Running Fast Again

Here is the pic from the Art Guild newsletter. Guess I need to remake W's and my chains as they look a bit worn :)

Last weekend was all about metal. Went to W's Mom's in Paso Robles to teach at her Art Guild. She had seen some of my Viking Chain Weaving and had gotten all excited. Most of the ladies in the group are jewelers to some degree. We had 13 for the workshop. Some got it fast and some slower. We did a bracelet in single and some did a double. Those on the really fast track tried the wired bead. My MIL brought in her glass bead "rejects" for accent beads and wiring.

This week is all about fiber. Set up the EGA booth at Stitches West and worked the booth last night. Sigh - also shopped - all the fibers yummy!!!!!!! Will work the booth on Sunday too. Meanwhile wove a narrow (1") braid to hang my name tag for the EGA National Board meeting next weekend. My chapter did a program on Sashiko embroidery. There is preprinted Sashiko so picked some up on my way to the booth yesterday so I have something mindless to work on during the 4 days of meetings.

Meanwhile I want to try my hand at knitting a hat. I've done slippers, scarves, and in the round so... Can't wait to start. Need to finish my service needlework first :(

Medieval Garden

The Met has a blog about Medieval Gardens. Entries include information on plants, what they were used for or represented, the medieval calendar of planting, etc.

http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/

Many of the entries have pics of the plants displayed in Books of Hours, tapestries and embroideries, as well as the physical plants themselves. Plan to spend some time browsing.

Books I Like and Use - Introduction to a New Series of Columns

Some people, like SharonB, have great bounds of energy and post fabulous stuff. They also do great needlework. I am finding that with so much of my energy going to administration, I stitch a lot less. I still do crafts and some embroidery, but less. Hence I have less to blog about. I have decided that I can still offer items of interest to the needlework world by doing a series of columns on books. These will be interspersed with my more limited blogging about crafts, ega, etc.

I think one of the the key things any embroiderer, historic or otherwise focused, needs is a good library. It need not be deep, but it needs some key ingredients. This series will try to focus on books that I like and use. Hopefully this will spur some of you to increase your library and/or help you spend your money wisely.

I will try to comment on and provide the following:
-Full name and source information on book
-Summary of book content
-How and when I use the book
-What level of ability will get the most use out of the book

This in now way is designed to replace the West Kingdom Needleworkers Annotated Booklist which can be found here . The annotated list is over 200 books and is designed as a quick reference.

With that introduction, I would like to start with a book that is so useful to me as a historical embroiderer that it sits beside my desk.
A Pictorial History of Embroidery
Schuette, Marie and Müller-Christensen, Sigrid
Frederick A. Praeger, New York, 1964
Over the years it has been reprinted with several different titles and in several different languages. It is currently available for around $200 for the Thames Hudson/Art of Embroidery version. This is the lowest I have seen it in some time.

It is divided into 3 sections. The first is techniques and materials. The second is a history of European needlework from early middle ages through the early 20th C. The third section is a catalog with around 500 pictures, mostly black and white, and details about each piece. The descriptions are not exhaustive, but do provide lots of insight into the construction of each piece. It is one of those books that you read parts of again and again. The pictures reveal more and more with each viewing. The more I learn, the more I return to this book for further insight.

It is not a book for the beginning embroiderer nor for the someone who is not willing to do indepth research. This book is a beginning, a middle, but not the end for research into historical embroidery.

Museum Time

While I might want 25 hours in a day, I'm not sure I have the energy for such. We have been trying to get to all the museum happenings before they move on.

Asian Art - Treasures of Afghanistan -- one forgets just how much of a cross road it was during Greek and Roman times. The exhibit wasn't large, but it was exquisite. The glittery bits were fascinating. 4 groups were laid out in the way they were found in the tombs. As many of the smaller pieces were sewn onto the garb, this gave a sense of how the glitz was distributed over the clothing and person during life. The gold was very fine/thinly pounded out and made into fine beads. Hint: the "Tudor" rose is hundreds of years older than we think of it.

