No University for me this weekend. I'm off to Mel's bridal shower of great pinkness instead. Sorry to miss seeing folks there, but I'm sure you'll all have a great time. I've passed some pictures and class notes to Branwen so she can carry the Plimoth project presentation without my presence.

Despite the doctor visit on Friday and feeling much less coughy and hacky, I'm still not 100%. I took Monday off to rest up, and was forced to take Wednesday off due to a spasming back and a visit to the chiropractor and some quality time on muscle relaxers. Today was spent in meetings, made possible by a thermacare lower back heat wrap to control the pain. I skipped the lure of a fabulous dinner with wonderful company downtown in lieu of some fleece, a nap and some cereal. Sorry to miss dinner out folks.

A random thanks to lisettelaroux  for the IKEA DVD box idea, I did rethink the problem, and found out that some of the IKEA DVD boxes do in fact work for our basement DVD storage problem, without the lids. And luckily since it is a piece of IKEA furniture, I could try out the boxes in the lack bookshelf and ensure they fit before purchase. Hooray. So, on Tuesday I swung by IKEA on the way home from work, and we now have 6 red DVD storage boxes to help expand the DVD storage in the basement that keenly go with the red couch. 

See, I did something useful this week. 
I also went by JoAnn's to pick up size 3 dpn's to get started on the stockings for Plimoth, since some yarn came for me in the mail. I hope the heel is as easy as it looks, and that second sock syndrome doesn't hit me too hard.

June 2007	October 2007	January 2008

Progress is very evident, but also shows how much this project is like the tortoise instead of the hare. They still have 4.5 motifs to map out, much less embroider, as well as the bugs and birds. And then there will be the gold vine, calyxes on some flowers, and the spangle attachments. There is still time to be a part of the project, in case you were wondering, although the further along they get, the more select they will be on who does what task.

I'll do a more detailed write up of the embroidery session soon, but the brain is still whirling with little details of the MFA visit. 

 

Back from Plimoth, had a ton of fun, but very tired. Sadly stitching was canceled today due to the snow storm up there, so we didn't get to finish our last little bits on some motifs. We did get to play in the snow a tad though while shoveling off the car.

I've added 45 more pictures to my Plimoth jacket project set on Flickr. I have over 400 pictures from the MFA, and our visit to see some textiles up close, but can't load them all obviously. We had an awesome time, and apparently my brain is kaput since I'm babbling so it is off to bed for me. 

I'm only updating since cathgracetold me too... :)

 EDITED: links now correct to new blog system in use.

In lieu of Twelfth Night this weekend, I'm heading up to Plimoth for another embroidery session. Can't wait, it will be so much fun. cathgracehas even arranged for us to see some of the cool items in the Boston MAF collection that are not on display. w00t!

This weekend at Sandy's place I fielded a few questions regarding finding information on the Plimoth Embroiderer's Story blog, so I thought I might collect some links and put them in one place. 

-First the stitch instructions in PDF format: 
Reverse Chain Stitch

Ceylon Stitch

Detatched Buttonhole Stitch

Knot Stitch

Trellis Stitch

Spiral Trellis Stitch

Detached Buttonhole Needlelace:

-To Order a Sample Kit: contact information on how to obtain a sampler kit for the project, as well as a description of the contents. Please note, for the quickest way to get a kit, call them and give them a CC # over the phone to charge instantly instead of sending a check and waiting for a response.

-Upcoming Session Dates: For anyone wondering what future embroidery sessions are scheduled and want to plan a week or weekend to attend. This has the Winter schedule through the beginning of March. I'm not sure what the Spring or Summer will hold. Once the silk embroidery is done, the gold embroidery will happen (may be more limited participation) as well as spangle application and then construction/assembly.

-The Motifs involved:
Here is one entry and  another with some pictures and definitions of some of the design motifs on the master pattern and how the different motifs are referenced.

-Record Keeping:
A quick glimpse of the cover of the wonderful stitching station notebooks. The preparation and organization that has gone into the planning of this project is amazing. This little notebook is a best friend of any embroiderer who has come to work on the project. Everyone wants a copy to take home for themselves. With any luck they might be able to publish them.

-Interested in Knitting for Plimoth?:
Kits are available for those experienced knitters who wish to donate their time and energy towards making knit gloves and stockings for the costumed interpreters of the Plimoth 1627 Village. Here's a post on the initial dawning concept and here's one with more info.


Hope this helps!

In ~ 36 hours I'll be on a plane bound for a week in Hawaii. w00t!

