Scheduled: Saturday, 8:30am – 12:30pm
Max: 20 students
Min: 10 students
When registering, please indicate in the Customer Note whether you’re attending in person or via Zoom. For Zoom students, kits will be shipped. No pre-stitching required.
This pincushion doll is my tribute to Martha Washington, the very First Lady of the United States, and it has been created to commemorate America 250, the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The unique porcelain half doll has brown hair decorated with pearls trim, faded peach silk fabric bodice and sleeves decorated with cotton ecru trim and ecru laced collar. Arms are jointed just above the elbow, so there is movement in them. The doll is 4¾ in (12 cm) tall and is completely handmade, hand painted with dressed bodice, by Elaine Kevin, artist of Brier Rose, who created this doll as a limited edition for me.
Mounted on a sturdy padded base, the doll skirt is stitched with colorful floral motifs inspired by Martha Washington’s original needle art pieces and the gown she wore for the Inauguration Ball. The first border at the bottom was inspired by the scallop shell shaped motifs Martha stitched for chair bottom cushions. The middle border recalls the ribbon-trellis pattern of the inauguration gown. The upper border with floral motifs takes inspiration by an elegant needlebook and pincushion Martha embroidered in 1777-1778. The copper rose overskirt is gathered with a ribbon over the sides and the back of the embroidered skirt. Specialty stitches included in this design, cross stitch over two, back stitch, Smyrna Stitch over two, Double Herringbone stitch.
Kit includes: Original handmade and hand painted Martha half doll, fully dressed and with the head pearl decors as it appears on the picture, all stitching and finishing materials: hand dyed silk threads from The Thread Gatherer, 35 CT Ecru Italian Linen from Sotema, ribbon, fiberfill, finishing fabrics, backing board base, wooden dowel, and a Styrofoam cone. Stitching and finishing instructions, as well as information about the historical background of the model, are included.
Please bring to class general stitching supplies, plus lighting and extra magnification, if needed.
