moment, however fleeting, in someone else's life.

And so, I was thrilled to hear from Faye of North Carolina, who stitched an ornament I designed for the 2010 Just CrossStitch Ornament Edition -- "Windows of Faith, Hope and Peace." Faye stitched the ornament a few times, changed the colors and framed it to create a new effect. I am so moved by the loving care put into each stitch.

Faye gave me permission to post this photo from her remarkable blog, Carolina Stitcher. She has an exquisite way with the needle and thread; you'll see many of your favorite designers (Little House Needleworks, Lizzie Kate, Rosewood Manor, etc.) there, among the charming stories.

Thank you, Faye, for sharing your passion for stitching.

And thank you all -- Dear Readers -- for visiting throughout the year and sharing your stitching stories through your own windows of faith, hope and peace.

May 2011 bring blessings to you and your families.

2010-09-11T01:49:00.004-04:00

September 11, 2001

New York City

Shanksville, Pennsylvania

The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia

Nine years.

The heart that truly loves, never forgets

2010-08-17T18:35:00.011-04:00

I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.

~Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was famous for his love of animals, and I think he'd approve of Quincy the cat, since he bears the middle name of John Quincy Adams, our sixth President who was in office when Lincoln was teenager.

Quincy walked into this household on Friday and with the swish of a tail, promptly made himself at home. I adopted him (or, er . . . he adopted me) through the Washington Heights Cat Colony. (Washington -- another U.S. President!)

Quincy's story is on the crossword blog. He is a tough little guy, a real survivor.

I'm counting on Quincy to help with the stitching. His job is to keep all the floss in order, without even thinking about swatting, pawing or twisting it into knotted, amorphous, unrecognizable shapes.

Right.

2010-07-28T23:00:00.010-04:00

"My evil genius Procrastination has whispered me to tarry 'til a more convenient season."

~Mary Todd Lincoln

Day after day of pounding heat . . . the result is -- I'm not sure if I'm awake or asleep. My goal is to try to be in-the-moment lucid -- whether I'm dreaming or awake, and just "make it work," as they say on Project Runway.

Fortunately, none of my jobs require that I operate heavy machinery. Rest assured -- that person with the jackhammer, cracking open the sidewalk at Broadway and 110th Street . . . is not me. It's still safe to visit New York City.

But there is a problem. It's been a while since my last post. And between business trips and work and other challenges, I'm struggling with the motivation to stitch. I haven't lost my love for stitching . . . what's missing is the discipline to concentrate and finish a project. Yes . . . it's serious.

Hi, my name is Liz. I have finishing resistance.

It would be helpful to hear from other stitchers who've been in my shoes. I need your advice. Is this normal? Does it happen to others? Has it happened to you? Will I ever get my mojo back? (I used to stitch speeches made by U.S. Presidents . . . those were the days.) Is an intervention in order? Herbs? Topical applications?

Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated.

Signed,

Sleepless in NYC

2010-02-12T15:37:00.005-05:00

"Happy 201st Birthday, Mr. President!"

It's Abraham Lincoln's birthday, and I have to think that the President would get a kick out of receiving some Hallmark cards in the mail or birthday e-cards. He liked a good joke -- I suspect he'd like the goofy humorous cards over the serious ones.

Thank you, Mr. President, for preserving the Union during a terrible Civil War. If the American House had divided, who knows where we'd be? I might be blogging from another country, writing in another language and there would be no Gettysburg Address to stitch.

Today marks another mini-birthday -- the first stitch of "272 Words" was laid down one year ago today. What a year it's been . . . I didn't start out intending to write a chart. I wanted to stitch the great words of Abraham Lincoln during his bicentennial year. It was a crazy dream and I thought I could wing it and improvise along the way.

But a funny thing happened in the weeks following February 12, 2009 -- I started receiving emails and messages from Lincoln fans who proudly recited the Gettysburg Address from memory. Would there be a chart? It soon became clear that I needed to draw a map of this journey, and that made all the difference.

Thank you all, for your encouragement and suggestions. I ripped out more stitches than I stitched . . . but the result was, I hope, a simple and respectful presentation of Lincoln's words. Today marks the next phase of the creative process -- the individual interpretations of "272 Words" based on stitchers' personal choices. I'm thrilled to hear from stitchers who have chosen their favorite linen colors, linen counts and floss colors to make the design.

I look forward to seeing your samplers, as we honor President Lincoln in the coming year. His tricentennial is only 99 years away! I'll set up a gallery to showcase the photos of your samplers. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. You've made a dream into a reality.

2010-02-10T14:46:00.011-05:00

"The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read"

~ Abraham Lincoln ~

Yesterday we heard a collective groan from thousands of parents who learned that New York City public schools would close today, in anticipation of the snowstorm. Mayor Bloomberg's announcement sent parents into overdrive -- scurrying to make arrangements for child care or taking a day off from work. The powerful storm has pounded the East Coast, and we're urged to stay home. The Mayor made the right decision -- it's a blizzard out there.

Snowy days make me want to read for hours on end. Later today, after I make another trip outside, earn a living and tackle the third to-do list of the day . . . I plan to do just that. I'll read a bit of David Herbert Donald's biography on Lincoln (Lincoln). And later, it's The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. This seems like an appropriate literary one-two punch on a snowy night.

If you're planning to visit NYC anytime soon, please check out the excellent "Lincoln and New York" exhibit at The New York Historical Society. It runs through March 25. My favorite part of the exhibit was the studio set-up that featured the camera Mathew Brady used to photograph Lincoln in his (Brady's) New York studio. We were bowled over by the life-sized hologram of Lincoln's photographed image. After the exhibit, you can take a walk in Central Park (it's right across the street) and then repair for dinner . . . what a nice way to spend a winter's day.

Thomas Fleming is one of the finest writers of books on early American history. He's a rarity among authors; his historical novels are as entertaining as his non-fiction work. Fleming's new book sounds delicious: The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers is about as good a title as they come. I'd love to know what the wives of the Founding Fathers thought of their husbands.

Falling snow. A comfortable chair. Hot chocolate. A good book. Ah . . .

Stay warm!

2010-01-22T17:13:00.025-05:00

"A capacity and taste for reading gives access to whatever has already been
discovered by others"
~Abraham Lincoln

I want my handwriting back! My script is a casualty of the Computer Age, its decreasing legibility directly proportional to the number of hours spent at the QWERTY keyboard. The handwriting is on the wall -- my penmanship is awful. If Costco sells Liquid Paper by the gallon, I'm buying.

Nice handwriting was once my pride and joy. There's even a Penmanship Award in my past. In high school, I loved practicing the alphabet for purely aesthetic reasons. But there was an ulterior motive: beautiful handwriting might eke out some extra points on an English or History test. I'll never know if my illuminated manuscripts helped with the grades, but it's comforting to think that I was conscious about something in high school.

If Abraham Lincoln had had access to a laptop, we wouldn't have history on paper, namely -- the five known manuscripts of the Gettysburg Address written in the President's hand. Today we might see presidential signatures, but handwritten documents of this length are a thing of the past. The variations among Lincoln's versions of the Address offer a fascinating dimension to the text of his great speech. While I'm grateful for the Computer Age (we wouldn't have blogs!), I'm glad that Lincoln didn't text, compute or Twitter into the wild blue ethernet. This collection of handwritten Lincoln manuscripts is a national treasure.

The Electronic Age, of course, has revolutionized the art of research. Today I came across Geoff Elliott's superb blog, The Abraham Lincoln Blog. Geoff has done the heavy lifting for years; he covers every aspect of Lincoln's life, and more. I'm planning to read it bit by bit over the next few weeks.

This morning I had coffee with my dear friends Joshua and Jorge, who just returned from a trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Hawaii. They presented me with an exquisite handwoven silk scarf made by Artisans d'Angkor of Cambodia. This consortium is devoted to handmade artisanal arts -- weaving, carving and sculpting. What strikes me about this scarf (featured in the photo) is how perfectly it matches the colors of the sampler. Thank you J & J, for your lovely gift -- I'm wearing it out tonight. Not the sampler -- only the scarf!

Have a happy and artisanal weekend!

2010-01-05T15:23:00.023-05:00

"I don't like that man. I must get to know him better" ~Abraham Lincoln

The Ott Lite I'd been eying for a while is here. It's a Christmas gift from my brother, Roman, and I just love it. (Thank you, bro!) It's small, cute, portable . . . and pink! My plan was to take it to stitching club events or use it as an extra light source during string quartet rehearsals.

But no . . . the new lamp has become the centerpiece of the worktable. I keep turning it on and off during the day, when there's plenty of natural sunlight -- just to see it in action. I love the illuminated on/off button that doubles as a tiny night light. Under the new little light, mundane tasks became mildly interesting -- paying the first bills of 2010, decluttering the overstuffed recipe file, removing a splinter from my thumb.

In the back of my mind I keep hearing the dialogue between Meg Ryan and Rosie O'Donnell in Sleepless in Seattle. "It's a sign!" one of them would cry, when ordinary events took on special meanings.

Maybe the new little pink lamp is a not-so-subtle sign for the New Year: To look at things in a new light.

To be thankful for being able to pay the bills . . . for having a kitchen to cook in . . . for having fingers to catch splinters in . . . to, as President Lincoln suggests in the opening quote, be the first to say hello.

2009-12-26T16:59:00.012-05:00

"Happy In-Between Week!"

Don't you just love the week before New Year's? People seem less stressed out, or maybe they're just plain exhausted after the holiday celebrations. I'm moving very slowly today, reaching for plain tea, clear soups and roasted vegetables to offset the effects of some culinary "indiscretions." No more soy gingerbread lattes for a while!

