Before the days of television, video games, and the internet, life was far simpler, following the changing rhythms of the seasons, birth and nature. This sampler is a nostalgic look at that time, with alphabet-mountains overlooking an idyllic valley where the shepherd, his wife and family live in their Swiss chalet, grow their vegetables in a band-sampler garden, watch their animals graze in a flower-strewn meadow while the turtle doves fly around the dovecote.

Work it in one colour, or pick out a few motifs to work in a different colour. This sampler is worked in cross stitch only, with a tiny bit of backstitch, so is suitable for working on linen, eaveweave or Aida fabric.