Holiday Faire has come and gone and finally I can talk about what has taken up my time and brain space lately. Miguel's cloak is done. Hooray. It was a fun project, I wish I had had time to do more decoration to the cloak, but I am glad it came out well and complete. I tried to use as many of Miguel's wonderful fiber tools to work on the cloak as possible. The blue wool from B Black & Sons arrived on Monday, so I tried to work on the decorations first. I made a ~40" silk lucet cord from some 2/30 gemstone silver silk from Halcyon to use for the laurel wreath. The wreath was couched down in place with some of the same silk using one of Miguel's fine bone needles. I also used some Splendor silks laying around in white and blue to make the edge trim out of whipcording. Otherwise it was a simple half circle cloak, inspiration taken from the mantle of Roger II of Sicily, to show the world that 

spanishpeacock  is a Laurel and to show him he's adored and appreciated.


The day also hosted the fine Free Scholar Prize of Master Kit (theblueleader). The set-up was lovely, the candidate was dashing, and the fights entertaining. Even the pups were all decked out for the day in their blue barding. It was fun to watch with many friends to greet, and some new folks to meet.


Otherwise I spent the rest of the day chatting with friends around the event, showing off the cool stuff from the Plimoth Plantation embroidery project (like the cool gilt sylke twist threads), checking on  dona_violante  and shopping a bit, geeking with  cathgrace about the stuff to see at the MFA in Boston during our January trip, buying neat ribbon and tape from  kass_rants , talking to stringmonkey  about the knitting project for socks and gloves for Plimoth, hanging out with fun folks like  duchessmel  and  chargirlgenius  at the vigil and noshing on vigil food, etc. I'm sorry I missed Ragnar Ribcracker's Golden Dolphin, and  gianetta's well deserved Coral Branch, but we did stay for the laureling ceremony, and then cleaned up the vigil tent quickly and got on our way toward food.

After the event, we went to  kyneburh's for steaks, chicken enchiladas, and fine company. Dubis stalked me, and we had several one-sided conversations about how he's cute but touching him would make me sneeze, so he pretty much kept his distance, which was appreciated. Then we eventually made our way home when all the boys started falling asleep in their seats. It was great fun, but last night I slept for 11 hours, and I am so glad.

Lastly, I finished the backstitch sampler needlebook which was a gift from Wendy and Tricia for participating in the embroidery sessions. It was pretty fun, and their token cards were kinda cool to stitch on.
 

 

For some reason I'm rather achy today and slightly flushed. sigh. And apparently Plimoth talk inspires me to aliterate.

But, but... the Red Sox won the game last night and won the World Series, which is pretty darn cool. I can just see Gyrth doing the happy dance upstairs. We celebrated for a little bit, but had to head to bed since we had to work today, and there's no World Series holiday days to take. (Okay, I'm not really a big fan of baseball, but I watched the game last night and it was very interesting, and really close too. Bit of a nail-biter. Who-du-thunk?)

And, I got a mention on the Plimoth Embroidery Blog as Jill goes through and introduces last sessions' embroiderers. Color me squee'd. I guess I'll have to do more embroidery outside of the jacket project since I now count as an embroiderer. Note Oddny, I took sprang to show off.

Thinking of Plimoth, we're in the process of arranging for our January trip. It's insane that I have Hawaii and Thanksgiving and Christmas yet to consider, but I'm ready to jump ahead to January. I hate to admit it, but since Twelfth Night is scheduled for down in Salisbury, NC I'm thinking of heading up to do embroidery that weekend instead. I haven't missed a Twelfth Night since Anton and Emer's where I was sick with the strep, but I'm sure I will manage. attack_laurel, cathgrace  and I are tentatively signed up for that session and are making travel and museum visiting plans, etc. Jill at Plimoth mentioned there were more slots available later in January, and a couple (at last communication) left in the one we're signed up for. 

Thinking about why I'm so excited about returning has me mentally listing the many perks for volunteering to work on the jacket project:

I hate to sound like I'm harping on about giving to this project, but I just don't want anyone who wants to be involved not participate for any reason if it is in your means. You get so much more than you give, and ultimately the results of this one project will reverberate out more into the embroidery and living history communities. Don't hesitate to ask me any questions you might have. I'm glad to answer. Right now they've only had about 30 embroiderers involved in the project, and I know they want more. And I know there are those of you out there who want to get involved.

 Here's comes the rain again...

I've seen fire and I've seen rain...

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain-

Listen to the rhythm of the fallin' rain

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head...

