Have you ever taken the time to think about how Betsy Ross must have felt while having the honor of making Americas first flag?
This post is in honor of that courageous woman who lost two husbands during the war.
I gathered some of the vintage sewing items that I picked up a couple weeks ago at a yard sale and showcased them under a small cloche. I placed a plump little Uncle Sam made from red and white ticking next to it.
In June 1776, brave Betsy was a widow struggling to run her own upholstery business. Upholsterers in colonial America not only worked on furniture but did all manner of sewing work, which for some included making flags. According to Betsy, General Washington showed her a rough design of the flag that included a six-pointed star. Betsy, a standout with the scissors, demonstrated how to cut a five-pointed star in a single snip. Impressed, the committee entrusted Betsy with making our first flag
Betsy came from a Quaker family and was expelled from the Family Meeting when she married John Ross who was from another religion. She was already acquainted with both George and Martha because they sat in the pew directly across from her and John each Sunday.
On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, seeking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag. "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
I have collected 6 patriotic buttons. The yellow ribbon is one that was given to me when my husband was activated for Desert Storm.
Thanks to talented Betsy we have the five pointed star.
The story of Betsy was not told until 1873 by her grandson. There are those who question as to whether or not she actually made the first flag.
I am a believer and I can’t help but think that a little love went into each and every stitch!
God Bless America!
hugs,
Jann
I will be sharing with these lovely parties:
Thoughts from Alice for Sundays at Home
Lavender Garden Cottage for Cottage Style Party
27 comments
What a darling display you've put together, Jann! Thanks for the folklore behind the creation of the American flag, too. I believe it. :)
Neat post, Jann! When I was a little bitty girl my mom sold Betsy Ross flags in Dallas. I remember riding around in the car with her while she did it. I believe in Betsy too...goodness knows we teach that version of the story in school.
Jann, Right before school was out, my granddaughter portrayed Betsy Ross in a school bit. I asked her if she made me a flag and she laughed. Said she only spoke not sewed. LOL. Love your old machine....wish we still had our products made in America. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
Dear Jann I loved this! God bless America and just all the history and brave men and women!
Hope you are enjoying your summer!
Life does seem to go so fast!
We have a vacation coming up soon.
Blessings to you and yours, Roxy
am a believer and I can’t help but think that a little love went into each and every stitch! I am a believer too and can just picture Betsy lovingly stitching the first flag.
hugs,
Cindy
Loved this post. But, I enjoy them all
This is a great vignette Jann. That sewing machine is beautiful!
Sherry
Jann,
LOVE your display and the sweet little sewing machine!!
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Deb
A beautiful post.
Flag Day is coming up! I enjoyed your post and tribute to Betsy Ross. Your patriotic vignette is sweet.
Oh Jann, thank you so much for this history of Betsy Ross. I did not know this. I firmly believe that she did make the first flag.
Love the patriotic vignette.
Mary
This post captured my attention from beginning to end. I love your cloche, and the entire vignette. I believe in Betsy, too!
Oh I LOVE your display! LOVE Button is needed my friend! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
So interesting Jann! I love the display in the cloche, and your whole vignette. Blessings to you today, Deborah
I do not think they taught us anything about Betsy Ross except that she had sewn the flag.
Loved this post, I always love seeing our flag. It is so beautiful and special when it blows with the breeze. What great things to relearn about our flag. Love the vignette you put together.
Cynthia
Jann, I really love your display. It looks great and certainly captures the history of the moment!
Maybe that's why I choose to only sew on Singer Featherweights. They are rich in history.
Brenda
I think we have the most beautiful flag in the world, Jann. Thanks for sharing Betsy's story, and your lovely display. XX ~ Nancy
Nice post, and I love your photos. Gorgeous!
I Love all the patriotic items, Jann. Very inspiring. I just finished putting out all my red, white and blue goodies :) Have a great day. Stacey
I Love all the patriotic items, Jann. Very inspiring. I just finished putting out all my red, white and blue goodies :) Have a great day. Stacey
What a wonderful post Jann!
I'm very patriotic, and as so I admire that you are too, and it doesn't matter that we are from different nations.
What a great post, Jann! and a lovely way to celebrate the Red, White and Blue:)Loving the cute way you displayed the vintage sewing items under the cloche. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post with us~hugs, Poppy
Jann, you have such an amazing eye for decorating. That cloche with all the vintage sewing supplies is such a sweet and original idea. I bet it won't be too long before someone tries it out in their own home.
Happy Sunday!
Erica
While we'll probably never know the "real" story about Betsy Ross and our flag, the story that we all know is a special one. It's amazing how politics wove into your story in the way that there was still a religious intolerance even after our nation was settling after a break with the Church of England. And, the political button that has the yellow ribbon on it and says something about bringing all of our service people home is definately not the sentiment that some want to hear when talking about bringing home Sgt. Bergdahl. Cheers for the Red, White and Blue!
Love these patriotic vignettes! Thanks for sharing @ TTF!
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