With gratitude, I wish you all the best New Year ever. Let's make 2010 a year to remember. Last year was personally memorable because of your joining in this Lincoln Bicentennial celebration. As long as there's an Internet, this blog will go on. Lincoln's Bicentennial year is still going strong, until February 12, 2010.

If I may, I'd like to use this forum to announce a new venture. As some of you know, I'm a crossword puzzle constructor in my other life; I've also designed some crossword patterns under the Primrose Needleworks label. This week I launched Crossword City, where I'll blog about puzzles,words, life (and in the future, some stitching subjects).

Puzzle folks are familiar with ETUI; it's a crossword favorite. For years, ETUI was considered an obscure remnant of crosswordese, until a few stitchers reached into their stitching bags and bopped the accusers' heads with solid evidence. Didn't Caesar the Stitcher really say "Etui Brute?" on the Senate steps? We continue to fight the good fight and I won't stop until AIDA is clued as a stitching fabric, and not only as a Verdi opera.

Crossword City can be found here: http://crosswordcity.blogspot.com/

Enjoy in-between week and I hope you'll take time to do the right thing -- stitching is the right thing . . . right? Good tidings to all!

2009-12-23T01:04:00.012-05:00

"I never had a policy. I have just tried to do my best each and every day."

~Abraham Lincoln

As I write Christmas cards and reflect back on the year, I see angels. People who help you solve problems, go the extra mile and take time from their busy schedules to lend an ear. Tawny and Don Korty, the owners of Where Victoria's Angels Stitch (a needlework shop), are such people. The Abraham Lincoln quote applies to them -- they do their best each and every day.

Shortly after I finished stitching "272 Words" in July, I took the sampler to Don and Tawny's shop for framing. They immediately mobilized into full gear. Don presented a number of frame choices for me to choose from, and this one jumped out. It looks very 19th century-ish. Don suggested this simple, but substantial frame from a huge collection of samples -- too extensive for me to look at without becoming dizzy. The top photo shows the carved detail. I love it! Thank you Don and Tawny for being my angels. Your shop is aptly named. (Here they are in their beautiful shop.)

Where Victoria's Angels Stitch is located in Clifton, N.J. -- a short bus ride from Port Authority Terminal in Manhattan. The bus stops in front of their store -- so convenient for NYC visitors and us car-less New Yorkers! I call it New York City's local needlework shop because, though in New Jersey, it often takes less time for me to get to Clifton than to my friend's house in Brooklyn.

And here are the Rockefeller Center angels . . . on a recent night before the first snow. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

2009-12-12T14:13:00.028-05:00

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" ~Benjamin Franklin

I'm not a beer drinker, and in lacking such first-hand knowledge, I can't attest to the benefits of beer. But I reckon that the folks at McSorley's Old Ale House concur with Ben Franklin's "spiritual" observation. McSorley's of East 7th Street began serving ale 150 years ago. It's New York City's oldest continuously-pouring saloon. Woody Guthrie, John Lennon, Teddy Roosevelt . . . and Abraham Lincoln drank there. (Not at the same time, of course!) McSorley's is a short walk from Cooper Union, where, on February 27, 1860 -- Abraham gave his famed speech. Historians believe that the impact of the Cooper Union speech set the stage for Lincoln's winning the Presidential election in November of the same year.

And so, if you drop by McSorley's for a half pint, you'll follow in President Lincoln's footsteps. McSorley's also made history in 1970 when, with a little nudging from the U.S. Supreme Court, it allowed women in for first time. After that, their old slogan, "Good Ale, Raw Onions and No Ladies" would be only two-thirds accurate.

Some sampler business: I've created a Stitching Tips 'n Sampler Stats page for the "272 Words" chart, based on FAQs, to be updated as needed (see right-hand column).

To answer Laura's question (see previous post) about stitching the piece on other counts, over one, or with one thread -- I can't say whether it would work or not. (Not a great answer, I'm sorry!) It's a very dense sampler; I therefore like the "largeness" of the piece. House guests walk over to the piece immediately upon entering the room . . . the sheer size makes a statement. The large size also makes the Address readable from a distance. I'm nearsighted, and the letters are visible from afar.

The model is stitched on 32-count linen, two strands over two threads. I'm putting out a request to the experienced and talented stitchers on this list: If anyone plans to experiment with different counts, or over-one stitching -- please keep us apprised. I'd love to see the results. Laura, stay tuned!

And to get into the holiday spirit . . . . we snapped this photo last night in Rockefeller Center, on the coldest day of this season. Keep warm!

2009-12-04T12:50:00.038-05:00

"Everywhere is within walking distance . . .

if you have the time" ~Steven Wright

Now that the "272 Words" chart has been published, I thought it might be helpful to offer some stitching tips specific to this design. Some of these points are based on questions from stitchers and store owners. I'll update this post as questions arise, and bookmark it to the site. Here are some general guidelines:

~ TECHNIQUE: Technically, this is a very simple stitching project. The pattern calls for full cross stitches only. No backstitching, French Knots or Algerian Eyelets. Nothing fancy. Just plain old vanilla -- full cross stitches. The real challenge, I think, is endurance -- the time involved in stitching a piece that's 349w x 375h . . . roughly 22" wide and 24" high. As Steven Wright says: "Everywhere is within walking distance . . . if you have the time." I am reminded of how Yo Yo Ma first learned the Bach Cello Suites; his father instructed him to learn one measure per day. One measure! A measure here, a measure there -- after a few months, you've got a Gigue and a Courante under your fingers. So to with stitching . . . a word or two per day . . . in a few months you'll have the Gettysburg Address on linen. (Of course, we stitchers know that we can't restrict ourselves to merely one word a day . . . stitching is too darn fun!)

~ MODEL: The model is stitched entirely in colors from The Gentle Art. DMC equivalents are provided, but, using Mad Men marketing parlance . . . "results may vary" if the piece is stitched with DMC only, or a GAST/DMC combo.

~ THREADS: The colors are largely localized, with GAST Nutmeg the color of Lincoln's words. The "Gettysburg" caption part is stitched in green (Chives). The chart calls for 10 skeins of Nutmeg (I used 5-yd. skeins). This is a generous skein count -- allowing for frogging and adjustments for variance in overdyed thread color values. I used the darker parts of the Nutmeg skeins for the capital letters, as a way to accentuate the beginnings of the sentences . . . especially the opening words, and important capitalized words like "Liberty" and "God."

~ STARS: The 50 red and blue stars (stitched in Mulberry and Freedom) contain no political message in terms of red and blue states. The aim was to have "ABRAHAM LINCOLN" stitched in an "Chief Executive" blue (GA Freedom) -- suggestive of The Presidential Seal. The two stars on either side of his name are in Mulberry, to offset the blue. (Okay, so I'm a recovering Political Science major, but politics is a subject for other venues.) :) There's no doubt that our 50-state complement was made possible by Lincoln's preservation of the Union. Each of the 50 stars in the sampler is identical in size; the entire complement is included to show strength in numbers. Again, inspired by the Presidential Seal with its 50 white stars in a circular pattern.

I'll update this "Stitching Tips" list as questions arise. Of course, these are just guidelines.

Finally -- why is there an apple in the photo? I had a piece of Lambswool left over from the "272 Words" cut of linen. The apple is part of a small new design. Isn't it amazing that the same cut of linen looks completely different against an alternate color palette? It's the miracle that takes place when thread meets linen . . . isn't that why we love to stitch?

Have a good weekend! "272 Words" recently went on a road trip across town, at the invitation of our local EGA Chapter. More on that next week. Ciao!

2009-11-25T12:22:00.019-05:00

"Thanksgiving and Abraham Lincoln"

We have President Abraham Lincoln to thank for declaring Thanksgiving (first celebrated at Plymouth in 1621) a national holiday to be observed annually on the last Thursday of November. Thanksgiving, in the President's words, would be "acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people."

The first national observance took place about a week after The President delivered the Gettysburg Address in November 1863.

And . . . it is said that Abraham Lincoln was the first President to pardon a Thanksgiving turkey.

November 1863 was quite an historic month!

Today we're shopping, cooking, cleaning, travelling . . . prepping for tomorrow, the big day. I have much to be thankful for this year, including your visits today, and throughout this bicentennial year. Thank you!

In remembrance of Thanksgiving 1863, we present the text of President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation. I'm struck by the beautiful prose, imagery and reverent tone of his words:

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the everwatchful providence of almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATION
(Issued on OCTOBER 3, 1863)

2009-11-19T11:47:00.030-05:00

"146 Years Ago Today"

On this day, 146 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln delivered a 272-word address at the dedication of The Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The President arrived at the burial ground on horseback (a chestnut bay) as part of a procession that included members his cabinet, dignitaries, townspeople and war widows. It was a long day for the President. He joined the procession at 9:30 A.M. and made his "dedicatory remarks" in the afternoon, during a ceremony that featured, among other things, prayers, musical offerings and a two-hour oration by former Secretary of State Edward Everett.

One segment of Ken Burns' 11-hour The Civil War documentary (1990) continues to haunt me after all these years. Episode 5 (there are nine altogether) ends with Sam Waterston reciting the Gettysburg Address, with the Ashokan Farewell playing in the background. Waterston's recitation is a voiceover -- on screen we see actual photos from the Civil War battlefield. I was moved to tears hearing the profound beauty of Lincoln's words, as the period photos flashed across the screen.

