Donna Kooler's 555 Cross-Stitch Sampler Motifs Hardcover – August 5, 2008

I have been stitching and collecting patterns since 1985 so by this time, there aren't very many hardback books that I will purchase. I either already have it or have something very similar to it. I checked this book out from my local library and was pleasantly surprised to find so much in it that I want to stitch, I was compelled to purchase it.You can count on Donna Kooler to give you a lot for your money, but this book is one of her best. There are nine different topics. With each one, she has created a complete sampler made of motifs and includes several additional pages of extra motifs that follow the same subject. Out of the nine samplers, I plan to stitch three for sure, two probably, and there are lots of motifs from the other topics that I can use.Love Takes Flight is butterflies and flowers with the verse "Give your children two things. One is roots the other is wings".Nature's Wisdom is made up of gorgeous flowers and the additional flower motifs are amazing.Family First offers mini samplers for baby, wedding, home, and family, as well as one for brothers, sisters, dads, moms, & more.A Gal's Best Friends is made up of shoes and purses.South of the Border Fiesta has Mexican and Spanish motifs -- beautiful colors.Simple Blessings is a combination of Quaker motifs and done in a monochrome of red, but could be done in any color.All Creatures Great and Small has cats, dogs, rabbits, fish, hamsters, birds, etc.Home For The Holidays is Christmas, mostly along the Victorian, Santa Claus, home for Christmas line (not religious). Makes you think of gingerbread.Alphabet Garden has flowers, veggies, bunnies, and bee hives. Most of it is what is shown on the front cover. If you like what you see on the cover, you will love what you find on the inside.

Of all the cross-stitch books I own I think this is my favorite "Sampler" book. It is full of brilliant Kooler dsigns and it is pure cross-stitch. The selections include all the Floral and geometric motifs you could hope for. I also enjoyed the Family Celebration choices, laughed at the whimsical Shoe and Hat designs and delighted in the traditional Red Work Sampler focused on Christmas. But, my favorite is the bold, bright and beautiful Fiesta Sampler. I have never seen anything like it before. For animal lover's there is an exciting and funny Pet Sampler and for Christmas a Home for the Holidays piece. As with all Kooler selections there are hundreds of extra motifs to substitute or use alone and the colors are brilliant. Check out the Feather Christmas tree piece. The designs, as always, are uniquely Kooler, and that means original and excellent. Even when these are simple they are great. This is a special book.

Kooler designs are always great. I have several of her books.

I bought this book because of the Nature's Wisdom set of patterns. I stitch note cards and have looked through hundreds of books trying to find patterns of real flowers that will fit on a 5x7 card. I'm into elegant, not cute. The flower patterns in this book are all elegant. One of my best purchases ever.

This is a beautiful book! I love that there are full samplers, yet every part of this book can be used in pieces for smaller or combined projects. I also love that with each section there is a big sampler, and then gives you other smaller projects and motifs that match the "chapter"/section. I'm so excited to get started on this!!!

Great.

In great condition - love the book!

I was very pleased with the service. I got it in about one week. It was well wrapped and in great condition. I am enjoying the book. Donna