There was a time when American samplers taught virtue; 'With patience comes wisdom,' or 'Idleness is the devil's workshop.' Then, somewhere along the way, Grandma developed a sense of humor.

This contemporary cross stitch borrows every convention of the early American sampler; the careful lettering, the orderly border, the patient rhythm of thousands of tiny stitches, only to deliver a message that is wonderfully, unapologetically modern. If you've quit smoking, congratulations. If you haven't, kindly take it outside.

That's folk art at its best.

It honors tradition without becoming trapped by it. The border of coughing, sputtering cigarettes and tiny smoking pipes feels as though it belongs in a country kitchen, while the punchline belongs somewhere between a family gathering and a well-earned eye roll.

Beautifully framed and stitched with remarkable care, it's the sort of piece that makes visitors smile, laugh, and instinctively check their pocket for a lighter.

10.5 in. W x 1 in. D x 10.5 in. H