Having completed (yay!) my first project, I am starting out on my second. Simple felt leaves (using felt made by me) with embroidered veins/patterns, to hang on the seasonal tree.
I was watching a fantastic programme on BBC4 last week, which was part of the Fabric of Britain series, where there have also been programmes about the history of knitting and the history of wallpaper. This week, the focus was the wonder of English medieval embroidery ( the link is to iplayer) or 'opus anglicanum' (English work), which was renowned throughout Europe as being the best. The programme showed some beautiful and precious examples of this embroidery, usually used in bishop's robes or other church vestments, and using gold and silver, pearls and jewels too. (It is being repeated tonight at 8.00pm on BBC4 and is well worth a look.)
The programme was fascinating and visited churches and museums in Italy as well as The Royal School of Embroidery where the two stitches which these embroiderers used most - split stitch and underside couching - were demonstrated. I am excited to be using a stitch which has such a long history.
The end of opus anglicanum came after the Black Death in 1348, where so many people died. The embroiderers from Europe took over with their stitching designs and they were taken up in England too. I enjoyed all of this short series and recommend the programmes (if you are able to access them).
(Photos of embroidery from V and A website)
Thank you so much for this wonderful and informative post! I look forward to seeing your leaves (I am so keen to learn felt making!), and the info on the BBC4 programme is terrific - I'll be watching the repeat tonight and the iPlayer versions, too! Who knows, maybe centuries from now our sweet little makes will be featured in a documentary? ;-) Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteDear Chrissie
DeleteThank you. Felt making using the wet felting method is quite hard work with all the rolling required, but the end result justifies it! I love the way the wool decides how it wants to look during the felting process.
The Fabric of Britain series was so interesting but didn't seem to be advertised all that much and was a bit buried in the scheduling.
It would be lovely to think that in the future, someone might pick up a piece of our work and wonder who made it...
I hope to have finished a couple of leaves for next week.
Best wishes and hope you enjoy the programmes too.
Ellie
What a fascinating post Ellie, I really enjoyed reading a little about the programme. Unfortunately I have missed it, so I will have to pop over to iplayer to see if I can catch it. Wow, making your own felt. This is something I would love to learn to do. Who taught you?? Did you do a course or was it self taught? I love the idea of making beautiful felt decorations with stitching on it, it sounds perfect! Enjoy your week xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Hannapat. Felt making is one of my main hobbies, although I am slightly ashamed to admit that I haven't done much recently. This is something I need to put right! I was introduced to felt making by my tutor while on a Foundation in Art and Craft course which I did four years ago. I made one piece of felt and was absolutely hooked. My final major project was made of 30 pieces of felt, each representing an element of the landscape around Lincolnshire - there is a photo way back at the beginning of my blog. Since then, I have experimented with different wools and have enjoyed seeing what I could create. I make small pieces which I cut up and use to create other things, such as hearts, stars etc. I think it is something that is easier if you see someone else doing it, so a workshop would be an ideal introduction, although there are lots of tutorials about on the internet and in books so you probably could be self-taught. Felt is a very forgiving medium, and total beginners can produce beautiful work. Give it a go - it's great fun (and good for the arms!)
DeleteHave a good week yourself, and sorry about the essay! I do get a bit excited talking about felt making!
Best wishes
Ellie
Those colours look very promising!
ReplyDeleteI'm very curious how you will use it... Love from Mirjam.
Thank you, Mirjam. I am not quite sure how it will work myself, but that's the fun of doing these projects! I'll have something ready for next Sunday.
DeleteEnjoy your week.
Best wishes
Ellie
I am so looking forward to seeing your project take shape Ellie, and aren't you clever making your own felt - I can see from this lovely post that textiles is definitely 'your thing'. Well done!
ReplyDeleteJoy xo
Thanks, Joy. I think this project is going to be a bit of a 'make-it-up-as-you-go-along' one, but I am looking forward to seeing what happens. I have always loved textiles, right from when I was little and I can still remember the feel of the dressing up clothes we had then, but it wasn't until I did my art course that I realised they were indeed 'my thing' - since then, there's been no stopping me!
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie
I caught the programme too, but it wasn't advertised well, and only three episodes. I would like to see something about more homespun textiles, but the religious clothes are obviously better preserved. I had a go at making felt at Woolfest this year and it was great fun. Looking forward to seeing your leaves this weekend.
ReplyDeleteS xx
Thank you, S. I really enjoyed the series but as you say, it wasn't well advertised. It would be good to see more programmes like this. Felt making is great fun but hard on the arms, although the results are worth it. I am hoping to make a start on the leaves over the next couple of evenings.
DeleteBest wishes
Ellie