The Project

This a a very well wrapped front and partial back of my Elizabethan Pouch Project. Well wrapped due to weather constraints :)

About a year ago some friends pushed me to do a historically documentable project. After a number of false starts and several rounds of consultation with my friends this is the result. The inspiration is a purse dated 1600 and shown in a magazine published by Lanto Synge as editor. It includes a very detailed photo of the center of the original and a to scale photo - 6"x6" of the purse. Today the purse resides at the Burrell, although I did not know that when we went to visit in 2007.

In January, I finally started a process of working 5-6 days a week on this piece of embroidery. Mornings were reserved for doing "business" and afternoons and evenings for stitching. The back will only be braid since the cost of materials and time is high. It will have twined braided cording around the opening, finger loop braid pattern drawstrings, coiled loops for the pull tabs and the tassel holders, and silk tassels. Thank-you to Jacquie Carey for showing me how.

I learned a lot on this journey. I would do some things differently and will apply that knowledge on future work.

The piece was presented at our medieval organization, the Society for Creative Anachronism, Kingdom of the West March Crown Arts and Sciences display. After the peerage meetings, I was honored to be offered (and accepted) entrance into the Order of the Laurel - the highest arts/sciences honor we have for the organization. The ceremony will be at our Beltane event with celebration to follow.

In the next month or so, I hope to finish the project so I can wear it for the ceremony. I also planned a treat for myself - a class with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn. My brain my have whiplash but it is all fiber and therefore all good.