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Sampler House, The

Designer's Name: Eileen Bennett
Location: Jenison, MI
Would you share when and how The Sampler House got its start? Owning a needlework store for six years was the 'school room' for my designing. When the shop closed in 1986, it left a void I needed to fill. Since 1975, Samplers had already taken over and consumed my life so it was a natural progression to go from selling designs to creating designs. I still remember the first trade show, my booth was directly across the aisle from one of the major distributors and their booth was two street blocks long (or so it seemed). There I was, in my little 8 feet by 10 feet cubical hanging my needlework 'out to dry' for the world to see. Eight designs and wet panties!
Which area of counted cross-stitch interests you the most? Samplers! Sampler history, sampler making! I began stitching as a needlepointer but when I discovered linen, I was lost in 'flax heaven.' Through the years I have discovered there is so much cross-over in the counted thread techniques (which includes needlepoint) that I love to do all the techniques; i.e. Blackwork, Assisi, Hardanger, Pulled and Drawn thread. Even many crewel stitches can be worked on linen.
Has your passion for needleart taken you on many travels? Yes, most states here in the US have been on my schedule, but also Canada, England, Ireland, France. While teaching, I'm averaging about 10 days of travel time a month.
	From Sampler House, The... Catherine's Sampler This beautiful sampler by Eileen was released earlier this year and became an instant favorite among sampler buffs and general stitchers alike. The stitch count is 89w X 214h and was stitched on 32 count Belfast linen. Many stitches are used including but not limited to cross, double cross, long arm cross Montenegrin cross stitch variation, flat (satin), Algerian eyes. This impressive work retails for a suggested $25.00.
Would you tell us a little about your teaching schedule and what sort of classes or seminars you offer? My teaching schedule varies from year to year and includes venues for Trade Shows, Needlework Shops, EGA groups, Sampler Guilds, Needlepoint Guilds, Embroidery Guilds, historic houses and museums. A typical year will have anywhere from 14 to 18 classes offered and these include, of course, Samplers but I also teach Pulled Thread techniques, Blackwork, Lacis, Reticella, Pattern Darning, etc. Lecturing on the history of Samplers also occurs; "Catherine of Aragon and her time period," "Jane Bostocke," (her sampler of 1598) "Sampler Research 101" and a class called "Going for The Blue Ribbon" are the current selections.
When you have some down time from teaching and designing, what are some of your hobbies or interests? I love to read and will consume 2 to 3 novels or historical books a week. While driving to teaching locations I have books on tape keeping me company as I maneuver through traffic. Some of my favorite authors are Janet Evonovich, James Patterson, Dan Brown and of course, Philippa Gregory who writes on period English history. Cooking is something I also enjoy doing and I love to give dinner parties. Family dinners are very special times and I like to put an emphasis on 'table settings and centerpieces.' One comment I will always remember came from my youngest grandson, Jeff. While looking at the decorated dinning room table he said "Wow! Just like the Titanic." In between all of that is my first love, Genealogy. I have been researching my family tree for 35-plus years. This also transfers over into the needlework field and I often do research on needlework pieces. Currently, I am doing an in-depth research project for a major museum here in the US.
Could you share with us a little about your family and are they supportive of your career? I was widowed almost 19 years ago but when Gordon was alive he was very supportive and encouraged my traveling/teaching. It was often evident he felt good knowing my life would continue after he was gone. The last year of his life was a really tough time, I needed to be at home with him and he wanted me to be off teaching. Kelly, my daughter used to travel with me while doing trade shows and consumer shows. As mother of four of my eight grandchildren, the traveling and being away from home got to be too much and she and I felt it was more important for her to be at home and be "Mom." I still miss that companionship while traveling. My son, whose home is in Alaska but is currently living/working in Minneapolis, designed an historic site piece years ago. I stitched it for him and it hangs on his walls today.
What are a few of your favorite things about being a part of the cross-stitch industry? Of course, the people I meet along the way. Many of my students from 'day one' became dear friends and we still see each other from time to time. Fellow teachers are also on that "favorite people" list and we get to spend a bit of time together at various venues. Recently, while in a room of needlework teachers, I looked around and was dazzled and awed with the amount of talent surrounded by four walls.
Since you first started your business, what are a few major changes you’ve noticed in the cross-stitch industry? The number of distributors now available to shop owners. When I opened my shop in 1979, only one major distributor comes to mind, Craft World. About a quarter of my time was spent in finding 'the not well known' designs and designers. It was extremely important to me to have my own 'shop personality' and not look like the next needlework store down the road. Samplers were my first love and it was a well known fact that if you shared my interest you would find any available pattern or kit at my shop. When my designing career began, I was teaching the 17th and 18th century needlework techniques I employed in my designs to shop owners. In 1986, few people were doing much beyond cross stitch on linen and my work was cut out for me. Eventually my first book "A Note Book of Sampler Stitches" was written. Book #2 soon followed and then in 2003 I put the two books together in one volume and greatly expanded the contents. This newer version is called "The Red Book of Sampler Stitches." Some where in that time period, I believe it was 1999, "A Note Book of Pulled Thread Stitches" was also written. I have been told they are the 'Bible of needlework stitches' for many people. Stitchers of today are far more sophisticated and knowledgeable!
What is SAM CLOTH? SAM CLOTH allowed the history/research side of me to surface and it was a labor of love to do. Three hundred years of needlework education for young girls is shared within its pages. It is a newsletter and each issue contains four pages of sampler history in a chronicle order. This, too, was greatly expanded upon and my book "The Evolution of Samplers" was written and contains sampler history from that well-documented 17th century through its four-hundred-year popularity. Although only a few copies of SAM CLOTH are available on my web site today, shop owners can order the expanded book from Hoffman Distributors. My web site is www.TheSamplerHouse.net.
In closing, would you mind parting with a favorite recipe? Would love to! With the Holidays coming up soon, I am enclosing my family's favorite salad of the season recipe. Cranberry Salad Serves: Many 2 cups fresh cranberries, ground or chopped in a food processor 2 cups miniature marshmallows 3/4 cup sugar Mix these three ingredients together and let set 12 hours or overnight in refrigerator. 2 cups diced apples, peeling and all 1/2 cup nuts, chopped (walnuts or pecans) 3/4 cup green grapes, pitted and chopped 1/2 pint whipping cream, whipped Mix fruits and whipped cream. Fold in cranberry mixture. Note: It's a beautiful salad so serve in a pretty, clear glass bowl.

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