Quilt Show and Antique Samplers

Today I decided to slip away for some fun at the Lebanon Quilt & Fabric Arts Show.  It's not too far a drive so I hopped in the car and away I went.  I didn't know I was in for a double treat today...more on that in a minute.

The show is held in the old Lebanon post office building which adjoins the Warren County History Center Museum pictured above.  Both are wonderful old historic buildings in downtown Lebanon, Ohio.

Here is one of the prize winning quilts on display that caught my eye.

This one was my favorite.  Love the way those colors sparkle on that black background!

In addition to quilts there are plenty of vendors to tempt you too.  Here's a picture of some of the vendors as seen from the mezzanine inside the museum.  This is where I found the second treat of the day and I'd have to say the best part of the day too!

The History Center Museum houses Sue Studebaker's antique sampler collection.  Sue wrote the book Ohio Is My Dwelling Place and Ohio Samplers: Schoolgirl Embroideries 1803-1850.  (Both books can be found at the Museum's gift shop as well as on Amazon.)

Before her passing, Sue worked with the Warren County Historical Society for several years teaching antique study courses and volunteering as a curator for special exhibitions as well as writing these two wonderful books. 

The museum has some of Sue's samplers on display thanks in part to our guild's philanthropy.  It was so fun to see our guild acknowledged in two different display cases today!  Let's look at some of the samplers closer!

Here's a look at one of the displays.  I love the smalls.  I'll apologise in advance for the glare on some of the photos.  It was hard to get a good picture due to the lighting and I was using my iPhone.  I don't think you'll mind though!

 Here's Lydia (Harvey?).  I love the Berlin work style flowers in this one.

This is Amanda Gregg, 1821 from Springboro, Ohio.  Amanda was just 7 years old when she stitched this one.  You can find her on page 54 in Ohio Is My Dwelling Place.  The book tells us she was the 10th child in the Gregg family who were among the first settlers of Ohio.

Nancy Irwin, 1834.

This sampler is shown on page 90-91 of Ohio Is My Dwelling Place and page 29 of Ohio Samplers: Schoolgirl Embroideries 1803-1850 .  The book tells us she was seventeen when she completed this sampler.

Notice the steamboat on her sampler, the Irwin family arrived in Cincinnati sometime before 1793 and soon made their way to Lemon Township, Butler County.  Records show the family eventually included 14 children.  Love that border and of course, the steamboat!

 

Esther Ann Brown, 1832.
10 years old from Waynesville, Ohio. 

I love that top alphabet!

 Martha Sellers, 1838.
12 years old  Warren County, OH

" Let no fond love of earth exact a sigh

No doubts divert our steady steps aside

Nor let us long to live nor dread to die

Heaven is our hope and providence our guide"

 Margaret C Taylor.

 There was no card for this one and I can't find her in either book.  I love the oversize trees and the basket of flowers.  That ivy vine border is pretty nice too!

 Rachael Rakestraw, 1815

Motto

"Small treasure to a resign'd mind

sufficient  How happy it is to be

content with a little to live in humility

and feel that in us which breaths out

this language  abba __ father"

This one feels Quaker to me for some reason.  I like the verse!

 Sarah Rawlins, 1774

Ten Commandments

"Thou shalt have no more Gods but me

Before no Idol bow thy Knee

Take not the Name of God in vain

Nor dare the Sabbath Day profane

Give both thy Parents Honour due

Take heed that thou no Murder do

Abstain from Words and deeds unclean

Nor steal tho thou art poor and mean

Nor make a wilful Lye nor love it

What is thy Neighbours do not covet"

The exhibit card says this sampler was used as packing in a button box shipment from England.  This is just the best rendition of the Ten Commandments I've ever read!  I would totally stitch this one.

 Sarah Ross, 1806.

The sign says "Sarah Ross was born to Dr. and Mrs. John Ross of Chester County, PA in 1795.  The family moved to Lebanon where she met and married Thomas Corwin.  Sarah was raised a Quaker, but became a Baptist after marriage.  Mrs. Corwin lived the remainder of her life in Lebanon as a dedicated mother and wife, while Thomas Corwin served as the Governor of Ohio, United States Congressman."

Rhonda J Warwick, 1850.

"Twill save us from a thousand snares

To mind religion young

Grace will preserve our following years

And make our virtue strong"

This sampler can be seen on page 260 of Ohio Is My Dwelling Place and you can read about her on page 259.  The book tells us Rhoda Jane Warwick was born on January 21, 1833, and was the daughter of Josiah and Clarissa (Wood) Warwick of Warren County.  The young couple first resided in neighboring Butler County for several years but had moved to Warren County by the time Rhoda worked this sampler.  She was almost eighteen at the time.  This is my absolute favorite of all of them!

I didn't get pictures of all of the samplers, just the ones that caught my eye.  If you find yourself near Lebanon, Ohio, I strongly encourage you to visit the museum and see these beauties in person.**  If you can't get to the museum, see if you can find a copy of either of the fore mentioned books.  They are wonderful!

I am so grateful to Sue Studebaker for preserving these treasures and researching so many of them.  I'm also pleased our guild chose to help support the care of these wonderful samplers and that the Warren County History Center is displaying them for all to see!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing the exhibit with me today.  Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher


**EDITED:  I found out after writing this post that the School Girl Samplers of Warren County Ohio exhibit will be on display through this summer!