This Lincoln montage features the musical soundtrack of Burns' The Civil War. The beautiful Ashokan Farewell, composed and performed by Jay Ungar, is a fitting backdrop for a recitation of the Gettysburg Address on this day.

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate...we can not consecrate...we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

~Abraham Lincoln

2009-11-11T11:54:00.015-05:00

"Veterans Day -- Remembering"

A few minutes ago, at 11 A.M., a parade started up Fifth Avenue, in commemoration of Veterans Day. On this 11th day of the 11th month, and at the 11th hour -- we remember and honor the men and women who serve our country.

If you stroll through Riverside Park south of 96th Street (where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks finally meet at the end of You've Got Mail), you'll see a white marble structure looming from above. I call it my little Acropolis, since it reminds me of the Parthenon perched atop the steep hill in Athens.

That's The Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Monument, dedicated to the soldiers and sailors who served during the Civil War. It's a beautifully-situated monument; from the promenade one sees sweeping views of the Hudson River. At night, the lights of George Washington Bridge twinkle in the distance. A perfect place to take a moment to remember.

With gratitude, I thank the Veterans who have served this country with courage and honor.

2009-11-10T15:07:00.017-05:00

"Abraham Lincoln: Thoughtful Orator"

Just popping in to say a quick hello and verify that I am still here. These last weeks have been a whirlwind of work, deadlines, family obligations and dealing with all manner of surprises. I'm catching my breath today, and taking care of business around the office -- happy to write a few words here.

The "272 Words" chart is almost finished, and scheduled for release in a few weeks -- to coincide with the November 19th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.

If you're in the New York area this winter, please drop in on this exhibit "Lincoln and New York," at The New York Historical Society. It runs through March 25, 2010. I haven't seen the exhibit yet, but it's on the calendar for December, and I can't wait. And dig this on-line depiction of Lincoln's popularity among the press -- it brings new meaning to the term "political roller coaster."

Cooper Union, where Lincoln delivered one of his great speeches, is also a good place to visit while in NYC. It places you smack-dab in the Village, not far from one of my favorite restaurants, The Gotham Bar and Grill. It's not on the "cheap eats" list, but why not splurge once in a while . . . right?

Apres-Halloween Observation: I was surprised to note that not one trick-or-treater came to my door dressed as Abraham Lincoln. Seems like a perfect costume -- after all, a three-foot-long stovepipe hat holds a lot of candy. Anyone dressed as Lincoln would have gotten my entire collection of candy! Well, there's always next year. See you soon . . .

2009-10-17T18:29:00.015-04:00

"Whatever you are, be a good one" ~Abraham Lincoln

It's been a while since my last post, and pundits might find it hard to believe that I've been involved in none of the following activities:

(A) A two-week stint on ABC's Wife Swap.

(B) Building a balloon that looks like a Salvador Dali Jiffy Pop container, filling it with helium and then sending it off into the wild blue . . . oh, yes, and then, not being quite sure whether someone is on board.

I eschewed all of the above opportunities for some real excitement -- to stay home and work on the chart for "272 Words."

As was the case with this sampler when I stitched it earlier this year -- I totally underestimated the time involved in preparing this chart. Eek! My goal is to have the chart ready in time for the November anniversary of President Lincoln's delivery of the Gettysburg Address. That's the plan.

One crossword-related note . . . if you get tomorrow's Sunday New York Times, (Oct. 18) take a stab at the crossword puzzle in the magazine section. For newspapers that publish in syndication, the puzzle is titled "Ahead of the Curve." It was written by yours truly, in honor of an entity that is near and dear to many of our hearts.

And now, back to the matter at hand . . the chart. I hope the starting pitcher in tonight's Yankees/Angels game, A.J. Burnett, isn't too miffed by my bowing out of post-season play. I'll watch the proceedings on TV, while working on the chart. Until next time . . ciao!

2009-09-24T15:45:00.029-04:00

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille . . . "

Scorecards. These days we're deluged with every imaginable stat involving football, baseball, tennis, golf. The U.S. Tennis Open, college football, the NFL season, the World Series. Stats, stats, stats. The first cool breeze of autumn is accompanied by a confluence of sporting events and stats!

And so, in keeping with the spirit of the season, we present official stats of "272 Words," the Lincoln Bicentennial Sampler, direct from the commentators' booth at The Stitching Network:

"272 Words"

Stitch Count: 349 Stitches Wide x 375 Stitches in Height

Fabric: 32-count Lambswool from Wichelt Imports

Thread: The Gentle Art

Design Size: 21-1/2"W by 23-1/4"H

Framed Size: 29"W x 30-1/2"H

Frame Info: Professionally Framed at Where Victoria's Angels Stitch (more info to come)

It's tough to capture the true color of the linen in photos. To get a closeup of the frame in the top photo, I notice (sigh) that the fabric appears much lighter than it really is. Lambswool is one of my preferred "light" fabrics - it's a creamy color, but free of intensely-yellow undertones . . . like the color of freshly-whipped buttercream frosting. Lakeside Linens makes a beautiful creamy fabric color called "Magnolia." It's a little lighter, but in the same tonal family. 28-count Magnolia linen was used in this dog sampler.

My mailbox contains some questions about the blog photos -- where are they taken and with what type of camera? Is there special propping? I use a Canon PowerShot A510. The propping usually consists of a few height-adjustable music stands and foam core covered with lace curtains. Through trial and error, I discovered that the best photos occur in "artist's light" -- the clear eastern light of the morning sun. My living room windows face east and this (below) is the home-spun setup. Nothing fancy! Except for cropping, the photos are untouched and designed to show the actual features of the needlework, for good or for ill.

And that wraps up this edition of "Stitch Talk." Tune in next time for an action-packed play-by-play of chart making (!). See you at the next tailgate . . .

2009-09-14T14:39:00.036-04:00

~ Quotation by Mary Ann Evans, aka George Eliot

In 1860, Mary Ann Evans published The Mill on the Floss under the pen name, George Eliot. In the same year, Dickens published his first installment of Great Expectations.

Interesting people were born in 1860: William Jennings Bryan, Gustav Mahler, Anton Chekhov and Lizzie Borden.

In 1860 golfer Willie Park won the first British Open (or "The Open") golf tournament in Ayrshire, Scotland.

And in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected 16th President of the United States. By his own account, Lincoln had left politics in his younger years, but found his way back into the political game. He endured financial problems, depression, the death of a child -- and yet managed to fulfill the uniquely challenging duties of his Presidency.

Lincoln's contemporary, writer Mary Ann Evans, published her novels (Silas Marner, Adam Bede, etc.) as "George Eliot." In the 19th century, many women used male names to ensure that their work be taken seriously. Even Joanne Rowling, as late as in the 1990s, was discouraged from using her "female" name, lest boys not take to her Harry Potter book. Her publishers suggested a name change . . . J.K. Rowling.

I hope that the publishing industry has finally evolved - that if Joanne Rowling were starting out today, editors wouldn't find it necessary to de-feminize her byline.

I've always loved Mary Ann Evans' quote: "It is never too late to be what you might have been."

These words seem especially appropriate this week, at the start of a new school year. Living in a university neighborhood, I always feel energized when students return to campus -- bright-eyed, hopeful, prepared for take-off. I bought a brand-new 5-subject binder today. I'm not enrolled in classes . . . it's just nice to start off with a clean slate.

It's time to start writing the chart for "272 Words." If you're planning on making charted designs, don't follow my example -- please! The gory truth is: I stitched this piece without a detailed chart, mostly eyeballing my way across the linen, fast and loose. Ideally, one should plot a chart and stitch from it.

Now I feel like Sherlock Holmes with the magnifying glass, poring over the sampler, counting stitches and spaces. The Case of the Uncharted Design. ;)

Thank you kindly for taking the time to visit last week. I am deeply grateful for your comments, which have energized me through the next phase of this journey.

2009-09-11T13:12:00.027-04:00

". . . and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
~Abraham Lincoln

September 11, 2001

New York City

Shanksville, Pennsylvania

Washington, D.C

We remember.

* * *

2009-09-07T13:39:00.000-04:00

We Celebrate Labor Day!

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, honors the accomplishments of working people -- but to be honest, I always associated this holiday with the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of school. But today is a memorable Labor Day for me, a milestone of a 7-month-long project. "272 Words" has been stitched and framed. This blog, however, continues on. After all, President Lincoln's Bicentennial year extends to February 12, 2009 and there's lots to talk about. It's rather a luxury to have an entire blog devoted to one design. I will publish a chart of the design in the coming months -- details to be posted in mid-September, along with stats (design size, framing specs, etc.).

Today's story is told in pictures. Please click on the photos for a close-up view. Your encouraging comments over these last months continue to inspire, going forward into the next chapter of this sampler's life. I very much appreciate your taking the time to visit!

At times friends asked whether I tired of the project. Apart from a bit of physical fatigue (eye strain, finger cramps), I never tired of Lincoln's message. As stitchers, you are well acquainted with the amount of time involved in stitching even a small piece. With each stitch, the prose slowly appears on the linen, letter by letter -- that gives us time to meditate on each word. The Address unfolded in slow motion, allowing the stitcher time to absorb the depth of Lincoln's message. The Gettysburg Address is a national treasure. Thank you for joining me today.

"272 Words" -- The Gettysburg Address

"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation . . ."

". . . conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

"It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this."

"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us . . . "

". . . that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom . . . "

". . . and that government of the people, by the people, for the people . . . "

". . . shall not perish from the earth."

Wrought by Elizabeth C. Gorski, in Honor of
President Abraham Lincoln's Bicentennial Year

New York City

July 4, 2009

2009-08-29T16:34:00.022-04:00

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count.

