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Couleur Tourterelle - Reproduction samplers by Meriem Chauvet
All the latest news for Couleur Tourterelle Reproduction samplers, as published in Creative Poppy's newsletter.
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Meriem Chauvet - Collector and Needlework designer
Meriem Chauvet, the designer behind Couleur Tourterelle, is an expert stitcher and collector of antique 19th and early 20th century samplers, mostly of French and European origin.
Every sampler tells a story. The designer brings each one back to life, researching every motif, painstakingly reproducing every stitch, even the most faded and frayed, seeking similar materials so you can reproduce it in its full glory. These exceptionally rich reproduction charts make you travel back in time and feel almost inimate with the stitcher of yore. A pure pleasure to cross stitch.
Couleur Tourterelle Reproduction sampler and Original sampler side by side
In search of Lost Time
This sampler was stitched as a keepsake of her stay in the Normandy seaside resort of Cabourg, famously known as the setting of Marcel Proust's literary work "In search of Lost time" including "In the shadow of young girls in Flower". We do not know the young stitcher's age, but she might have come across Marcel who also sojourned as a boy with his parents in the 1880's.
Hortense de Frocourt proudly signs her name on the sampler, repeating her initials in several places. There is great elegance in the way the sampler is composed and the choice of letters and motifs. The little steamboat motif is a reminder of the seaside location.
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"Marquette" and "Marquoir"
For the word "Sampler" in English, the French language distinguishes two types of needleworks. This work (left), about 20 earlier than the one above, is the more simple marquette, probably the first work of a young stitcher, using a single color on rustic linen fabric. Originally marquettes consisted of just letters and numbers stitched for practice. This one however was embellished with three elegant borders and the young stitcher was able to personalize with some motifs of her own.
The reproduction sampler (right) was turned into a tiny pin-cushion by Meriem Chauvet (stitched over 1 thread on finer fabric). The chart however is the exact reproduction of the original.
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More Reproduction samplers by Couleur Tourterelle 
Couleur Tourterelle - Reproduction samplers patterns are now available as instant downloadable patterns, on Creative Poppy's website.
The easy-to-read charts come both as Black & White AND Color charts. They include a digital friendly one page chart ideal for reading on a digital device.
There are more Reproduction samplers by Couleur Tourterelle available on Creative Poppy's website, and many more to be added soon.
>> see all Reproduction samplers by Couleur Tourterelle
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