Merry Christmas!

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Margaret Morley

Margaret was added to my collection not to long after my purchase of Susanah Rayment.

The flowers are what intrigued me. I think they are beautiful and very unique. When she arrived the first thing I did was remove her from the wooden frame she was attached to on the back.

The original had quite a bit of damage in regards to holes and tears but when turned over the vibrancy of the colors I found amazing.

I am pretty confident I have found a young lady in Whitby UK who I believe may have stitched this sampler.

Based on what I can find in my research efforts Margaret was born September 22nd, 1828 to Mary Ferguson and William Morley who were married on November 21st, 1825. William's profession was listed as a Sailor and passed away in 1833 when Margaret was five years old.

Margaret grew up in Whitby, Yorkshire, England a town along the coast and was a known seafarer's town. When Magaret first appears on the census in 1841 she was approximately 11/12 years old. The household members listed were Mary and Margaret and they were living on Church Street in Whitby. Based on the ages provided Mary was an older mother, there is no mention of any siblings at home at the time. Mary's profession in 1841 was listed as a Dreft Maker. During the 1851 Census Margaraet is still living with her mother at the approximate age of 22 and they are still residing in Whitby. Margaret is now a Dreft Maker like Mary was during the 1841 Census. At this point Mary is no longer a Dreft Maker but is now a Family Servant. Unlike the 1841 Census, which did not list marital status for Mary the 1851 Census includes this information and Mary's status is documented as a Widow. By this time Margaret and Mary are now residing at the Seamen's Hospital. The Seamen's Hospital is a home for former seamen and their families to live in.

Margaret is stitched on

Lakeside Linen 36 count Maritime White

Needlepoint Silks

Framing by Total Framing, Fairfax, VA

Susanah Rayment - Learning 1818

I purchased Susanah Rayment about two years ago to add to my collection. What I found so charming about the sampler is how she was forced to squeeze the "G" in Learning in as well as the "er" in Sampler. It reminded me of when I first learned to write and always running out

of room on the line because I hadn't planned ahead.

Plus what geese don't need a pair of boots?

And what woman doesn't need to be reminded that vanity may not be a good thing.

Unfortunately, due to the number of Susanah Rayment's that come up when I have tried to search for her I can't say for certainty which one may be her. My quest continues though.

The reproduction is stitched with Gloriana Silk Threads

on Lakeside Linen - 32 count Buttercream

Framing by Total Framing in Fairfax, Virginia

A new beginning

I am finally ready to launch my antique sampler reproduction adventure.  Those of you that know me are already aware my true passion is antique samplers. I am enthralled by the story each design shares with us left on linen with thread many years ago. It amazes me that many of these samplers are stitched by young ladies in most cases under the age of 12. What I also find fascinating are the verses many of them selected to stitch.