It's the life in your years" ~ Abraham Lincoln

During his 56 years on Earth, Abraham Lincoln had only 18 months of formal education. One of the most influential thinkers in American history, Lincoln was essentially self-taught. In addition to his reading of the law, the scope of Lincoln's interests ran the gamut -- from Aesop's Fables to the First Six Books of Euclid and everything in between.

The drive to learn and reason through a mastery of the written word is evident in Lincoln's prose. Like The Gettysburg Address, his writings were built on a foundation of classical knowledge and plain old common sense.

In the previous post about photographs of Lincoln at Gettysburg, Liz from Philadelphia reports that additional images may have been discovered. Wow, the President's stovepipe hat is quite prominent in the photo on the right. Thanks, Liz, for the clarification!

Now, one more thing about voracious readers: I've noticed (or maybe it's my imagination) that stitchers tend to be serious readers. Perhaps the same powers of concentration used in reading are applied to stitching -- such as, the ability to focus on a task for hours on end.

Or . . . is it simply that stitchers are a highly-evolved form of intelligent life, super-ably equipped to perform complex tasks beyond the ken of the General Population?

Yeah, I think that's it. :)

2009-08-27T18:21:00.035-04:00

"Getting One's Ducks In A Row . . . . again . . . "

One of the pleasures of this bicentennial project has been the background research on Abraham Lincoln and his presidency. For instance, I never knew that there is no photograph of Abraham Lincoln with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Yes, there are composite paintings of the couple, but no photograph.

Another image that doesn't exist is a photo of Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address. It has been reported that the photographer at Gettysburg had assumed he had ample time to set up for the photo. After all, the previous speaker, Edward Everett, spoke for two hours. Plenty of prep time . . . right?

Little did he know that the window of opportunity was only three minutes. The Gettysburg Address -- hailed for its elegant brevity -- was delivered in 1863, well before our point-and-shoot camera technology. The poor photographer was still setting up his camera as Lincoln recited the closing words -- "shall not perish from the earth" -- and sat down. Oh-oh. (I'm not sure of the authenticity of the story; it may be apocryphal, but it's a fascinating anecdote.)

I wonder how the photographer's boss reacted when he heard the news. We've all had bad days at work but . . .

This is the only known photo of President Lincoln (he's in the center) at Gettysburg -- taken upon his arrival at the burial ground. And here's an illustration of Lincoln's delivery.

Well, here's a photo that exists. It's Harley, the Spokesdog at Where Victoria's Angels Stitch. He was on hand when I delivered the sampler for framing. Harley's taking a well-deserved dog nap -- it's tough being a spokesdog!

WVAS is a beautiful family-run needlework shop in Clifton, New Jersey. Tawny and Don, the proprietors, are the bomb! We refer to WVAS as New York City's official cross stitch shop -- because there's nothing like it in NYC. If you're in the New York/New Jersey area, please drop by the shop. You'll love the homey atmosphere and wide variety of products.

Have a good Thursday eve. I'm going to recharge the batteries in my camera. :)

Until next time . . . ciao!

2009-08-24T16:58:00.024-04:00

"The Gettysburg Address is not a pangram . . . "

Breaking news from the city desk at The American Stitcher: "The Gettysburg Address is Not a Pangram"

This makes me very happy.

What's a pangram? It's a sentence or piece of writing that uses all 26 letters of the alphabet. You know, like . . . "The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over A Lazy Dog."

In certain corners of the literary world, scorekeepers judge works based on their pangrammatic features. A reductio ad alphabetum . . . reducing prose to component letter features, rather than the literacy of the words themselves. I never bought the whole pangram thing, as good writing is remembered for reasons that transcend individual letters.

Pangrammatic sentences are useful for keyboard testers, but to extend it any further would be akin to checking whether Beethoven crammed all the tones of one key into the first stanza of his Fifth Symphony.

Scholars have challenged the story of Lincoln's last-minute preparation of the Address -- like the account of his jotting the Address on the back of an envelope during the train trip to Gettysburg. Rather, evidence suggests that Lincoln took his charge seriously (as was his practice) and prepared drafts of the Address well before his trip, knowing there would be little time to write the speech during his trip or upon his arrival in Pennsylvania.

Not surprising. Good writing -- especially good, terse writing like this 272-word Address -- evolves from numerous drafts which are honed and refined. Those characteristically-slim volumes of Strunk & White tell the story, short and sweet -- S&W practiced what they preached. It's easier to write longer than shorter. It reminds me of a quote from a correspondent/essayist whose name I can't remember: "I apologize for this long letter. If I had more time, it would have been shorter."

And so, kudos to great writing that is driven by carefully-chosen words and not individual letters.

Sampler update: The sampler is in the capable hands of our framing expert, and so I've enlisted other samplers as substitute models for the blog essays . . . like the one above which provides the pangrammatic alphabetic display. Pangrams are perfectly fine for samplers that feature alphabets. :)

Last week Lili asked about the logistics of framing a cross stitch design on linen. The linen is stretched over a piece of acid-free foam board, and then secured (laced) in the back almost corset-style, evenly stretching the fabric across the board. I'm searching for a good on-line tutorial to link to . . . it's an interesting process. I'll get back to you on that.

Talk to you soon . . have a good Monday eve! Cheers, friends!

2009-08-19T19:21:00.021-04:00

"The Other Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863"

The first Gettsyburg Address preceded President Lincoln's by about two hours. Delivered by Former Secretary of State Edward Everett, the first oration on that day lasted 2 hours, as opposed to Lincoln's 3-minute address. Everett, a distinguished Boston orator in the tradition of Daniel Webster, opened with these words:

Standing beneath this serene sky, overlooking these broad fields now reposing from the labors of the waning year, the mighty Alleghenies dimly towering before us, the graves of our brethren beneath our feet, it is with hesitation that I raise my poor voice to break the eloquent silence of God and Nature. But the duty to which you have called me must be perfomed; grant me, I pray you, your indulgence and your sympathy.

Everett's 13,607-word speech is quite a contrast to Lincoln's 272 words. A Mahler Symphony followed by a Chopin etude. Or a Dickens novel followed by an Emily Dickinson poem. What a juxtaposition of scale! But art assumes all sizes, and the two men, each in his own way, honored the fallen soldiers at Gettysburg with grace and humility.

The next day's correspondence between the two men began with Everett praising Lincoln's brevity, to which Lincoln replied: "I am pleased to know that, in your judgment, the little I did say was not entirely a failure."

I'm trying to remember the last time I heard today's crop of politicians speak with such humility and elegance.

We have new followers to this blog - welcome all! A few of you have asked about "272 Words" -- will there be a chart? The sampler is still a work in progress and I'll post the answer here by mid-September. I'd like to make the decision after the piece is framed. Your inquiries and kind words have inspired beyond measure.

Back to the matter at hand . . . the sampler is on its way to the framer, and, for the first time in my stitching life -- I hated parting with the linen! Usually there's a happy dance, but not this time. That piece of linen has been a part of my daily life for months. No more tweaks or color changes. No more frogging, reconfiguring, re-stitching. It's time to let go.

Anyone interested in stitching the first Gettysburg Address -- Mr. Everett's -- on linen? It's a mere 13,607 words. :)

I'm taking a couple days' break from stitching, starting tonight . . . can you hear the Apple Martini being made? I hope you'll indulge in a cool drink as well . . .

Cheers, see you in a few days!

2009-08-12T14:50:00.027-04:00

"There's no 'I' in team . . . or the Gettysburg Address . . . "

Imagine that. In his address at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln never uses the personal pronoun "I." He uses "we" throughout. Wow, that's quite an accomplishment for an orator, especially a politician. No wonder these words endure. His priority was to preserve the union, that the nation "shall not perish from the earth." The entire Address has an inclusive feel, that Americans (the "we") were all in it together.

I apologize for my absence these last few weeks. The work schedule took over and the weeks flew by. Liz from Philadelphia recently visited and we toured the town in a whirlwind, with a bit of nostalgia. She and I met as freshmen at Barnard College (same dorm floor), and we've been friends ever since.

Liz gave me a wonderful souvenir from the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia -- a Betsy Ross Thimble. There's Betsy in the photo, stitching the flag, with the sampler as a backdrop. A thimble is the perfect prop -- I just love it. Thanks, Liz!

It's a good thing that Betsy Ross referred to herself as "Betsy" and not "Liz" (her given name was Elizabeth) -- otherwise this post would be intensely confusing, lol!

Isn't it fantastic that a stitcher plays a key role in the founding of this nation?

Betsy Ross is a Founding Mother, an American icon, a revolutionary figure -- a stitcher!

2009-07-11T12:17:00.053-04:00

"It Was Written In The Stars . . . "

In 1930, Ruth Wakefield of Whitman, Mass. mixed up a batch of cookie dough, not realizing tht she'd run out of baker's chocolate. The dough was already made, and Ruth had to rush the cookies in the oven to serve at the Toll House Inn -- a business she operated with her husband, Kenneth. In an act of improvisation that altered the course of baking history, she quickly threw in some chopped-up semi-sweet chocolate bits, expecting them to melt into the batter when baked. But when she removed the cookies from the oven, the semi-sweet bits hadn't melted into the dough. Ruth's guests loved the new chocolate-chunk cookie and the Toll House Cookie was born.

Now, I'm not comparing my work with Ruth Wakefield's ground-breaking invention, but I had my own "Ruth Wakefield Moment" last week. As I was finishing the sampler, I discovered, with horror, a terrible mistake. I had planned to stitch in 50 stars -- one for each state -- in the border. When I finished the entire border (hours and hours of stitching), and counted the stars, just to make sure . . . I counted only 48.

