Comments for The Embroiderer's Story

Comment on The Fells Fonts by elisabeth in CT

elisabeth in CT — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:26:47 +0000

Thank you Tricia! That answers my question from the other day. What a wonderful link; and I love the little flower bands and motifs as well – what a great design resource! It is obvious that you have put an amazing amount of time and meticulous work into this course. Is the group link coming soon? I have some book titles and links that other participants might find interesting if they want to do some period background research and reading during the design phase.

Comment on P&S Engraving by Helen

Helen — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:52:19 +0000

Hi Trish
Thank you so much for the amazingly detailed first month’s section of the cabinets.
I am so glad that this is currently only reading and thinking as my partner and I are travelling in Western Europe. I tried the fortuny museum in Venice but no – one understood what I was talking about!! Hopefully the V&A will be better and the Cluny Museum in Paris might have some inspiration. And of course the visit to Bayeaux might also stir the inspiration.
I have been thinking and talking about this project and have decided to dedicate to my mother who died giving birth to me 63 years ago. This might mean that somewhere I hide a photo of her or that I include her ame or?? As her maiden name means “hare ” I thought I could also include a version of Jacobean embroidery with a hare. That is as far as my thinking has got me so far.
Having read your blog particularly the parts about the problems you experienced with schools, as a reWired teacher who specialized in teaching students with all sorts of problems, mainly behavioural, I prided myself on building relationships with student and family. How often the parents’ reluctance to come to meetings at school because they personally had such bad memories of their own schooldays became a real feature of my struggle to change negativity and to improve self esteem.
Therefore I weep to hear of your family’s experiences, we know so much about multiple intelligences and different learning styles today that no student should ever feel disadvantaged.
And how wonderful that you overcame so well the bias and prejudice.

Thank you so much for all the great embroidery, although I havn.’t actually put in a single stitch on my night cap because so many things went wrong with transferring design and framing. However I did try some needle lace on my badly transferred piece so will be ready to start stitching when we get back to Perth.

Are we going to need frames for the embroidery with the casket? I want to be well prepared this time.

Thanks for everything you are doing to make embroidery and textiles an honoured and valued skill.
Helen in Perth

Comment on Branding the Cabinet of Curiosities by kbsalazar

kbsalazar — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:24:08 +0000

I stumbled across this today while perusing the V&A on line, and thought of you:

http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121697/print-patterns-for-bookbinding-stamps/

It’s a page from a 1697 book, showing designs for bookbinding stamps.

Following your progress with avid interest, -K.

Comment on Branding the Cabinet of Curiosities by elisabeth in CT

elisabeth in CT — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:10:11 +0000

yep…these (rejected) fonts are way too modern for the project. I am assuming the chosen one is the header from the lessons? I like it pretty well, and I’m guessing the plaque shape is the one for the hardware base panels. Whereever did that font come from? The shapes in the lesson header are all very 17th century – good show.

Comment on Branding the Cabinet of Curiosities by Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:49:29 +0000

I can see how these would all spring to mind, but I can also see why you would feel they don’t work. Now I’m looking forward to seeing what did, and how you extend it for the stamps!

Comment on P&S Engraving by elisabeth in CT

elisabeth in CT — Sun, 20 May 2012 02:22:47 +0000

I feel ‘branding’ the course in no way diminishes the caskets we make, but actually creates something of an ‘added value’ in times to come. Like the Judith Hale samplers, or Ackworth School pieces, the 21st century Curiosity Caskets will be unmistakably connected to a specific time and situation. No matter how different the surface designs may appear, there will be a set of unifying elements binding them all together. Long after we are gone and even our descendents and heirs might disconnect us from one another – the caskets themselves will still tell an embroiderer’s story. Like little Hannah Smith’s note – the imprints and signs will ‘sartisfi’ the curiosity of those who take notice. BTW, I love that word, I have not decided whether it means certify or satisfy, or perhaps both at once. It is a great term, and needs to be readmitted to the language!

Comment on P&S Engraving by Thomasina

Thomasina — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:22:32 +0000

Funny how you mention “branding the course”. I just got done with branding our cows. (We freeze brand them. Much more humane these days then the hot pokers.) Anyway…we had to come up with a brand to put on our cows. I guess this is kinda the same idea of coming up with a brand for the course.

Thomasina

Comment on Experiments in Stamping by Victoria Laine

Victoria Laine — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:24:46 +0000

I am amazed and delighted by the level of investigative work that you are doing for the new casket. I have been wondering if the lucky participants in this class will have to construct the wooden casket themselves from pieces provided, or do they just get the wondrous pleasure of decorating it?

Comment on Experiments in Stamping by Penelope

Penelope — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:23:14 +0000

The stamp looks lovely and all we can see is a picture, I am quite jealous

Comment on Experiments in Stamping by Carla Bowlin

Carla Bowlin — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:12:57 +0000

Could the caskets have originally been stamped, perhaps, by child apprentices, learning their trade? It could account for the sloppiness. They would have been put to work on items of less importance- the work of another child rather than an adult’s precious volume.