I love George and Martha Washington.
My love for them started last year when I was searching the internet for a new pattern to stitch for my mom for Christmas. I stumbled across Threads of Gold's MA Dutch Sampler (which I ended up stitching for her), and was immediately drawn to the tiny horse-and-rider motif. Suddenly, I found myself on a mad search for samplers with horses and riders, and discovered that most of these samplers were of a Colonial theme.
That's when I realized that I adore little stitched men in blue or red coats. (Especially ones that look like Jason Isaacs in The Patriot.) And so my love for George – and eventually Martha – came to be. The quintessential Colonial couple – and the love they had for each other – are the themes for my newest releases coming out at the online Needlework Show on April 19th.
The year 1759 was when George and Martha married…
Their marriage took place at Martha's estate, The White House in Virginia, and George wore a blue coat and blue buckles on his shoes; Martha wore a yellow dress trimmed with white lace, and purple shoes, which she ordered from London. Here is a picture of the shoes she wore:
I designed her shoes in these samplers as pink, but that's bc I didn't want to add an entire skein of purple to the palette when only 2 stitches would be used. Feel free to use whatever purple you have on hand to stitch her shoes!
The verses on each of these samplers are portions of two different love poems. One of them you may have heard before…
Come live with me and be my love
And we will all the pleasures prove.
The poem, called The Passionate Shepherd to His Love, was written by Christopher Marlowe in the 1590's, and although it has nothing to do with the Washingtons, I thought it was a charming fit for their fondness of each other.
The companion sampler features part of a poem written by Sir Walter Raleigh around 1600, called The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd…
These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee and be they love.
I hope you enjoy my new spring releases. I'd like to thank Nicole Neville for helping me with the model stitching. Without you, I'd still be sitting on my couch trying to get them finished.
Here is Be My Love…
It was stitched on Lakeside's 40 ct. Vintage Pearled Barley using Gentle Art Sampler Threads (in Cherry Bark, Old Brick, Chamomile, Tradewind, Piney Woods, Lambswool, Brethren Blue, Wood Trail, and Oatmeal). The frame is by The Family Tree Frame Company ("The Mae" style). Stitch count: 118w x 115h.
And this is Pretty Pleasures…
This model was also stitched on Lakeside's 40 ct. Vintage Pearled Barley using Gentle Art Sampler Threads (in Wood Trail, Shaker White, Buttermilk, Old Brick, Lambswool, Endive, Cornhusk, Cameo Pink, Mountain Mist, and Oatmeal). The frame is again by The Family Tree Frame Company ("The Michelle" style). Stitch count: 126w x 115h.
If you'd like to purchase either of these during the online Needlework Show, look for them on the Kelmscott Designs page and ask your shopowner to order them for you. And if you do decide to order them, I hope you enjoy stitching them!
19 Comments
♥ marylin ♥
oh beautiful stitching, just lovely
bisous de France
Charlene♥SC
Lovely designs and beautiful stitching (Nicole)!
Margaret
Ok, now I love these samplers even more knowing the story behind them. Wonderful!!! I need to go on a huge PSS shopping spree. 😀
Laurie in Iowa
Thanks for sharing the story of how these designs came to be. Love them both!
PJ
I grew up not far from George and Martha’s Mt. Vernon and visited his birthplace along the Potomac in VA. My husband and I an affinity for the Washington’s and Thomas Jefferson. This will be great to display in February for George’s birthday and Valetine’s. Just lovely. Can’t wait.
Annette Navarro
Lovely designs. And I like the verses. Great job!
Janice
I’m definitely buying both of these!
Rebecca
Love both of your new designs. I adore George and Martha too. I love visiting their house and peaking in the bedroom closet upstairs where Martha slepted after George was gone. I can’t image visiting there when they were actually in residence, wouldn’t that have been fun. Your designs are a perfect rememberance of a wonderful trip to Mt. Vernon, thanks. I will be looking to order these from my LNS.
Natalia Canaday
So cute, Paulette. Mi leve Thec both and I leve Hos you research you designs. It males them all the more special.
Natalia Canaday
Well, my previous comment meant to say: “So cute, Paulette. I love them both and I love how you research all your designs, it makes them all even more special.” I hate autocorrect !!!!!
Le rat des fils
C’est un très beau post !
Tes deux broderies sont superbes et j’aime beaucoup les deux cadres.
Nicole
They’re beautiful, Paulette! Thank you again for the opportunity. I had so much fun stitching it!
Katrina
I just love them both!!!!! Off to order the charts :-).
Linda Huson
These are really sweet! I’m definitely getting the one with the horse! I want to stitch it for my best friend who loves her partner to death – and she has a horse! So does my niece – I see me possibly stitching two of these!!
I live about 40 minutes from Mt. Vernon. The needlework show is going to be in May at Woodlawn (where George’s step-grand-daughter lived). I think you need to come for that – I would love to go with you!
Linda in VA
Melanie
Wow, I love them both. I’m going to stitch them and then hang them above my fire place in the bedroom.
kielrain
Very sweet charts. I love the giant flower George is holding in the first one.
Nicole
I absolutely love these designs!
Lynn Jones
Wonderful designs Paulette! I love them both.
Kate
I’d like to thank you for this beautifil progect? I stitched them both, can you tell me what it mean the bird on his head?