A stunning collection of 50 cross-stitch projects, based on the traditional motifs passed on and adapted by centuries of stitchesFrom elaborate works of art created in Elizabethan drawing rooms to simple alphabets stitched by schoolgirls in colonial America, samplers embody a rich history of creative expression. Inspired by examples from around the world, Brenda Keyes has designed 50 projects featuring popular sampler motifs.Motifs ranging from flowers, trees, and shrubs to people, animals, and buildings, are combined with a variety of borders, alphabets, and fillers in a wonderful array of both decorative and useful items. There are bookmarks and key racks, pillowcases and pincushions, as well as pieces suitable for framing and displaying with pride. A simple alphabet sampler provides the ideal introduction to stitching for beginners of any age; the cushion with two traditional symbols of love, the tulip and the carnation, would be welcomed in any home; and the heart tree birth sampler, easily personalized with the child's name and birth date, is the perfect gift for a new baby.Throughout the book, the step-by-step instructions are accompanied by computer-generated charts for quick and clear reference. Tips on substituting materials or varying techniques to accommodate different levels of skill, as well as suggestions for expanding the basic designs to produce entirely original projects, make this at once a practical how-to guide and an inspiring, indispensable sourcebook.