Red Bull & Odd Bird by Plum Street

I've had this antique reproduced since 2015, but I had always wanted to pair it with some little companion pieces before releasing it. I've finally done just that!

 

What drew me to this sampler was the oversized, unusual bird (I am always drawn to odd birds on samplers!), as well as the little hunter and his English Springer Spaniel (I have two of my own). Ellen must have been a lively little girl, what with her bright color choices and fun motifs. Her sampler was finished in 1852, when she was just 11 years old. You'll notice on the bottom right corner another initial and age, next to some simpler motifs than what are found in the rest of the sampler; the model stitcher (Natalia Canaday) suggested this could have been her little sister's contribution to the piece. I love the thought of that.