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!