I hope my neighbors weren't too inconvenienced by the blood-curdling scream that followed.

What to do? Rip out some of the bars and sew in the stars? Or . . . find a place for the two extra stars in another area of the sampler. And that's how two red stars became celestial bookends for ABRAHAM LINCOLN's name. I had originally planned other design elements to flank Lincoln's name, but it seemed to be written in the stars . . . this was meant to be.

I like seeing Lincoln's name in stars. It befits the office of an executive, the Commander-In-Chief. It's a very simple configuration, plain and straightforward, like Lincoln himself. I was aiming for something solemn, respectful, in keeping with tone of the Gettysburg dedication.

And here's the final stitch back on July 3rd, the fiftieth star . . .

In planning the second phase of the sampler prep, I chose Labor Day, September 7, for the final reveal of the framed piece . . . another national holiday that coincides with a Grand Slam tennis tournament (The U.S. Open, here in NYC, this time). This allows plenty of time to "proofread" the sampler, make minor changes/corrections and deliver it for framing over the summer.

I would be a complete disgrace if I -- a puzzlemaker in a parallel life -- misspelled a word of the Gettysburg Address. I'd never live that one down! That's why I'm proofreading in a slightly obsessive way. And since "misspelled" is one of the most misspelled words in the English language . . . one can't be too careful.

See you in a few days, and enjoy the weekend. Thanks again for visiting on July 4th. Your comments mean the world to me. Ciao!

2009-07-04T00:00:00.007-04:00

Happy Birthday, America!

On February 12, Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, I began stitching "272 Words," a sampler featuring the full text of Gettysburg Address. Because this is Lincoln's bicentennial year, it seemed logical to begin the sampler on the President's birthday. But when considering a completion date I chose July 4th largely because Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays.

Until a few weeks ago, I hadn't realized the double significance of July 4th as a completion date, compliments of President Lincoln himself. If one does the arithmetic, Mr. Lincoln's famous intro, "Four score and seven years ago," refers to the events of July 4, of 1776.

Today I present photos of the unframed piece. My stitching frame is too small to stretch the entire length and breadth of the sampler. Therefore, with your patience, I present closes-ups of the sampler from various angles. In August I'll publish a photo essay of "272 Words," after it is professionally stretched and framed. A frame will bring the sampler to life.

The final photo shows the sampler, minutes after it was completed yesterday -- 143 days after the first stitch in February. It seemed to me, that a ray of sun beamed onto the work table at the moment the linen was liberated from its frame. I quickly snapped the photo, not noticing the wrinkled linen after months of handling, or the funny way it draped across the table. It was finished. Stitchers know that feeling of elation -- the last stitch is as exciting as the first.

Thank you for joining me on this July 4th, as we celebrate our nation's 233rd birthday. It has been an honor spending these last few months with you, and I look forward to our conversations during the coming months.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Gettysburg Address, by President Abraham Lincoln

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation . . .

. . . conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

"Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live."

"It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this."

"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

"The world will little note, nor long remember what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us . . . "

". . . that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom . . . "

. . . that government of the people, by the people, for the people . . . "

. . . shall not perish from the earth."

THE ADDRESS AT GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
DELIVERED ON NOVEMBER 19, 1863
ABRAHAM LINCOLN

~ Wrought by Elizabeth C. Gorski of New York City
on July 4, 2009 ~

2009-07-03T04:16:00.000-04:00

"A Star Is Born"

It's approaching 1:15 A.M. on July 3, and what a week it's been! Let's just say it was the perfect storm of work-related, home-related stuff -- which resulted in stitching being pushed back further into the wee hours. A few hours of stitching ahead of me tonight, but I thought I'd post quickly once more before Saturday, July 4. I can't believe that this sampler is almost finished!

I chose this star design, with the five-fold symmetry, for part of the border. There are fifty stars in the sampler -- one for each state, to represent the contemporary configuration of stars on the flag. Up close, the star pattern is not perfectly symmetrical, but when seen from a distance, as is the case with cross stitch "pixels", it appears to have five-point symmetry - reminiscent of stars on the American flag.

It is said that Betsy Ross's superior sewing skills were demonstrated by her ability to cut and stitch a perfect five-point star -- one of the most difficult shapes to craft. She was a real pro!

Today a friend emailed me, asking if July 4 marks the end of this blog. No, no, not at all . . I've only just begun! After July 4, I'll start preparing the sampler for framing. And with a piece this size -- stitch count is 355w x 382h -- the prep time will be significant.

But first things first . . I'm nervous and excited about July 4. It's been a long and exhilirating process -- by far, the largest stitching project I've ever designed or stitched. I'm so grateful that we've travelled this road together -- thank you for helping me on this journey . . . See you in a few hours . . . ciao.

2009-06-27T14:27:00.000-04:00

"Breaking For Coffee . . . "

It's Saturday and that means -- planning the next week's stitching, and merging 24 to-do lists into a more manageable set of 23. Seven days to July 4th, and now it's time to pull out all the stops. So much to do, including choosing the types of stars for the border . . . and then stitching them! (There's always a catch . . )

This is the perfect time, of course, for some emergency home repair -- nothing serious, but I can't post for a few days; my computer/work area is inaccesssible until next week.

The stitching, of course, continues, no matter what . . . the show must go on! It's official: it's primal around here -- lots of coffee and loud movies to keep a stitcher awake into the wee hours. See you in a few days . . . have a good weekend!

2009-06-26T20:20:00.000-04:00

"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose . . . " ~Janis Joplin

"Freedom" is also the name of the new color introduction . . . the "L" and "N" are part of the ABRAHAM LINCOLN section of the sampler, stitched in Freedom, a dark blue from The Gentle Art. Never a linear thinker, I routinely stitch in reverse and in patches. (The sampler looks a bit odd right now.) Today I salvaged a few miniature roses from the garden, but 3 weeks of drenching rains in NYC have taken a toll on the floral display.

The PENNSYLVANIA is part of GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, stitched with Chives, from The Gentle Art.

How's this for telepathic synergy . . . just as I finished stitching PENNSYLVANIA, an email arrived from Liz in Philadelphia . . . about Stephen and Russell's needlepoint shop in Philadelphia. Rittenhouse Needlepoint is located at 1737 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. The store's blog is lovely. Doesn't it make you want to drop in for some coffee and stitching . . . and shopping, bien sur! I love their slogan -- Instruction, Coffee, Conversation.

And cross stitchers, check out the photo on the blog . . . Nora Corbett -- the distinguished cross stitch designer and artist behind Mirabilia -- is featured with the proprietors at a recent trade show. Very nice convergence of star power . . .

Thanks to Liz from Philly for the intell on this shop. Stitchers, if you're in Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Needlepoint will assist in that all-important activity -- stash enhancement.

2009-06-23T19:20:00.000-04:00

"We're not retreating, just advancing in the opposite direction" ~Author Unknown

Wow, two color changes in two days! This lettering (stitched with Gentle Art's Chive) is executed in classic schoolgirl sampler-type capital lettering. It's part of the "ADDRESS AT GETTYSBURG, PENNSLYVANIA" portion of the sampler.

Green is an eerily appropriate color introduction. Last night I spent a lot of time FROGGING, hence the quote above. I misjudged the amount of space needed to separate the green lettering from brown block of letters (the Gettysburg Address text). "Breathing space" is essential between the dense text lettering and the "informational" lettering below -- otherwise, it'll look too squished together.

That's the downside of designing-while-you-stitch. I never know if something is right until the floss is stitched onto the linen. I guess frogging is like advancing in the opposite direction. We have to take things apart, make corrections, and build on a stronger foundation. (But it's SOOOO frustrating sometimes!)

I loved The Greatest Game Every Played -- thanks for the recommendation, John! The film is about golf, but much, much more. I'm not a golfer, and I was enthralled throughout. Keep hankies on hand . . . the end is a stunner.

Tonight's film is As Good As It Gets with Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear. I've seen it a few times, and it's still a favorite. Great scenes of New York City and Brooklyn. But the scene stealer is Verdel, the dog. What a cutie!

A good Tuesday eve to all!

2009-06-22T20:49:00.000-04:00

"Better to remain silent and thought a fool,

than to speak out and remove all doubt"

~Abraham Lincoln

Mr. President, I came across your advice a tad too late. I've removed all such doubt on at least one or two or, er . . . 10,000 occasions. But no more than that!

Today marks a dramatic new shift in stitching . . . . . . a color change! It's barely noticeable in the photo above, but see the dotted line? That's Gentle Art's Cinnamon, the first color change since the inaugural stitch in February. Until now it's been Gentle Art Nutmeg all the way.

The dotted line marks the beginning of the inner rectangular border that delineates the perimeter of the Gettysburg Address text. After experimenting with a solid row of stitching (too severe-looking) and an uninterrupted line of backstitching (too puny), a dotted line --the simplest cross stitch technique -- was just right. Eureka. The dotted line looks snazzier than a solid line, sort of like a little Broadway marquee. More color changes to come this week, thank goodness. I've been feeling like a Janie One-Note since February!

Becoming Jane was fantastic, and a perfect accompaniment to this weekend's stitching marathon. Tonight, at John's suggestion (my friend from Vernon), I'll watch The Greatest Game Ever Played and tackle the SE quadrant of the sampler. Lots more work to come, including a constellation of stars.

Have a good Monday ~

2009-06-20T13:52:00.000-04:00

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here . . . " ~Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address

When I stitched this portion of the Gettysburg Address, I chuckled to myself, thinking . . . well, even the smartest people are occasionally wrong. I wonder whether Lincoln ever expected that his 272-word address -- which he delivered in under three minutes -- would be one of the most-quoted speeches in U.S. history.

I'm counting the days to completion now -- only 14 days until July 4th and I'm downright scared! There's so much to do . . . tonight I must do a marathon mega-stitch blowout while watching Becoming Jane with Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen. James McAvoy (of Atonement fame) is also in the film and he's gorgeous. Eye candy helps with the creative process, I think.

Thank you all for following this project, which started in the icy month of February. Truth be told, I've spent a whole lot of time stitching, and not much time blogging. When the sampler is finished, I'll have more time to go into finer details. I look forward to writing more while the piece is being framed in July.

Today I introduce four new members of the cast, from The Gentle Art. The colors (from right to left in the photo) are: Freedom, Chives, Mulberry, Nutmeg (already introduced) and Cinnamon.

"Freedom" is a perfect blue for Lincoln's name at the bottom of the sampler. It's masculine-looking, but muted. Honestly, I didn't choose this blue color because it's called "Freedom" -- that's merely the universe doing its magic!

I will use "Mulberry" for star motifs, "Chives" for lettering re Gettysburg (the green reminds me of the beautiful Pennsylvania landscape). "Cinnamon" is a darker brown for backstitching or border work (I haven't decided yet).

Okay, I'm off to start stitching for the day . . . thank you all, for staying with me throughout this process. I love seeing your friendly faces in the "Followers" box -- you are my Windows of Hope.

Hugs to you all, and Happy Father's Day tomorrow. My father passed a few years ago, but I think of him every day. In my mind's eye, I see his kind face and I smile.

2009-06-13T14:12:00.001-04:00

"I walk slowly, but I never walk backward"

~Abraham Lincoln

Slow and steady progress, and with each step, the goal is closer, though not yet visible. Every stitcher knows the feeling of being immersed in a project that seems to have no end. One stitch after the other, and one day you see a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm still looking for the light . . . one stitch after another.

The concept of "a stitching room of one's own" is borrowed from Virginia Woolf's 1929 book A Room of One's Own. Woolf believed that a woman needed a designated space and resources (otherwise known as cash) to write. It's interesting to apply this to stitchers -- having a room to think, create, and listen to a threaded needle as it passes through linen. And man, oh, man -- Virginia was right about the "cash" thing . . . you need cash for stash.

Years ago, when my parents bought their house, my mother claimed a closet-sized room with a window as her sewing room. In no time, the room was filled to the ceiling with fabric bolts, ribbons, button boxes, thread cones and a black Singer sewing machine. We kids called it "The Twilight Zone" because it was unlike any room in the house.

Today, my mom still keeps her stitching room. A red geranium blooms out of control on the window sill, and the room is still ceiling-high with sewing paraphernalia. Though she has plenty of space to expand into other rooms (empty nests now), she elects to keep her separate sewing place.

I don't have a designated stitching space -- I use my music room, which doubles as a string quartet room when friends come over to rehearse. It's also a writing/painting/practice area. Boy, Virginia Woolf was right -- a designated "creation" space is essential.

What is your stitching room like?

2009-05-22T14:12:00.000-04:00

". . . we can not dedicate ~ we can not consecrate ~ we can not hallow ~ this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract." ~ Abraham Lincoln

Memorial Day has its roots in the post-Civil War era, when individual towns started to observe Decoration Day. People "decorated" the graves of Union and Confederate soliders with flowers. The "Birthplace of Memorial Day" is Waterloo Village, New York -- it is credited with the first Decoration Day observance on May 5, 1866. Most of us know Decoration Day, now called Memorial Day, as a national holiday observed on the last Monday in May.

In his address at Gettysburg, President Lincoln honors soldiers as having "consecrated" the land through their ultimate sacrifice. To consecrate -- to sanctify, to make holy.

In the modern interpretation of Memorial Day, the concept of "consecration" extends to all U.S. soldiers who fought in any war. The men and women who have given their lives for our country have indeed blessed us, the living, with a way of life that is defined by freedom.

I grew up on the New Jersey Shore and so, today marks the start of beach season. Yay! (Tonight, every bar on the Jersey Coast will be packed to the gills -- which exit on the turnpike? Every exit.) The scent of tanning lotion is in the air. Bring on the fun -- let's picnic, barbeque, swim, play tennis, surf, travel, garden, clean our closets, relax and . . . stitch.

Here in New York City, it's Fleet Week. The Yankees are home, playing at the new Yankee Stadium. (We're on a 9-game winning streak!) The Town is abuzz with visitors and us locals who love long weekends in the city.

This weekend of leisure is made possible by the same sacrifices that Lincoln described at Gettysburg. I'll make sure to take time on Monday, to honor the servicemen and servicewomen who gave their lives -- in order to preserve our way of life.

Have a good Memorial Day Weekend!

2009-05-20T14:30:00.000-04:00

"Let's Take The Scenic Route" ~Me

I received some emails about the availability of the snail pattern in Sunday's post. I designed "Scenic Route" last year, but never published it . . . and so, it's posted here, as a freebie chart.

The photo shows a version stitched with Presidential Blue (voila! -- a Lincoln connection, lol) floss by The Gentle Art. The linen is a favorite -- 28-count Magnolia by Lakeside Linens. Because it's a monochromatic design, it can be stitched in any bold color for a silhouette-like effect.

Good 'ol Largo The Snail . . . he always stops to smell the roses. (Point taken!)

2009-05-17T15:28:00.000-04:00

"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time" ~Abraham Lincoln

It's graduation season, when commencement speakers seek to inspire new graduates by using a quote like this one. The concept of "one day at a time" had to have been a survival technique for President Lincoln who, along with duties as the nation's chief executive, was charged with the task of prosecuting a war to preserve the Union.

Whenever I think I have a lot on my plate, I think of President Lincoln's to-do list and, whoa -- there's instant perspective.

We all seem busier than ever these days. Forget about the Joneses -- I'm just trying to keep up with myself, or the concept of where I should be. But still, is it simply human nature to think that we're busier than our ancestors? Was life really simpler then? Or did our great grandparents recall the carefree days of their own childhoods -- as they tried to grind out a living, raise kids and keep house? I suspect they did.

(Sampler Update: It's coming along . . . onward to July 4th.)

My goal for this summer is to relax and slow down a bit. Like Largo the Snail in the photo, instead of seeking the shortest distance between A and B, I'm going to take the scenic route. Shall we? Good! Meet you in the park in 15 minutes . . .

2009-05-09T12:45:00.001-04:00

"that the government of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the earth" ~Abraham Lincoln

The sampler is coming along slowly, but surely -- this photo captures a section of the first 100 words. I'm way behind, as I should have been farther along as if this date. (Sigh) Work, life, stuff -- they're wild cards. I'm getting concerned about making my July 4th deadline, but there's still time to regroup . . . eek, I better get back on schedule!

The next time you write a speech, be sure to study the Gettysburg Address for form and function. Abraham Lincoln uses an age-old oratorical technique called parallel construction -- rhythmic word/sound repetition. The stunning last phrase -- "of the people, by the people and for the people" -- is an example of this technique.

Parallel construction has been around for centuries -- consider Julius Caesar's not-so-humble "Veni, Vidi, Vici" ("I came, I saw, I conquered"). Not a day goes by when we don't see VENI clued as "Part one of Great Caesar's boast" in a crossword puzzle.

And there's . . . Henry David Thoreau's "Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity!" Timothy Leary's psychedlic credo of the 1960s, "Turn on, tune in, drop out." (Dopey advice, if you'll pardon the pun.) And Gertrude Stein's mantra-like "rose is a rose is a rose is a rose."

Apropos to the mission of this blog, one of the most notable examples occurred in August 1963 -- 100 years after the Gettysburg Address, when Martin Luther King delivered a speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Dr. King repeated the phrase "I have a dream . . ." so memorably that the speech is referred to as the "I Have A Dream" speech.

And King sustains the momentum. He repeats "Let Freedom Ring . . . " (evoking the image of a ringing Liberty Bell perhaps) that leads to the final parallel construction: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

* * * * *

Happy Mother's Day to all . . . this earlier essay pays tribute through Lincoln's words about his own mother.

2009-05-02T14:59:00.000-04:00

"I hope your life will open into perpetual beauty and goodness" ~Abraham Lincoln

On November 18, 1863 President Lincoln arrived by train at Gettysburg, Pennsylania -- one day before he would deliver his address at the burial ground. Among the greeters at the station was a little girl who offered a bouquet of rosebuds, saying "Flowers for the President!" Touched by the gesture, the President bent down, kissed the child and said: "You're a sweet little rose-bud yourself. I hope your life will open into perpetual beauty and goodness."

Perfect words for the occasion -- Lincoln stayed in the moment. That sentiment -- of one's life opening into beauty and goodness -- is especially meaningful on a spring day, like today . . . to take a moment and enjoy the park, the garden, the patio, a newly-planted window box. More and more I find myself detaching from the endless (and predictably meaningless) media chatter of daily life, delivered via computers, cell phones, iPods and Blackberrys.

I've become highly selective about reading, listening, viewing. John Meyer on a Twitter feed? I love his music . . . but his Twittering self? No thanks. I'd rather practice the guitar. And then there's the Blackberry, aka the Crackberry . . . .a useful tool, except when it becomes a pulsating pocketbook fascist (that is, if we allow technology to boss us around).

