". Arranged Words: embroidery
Showing posts with label embroidery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label embroidery. Show all posts

4 Apr 2023

Spring or Thereabouts

                                                       
Hi Everyone,

 Now in the early morning, the sun lights the prisms and they dance on the wall.  And in these parts that means spring.  But from the ice and snow still about, you can see that, here in Canada, winter tends to hang on, sometimes, a little longer than necessary. But it is so wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun and enjoy longer days.

Yesterday, we went to the Sugar Bush where Maple syrup is made. What a busy spot. Too busy to hang about waiting for breakfast, and the snowy trails were over flowing with people as well.  Although there was no hope of getting served breakfast before closing time, it was nice to see everyone out and about enjoying life. 

Also made a trip to the marsh. We saw a lot of robins. They were looking for a tasty morsel or two. Not easy for them to find food just now. Unfortunately, I didn't have any raisins with me. Did have sunflower seeds for the hungry chickadees, Starlings, and the squirrels were happy to see us too.



                                                             Garden Centre Easter delights.  


                                                    All that colour! It makes my heart sing.

                 Couldn't resist buying, probably, too many plants. (Is that even possible?) 
                Absolutely love the miniature African Violets dressed up in their polka dot pots.

                                 
                        Saw painted candles somewhere, so wanted to give it a go. As you can                                                              see I got a little off course. 
                                                      
                                                              * * *
 Really enjoying the linocut printer makers art I've happened upon lately. They are amazing!
 Besides Angela Harding, John Bloor is also a wonderful printer maker. 
 A link to his Etsy shop here


                                                
                                                          Stone Harbour by John Bloor  
                                                           Couldn't resist this one. 

                                       
                                                     An inspiring book. Oh to be half so good.
                                    One of these days I will dig out my carving tools.

                           

Found this embroidery kit on Etsy. Love to knit, but, for now, this is much easier on the hands.
  Made the needle minder a few years ago from paper clay; it's finally getting used.

                                                 Watercolour on Fluid 100 paper. 
                     
Because of Blogger's fickle ways, I wasn't able to leave replies to your comments here on my last post. Perhaps this time. I do thank you all for your lovely comments. 

                               I hope you all have a very Happy Easter!

                                         Cultivate Your Dreams 

                               Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 
                                                Thanks to all for hosting.  

6 Feb 2014

Tapestry

Set in a wooden frame. Circa 1860's.
As soon as I saw this gorgeous tapestry, I wanted to know more.  Because it was on the floor, near the desk of a museum guide, it was difficult to photograph properly.

The guide knew nothing about the tapestry, but that doesn't wash with the curious.  So I'll be writing, as I go along, an imaginative interpretation based on conjecture and a little research.

I think the men are French because the shirts they are wearing were first manufactured in France. The man on the right looks over his shoulder in a carefree pose. Reclining on plush (velvet) fabrics, or furs (sable ?) and dressed in fine embroidered breeches, complete with gold buckles at the knee and fancy shirt, points to wealth that may have been procured by "other means"--given the pistols and the dagger, and the gold medallion that are in full view in the ornate belt of the man, or they maybe the spoils of war. To the right, a cast off plumed military helmet.(?) The man's mauve cap resembles a revolutionary or liberty cap.  (Although his cap is not the customary red, nor is it tipped forward like the revolutionary cap of his companion.) Expensive to make, purple cloth symbolized royalty, wealth etc, so his cap may, in fact, point to new wealth, democratic freedom, and a stronger social status for the common "man" of the republic.

In the background, to the right, a large country estate with cultivated trees. ( The old rule?) The cultivated flowers fringed with a frill of grass and the ordinary trees, in the foreground, may point to less rigidity and a more relaxed equal, ordered state. Is that a hosta on the left, or a Rex begonia? Was a Rex begonia available then?  Might these plants symbolize new trade, etc.? ( Too much symbolic conjecture might be a dangerous thing!)

On the left, a servant (?) dressed in the revolutionary colours of red, white and blue. (He seems to be gathering up the blankets). The man on the right wears revolutionary colours too, but they are secondary.  In fact, he may have the French flag draped around his waist. I won't go further because the French symbol of liberty is a woman and she's an apt fit.

Before I began sleuthing, I knew nothing of the liberty cap, and, now, I think it might be fun to try and knit one.


I love the mens' shoes/sandals. They were fashionable and obviously worn for leisure.

 As you can see, I gathered up a few facts along the way that, of course, are not definitive. The man wearing the purple cap could symbolize the new relaxed hold of the monarchy/nobility, or the new republic. (Given the time line, I believe the scene fits with the second wave of the revolution.)  If you have any thoughts, other interpretations, ideas or suggestions, please leave a comment; I'd love to read them.

Enjoy the weekend...