No pictures today. That is your tease of the day. I write this as we just finished a fitting on Cinderella, transforming her to Faith. We got to see how Faith looks when she moved. Faith is not quite finished, she has her wings to apply and the front seams to finish and her gorgeous lace to add.
But it was like Diamonds. She was covered in Diamonds that glittered. You never understand the profusions of spangles until you see them ‘breathe’. It took everyone’s breath away.
There have been many, many times on this project that some ‘book learning’ or image I have seen that has come to life in my hands and then I go “Ah Ha” because I fully understand it. That happened today. While I filmed Faith sparkling in a low light room, I remembered a passage written in the early 1600’s. I couldn’t find it to include in this blog post – I have put it in before. But the observer stated that for the best viewing of embroidery in the light it must be worked in Carnacion silk and spangs – lot of spangs. In fact, he essentially said that all you needed were spangs.
He was right on the money. You see the light colored flowers and the spangs. That is what jumps out at you from afar. We worked the spangles pretty dense on this piece, but not as dense as I have seen before. I always thought covering the whole ground was pretty nasty looking. Not in a low light and breathing! WOW. I might have to try it now.
Tricia
HAH! Didnt your Mother teach you is is NOT NICE to tease people???? I think I could even read a hint of “neener neener neener” in your post…….
I can imagine the twinkle in the dim flickering candle-light….just think of how the spangles on the lace will add to it, when they shimmer and dance with every move. Can I please request, that when you do the unveiling, that you TAKE A VIDEO….just a short 4 or 5 minute thing, to put here on the blog or you tube, for those of us who cant come. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!
xoxoxox rachael
I think the quote you might be looking for is from Francis Bacon in his Essays: Of Masques and Triumphs “The colors that show best by candle-light are white, carnation, and a kind of sea-water-green; and oes, or spangs, as they are of no great cost, so they are of most glory. As for rich embroidery, it is lost and not discerned.” You can find the whole Essay here: http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/bacon/bacon_essays.html#OF MASQUES AND TRIUMPHS
I cannot wait until I get to see the jacket in person — it’s the highlight on my calendar, almost exactly 2 1/2 years since I started stitching on the jacket.
Robbin
Thanks for the tease, Trish. I can’t wait to see it!
You know, it’s just like that with medieval illuminated manuscript pages — the gold catches the candlelight, so the whole page lights up.
Susan, a longtime calligrapher/illuminator in the SCA
I’m reminded of a quote from a novel I read many many years ago, referring to the colorful clothing someone was wearing: “oh my god, he blinded my best horse!” altho in this case it would be a she
. Can’t wait for the reveal!