The large, pictorial samplers of western Pennsylvania, made into the 1840s, have been well documented by scholars and curators for decades. These samplers often feature house and lawn scenes with whimsical flower baskets and colorful birds in trees, surrounded by borders of brightly colored flower blossoms. In 1849, Margaret Stonesipher, working in this specific samplermaking tradition, created this outstanding sampler with its strong color, pleasing subject and generous proportions. The house is shown in three-quarter view and the lawn is particularly interesting with its layered ripples in shades of green. Eight lines of verse concerning friendship were worked in deep blue and are featured within this airy composition.

Allegheny County, in far western Pennsylvania, was home to the Stonesipher family after their emigration from Germany and initial residence in Maryland. Margaret was the daughter of John and Rachel (Shaffer) Stonesipher and was born in 1823. This sampler was made when she was 26, the year prior to her marriage to a well-to-do farmer, Philip McCandless. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania , published in 1889, includes biographical information about both John Stonesipher and Philip McCandless. A 147 acre farm was purchased by John Stonesipher in North Fayette Township shortly after he came to the western part of the state and this was where Margaret was raised. Philip McCandless, of Scotch ancestry, settled on a large tract of the family land where he and Margaret raised five children. Margaret died in 1890.

The sampler was worked in merino wool and silk on linen and is in very good condition, with minor weakness to the linen. It has been conservation mounted and is in a beveled bird's eye maple frame.