Since my last post in October, I attended the 2014 J.A.S.N.A. A.G.M., Winterthur's 'The Diligent Needle, Instrument of Profit, Pleasure and Ornament' Needlework Seminar and the 2014 East Coast Casket Tour. I hosted a J.A. event in my home, finished payments and received my second (flat top) casket carcass, calculated and purchased finishing supplies for both caskets (one huge mess rather than two big ones) and decided I will use the Italian duchesse silk satin background rather than the 1750 linen for my double casket. May not sound like much, but probably a 300 + hour investment... seriously!! Then, spent the holiday's and my 55th birthday in Hawaii which was nearly a month to reconnect with my son and daughter, observation...they are moving on in their lives, and I need to also! Very relaxing atmosphere, some very serious hiking (not to be attempted in regency attire), sea bathing, lots of stitching, reading, shopping and plenty of time to think and reflect on what I want to accomplish while I am still able.
The JASNA AGM was a blast, my college roommate, Marcia and I had lots of fun at the Regency Dance workshop, Banquet/Ball and Eastern Counties/Winery tour. Lectures were very informative, and I did actually purchase a copy of Fordyce's 'Sermons to Young Women' (paperback, I'm not that serious in following his ideology, I mean really....), but I do plan on knowing enough to be dangerous!! Extremely good lectures, which may have a different effect than the presenters had anticipated. I was pleasantly surprised by more cynical commentary than I would have expected. Below is a picture of Marcia and I and the dance itinerary (which we tried to memorize to no avail). The picture makes me feel extremely middle aged, but... I have written so much about my dress, I feel obligated to post me in it. I purchased my wrap in South Africa, wonder if one of Jane's sailor brothers would have done the same! Please excuse my smirk, I have about 4 months left to my orthodontics and I'm in the power chain phase.
The 'Casket Tour' from New York City to Boston was mind blowing. From possibly eight to over a dozen of the finest examples of English 17th century caskets and embroidery at every stop. A very diverse collection of satin stitch, couching, stumpwork, beading and wrapped paper techniques, fabrics, palettes and natural materials, plus silk and metal threads. Unfortunately, I can not share any pictures of the collections with the blog due to copy right issues. I do have a favorite, which certain aspects of couching, satin and stumpwork I will adapt in my J.A. theme. I had a very heart warming moment while waiting in line for the M.E.T. in N.Y. Mary Lynn, a very thoughtful woman, from North Carolina read my blog (she's the one!!...) and brought me, what I believe is an out of print copy of Penelope Byrde's, 'A Frivolous Distinction', 1979, Bath City Council. It is chock full of fashion and needlework pertaining to Jane Austen. She wanted to give it to someone who would appreciate it, and bless her heart, I flipping do! Because 17th Century attire is quite different than Regency, my casket will need to adapt, fashion and scene's to better describe my heroines and their story. Let's see 1979, I was freezing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, my freshman year at Michigan Tech, or later in the year, in summer, busy surveying and laying out a curve in the stamp sands of the Portage, a very naive 19 year old. So far removed from the place I find myself today. I did, however, encounter probably the only English Professor at Tech who observed that I 'clicked' with the English genre, and recommend I read J.A. Sadly, I was too 'busy' at the time, and C.B. was more in vogue....
I spent most of November getting caught up/reviewing Dr. Nguyen's first casket class (probably 1200 pages) and completed all five sample embroidery projects. Below is the pincushion pillow and scissors case on duchesse satin and the butterfly pin pad in tent stitch on the 1750 linen.
I find I work more efficiently if I hold off working small sample technique projects until I'm ready for the big one. I take very detailed notes in class, in the hope small details will be fresh in my mind when I work both sample and big project together. Sometimes, I work several rather large projects in parallel or series if they primarily contain a specific common stitch/technique, just so the rhythm and focus is continued from project to project. My staging area is set for completion of both casket interiors. They will transport and store my supplies as I focus on the exterior stitching phase of the project in the months ahead. I have recently spent a considerable amount of time packing books and projects which I feel I will have no need for in the next few years. I have also finished over a dozen unrelated/unfinished smalls and clutter no longer pertinent to this empty nester...
Another project Tricia has promoted is a 17th century inspired beaded basket competition. Some caskets and baskets, of this time period, covered in beading could become quite elaborate. What is exciting about this is that beading is still being done in South Africa and Hawaii. Below are examples of jewelry, I purchased in the past year, which I absolutely fell in love with for everyday use. These wonderful pieces were very reasonably priced. I giggle to myself when I see an E.G.A. beaded jewelry class offered which costs the student over an order of magnitude greater than what I have paid, not to mention the addition of your own labor! The beaded bowl and set of necklace, earrings and bangles are from South Africa and the last picture of three varieties of bracelets are all from Hawaii.
Next time, I will show my progress in the caskets interior finishing and hopefully get back to the UK J.A.S.N.A. tour and discuss other wonderful classes and teachers I have been lucky enough to be part of.