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens-

I can't stand the rain, against my window-

I wish it would rain down, down on me

I'm only happy when it rains-

A little fall of rain, can hardly hurt me now-

I'm singing in the rain-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love the rain. Sometimes even at Pennsic, though this year was a bit extreme. For the past two nights I've opened the bedroom window a crack to listen to the rain. It is comforting and soothing. Many years ago, my maternal grandfather put a new tin roof on his house, because he loved the sound of rain on the tin roof. He passed away within that year from cancer, but for the last year of his life he was able to clearly listen to the rhythm of rain. I loved working rainy days at the pool, never minded sitting out as a lifeguard if folks wanted to swim in the rain, and in fact love swimming in the rain myself. I remember when my sisters and I were all much smaller, we used to sit on the front stoop of our ranch style house, snuggle up under towels and keep our heads dry and stick our feet out in the rain to feel the sprinkles. I don't remember what we talked about, but I do remember that as fun sister bonding time, watching the cars go down the street, or the birds play in the summer rain. So many happy memories associated with the rain, few sad ones.

To this day I still love the rain. I like it a little less so since it splashes on my glasses, but those are easily removed. I'm rarely seen using an umbrella since I like the feel of the rain on my head. The only real drawback to the rain here is the millions of IQs that drop when folks get on the road in the rain. sigh. Sadly we haven't found the cure or cause that turns humans into turkeys when the skies open.

But I'll take a few rainy days about now. It makes those few trees, that have turned colors, glossy and makes the reds and yellows pop more. I hope to see some of the poor ponds and rivers rise and expose less beach, which was honestly more depressing to me than a gray rainy day.

---------

Speaking of rain, it was actually quite damp on our visit to Plimoth. The windows gave us a muted light most of the time, instead of the bright sparkly sunshine we had on Sunday. The NC, VA, and MD folks embroidering were all re-adjusting to the concept of rain since we hadn't see it in so long. But the dampness in the air may have kept us from visiting the Indian Village at Plimoth, it didn't dampen our spirits. 

As far as progress, attack_laurel accomplished one trefoil leaf, two sparkly strawberries and calyx, and played around with the centers of two sweet peas in the sunshine yellow silk in the trellis stitch. I fear that my one trefoil leaf took me far too long. The constant changing of colors slowed me down considerably. The first day I spent outlining the leaf, tucking in the waste tails, and doing a bit of the detached buttonhole fill. The second day I was able to finish filling in the leaf with it's four colors, and I got started on the ceylon stitch on four thistle leaves. And on the last day I finished the 3 remaining spikey leaves on that one thistle, and got to outline the thistle flower in the new gilt sylke twist thread in the reverse chain stitch, and get the first row of detached buttonhole accomplished across the top of the flower. I really really wanted to stay and get more of the flower filled in, but we simply had to leave to go catch our plane home. Poor planning on my part. I kinda wish they would leave the work undone for me for next time, but that is a foolish request, so I didn't make it. No doubt there will be more fill for me to try with the new sparkly thread next time we visit. So that was likely 12 hours of embroidery of the 22 we spent there. The rest were spent in camaraderie, looking over the show and tell items, going back down into the stacks to see the cool pottery items, etc., eating the truly amazing food, and shopping for a bit.

We were also blessed with Tricia's presentation on the history, research, new materials, and progress on the jacket project so far. It was great to see slides of the many jackets they looked at and considered. They also showed that the pattern and lace are from the Laton jacket, but that the embroidery patterns are from a different jacket in the V&A. The presentation can't be posted online since there are many images they'd need rights for, but it was great to see in person. Tricia was also kind and showed us some of the different hands on the jacket that we are taking the embroidery from. They are trying to recreate the eccentricities as they find them. One sleeve has bug heads of a different color. There is only one unopened pansy on the jacket that differs from the entire rest of the pattern, which will be a fun Where's Waldo search on the finished item. But there is also visible obvious evidence of different hands on the jacket from the embroidery workshop. More than one person worked on the original jacket, which really supports the theory that they were not one woman's home project. And the two carnations she showed us to display the different hands could not be more night and day. One was a very tightly done calyx, and one was all loose and puffy. It really made us all feel better to see the variety of quality even on the original. 

The research is fascinating, the new materials are inspiring, and the project as a whole is amazing. Get involved now if you can. You won't regret it. The project is called a Paradise in Silk and Gold, and boy will it be.

I'd like to share some progress pictures, just to show how well the jacket project is coming along, and in some cases how much more remains to be accomplished.

Here is the back of the jacket (often used for creating the instructions on motifs) back in June at the first session:


And here is the back of the jacket during the fourth session in October.


