Picking colours

White satin lining

Purple tassels

White turk's head knots

Ochre braids

???

OR

White satin lining

Purple tassels

Ochre turk's head knots

White braids

???

OR

White satin lining
Purple tassels
Red turk's head knots
Ochre braids
???

OR

White satin lining
Purple tassels
Red turk's head knots
White braids
???

Notebooks

I have bought myself 5 small notebooks last week. They are the size of a wallet, which means they are very easy to take with me wherever I go.
While working on my thesis, I realized I read way to little. I figured that one reason for me to not just read for fun, and only read things when I really need them for my research, is that I always forget way to much of the interesting facts I came accross. I don't like to use markers or pen in my expensive books, and when dealing with library books you can't even use them, even if you would want to. I also don't like sitting behind the computer while reading, so that you can directly put all the interesting and relevant information in a word.doc immediatly. I have an allergy to seperate pages with reading notes on them too. So that was the point when I decided to buy booklets for this.
Now, having them in use for about one week, I'm totally happy! They allow me to structure my thoughts about specific subjects and costume history in general way better. It's easy to find back quotes I found interesting, and it also serves as a kind of to do list for subjects I want to learn more about.
The only annoying thing that can happen is that you forget where you put your notebook. Was it in my handbag? Did I leave it on the coffee table? Maybe it sits underneath my pillow?

Fabric for pillows

Maria from Albrechts Bösser has been weaving some custom fabric for me, to use for making medieval bed pillows. Yesterday she posted some photo's of the work in progress on facebook. The weave is made from linen yarn with a blue/white checker pattern.

It is based on several late medieval iconographic sources, but the pattern is specificly taken from a 1370-1372 dated fresco from Tirol. Maria had tried to recreate the pattern of the pillow with black chekcs in the above photo, but with blue instead of black yarn.

I decided to have the fabric custom made after a very long search for the perfect type of checked fabric. It seemed impossible to find. There are lots of internet stores selling antique linnen with checked weaves, but the checks are mostly red, of red and blue combined on a white ground, or the pattern of the checks is just not right.

I am very happy with how Maria's work turned out, and am waiting with excitement for the moment I can hold the fabric in my hands and sew it into pillows :-).

Evolution

I was just going trough some old photo's today, as I came accross the ones below. The first one is from 2004, the second from 2006 and the last from 2008. In 2004 I didn't do any embroidery but my textile work was more focussed on dyeing wool. 2006 were my very first steps in embroidery, it was also the year I started this blog. 2008 was a year of progress (notice the embroidery frame, and I also made a complete new set of clothing).

I hope to work on some of the following things this year:

* make samples of different types of embroidery to show the public

* make samples of different types of finger loop braids

* make samples of tassels

* finish a couple more purses for display

* tansfer my yarns to replica thread reels

* I could go on for a couple more hours...



But, as I applied as a freelance craftswoman for Stichting Hei (Historical Educational Initiative) I want to work on the educational aspects of my 'performance'.

New things to read!

Look what arrived in the post yesterday! The new MT&C v. 5! I've been waiting a bit with ordering it, because of the price ticket, but now I got one secondhand from Amazon.co.uk for a bargain :) And it's still in mint condition too.

I'm looking particluarly forward to reading "French Hoods: Development of a Sixteenth-Century Court Fashion" bij Melanie Schuessler and "One Quilt or Two? A Reassessment of the Guicciardini Quilts in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Museo del Bargello" by Sarah Randles. If I only had the French Hood article at my disposal while writing my final thesis... It would have been of great help!

For the full table of contents of this volume, click here.

ALSO: thanks a billion for all your wonderfull reactions on my last post! It has now become the most commented post of this blog! I feel totally honoured and warm inside :)