Mamie Munro’s Stitching Journey is a project created by Gina Kurtzeborn. The projects mission is to encourage more people to stitch, so that the historical art does not become lost. With Samplers we honor the little girls who stitched these Samplers, and to carry on there names so they will not be not forgotten.
Samplers are most frequently associated as female education and needlework artistry. Some of the earliest samplers were created in Europe in the 1500’s during the colonial period and started as repositories for future pattern usage by mature women. Roughly two hundred years later, these samplers became an important part in a young girls female education curriculum
Many of the samplers are stitched by girls as young as 6 and date back to the early 1700’s. These were educational tools that focused on developing a young girl’s stitchery skills for both practical and ornamental purposes. Most girls’ education began with simple samplers consisting of cross stitched alphabets, numerals and at times simple geometric motifs.
Owner & Founder
Gina Kurtzeborn is a retired Catastrophic Nurse Field Case Manager. Gina is a historical buff whom collects antiques, including needlework and samplers. Her Scottish heritage always has with some type of needle in her hands; such as Knitting, Weaving, Sewing, Stitching.
Although we’re Mamie Munros’ in homage to my great Aunt, it’s symbolic in nature. MMSJ is to honor all of the ladies who came before us, their education and the historical significance of the first female educational tools.
Mamie Mary Munro
Mamie Mary Munro is Gina’s great aunt on the maternal side of her family. She was born in 1883 to William and Anna Munro and had three siblings, William, Harold and James. At an early age Mamie moved to Oregon and then Canada. So the family has no records or needlework that Mamie specifically stitched. However, the women in Gina’s family for generations have been involved in some type of fiber arts.
As such, to pay homage to the late Mamie Munro, the project is named after her and to honor the ladies who came before us while paying them respect.