Here I am working on the forehead cloth in June, with just a few spots of color here and there:


And here is Lyn working on the forehead cloth in October, with a large splash of color all over:


And finally, to make everyone feel better about their own skills, here is the picture of the sampler that I turned in for their records:


Something to keep in mind about distance participation in this project, there have been many stitchers who do not see how they can participate in this project given the distance they live from Plymouth, MA. First of all, there have been embroiderers coming from Florida, Ontario, North Carolina, etc. So, when you think you've traveled far to get there, there always seems to be someone who came from further away. Also, simply contacting Kathy at Plimoth Plantation and ordering a sampler kit helps out immensely. First of all, purchase of the kit includes a tax deductible donation of $20 to the funding of the project, and you get to keep the instructions, silks, and there is a little project to work up and keep. This funding of the project is invaluable to getting materials that haven't been donated, furthering the research, and funding the stitching sessions. But even if you can't attend a stitching session, by completing the sample and sending it back you have the chance to actually be a part of the exhibit. One of the plans for when the jacket is on display is to use the samples submitted by embroiderers as a hands on portion of the exhibit for visitors. Obviously they won't be able to touch the jacket, but they will be able to touch your sampler and examine the stitches more closely, feel the textures created, and marvel at the many little pieces that go into creating the impressive finished project. So even if you can't come, a part of your work can still be a part of the exhibit, and how cool is that?

  UPDATE: Direct links to the PDF files of the stitch instructions are available in the comments of this entry, for those having trouble finding them on the Plimoth blog.

I'll get around to an account later.. but here are the pictures I took that I can share.

Once again, a fellow stitcher brought some extant textiles in her personal collection. This time Sharon from VA brought some lovely embroidered pieces, as well as some great trim.



I also took pictures of others working on the jacket pieces, the display board, the lace sample, and some pictures of Isobel and my own works.



As far as the images I didn't put online, I took pictures of some plain pewter buttons, the cupboard used for patterning some of the replica cupboards used in the 1627 village, some delftware painted tiles, a barrel-like wooden jack (drinking bottle), a ship's hourglass, an iron banded small bucket, three pottery oil lamps, a shallow ceramic collandar or strainer, a ceramic bowl glazed brown on the outside and green on the inside, a coal pot, a green tri-footed pot with handle, some blown glass bottles, and a larger green tri-footed Dutch cooking pot with two pinched loop handles. Let me know somehow if you want these emailed to you. They are 2 megs each, so also stipulate if I should size them down or not. Please note that these images are only to be used to aide with personal reproduction, or to assist with furthering your own research. They are not to be used to create reproductions for sale and profit and should not be published without contacting the curator for more details and permission. Since Plimoth does have the Craft Center  with staff who create pottery, furniture, and metal goods for sale in the gift shops, essentially nothing that will take away from Plimoth Plantation's ability to sell goods to help meet their mission.

 So much to update on. I hope to get to putting pictures online tonight from the camera. I took quite a few, and hope that more than one turned out good. I've heard back the Plimoth curator, and she has asked me not to post pictures of artifacts online, but I can email them to those who have an particular interest in researching or making reproductions. I'll try to make a list of the items I took pictures of that won't be posted. Apparently there are plans to put up an online gallery of their own that will have pictures of the collection, specifically the ceramics. Dunno when the anticipated delivery of this will be, but it will be cool whenever it is delivered. I also have a ton to mention about the benefits and perks of volunteering for the jacket embroidery project, but that will have to wait. 

I'm wearing my pink Red Sox hat that Kynny got for me once on a trip to Boston. Hooray. I could hear Alan's exclamations of joy from the basement while watching the game last night. Sounds like it was the awesome. I'm not really a baseball fan, but since Alan is a fan, and I overslept this morning, I am happy for an excuse to be a bit casual today, including baseball cap.  

And now, I am insanely sore in my neck and back from being bent over the frame for many hours a day. Luckily I was able to schedule a last minute massage at the place I get acupuncture before my acupuncture appointment this evening. sweet. Off to go be manipulated.

 So, attack_laurel  and I are back from another visit to Plimoth Plantation to work on the embroidered jacket project. It was so exciting, and wonderfully educational. You can read their updates on the Plimoth embroidery blog.

