Barnaby: my Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

In the autumn of 1984, a small chestnut and white Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppy with enormous feet and an even more enormous capacity for love came into my life. He immediately stole my heart, and frequently stole my stitching supplies. Eventually he learned that he could share my lap with my needlework, and this became his favourite position while I worked. His love and devotion in the form of silky white hairs were woven into every project I stitched since that time. Sadly in 1995 he was diagnosed as having a heart problem and in May of the same year became very ill. A few days later, not far short of his eleventh birthday, his poor heart could no longer cope with the effort of living, and we had to take him to the Vet to be put down.

I am a member of the great international community of stitchers who communicate through rec.crafts.textiles.needlework and to them I reported the loss of my stitching companion. In response, from several American sources, I received the story of the Rainbow Bridge. Basically this story tells that when our pets die they do not go straight to Heaven, but wait at the Rainbow Bridge until our time comes to die; they welcome us there and we cross over the Bridge together.

Barnaby's Rainbow Sampler (link to larger image)

For several years I have designed and stitched a sampler for Needlework magazine's Sulgrave Manor sampler competition and I had planned and designed my 1995 sampler, with its rainbow theme, sometime before losing Barnaby, but did not start stitching it until Christmas time. As it neared completion, it occurred to me that, in view of the above story and my theme, my sampler might be a fitting tribute to my faithful stitching companion. Although he could no longer be stitched into my work, I could stitch his name onto it, so that we might share one last project. So his name was added to my sampler in place of mine.

Barnaby's sampler is stitched on 36 count ivory linen using Mulberry Silks, De Haviland rainbow dyed artificial silk, and Madeira GlissenGloss gold threads and braid. Stitches used in the design include Cross, Smyrna Cross, Diagonal Cross, Satin, Double Running, and Couching.

On the 31st May 1996 , Barnaby's Rainbow Sampler was awarded second prize in the Sulgrave Sampler competition. The award, a hand blown crystal vase, was presented at a ceremony at the Hilton in Milton Keynes. This really means a lot to me, as I received it just a year and a few days after the anniversary of Barnaby's death. In addition to the award, I received a marvellous selection of books, threads, and stitching accessories. All the samplers entered in the competition were on display at Sulgrave Manor during their 'Stars, Stripes and Stitches' event at the end of May, and the prizewinners were featured in the September 1996 issue of Needlework.