A Merry Kestrel Christmas.

A very Merry Christmas to all who read this blog from all the Brunel Broderers.

A new direction for the Stuart Casket?

There isn't much time for machine drawing at the moment because Christmas preparations are in full swing and I now have quite a few days to work. 

We are just back from a weekend visiting my in-laws. Whilst enjoying lovely food and company I also managed to discuss my work with my mother-in-law, Judith Perry, who is a textile artist. Whilst we both agreed that it was good reproduction of the casket, we wondered if it was enough to just be reproducing the box to explore the idea of faded splendour, damage and repair. I explained how I often thought  of the young girls who would have worked with bone needles by little more than candle light to make the beautiful boxes. Judith found this comment about how hard the boxes must have been to make and just how much time was involved, an interesting idea. What will todays generation of teenagers have to show for their spent time? Social media and gaming consumes  every spare minute of my teenagers lives. I often shout 'please do something useful with your time, there is a world out there that is passing you by and you will have nothing to show for your young years'.

Could I possibly include some images form their gaming into my design? And if I do, how could I incorporate the modern images? I do really like this idea as I love using personal arguments and issues in my work.

Here are some images of the work so far, and when the Christmas rush has settled I will begin some sketches and consider how I might move this project forward.

Completed right door

Partly completed left door 

initial ideas

this is the story so far, from initial inspiration, Carla's workshop experiments to sampling with fabrics.

Feathers

I am drawing feathers I found at Newark Park and a swans feather from Slimbridge. These are made with silk and assorted scraps on soluble fabric. I thought I would use them as tassels on my feather books.

Last few days

Last few days to visit Centrespace Gallery in Bristol to see the latest work by Steph Wooster and Liz Hewitt. Centrespace is set in an old Chocolate factory on a medieval lane, just off Corn Street in Bristol. We are exhibiting with five other artists who specialise in ceramics, 3d collagraph structures, screen print and painting.

Steph is showing 3 knitted jumpers which she has delicately reconstructed with the most intricate Swiss darning, plus has created a lovely film to show the delicate movement of these garments. 

Liz is showing her rust prints on fabric and paper, with added stitch, plus black & white dry point etchings and monoprints. 

It's a wonderful exhibition, in a beautiful space, and you have until 5pm on weds 2nd Dec in which to visit, we hope to see you there. 

Elizabethan or Stuart Casket (Work for Newark Park)

On viewing the casket at Newark Park, it was suggested that the box was Elizabethan, but on further reading about stumpwork and considering the fashion style shown in the drawings, I think the casket might be from the Stuart period. 

According to Judith Harper (2014), Stumpwork which is currently enjoying a revival, originally had its heyday during the second half of the 17th century when it was called raised Embroidery. The term 'Stumpwork' was an early 19th century description derived from the word 'stamp work' because the picture was worked over a pre-stamped or hand drawn outline on the backing material. 

Many of the stories conveyed the religious and political divisions that occurred in England during the Civil War. The beautiful feminine art of Raised Embroidery conveyed docility, obedience and love of the home (Parker, 2010) but it also provided an art form that reflected societies opinion. 

Stumpwork panel with a central oval cartouche depicting a young lady, mid-17th century (Telegraph, 2014)

Batten (2014) suggests that stumpwork's popularity was probably aided by the pedlars who travelled around the country to wealthy families selling kits that contained many luxurious threads and patterns. On the box that I am copying, black threads can be seen and these may have been the outline threads.

Whilst wondering about the relevance of my work and why I am spending hours copying someone else's drawing or pattern from a kit, I considered starting again but telling my own contemporary story. However, if I did that would I then have to use the Stumpwork technique just as contemporary artists who make samplers use cross stitch.

Caren Garden‘There are no words to embroider that single desolating fact.’ Site responsive piece by Caren Garfen. Framed sample, hand stitched. Cotton material, silk threads

And then I thought of Cornelia Parker's 'Magna Carta, an embroidery', a hand stitched embroidered drawing of the wikipedia page made through a collaboration of many individuals as was the case for the writing of the Magna Carta. 

At our last meeting we discussed how I might continue as part of our creative review. 

There was support for continuing with the piece: a reproduction of the beautiful remains of an exceptional work of art, made by a young lady over 500 years ago. As I struggle with the tiny detail and obsess over thread changes which at times, may be for no more than two stitches, I can imagine how hard it must have been to do this by hand with candle light and a bone needle.


Batten, P. (2014) http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/stitching-stumpwork-and-stuarts.html

Miller, J. (2014) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/collectables/25451/a-stitch-in-time-english-stumpwork.html

Parker, R. (2010) The Subversive Stitch. Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine. I.B.Tauris and Co Ltd. London

West Country Quilt and Textile Show

A reminder we are at the West Country Quilt and Textile Show this Thurs 12th- Sat 14th. 10-4.30. The Exhibition Centre, University of the West of England, Filton, Bristol. BS34 8QZ. We will be stitching away- do come and say hello!

Elizabethan Embroidered Casket

I visited Newark Park again on Wednesday to gather photographs of the Tudor kitchen. My idea had been to produce site specific work by creating full scale thread drawings of Tudor cooking pots that would be suspended in the fire place.

Tudor Kitchen, Newark Park

Whilst I love the sense of history, stillness and life lived, I couldn't help but wonder if my work would become small and and not seen in the space shown. Also, the work would only be seen during kitchen tours due to the very worn steps leading from the house that require escorted guides for health and safety reasons.

Once back in the house I mentioned to the very helpful staff that I was also interested in the fabulous Elizabethan stumpwork casket. To my surprise, they allowed me to have the box uncovered, moved into the light and gave me plenty of time to take a series of close up photos. The box was then measured and carefully placed back under its viewing case. 

Elizabethan Casket, Newark Park

Close up of casket with worn areas

Close up of casket with worn areas

These caskets were often produced by young girls and involved stump work - a technique that involves padded appliqué, and fine needle work using three dimensional elements. The detailed work often told contemporary stories.

My idea: could I reproduce an image of the casket in 3D? The new image would copy the worn and damaged areas as well as the better preserved parts. Damage and repair would be happening but on this occasion, the damage I am starting with is already beautiful.

The work will take many hours and require obsessive attention to detail; the beauty of the very fragile Elizabethan casket will hopefully continue but the form will be new.

workshop

An inspirational day at Newark Park, investigating the grounds and working with found objects to gain a sense of place. I love the combination of textures between the mushroom, feathers, leaves and wire. Working with my initial interests of the people and animals (hunted and eaten) that have passed through the house I feel I can start to capture their fleeting presence. Steph

West Country Quilt Show

Brunel Broderers have got a fantastic opportunity to take part in this years West Country Quilt Show.
The show opens on Thursday 12th November - Saturday 14th November 10.00 - 4.30
Come and visit us on the stand where we will be demonstrating.
West Country Quilt Show, University West of England, Filton Road, Bristol BS34 8QZ

More fun at Newark Park

We had a great fun day at Newark Park - lots of discussions whilst making !! A very creative time.

BBs at lunch at Newark Park

Lunch at Newark Park. Refueling before more work and investigating continues. Everyone seeking ideas and stories for the exhibition next June.