William,
Your grandmother was probably working on some kind of needlework, although
not a sampler, as I understand it, which was normally a piece done by young
girls to demonstrate their adeptness at needlework -- often it would include
the alphabet and a homily of some kind or a biblical verse. The 'signature'
and date of the girl would also be stitched into the piece.
You have a very good memory to recall something so vividly from the age of
two! ;-)
Regards,
Julie Preston
juliefpreston(a)sbcglobal.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "William Williams" <wi11iam4.t(a)tesco.net>
To: "Julie Preston" <juliefpreston(a)sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 7:34 PM
Subject: Re: [WLS-MGY] samplers
I think that my late grandmother must have been working on a sampler
or
something similar a few weeks before she died. I can remember going to
see
her (must have been in hospital) and she had something on her bed,
in
colours of green and pink. Mind you, this was in 1940 and I was only just
turned two. But the memory is so vivid.
William, Liverpool
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie Preston" <juliefpreston(a)sbcglobal.net>
To: <WLS-MONTGOMERYSHIRE-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 12:21 AM
Subject: Re: [WLS-MGY] samplers
>
> Lizzie,
>
> What wonderful treasures!!! How I wish I had something like those
samplers
> from my great-grandmothers (actually, I'd be happy if I had *anything*
from
> them)!
>
> Thanks for sharing the details you found during your
restoration/cleaning --
> it may provoke someone else with similar samplers to view them in a new
> light and look beyond the obvious.
>
> Regards,
>
> Julie Preston
> juliefpreston(a)sbcglobal.net
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "aspenlea" <aspenlea(a)uq.net.au>
> To: <WLS-MONTGOMERYSHIRE-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 6:57 PM
> Subject: [WLS-MGY] samplers
>
>
> > I have two family samplers, one done by my great great grandmother in
1817
> > and the other by her sister in 1834. They are silks embroidered on a
fine
> > wool backing.
> >
> > When I cleaned and remounted them what struck me was just how bright
the
> > colours were on the reverse; beautiful blues, reds and
greens. Most
> people
> > probably have the impression that samplers were sewn in very dull
colours,
> > but that's because the majority they see are old and faded. However,
when
> > they were first sewn the samplers must have been beautiful bright
lively
> > pieces of needlework.
> >
> > An exciting find when restoring one of the samplers was the discovery
that
> > it had been backed on an original Wm Polson's Cornflower advertisement
> (yes,
> > we had grocers/bakers in the family)! It was in pristine condition
and
as
> > bright as the day it was first printed because it had been protected
from
> > the light. You just never know what's behind old pictures!
> >
> > Lizzie
> > Brisbane, Australia
> >
>
>