Happy Lunar New Year!
Last Lunar New Year on January 29th, 2025 I began a year-long journey stitching Adam & Eve samplers for the Year of the Snake!
When I saw that it would be the year of the snake it immediately brought to my mind the wonderful Adam & Eve samplers that I knew I was longing to stitch! I created a monthly 'Stitch with Me' stitch-a-long in the Our Sampler Years group on Facebook and each month, on or about the 29th of each month, I stitched a snake on a different Adam & Eve sampler! It seemed like a fun proposition at the start although I did not realize all it would entail, which ones to choose... gathering the supplies for each... and stitching enough of the sampler so that I could stitch the snake in each monthly video. Lots of planning and stitching throughout the year! It became quite an undertaking and I *almost* called it quits a couple of times. However, I persevered, and now that I have come to the finish line I wanted to document the journey and the fabulous samplers I chose throughout the year!
January:
First up was one of my favorite works in progress (WIPs), Elizabeth Furniss, from Hands Across the Sea Samplers! I started this sampler back in August 2019 and I enjoy dipping into it from time to time. It's like a good book that I do not want to end! It is a favorite stitch to bring to retreats and I spend time filling in the grand lawn filled with fun animals. However, all this time I had not yet completed the Adam & Eve portion so it was the perfect sampler to start my Year of the Snake journey!
Stitched on 40 count Zweigart Vintage Country Mocha with DMC threads
February:
Next up was another sampler that I had started, Isabella Fox, from GigiR Designs. Always one of my favorites, the big tree reminds me of a Christmas tree filled with beautiful ornaments! It is one I like to bring out around the holidays. This challenge let me get a bit further!
Stitched on 40 count Needle and Flax dirty teacup linen with the called for overdyed cotton threads
This A&E had definitely been eating some juicy red apples with those ruby red lips!
Petite Adam & Eve, from NeedleWorkPress, is truly a petite sampler! and while I didn't get to stitch Adam or Eve I did get the tree trunk in place to stitch that snake!
Stitched on 40 count Pecan Butter Lakeside linen with called for overdyed cotton threads
Elizabeth Ackroyd from Needlemade Designs! This was a new release from Needlemade Designs for Nashville Market last year and as soon as I saw the color palette I knew this one would have to be a part of my Year of the Snake fun!
Stitched on 40 count coffee cake from Miss Crescent Crown's linen using my own cotton conversion.
This A&E had the customary A and E near the figures and also quite the full skirts!
May:
This choice was a real fun one! After seeing Periwinkle stitcher working on this sampler in their flosstube I had to add this one to my year! This is Grace Doth Abound from Plum Street Samplers!
Stitched on 40 count Seraphim Bee's Knees linen with the called for overdyed cotton threads.
This one had a snazzy blue snake and A&E dressed ready for a party! Love the Autumn feels this sampler gives, which is my favorite season!
CML1810 from Aimee Mrs. Flossy! This is definitely a different type of color palette for an A&E! Lots of bold primary colors. The sampler really gives off a Dutch feel with the motifs and alphabet.
Stitched on 40 count Moby Dick linen from Wabi-Sabi fabrics with the DMC floss
Here is a navy blue snake and an A&E which look quite surprised!
July:
Definitely a 'pretty in pink' sampler... Martha Jones from European Reproduction Samplers! Absolutely love the color palette in this one and it has been waiting ever so patiently in my stash for many years so this one absolutely had to come out to play this year!
Stitched on 40 count Eggnog Wabi-Sabi linen with the called for DMC colors
This A&E are definitely a fun couple striking a pose with hands on their hips! This snake is really sneaky- it is completely contained inside the tree trunk!
Hannah Hammonds! This one from GigiR Designs caught my eye many moons ago. It was time to bring it to the forefront and get it started! With the photo of the original antique on the pattern it was tricky to know what would develop. It really blossomed with amazing colors from pink to burgundy and it has a wonderful verse:
God made the earth the sea and sky high
What breathes below what shines on
Each of thy trees each plant and flower
Was formed by Gods olmighty power
Stitched on 40 count cuppa cap from Wabi-Sabi linen with the called for cottons
This A&E is a bit different as the Eve is on the left side instead of the right.
