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!

What a weekend...

I want to start this post today by saying my heart goes out to all those effected by the tornadoes and storms Friday night.  I am just amazed by the power of the wind.  I just can't imagine how scared those folks where.  Luckily we escaped it but I can't stop thinking about those who were not so lucky.  In fact, it breaks my heart.

Needless to say since the weather turned scary I did not make it to the stitch-in as planned.  I stayed home with the pup.  I was glued to the TV with a bag packed in case we needed to seek shelter in the neighbor's basement.

Our house only has a crawl space and I DO NOT DO SPIDERS!!!!  So even in an emergency you will not get me down there.  I'd go to the hallway bath tub if I couldn't make it next door.  Thankfully we didn't need to go anywhere.  Whew!

***

Inside the museum

Saturday I did go to the Lebanon Quilt Show after my annual mammo-smoosh.  I figured I'd treat myself to an outing of fun after getting the "have to" event of the day out of the way.  It really wasn't that bad.  Thank goodness for digital technology!

Tulip kit quilt

So anyway, back to the quilt show.  I got there fairly early and the place was already packed with happy quilters and I even saw a few supportive dudes trailing behind their ladies.  I love that!  Yes, if mine hadn't been working he'd have gone with me.  He's supportive like that too.  His buddies have a field day with it though.  LOL!

Pomegranate and Rose Quilt c. 1850-60

I took a few pictures of my favorite quilts and of course there was new stash to be had!  I bought a couple fat quarters, some mini buttons, a bodkin, and some John James needles.

New Stash!

I also found a vendor that sold individual collectible buttons!  I decided I couldn't show up to our button book class with Sherri Jones on Sunday without a few buttons. It would be like showing up to a cookie exchange with store bought Fig Newtons or Oreos. Not the same! So I can now feel like I have something to show.

This vendor said she goes to button auctions and buys bagged lots.  She said once she gets them home she separates them out by kind.  She and her husband are retirees and they do shows for fun.  Love that!

We had a super nice visit and I promised I'd come see them at a local antiques fair this summer.  I hope to bring my button brag book with me to show them.  I think they were getting a kick out of me being so excited over their buttons.

Kind of craptastic picture of the glass ones I bought.

***

Speaking of, I'm really looking forward to my weekend with Sherri.  I just know Jenny and I are going to have a ball.  It will be good to get away to spend time with other stitchers and one of my best peeps!

Of course she and I will have tales to tell when we get back.  You can count on pictures and most likely a blog post from both of us.  I bet Jenny will even finish her piece.  She's a diligent focused stitcher like that.  Me, well who knows!

***

I hope everyone's week is off to a roaring start.  I have a finish to show you but I'll save it for another post.  Yep, pick yourselves up off the floor.  I really did stitch something from start to finish this weekend.  I know, shock of the world isn't it?!  LOL!  Thanks for stopping by today.


More later,

The Inspired Stitcher

Lebanon Quilt & Fabric Arts Show

If you are anywhere near Lebanon, Ohio, this coming weekend (March 2nd thru 4th) you'll want to visit the 29th annual The Lebanon Quilt & Fabric Arts Show hosted by the Warren County Historical Society. It's a pretty good show and the museum where it's held has some really nice exhibits.

Of particular interest to stitchers this year is the showing of a unique collection of nine rare Warren County schoolgirl needlework samplers! I can't wait to check them out. I hope they allow pictures!

Also, if you are a button collector or lover, there's usually a vendor from Texas there that makes button jewelry. I love this vendor and their work is awesome. I happen to own several of their bracelets and plan to buy another one if I make it to the show. I can't resist them!

So there you are, something to do if you are in the area.  Maybe I'll see you there!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher