Saturday, January 31, 2009

A Domestic Art,...

This sampler is very old and yellowed. I don't dare take it out of the frame and wash it as it will most likely disintegrate. It was done by Eliza Ainger at age 13.

Eliza was my great-great-grandmother. It is dated 1830. There are the usual alphabet letters, and numbers. The last full line reads Eliza Ainger, Westport, NY, Age 13 and the final line is only the year,...1830.

The blue lettering was inserted on the photo by me. Eliza was mother to Mary, who was mother to Sylvester, who was mother to Margaret who was mother to me! Can you picture a little girl struggling by kerosene lamp-light over a needle, colored threads and cloth?

17 comments:

NCmountainwoman said...

What a treasure! If you haven't already, you should have it appraised for insurance. While priceless to you, these old samplers are quite valuable. You might want to get an insurance rider on it.

It is so lovely. I would do just as you do...imagine the little girl who did it so very many years ago. How wonderful that you have it.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Cedar, that is fabulous!!! I don't blame you for leaving it in the frame. You don't want to take a chance of it falling apart. It is truly a magnificent treasure. WOW!!!!

Hugs,
Betsy

Phill said...

You (and your family) have so many wonderful saved treasures, such beautiful things. Thanks for sharing them with us - I just love the history you're been showing.

TatteredSpinner said...

Wow! What an awesome family heirloom to have! That is so neat.

corin said...

I hope this is on display in your home. This made me think what photograph or arts and craft project will be cherished of mine some 3 generations from now. It is almost unimagineable. Your posts are very nostalgic.

Anonymous said...

What a link to the past and to your family! Thinking about that is very touching!

Michele said...

Wow... that does look old but really so intriguing!! How special it is to have that. You definitely want to keep that aged appearance, it gives it that character look. A beautiful piece indeed!!

Hugs♥

Unknown said...

What a lovely little piece of family history you have! I don't have anything like that, just some really old pics - what a treasure!

TourPro said...

I wonder if it was something she enjoyed doing? Makes a good story for my kids; playing Wii is not life-essential.

Thanks for sharing!

Cedar ... said...

Thank you for your wonderful comments! yes, it is displayed, it hangs in my livingroom. no, I don't have extra insurance on that or other family things. that is certainly something to consider. good point.

diana said...

Your family stories will mean so much to YOUR great-great-grandchildren. Have you collected them anywhere else? Thank-you for sharing them on your blog!

Shelley said...

How amazing to have this piece of your family's history! I love it! I love to imagine what life was like back in the 1800's. Do you hang this up in your home - or where do you keep this? I would imagine it's very valuable like NC said.

Aleta said...

Oh, Cedar, what a precious heirloom from your family heritage! As a stitcher myself, I am always intrigued by the artwork of people in years gone by. I remember one year during a snowstorm in PA we lost power, but I just HAD to stitch so I did it by candlelight. It made me appreciate what challenges ladies of past days faced in order to create such lovely pieces!

Laurie and Chris said...

I can't imagine how long this must have taken. I wouldn't dare wash it or anything either. I wouldn't want anything to happen to it.

AK Mom said...

How wonderful to have such a special heirloom.
You have a terrific blog and I plan to visit often. :) Thanks so much for visiting mine!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful treasure of heart and history & definitely domestic "art."
Also love your photos up above, the sky ones and more family history.
(found you at Tammie's blog and came by.)

My "art" is not needlepoint. (I wish but it's not my talent.) You're so lucky to have these and know about your ancestors.
-gel

india flint said...

that's exquisite...i laboured over something similar [but not nearly so pretty] during primary school in the sixties...much sweating and toil only to have it devoured by a bushfire 15 years later! i learned from the exercise that unpicking is soul-destroying...so now i just draw madly with thread...