This month's choice was very much a surprise to me! This is not the usual palette I drift towards but I had recently been to a Shakespeare's Peddler retreat and seeing the model there showed off the beauty of this sampler, Maria Phinney!
Stitched on 40 count Weeks Straw linen with the called for overdyed cottons.
This is another A&E where Eve is standing to the left instead of the right!
Here is a biggie!! This sampler has been on my radar since I saw it and all the red just made it a have-to-stitch! This is Alice Clark 1844 from Cross Stitch Antiques with a stitch count of 491 x 486! This one will take a very loooooong time but I am so happy to have it started now!
Stitched on 46 count Old Sheep from XJudesign linens with the called for 100.3 au ver a soie silk
Eve is standing on her podium patiently waiting for Adam although it looks like she is ready for a bite of the apple!
November:
This is the one Adam & Eve sampler that I can call a finish! Here is Tom's Foolery from Hands Across the Sea Samplers... a sampler full of color and full of fun! This project was the annual stitch-a-long for the Our Sampler Years group so each month a little more was completed and when it came to the November stitch assignment it was the perfect choice for the monthly Year of the Snake stitch with me!
Stitched on 40 count Victorian tea Party linen from Xjudesign with the called for DMC thread
Again, here we see Eve on the left and Adam on the right and what I thought was very sweet with this couple was the hearts that the original stitcher put all around them. The snake is doing his work of temptation with an apple in it's mouth.
December:
It was around October when I started to lose momentum and wondered why I was starting so many new samplers when I already have dozens to work on! What's another WIP, right?! Well, it was around this time that I received a surprise package in the mail and it contained a special note from Barbara Hutson of Queenstown Sampler Designs along with an upcoming release of an Adam & Eve sampler, Emma Squier! Barbara had noted that my year of the snake SAL inspired her to reproduce this sampler sooner than later so, of course, it had to be included in this years journey!! So I pulled together everything to start it in December! Look for this one at Nashville Market 2026!
Stitched on 48 count Bride Cake linen from Legacy linens with my own 100.3 AVAS silk conversion
This multi-colored snake really wrapped himself around the tree!
What?? January has come around again! You see, the lunar new year is not the same as a calendar year... this one in particular continues through to February 16th! So that gave me the opportunity to stitch a few more samplers! This sampler, Harriet Holtby from the Scarlett House, was a recent release and when I saw all of the colors and flowers and birds it was another must stitch! Such a stunning rose border! Harriet truly created a Garden of Eden!
Stitched on 40 count Cedar River maple bar linen with called for overdyed cottons
February 16 - The Big Finale!
And yet one final sampler to go! I saved a sampler that I have been itching to stitch since I received it! This is the fabulous Charlotte Warrington Sampler, filled with a bold palette and lots of fun and romance! It is a really BIG sampler that I am looking forward to spending many, many hours with and watching it develop! This sampler is an exclusive from the Homespun group on Facebook from NeedleWorkPress! It will only be offered there so don't miss it if you have the chance to get it!
Stitched on 40 count Golden Pear Wabi-Sabi linen with called for overdyed cotton.
A&E look like they are ready for a feast with all the colorful fruit tempting them above their heads!
And the Year of the Snake is a wrap!! So much fun and now I have a tall pile of WIPs to work on!!
Thank you to everyone who followed my monthly Stitch with Me videos and cheered me along the way! I appreciate all the support! It has been a fun year looking at each of these Adam & Eve samplers individually and together and seeing the similarities and differences. No two are alike and each tell their own story.
The Year of the Snake symbolized wisdom, intuition, transformation and introspection. It is considered a time to shed 'old skin' and let go of toxic habits, past grievances and negative energy to embrace personal growth and renewal.
Now it is time to gallop into the New Year of the Fire Horse! Wishing you all the best in 2026!
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