Highlights of the weekend were:
- seeing the Plimoth folks again, old friends and making new friends, and being awed by the progress so far.
- seeing a sample of the gold and silver bobbin lace sample against the embroidery on one of the jacket panels
- getting to use some of the new gilt sylk twist thread on the right upper arm on one of the thistle motifs
- working the ceylon stitch for the thistle leaves, and really getting it to look pretty good on the last three leaves
- seeing more of the pottery down in the stacks and taking pictures as well. (Have rules, and need to check with the curator on posting them.)
- seeing more cool extant embroideries and textiles that a fellow participant picked up many years ago in London
- watching the spangle research develop
- getting my mother-in-law involved in volunteering for Plimoth by introducing her to the wardrobe department manager and getting her a kit to knit socks for the interpreters.

and my brain is tapped out now, so I'll have to focus more tomorrow after getting pictures off the camera and on flickr.  We totally didn't want to leave, but I think we are too sore now to have stayed.

 No, I won't be at University this weekend. Instead Isobel and I are off to Plimoth Plantation for more embroidery, and Alan will be with us to spend some time with his Mother. So sorry, but I'm sure we'll each have our own fun weekends. :)

And I've finally booked my Thanksgiving vacation to Hawaii. Alas Alan will not be able to join me, but I'm still going and still plan on having a grand time. I've got two days booked to spend on Maui with family during their cruise stop, and then I fly over to Oahu for 6 days of free lodging and fun with my little sister and little brother-in-law in Honolulu. I hope to do some hiking, some swimming, perhaps even SCUBA once, some snorkeling, maybe try to surf, and in general relax with my sister. I'm sure I'll visit Pearl Harbor for the history and memorial, and likely eat lots of yummy local foods. If there is anything I need to be sure not to miss on Oahu, please let me know. :)

 Hello to all those bobbin lacemakers in the LJ world. Lest you think that the Plimoth Plantation embroidered jacket project is all about the stitching, most of the recent entries have been focusing on the research for making the 5 yards of lace for the jacket. You'll want to check out the Embroiderer's Story for some neat stuff for your art as well. They are currently looking into the teardrop spangles on the lace, the threads used for the lace, etc. I might need to write to Jill Hall to make a separate "lace" tag for the entries so you guys can sort through easily. Trust me, you'll enjoy the info gathered.

For those who missed, and care, here are links to my Friday night and Saturday night posts on our Plimoth trip.

I think I have mostly calmed down, and napped, but I can still get spun up by discussions on the details of the trip.


I napped for 3 hours on Saturday, and did some work on my sampler in a fleur de lys pattern on Sunday. It was such a great experience, I think I am still processing it all.

Here are my pictures from our Plimoth experience.

First is a set of embroidery. There were two 17th century extant examples, one sampler and one stumpwork panel. The other current embroideries were done by the lead consultant, Tricia Wilson Nguyen, and one other embroiderer.


The next set is from our visit to the Plimoth Plantation Craft Center, the Gallery on Thanksgiving, the 1627 Village, and the Costume Shop.


And finally, our participation in the embroidered jacket project.


Update with details to follow later...

Mike has been moved to an intermediate care unit, which is close to the ICU, but hopefully quieter and more restful. Laura said on the phone that Mike seemed to be doing even better last night, which is great to hear. Baby steps. Due to the restricted visitor policy last night, I stayed home and did laundry, tidied up the green room for Drea, packed a bit, read some Harry Potter book 5 (in prep for the movie) and did some practice embroidery. 

Anyone who wants the address to send a card to Mike, send me an email or leave me a comment with your email address and I'll forward it onto you. If you want it before Saturday though, you must let me know by 4pm today, as I'll be taking off then for our flight to Providence. 

As you've likely read, the attack_laurel  and I are headed up to Plimoth Plantation tonight for embroidery and PBS filming sessions Thursday and Friday. We get to stay with my Mother-in-Law, who I haven't seen in a couple of years. (I keep reminding Alan that he, at least, needs to visit her sometime.) She's moved into a new place, so hopefully my allergies will remain in check, and I won't have to suffer from whatever sparked my allergies to full tilt in the old house. It will be good to see her again. 

I've also been practicing the stitches on the chance that I get to do a little work on the Plimoth jacket. I think I like the reverse chain stitch the best, though I did get the ceylon stitch to work last night using a thicker thread and the linen under tension. They apparently only have a certain number of frames, so I might not get to embroider (and I am SO not an embroiderer) so I understand if I don't have the opportunity. But I could be content to sit for a few hours and outline a few things. I hope at the least to get to listen in on the Foodways discussion, the tour by the Curator of Originals, and maybe even the wood carving demo and discussion, though I'd love to see some basket weaving. :) Not sure what else we will get to do and see, but I hope to have some time to see a little other stuff in Plymouth.

Now that I'm already packed, I wonder what the weather calls for...