Perhaps that's why we're drawn to stitching. The tools haven't changed in centuries -- linen, thread, needle, scissors. These tools are so honest -- they won't spam you, vibrate, ring or buzz. They won't freeze up or crash so that you lose all the work you've done for the past four hours. And you don't have to download a security patch to use the scissors you bought six months ago.

Sampler Update: This week I'll post a photo of the first 100 words of the sampler. Looks like I'll have to pull some all-nighters between now and July 4 -- eek! A number of you have asked about the historical sources I rely on. My main reference is David Herbert Donald's superb biography -- Lincoln.

Tomorrow is a day off from all work . . . Christopher and I will catch the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and then dinner at one of the excellent restaurants in Brooklyn we've yet to try (about 5,292 of them). Gosh, I really need to recharge my mental batteries by -- celebrating hanami, communing with nature, having a few Sour Apple Martinis . . . and then back to work on Monday.

Happy May weekend to all!

2009-04-26T18:56:00.000-04:00

" If people said what they thought, most conversations would be brief " ~Author Unknown

Though this quote isn't ascribed to Abraham Lincoln, it sounds like something he'd say.

Brevity -- the soul of wit, according to Shakespeare. It's also the mark of a great writer. In this case, Abraham Lincoln used brevity -- a solemn, dignified brevity -- to honor the memory of fallen soldiers. Few orators -- indeed perhaps only those at President Lincoln's level -- could write a two-page speech that would become one of the most quoted addresses in American history. The Gettysburg Address contains 272 words, arranged in only ten sentences.

The Gettysburg Address is shorter than this blog entry.

As you can see, I decided to make the upper-case letters, the sentence starters, extra large -- to break up the density of the text. The sampler is configured in an east-west design, with sweeping lines of text, running from coast to coast. Those extra-large capital letters add variety to the long lines. I think they'll make the prose easier to read.

And now, it's time to introduce two hard-working cast members: Linen and Thread. [Polite applause.]

The sampler is stitched (over two threads) on 32-count Lambswool Linen from Wichelt Imports. The thread is Nutmeg from The Gentle Art. This design calls for a huge amount of Nutmeg -- enough to spice up 272 gallons of egg nog.

Why am I even thinking about egg nog today? It's 91 degrees in New York City. You could fry a block of tofu on the sidewalk. Entirely too hot and humid for April! We have no choice but to cool off with the appropriate beverages. This evening we'll mix up some Sour Apple Martinis (Apple Schnapps, Vodka, Maraschino Cherry, Ice, Ice, Ice). Jeeves, please turn on the Casablanca fan . . .

I wonder if The Gentle Art makes Sour Apple Martini thread . . . Happy Sunday to all, and I hope you'll partake in some pre-prandial beverages this evening!

2009-04-18T18:23:00.000-04:00

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

~Abraham Lincoln

Something tells me that President Lincoln's mum, Nancy, would have approved of a Gettysburg Address sampler.

In the early 1800s, Nancy Hanks was working as a seamstress when she met Thomas Lincoln, a carpenter. Historians describe Nancy as a top-notch needlewoman who crafted all manner of clothing, from wedding clothes to funeral attire and everything in between. Nancy and Thomas were married in 1806, and three years later Abraham was born.

Nancy strived to give her children the opportunities she and her husband never had. Intelligent and hard-working, she was loved by family and friends. Sadly, she died young of milk sickness. Nancy Hanks was only 34 years old.

I had planned to save today's quote for Mother's Day, but I thought -- why wait for a Hallmark holiday to show appreciation for our mothers? I love Lincoln's quote because he expresses my feelings for my own mother -- she is my hero. My mom is a seamstress who taught me how to stitch and sew -- but more importantly, she taught me how to learn and take risks. Thank you, mom!

Now, here's a wild bit of trivia . . . Tom Hanks, the actor, is a distant cousin of Nancy Hanks, the mother of the 16th President of the United States. He is related to Abraham Lincoln. Imagine that -- Sleepless in Seattle Tom Hanks, You've Got Mail Tom Hanks, Saving Private Ryan Tom Hanks!

I always liked Tom Hanks and I wonder if he'd consider playing Abraham Lincoln in a film. Can't you imagine him wearing a stovepipe hat?

2009-04-13T20:09:00.000-04:00

". . . a new nation, conceived in Liberty . . . "

~The Gettysburg Address~

As research for the "272 Words" sampler, I looked at Lincoln's transcriptions of the Gettysburg Address, in his own handwriting. He starts with these words: "Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

Lincoln uses "Liberty" in mid-sentence, with a capital "L," referring to the country's birth in 1776. We see many capitalized words in The Declaration of Independence, where "unalienable Rights" are "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Lincoln, by contrast, uses few caps . . . to me, that makes "Liberty" stand out.

The concept of Liberty is often depicted as a female figure, and very successfully -- in Eugene Delacroix's 1830 painting, Liberty Leading the People. In Frederic Bartholdi's design (France's gift to the U.S. in 1886) of The Statue of Liberty. On U.S. coinage, as Liberty Walking -- the 1916 design by Adolph Weinman. And more recently -- The New York Liberty, the women's basketball team of the WNBA founded in 1997.

It's fantastic to see Liberty associated with female strength, bravery, and resolve. How many of our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends would fit that description? Quite a few -- no doubt about it. Now that I think of it, Liberty with a capital "L" makes perfect sense.

Liberty . . . you go, girl!

2009-04-09T14:42:00.000-04:00

"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" ~Abraham Lincoln

See that shiny copper disc next to the "IRS" in the photo? That's what's left over after paying 2008 taxes.

But lookee here -- who's on the shiny disc, but Abraham Lincoln himself? The first Lincoln Penny was placed into circulation 100 years ago, on Lincoln's Centennial birthday -- February 12, 1909. The copper has been going strong ever since. Lincoln never, ever could have predicted his enduring presence on U.S. currency. When you're on the U.S. Penny and the Five Dollar Bill, who needs Facebook? Hardly a day goes by when one doesn't circulate a penny or a five dollar bill. And this year Mr. Lincoln went silver when a beautiful Commemorative Silver Dollar was released in honor of the bicentennial.

In fairness to other U.S. Presidents -- like Woodrow Wilson, for instance -- I like to carry a bit of extra cash tucked away in a change purse . . ."just-in-case" money.

This week was a toughie: I had a major counted thread setback with the "272 Words" sampler. To put it bureaucratically: mistakes were made. I miscalculated a line of stitching only to realize the disaster later than sooner. Extensive frogging ensued. Grr. Why do I always find stitching mistakes on the following day?

It can't have anything to do with my habit of stitching after midnight, when my brain power is on a par with a single-cell organism . . . can it? Nah. I suspect that someone is sneaking into my house and rearranging my stitches overnight, while I'm in the arms of Morpheus. This calls for a sting operation -- I have installed a StitcherCam which will nab the culprit in flagrante delicto. Go ahead -- make my day.

The "IRS" next to the penny in the photo is short for . . . "I'd Rather Stitch" . . . (than do all the other things I should be doing to prepare for the Easter weekend). Daffodils have arrived in Riverside Park . . . hugs and warm Easter wishes to all.

2009-03-29T14:19:00.000-04:00

"Four score and seven years ago . . ."

Liz M. from Philadelphia asked about the font specs for the sampler. Well, here they are, photographed with a ring as a proportional gauge. The letters are a cross between primitive-style sampler letters and handwritten script.

Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address in November of 1863. "Four score and seven years ago" refers to 1776, when "our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation conceived in Liberty . . . " I recently watched the HBO "John Adams" series which brilliantly chronicled the events leading up to 1776. How gratifying it was to see Paul Giamatti in a formidable role, as John Adams. I'm probably the only person on the Upper West Side of Manhattan who hated "Sideways" -- an insipid film that squandered Giamatti's great talent. (But what do I know? -- "Sideways" won an Oscar.) The film is set in California wine country and supposedly had an impact on the wine industry. Heck, all I remember was a non-stop kvetch-fest between two guys. Seems to me that "Sideways" was all about the whine industry.

Hey, if you're on Jeopardy and Alex asks about the year of the Gettysburg address, simply add "four score and seven years" (87) to 1776 -- and that equals 1863. When you're stitching words at geologic speed -- usually after midnight, at an average of one word per hour -- there's time to think about these things.

Folks have asked about the photos on this blog -- the stitching, designs, etc. In a parallel universe I'm the owner of Primrose Needleworks and this is a homespun blog chronicling the creation of "272 Words," a new design. All the needlework shown on this blog is designed and stitched by yours truly. I'm using photos of published and unpublished designs under the Primrose Needleworks copyright. Most closeups are snippets of larger designs, like the scottie pic.

Holly asked that I post a photo of the scottie sampler . . . this is "Colette's Dog Sampler" and I'm sure President Lincoln would have agreed with Colette, the French author whose quotation is featured herein.

2009-03-11T16:34:00.000-04:00

I LUV New York

On Saturday night I heard the premiere of Jorge Martin's "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking," a cantata set to the Walt Whitman poem. This piece -- performed by Cantori New York with soprano, and seven-piece chamber ensemble -- was deeply moving and evocative. Rather than hop into a cab afterwards, we wanted to walk home and keep the music in our heads for as long as possible -- just as Whitman himself used to night-walk the streets of Manhattan.

After a champagne reception and a hugs for the excellent composer, Jorge -- we made our way into the night. A dreamy gibbous moon presided over the city. We three -- Gary, Joyce and I --strolled down the street, arm-in-arm-in-arm. For the first time in months, one could feel a warm breeze on the skin. New Yorkers were out after midnight, moving in stroll-motion, walking their dogs, chatting with neighbors. Andante. Wow, this is what winter doesn't feel like! No need to rush home to defrost. Andante.

