by Harriet L. Harms

Scarlet Letter Lady,

I WON, I WON, I WON!!! I just got the phone call from the Williamson County Fair judge for the cross stitch category telling me I won the BLUE RIBBON for my sampler of “Three Late Seventeenth Century Band Samplers from the School of Juda Hayle of Ipswich, Suffolk, England”!!!!! This is my second blue ribbon from one of your reproduction kits – the first being the Hannah Trecothick sampler. I am so excited I can’t see straight so I just had to email and thank you!! Your samplers are the best in the business!! True blue winners!!

Short story about the entry: When I entered the samplers (they are all in one frame) I included a little written history and explanation about them and Juda Hayle (I had purchased the book from you about Juda Hayle and her school etc.- great read!) Two days later I get a phone call from the judge asking if these are the original samplers made in the sixteen hundreds? After I regained my composure, I explained that, “No, these were not the original samplers because if they were I would have them under lock and key, I would never let them out of my sight and I would not leave them at a county fair office. I had stitched them myself from a Scarlet Letter kit”. After a few more questions, I was assured they would be taken care of and she would be in touch later. I got the phone call this morning and I got a blue ribbon!!!

Thanks again,

Harriet L. Harms