Size: 6-3/4" tall, 6-1/2" at the base, 4-1/2" at the top, and is about 1" thick when laying on a table

Price: $350.00 SOLD OUT

Description:
This needlework accessories case is adapted from the Leverett cabinet housed in the Peabody Essex Museum collection. Inspired by the classic lines of the cabinet, the case is flat and is shaped like the front projection of a cabinet. The accessories case measures 6 3/4" tall, 6 1/2" at the base, 4 1/2" at the top, and is about 1" thick when laying on a table. The two "doors" of the accessories case feature a reclining lion and leopard respectively upon a classic 17th century scene inspired by the original cabinet. The "top" of the accessories case features an adaptation of the very unusual grotto and ship scene that characterizes the Leverett cabinet. This scene is flanked above and below by wonderful satin laid work woven with berries and flowers as seen on the original.

Open the two fabric hinged "doors" and the "top" to discover the inside of the accessories case. Your first sight behind the doors is the fanciful "drawers" of the casket that are worked in woven satin work with flowers and berries. The nine "drawers" actually act as tiny pockets for laser-cut cardboard threadwinders made especially for this project and included in the kit. The lining of the doors contain a silk pocket and surprise each! A set of square accessories featuring a tulip and rose from the original casket. The pieces are made up as a flat needlecase and pinpad. Hidden behind the "top" is a large silk pocket that can contain your scissors and is also sized to hold the Tiny Scissors Gauntlet, if you choose to purchase the kit as well.

This kit has been specifically designed to appeal to the intermediate and advanced embroiderer at the same time. The majority of the embroidery is worked in tent stitch on 36-count linen using twenty-four colors of Au Ver a Soie Soie d'Alger thread. For the advanced stitcher who is looking to try new techniques, the kit includes a set of 32-count fabric upon which they may decide to stitch the lion and leopard as slips to be attached to the front of the doors and lightly stuffed. The intermediate stitcher can choose to work these pieces on the 36 ct fabric as shown on the door charts and forgo any appliqu?and stuffing work. Additional silk wrapped and couched wire details are left to the embroiderer to decide if they are interested in trying this new technique to enhance certain detailing on the case, as was done on the original cabinet. In this way, each embroiderer can learn the techniques but have their own choices to personalize the case to their own skill level and interest.

The other major technique that is taught is the laid and woven satin work, which was a popular style on many English caskets. Unlike the original, the laid work will be set up on a counted ground to help the student focus on the weaving of the patterns in the satin stitch areas. Personalization of your initials and date will be available on one of the "drawers" on the inside of the case using the woven satin work.

Additional detailing includes the reproduction metal ribbon that replicates the gold wire and plate ribbons which edge English caskets. Over four yards of reproduction ribbon will be couched to the different pieces of the accessories case to give an authentic look! And what is a 'casket' without its hardware? Thistle Threads has had special dies fabricated to cut antiqued metalized leather in the shape of the hinges and locks. The "drawers" inside the case are accented with couched gold purl handles to give the look of the original. Each kit will include all the "hardware" needed for couching onto the finished piece to give it a special look.

While the accessories case is a wonderful and exciting shape, much thought has gone into making the finishing as painless as possible. To ensure that everyone's product is the same, a die has been fabricated for the actual casket shape so that each kit will include the cardboard, skirtex, and batt pieces necessary cut to the final shape needed. A lovely carnation pink silk has been used for the finishing and will be included in the kit. During the finishing and embroidery of the piece, step-by-step digital photographs have been taken and will be included on the class CD-ROM that is in every kit along with commentary to help the student finish the piece with ease. Over 50 photographs are included on this CD-ROM.

A portion of each kits proceeds goes to the Peabody Essex Museum.

Kit Contents:
32 ct and 36 ct linen, 24 colors of Au Ver a Soie Soie d’Alger, purl pearl gold threads in two sizes, felt, pink finishing silk, reproduction gold ribbon tape, wire, threadwinders, die cut antiqued metalized leather, die cut cardboard, skirtex, and batt as well as a detailed instruction book and CD Rom with embroidery and finishing in progress.