lakemichigansamplerguild.org

• Mary Draniczarek -  Membership
• Jane Stevens - Secretary
• Amy Keaton and Susan Balsai - will share Vice Program chair  

At this point, no one has volunteered to do the printed newsletter. If you're interested in this office, please contact Leslie Lewis for more information.

Everyone is encouraged to check out the preview of programs for 2004. There are now pictures available for most of the projects. Remember to renew you membership, so you won't miss out on any of these exciting activities! 

Click on any of the pictures below to see a larger image.

We had a very unusual show and tell: triplets, twins and a single antique. Three stitchers brought in "Joyce Leedes" dated 1675 by the Scarlet Letter, all completed and framed. The stitchers were Woodice Fuller, Katie Simmer and Mary Ann Anderson. Woodice chose to do hers on 48/50 (yes, you read that right 48/50!) Italian linen. Mary Ann and Katie stitched their samplers on 40 count. Although these samplers were stitched on the same material, one was backed with a dark mat and the other with a light color mat. The difference between the apparent color of the two samplers was amazing. There was an incredible variety of motifs on the sampler. The mermaid was definitely a  favorite!

The twin samplers were "Sarah Tuel" dated 1781 stitched by Woodice Fuller and Mary Ann Anderson. The sampler is from the Examplarery and is stitched on 35 count linen.

Details of the verse
and center motif.

Amy Keaton brought the latest acquisition to her collection of antique samplers; a German sampler dated 1786 marked with the initials IEP. The sampler was very long - over 40". Several members examined the sampler closely and were interested in identifying motifs on this sampler that appeared on other samplers they had stitched.

Sue Studebaker, author of the book "Ohio Samplers Schoolgirl Embroideries 1803-1850" was the speaker for our program. The first part of her presentation was on the samplers presented in her book. Then we took a short break and Sue autographed books for the attendees. For the second part of the program, we were treated to an additional hour of pictures of newly discovered samplers not included in her book.  

Sue told us that her husband started her collection by giving her a sampler as a Christmas gift fifteen years ago. This gift was the beginning of a  fascination with local Ohio samplers. Sue focuses on the girl who stitched the sampler, her life, her family and her teacher. We learned many interesting facts including:

• Settlers came to Ohio beginning in 1790. They were German, English, Scottish, Irish and French. Each ethnic group brought their own style of needlework with them.
• The Quakers greatly influenced needlework in Ohio.
• Samplers were wider than they were long after 1830.
• Interest switched away from teaching needlework to academic subjects in the 1840's.

Sue had two slide projectors and, in addition to slides of samplers, she showed us pictures of:

• Buildings found on Ohio samplers along with the matching sampler
• The women and girls who stitched the samplers
• The houses they lived in
• Their graves
• Their teachers
• And even the advertisements the teachers placed in newspapers to attract students!

We spent a very enjoyable afternoon viewing slides of Ohio samplers and learning about the lives of the girls who stitched them. Sue described it best when she explained that "everything girls put on canvas are clues to weave their stories together". Thanks, Sue, for a very memorable program. 

Get busy on your project for the 
holiday ornament exchange!

Hope to see you at our
December holiday party!