There are so many wonderful small family farms near my home, and over the years I've wanted to stitch each one of them into a sampler. One of my favorite has always been Ravenhill Herb Farm. It has become the inspiration for this, my first small farm sampler. I've designed it in the same style as my small Victorian Garden Samplers, except wider and larger. The real Ravenhill Farm is only a few miles from my house, and each year I try to visit them to sniff the heady aroma of their bountiful crops, and to buy some of their fresh herbs or enjoy their unique artistic once-a-year Christmas Craft fair. I've taken some liberties with their plant layout, but essentially I think I've managed to capture part of the spirit of the place. A gorgeous English cottage of a house nestling under the tall fir trees, fruit trees, and a barn with several goats, sheep, cats, and other various animals, including Joker the donkey, and a goat called Vincent are all part of the charm. Their herb fields are of course much bigger than I can show on the sampler, but they are stylized into traditional shapes, and are filled with such an array of ravishing plants and blossoms that you can write poems about. As they say, Ravenhill Farm exists in another world. I've included many specialty stitches in the center herb garden, and used a bit of Hardanger as a focal point. In a real herb garden this might be replaced with a fountain or a statue. As my friend Connie suggested, the top part of the sampler, which has the phrase, "There's no place like home..." can also be stitched separately and framed as a small sampler. It would make a perfect housewarming gift, or it could hang comfortably by your own front door. I hope you enjoy stitching this herb sampler for your kitchen, or as a gift for an herb-loving friend!
   

"There's No Place Like Home…."

A cozy cottage nestling under tall fir trees, an apple tree, and a familiar verse are all part of the charm of this smaller version of Ravenhill. More personal and smaller, this charming little sampler is an ideal house-warming present, wedding present, or just a special gift for a friends. The style fits any decor. Mostly worked in Cross Stitches, with a few different specialty stitches to add variety to the piece, it is easily finished in a short time, and we're sure the friendly crows and fluffy white sheep will really make you smile as you stitch it. Stitch this in your own cosy nest, and you'll know it's true, there really is no place like home! - Thea

    
Ravenhill Herb Farm Sampler

Design Area: 179h x 72w (12.75 high x 5.1 wide)
Model: 28ct Putty Cashel Linen
(Cut fabric: 19" X 11" for framing)

There's No Place Like Home Short Sampler

Design Area: 67h x 72w (4.8 high x 5.1 wide)
Model: 28ct Putty Cashel Linen
(Cut fabric: 11" X 11" for framing)

Go to our Catalogue, and click on Thea's Farm Samplers area to see more!

ACCESSORY PACK: Ask for the Ravenhill Herb Farm Accessory Pack at participating needlework shops. They are also available online in our Catalogue.

#048P Ravenhill Herb Farm Accessory Pack
(enough to stitch either the long or the short sampler)

• Gentle Art Sampler Threads - "Raspberry Parfait" (multi reds)
• Gentle Art Sampler Threads - "Sable" (multi red brown dk)
• Gentle Art Sampler Threads - "Avocado" (multi green lt)
• Thread Gatherer Silk 'N Colors #055 - "Camouflage Green" (multi greens dk)
• Thread Gatherer Silk 'N Colors #9713 - "Desert Moss" (multi grey greens)
• Caron Collection Waterlilies #110 - "Hyacinth" (multi blue mauve)
• Au Ver a Soie #2532 - golden yellow
• Au Ver a Soie #3846 - grey dk
• Access Soie Perlee Creme - cream
• Kreinik Mori #0304 - salmon
• Kreinik Mori #0902 - pink lt
• Kreinik Mori #4077 - green dk
• Kreinik Mori #5203 - blue
• Kreinik Mori #6104 - mauve
• Kreinik Mori #8000 - white
• Kreinik Mori #8050 - black
• Needlepoint Inc. Silk #0964 - grey med
• Needlepoint Inc. Silk #0126 - reddish brown

Extra Materials Needed:

• Evenweave Fabric - Zweigart Putty 28ct Cashel Linen
• DMC Perle Cotton #12 white