San Jose Tech Museum - DaVinci Exhibit
The first part was mechanisms from engineers that predated DaVinci or ones that he studied. Most had to do with lifting items or moving water. DaVinci's models were more studies of how things worked -- for example the use of ball bearing. The models were done in wood with appropriate metal bits and then in all metal. They were in no way to scale. Many Will recognized and could say "they use that on..." a cross bow for example. The last section was more about DaVinci and how he "saw" his world. Since we really forget that when we re-enact that we are doing it with modern perceptions, this was, for me, the best part.

Getty - Tres Riches Book of Hours
O-M-G --- repeat ad infinitum! Nothing we do today comes close! The key is knowing when to layer the pigments and metals as well as the shear volume of bits. We don't really understand their world and how to portray it. They, on the other hand, were incredible innovators. Came out with brain full and eyes fuzzy. Got the DVD, but the magnification is not what I would have liked (sigh).

Quick weekend update - oh the food!

Tue was my EGA chapter meeting. I gave a presentation on the Region seminar experience and my 10 day in Louisville (Headquarters, Board meeting, International Embroidery Conference and National Seminar). This will be my traveling show when I visit other chapters in the Region as Region Director. Then came my first installation where I presided over the installation of new officers. As always it is the holiday potluck as well. HMMMM good! My contribution was a plum cake (civil war fruit cake with raisins, currents, molasses and brandy).

Raced home via the supermarket to beat the inlaw arrival. W's father and wife from LA. Off to Cafe Gibraltar - our favorite local restaurant. Wallu in coconut jalapeno sauce. Chestnut Squash soup (vegan). Petrale Sole over potato dumplings in wine caper sauce. No I didn't have any dessert.

Wed was a lazy day. Boys went hiking with younger brother. Vicki knitted. I made a silver double weave viking chain about 3" long in silver. Added end bits and a blue with metallic bead and into a circle form. It will be come a pin. I am teaching in February for my mother in laws local art group. They do a lot of jewelry, bead and other glass work so the viking weaving is a natural for them. Wednesday dinner was sushi since crab is no longer an option for me.

Thursday up early for the parade. Made Eggs Benedict for breakfast. Then turkey dinner for 6 - rolls, fruit salad, crudite, creamed onions, mashed potatoes, stuffing (in and out of bird), brussel sprouts, gravy, and turkey. Orange and whole berry cranberry courtesy of W's dad. Appetizers - eggplant and tomato tapenades courtesy of W's brother and wife. THEN our neighbors came over for dessert which they brought - carrot cake from Humble Texas, pumpkin spice cookies from Draegers, and cranberry bliss bars from Starbucks (yes I keep the left over bars).

For the dinner I used a mix of plates, silverware, serving dishes, and glasses. The table cloth was the traditional one from the '60's. There were items from great-aunts/uncles, grandparents - both sides, my mother, my aunt, and Will. Since the last of my close family passed away 8 years ago - it was time to do a bit of integration and celebration.

Friday - saw the inlaws off and then off to the Gem and Jewelry Show. W bought me some beautiful earrings. Don't know where I will wear them, but (sigh) the man has good taste. Managed to find all the bits I needed for projects. Hooked up with Aurelia for the show. Dinner post with her and husband at Chevy's. Needed the margarita (top shelf) by then.

Saturday - off to Brion and Ysa's for "fighter practice" and socializing. It turned into a lazy day since no one showed to fight. Ysa made a lovely dinner from left overs. Boy can that woman cook! We brought cheese and home made almond short bread. Will finally got his pumpkin pie fix.

Saturday evening W's pager went off and all day Sunday was spent working (poor guy). But that is why we stayed "home" for the holidays - just in case. Made matzah meal pancakes for breakfast. Dinner was Turkey dinner redo.

Stuffed!!! Now back to the diet.