We loosened our scarves, unbuttoned our coats and meandered down Park Avenue. At 1 a.m. a golden retriever adopted us. Wagging tail, wet nose, smiling -- the dog has three new fans. Affection ensues. We worried that the dog might be lost, until the owner appeared from around the corner, in stroll-motion. "His name is Cayenne," he says, gesturing at the dog.

And so, while Cayenne's owner told us about his 13-year-old pup, we modulated from eastern standard to daylight savings time. 1:59 a.m. became 3 a.m. -- under the dream-moon, on a warm Manhattan night, after a cantata and champagne, among friends and a golden dog. I can think of no better way to lose an hour's sleep.

I know, I know . . . what does this have to do with stitching the Gettysburg Address on linen? Everything. Art inspires art and informs every thread of our lives.

Who needs to sleep, when you can dream?

2009-02-24T14:35:00.000-05:00

"I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not better for it" ~ Abraham Lincoln

Much is written about Lincoln's compassion towards animals. He saved his dog from drowning in an icy river. He found homes for motherless kittens. And according to some scholars, Lincoln issued the first Presidential Pardon to a Thanksgiving turkey -- now a White House tradition. I admire men who show tenderness towards animals.

Terry from Manhattan called last night to, among other things, inquire (cross examine?) about the sampler dimensions, fabric, floss specs, etc. Terry is a high-powered New York real estate lawyer who taught me cross stitch in 2001. I wouldn't be writing these words if it hadn't been for Terry's passion for cross stitch. I had long admired her stitchery, but it took her a while to get me to try it. Terry was right. The mathematical precision intrigued me and shortly after the inaugural stitch, I was hooked.

Anyone who reads Jane Austen will appreciate the role of stitching in women's lives, as requirements of everyday life. The modern woman is free of such requirements. Yet it seems that we've gone full circle. We're singing the same song, but in a different key. Now that we don't have to stitch, guess what we're doing in our spare minutes?

We're stitching.

2009-02-18T15:18:00.000-05:00

Daily Practice

Liz from Philadelphia -- violinist, lawyer and person extraordinaire -- is ahead of the curve on good stuff. Years ago she introduced me to the Ashokan Farewell. If you watched Ken Burns' The Civil War, you heard a beautiful violin solo -- a lonely waltz that weaves through each episode. That's the Ashokan Farewell composed by Jay Ungar.

As research for the sampler, I've revisited the Burns documentary. I'm still haunted by Ungar's waltz. Yesterday I tried it out on the viola . . . hey-hey, it sounds good a fifth lower (in G major now), with the open strings and double stops. I love the dark viola sound, so intriguing, mysterious -- the Edgar Allan Poe of stringed instruments. I've arranged Beethoven's Spring Sonata for the viola, only now it sounds like a Late Autumn Sonata. That's okay by me.

This week's task is -- experimenting with fonts and thread colors for the Gettysburg Sampler. Every mega-sampler starts with a single stitch.

2009-02-12T14:09:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

Last night PBS aired some great programs about Abraham Lincoln, a tie-in to this day's bicentennial -- it is Lincoln's 200th birthday. It's a big day for me -- I start stitching "272 Words," the Gettysburg Address sampler which is the subject of this blog. I finally located a cut of linen large enough for the job -- leaving room for design elements that will accompany the text of the speech.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is hailed for its simplicity. He used plain and direct language -- a practice honed when, as a young lawyer, he reduced legal boilerplate documents to everyday language. There's no clutter in Lincoln's speeches -- but I'm surprised to learn that his office was a disaster zone. Much to his law partner's dismay, Lincoln's workstation was a cluttered mess; he kept a folder on his desk labeled -- "When You Can't Find It Anywhere Else, Look Into This."

Wouldn't "Miscellaneous" suffice?

2009-02-09T13:52:00.000-05:00

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee" ~Abraham Lincoln

Henry from Pennsylvania sent along this Lincoln quote. Henry (and partner Emily) write the world's best acrostic puzzles, and are experts in finding fantastic quotations.

Liz from Philadelphia writes that, yes -- Lincoln Logs are still made . . . in China. (Cue Alanis Morrisette's Isn't It Ironic?) Lincoln Logs were invented by John Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Interestingly, Frank was born "Frank Lincoln Wright" and changed his middle name to "Lloyd" after his parents divorced. I keep thinking of a Guggenheim Museum made of Lincoln Logs . . . oh, to be rustic again!

The sampler chart is underway, but the fabric search is a challenge. My chosen fabric is a beautiful linen (32-count Lambswool). But I need a made-to-order mega-cut. This is a sampler on steroids, much bigger than anticipated. Midnight oil and coffee -- that's the deal for the next few months.

2009-02-07T17:21:00.000-05:00

Getting One's Ducks In A Row . . .

Yesterday I made a supplies run to a great cross stitch shop in Clifton NJ. I'm a hardcore New Yorker (no car), so I jumped onto the No. 1 train and headed to Times Square; then to Port Authority to catch a bus to The Garden State.

I'm starting to notice all things Lincoln -- the No. 1 train stops at 66th Street, Lincoln Center. Times Square is the eastern terminus of the 13-state Lincoln Highway, the first major memorial to the 16th President. Travellers on the original highway (completed in 1913) would travel west from Times Square, take a ferry across the Hudson to Weehawken NJ -- then across the U.S., to the western terminus, Lincoln Park in San Francisco. The Lincoln Highway is the nation's first transcontinental road, nicknamed Main Street Across America.

That Weehawken ferry service -- now a busy commuter line with a fleet of ships -- made headlines last month, when ferry captains chugged to the rescue of a downed U.S. Airways airbus floating in the icy Hudson River. Captain Sullenberger's virtuosic landing made us cheer. Sully wanted to land close to a vessel, to maximize the chance of a quick rescue. Don't you want to shake his hand and buy him a beer? And those fantastic ferry crew and first responders -- they make me prouder than ever to be a New Yorker .

At 42nd Street, it's on to Port Authority where I caught the NJ bus which barrels through the Lincoln Tunnel. Later last night, a supermarket radio (permanently tuned to the oldies station) crackles with the "Name Game" song: "Lincoln, Lincoln, bo binken . . . banana fanna . . "

Do they still make Lincoln Logs?

2009-02-03T20:05:00.000-05:00

A Proclamation

Three weeks and two days ago, I decided to embark on a project that, for years, has bounced from one to-do list to another, and mentally filed away under "Some Day." Well, "some day" is here. Next week our country celebrates the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. There is no better time to start on said project -- a cross stitch sampler featuring the 272-word text of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address of November 19, 1863.

Here's the plan: I commence stitching next week, on Lincoln's 200th birthday -- Thursday, February 12. The goal is to complete the sampler on July 4. These historic dates seem like practical punctuation marks, though I suspect that Life will intervene and send my neat little plan into a tailspin. That's okay . . . I work best with a deadline.

Pre-stitching prep work is a needleworker's mise en place -- fabric is purchased, floss is selected, a stitching chart is designed. I've named this cross stitch chart "272 Words." It's time to go to work.

Stitching Tips and Sampler Stats

2007-12-10T20:03:00.020-05:00

We've assembled some stitching tips and "272 Words" sampler stats; this page will be updated as questions arise. This page was updated on December 10, 2009.

~ TECHNIQUE: Technically, this is a very simple stitching project. The pattern calls for full cross stitches only. No backstitching, French Knots or Algerian Eyelets. Nothing fancy. Just plain old vanilla -- full cross stitches. The real challenge, I think, is endurance -- the time involved in stitching a piece that's 349w x 375h . . . roughly 22" wide and 24" high. As Steven Wright says: "Everywhere is within walking distance . . . if you have the time." I am reminded of how Yo Yo Ma first learned the Bach Cello Suites; his father instructed him to learn one measure per day. One measure! A measure here, a measure there -- after a few months, you've got a Gigue and a Courante under your fingers. So to with stitching . . . a word or two per day . . . in a few months you'll have the Gettysburg Address on linen. (Of course, we stitchers know that we can't restrict ourselves to merely one word a day . . . stitching is too darn fun!)

~ FABRIC: 32-count Lambswool linen from Wichelt

~ MODEL: The model is stitched entirely in colors from The Gentle Art, using two strands over two threads. DMC equivalents are provided in the chart, but (using Mad Men marketing parlance) "results may vary" if the piece is stitched with DMC only, or a GAST/DMC combo.

~ THREADS: The colors are largely localized, with GAST Nutmeg the color of Lincoln's words. The "Gettysburg" caption part is stitched in green (Chives). The chart calls for 10 skeins of Nutmeg (I used 5-yd. skeins). This is a generous skein count -- allowing for frogging and adjustments for variance in overdyed thread color values. I used the darker parts of the Nutmeg skeins for the capital letters, as a way to accentuate the beginnings of the sentences . . . especially the opening words, and important capitalized words like "Liberty" and "God."

~ STARS: The 50 red and blue stars (stitched in Mulberry and Freedom) contain no political message in terms of red and blue states. The aim was to have "ABRAHAM LINCOLN" stitched in an "Chief Executive" blue (GA Freedom) -- suggestive of The Presidential Seal. The two stars on either side of his name are in Mulberry, to offset the blue. There's no doubt that our 50-state complement was made possible by Lincoln's preservation of the Union. Each of the 50 stars in the sampler is identical in size; the entire complement is included to show strength in numbers. Again, inspired by the Presidential Seal with its 50 white stars in a circular pattern.

Info updated on 12/10/09