Emily’s sampler is offered to you in two different formats ~ as a printed booklet and as an instant PDF download. Details of the PDF download can be found HERE.

Emily Ann Greenaway is a truly beautiful sampler with a decorative multi-coloured border which encloses some very sweet animals and motifs. The colour palette has been taken from the front of the sampler as these have mellowed into lovely soft colours. The eye is drawn to the colourful basket of fruit in the centre, and it is here that Emily dates her sampler to 1884. On either side are a deer and an extremely cute, realistic little rabbit. The sampler is worked in cross stitch over two threads and is a delight to stitch.

Emily places her sampler in Sibertswold, which is a village situated about 6 miles from the port city of Dover, Kent. Emily Ann Greenaway was born on the 16th of October 1864 in Sibertswold, Kent. This makes her around 20 years old when she stitched her sampler in 1884. The majority of samplers were stitched by younger girls, so it is interesting that she was older. Emily had a very long life. She died on the 22nd of February 1958 at the grand old age of 95 years in Chatham and is also buried at Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent. She would have witnessed many changes in her life and would have had to adapt. I have a feeling that she was a strong and kind woman, with a sense of duty and care towards her family, providing a loving home when one was needed.

I hope you will enjoy reading about Emily’s life in the booklet and will enjoy stitching her sampler ~ Susan

With grateful thanks to Susan Hyde who lovingly stitched the model for Emily, researched her life, and wrote her story. At the very core of Hands Across the Sea Samplers there is a team of needleworkers who are passionate about antique samplers and being able to share those samplers with you.