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Embroidered mourning picture, 1823. MFA Boston, 42.643
Boston.
16 Tuesday Apr 2013
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A Digression on Joy
26 Tuesday Feb 2013
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Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash- Albright-Knox, Buffalo, NY
I did not today have, or cause others to have, much joy. In fact, I was an actor in the kind of day that makes you want to take a second shower, get a haircut, sell your clothes, or move to another state (I considered each of these today).
No, I did not engage in any of the Deadly Sins. It was just a morning of the worst part of my job followed by an afternoon comprised in the majority of a part I don’t like, with an interlude in a smoke-filled house where I could hardly breathe. Fortunately, there was a lovely little West Highland Terrier in the house, and on my drive home I saw a small brown moppet-like dog on a leash, and smiled for the first time in hours.
This painting by Giacomo Balla is one of my favorites. It makes me laugh, my God, that’s what they look like! Watch–no, really, slow down and watch–a dog on a leash. That’s pure joy in motion, delight, movement, life.
It made me think about joy: there’s precious little of it going around, especially on a grey, gritty, dirty-snow-mound lined day when Rhode Island looks particularly poor (I was down in the residential neighborhoods by the airport). People are sad, people are worried: sequestration, budget cuts, global warming. It’s wretched, really, it is.
And then there’s the dog on the leash. From that swirling fur, I give you this:
Art can be the art of dress, of dancing watched or performed; sewn or stewed, written or drawn. It can be silly, too.
St George Killing the Dragon
Growing up in Chicago, I used to slip out of school and go to the Art Institute. I loved the Thorne Rooms, St. George Killing the Dragon, and Mao. It’s so Ferris Bueller, isn’t it? But I hated high school, and loved the museum. When all else fails, there is beauty and meaning in art. I suppose that’s why I work in a museum. Objects gave me great comfort in their objective beauty. They showed me a world beyond the quotidian mess, a world behind the curtain, beyond the physical.
I find great joy in sewing and writing: this isn’t meant to be a dirge. I had a yucky day, but a dog cheered me up. When your days are icky and sad and long, find your dog on a leash, your dragon, your bliss: art helps us see the world beyond ourselves, and, I hope, our better selves.
Those English Gowns…
13 Thursday Dec 2012
Posted in Clothing, Museums, Uncategorized
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18th century, Clothing, Costume, exhibits, fashion, Making Things, museum collections, Museums, open robe, Research, resources, Victoria and Albert Museum
At the V&A, a fun interactive exhibit on 18th century costume allows you to turn the costumes around and zoom in for a better view.
V&A Screenshot
My favorite, because I need to start making something like this, is the Gown made from a Shawl, about 1797.
There’s a good description of the gown, and you can always search the collections for the catalogue record and more non-turnable images. This is a good thing because the 3-D image player requires Flash, so it doesn’t work on an iPad.
I found the viewer helpful in understanding the sleeve-collar relationship, which was confusing to me with the contrasting colors. The description in the catalog record helps, too:
“An open robe with a medium high waist, the material stitch is pleated down the back, and then flowing into the skirt. The sleeves are of white satin, trumpet shaped, with a short green silk oversleeve. The oversleeve is bound with cream ribbon, and the undersleeve at the wrist where it fastens with three pearl buttons, with metal shanks, has a narrow green ribbon turn back cuff. There is a shaped falling collar of green silk bound with white, and a green ribbon binds the front of the gown. The bodice is lined with linen, and extends in front to cover the bust. The sleeves are lined with white linen.”
Fairfax House
The oversleeve makes me think of this Fairfax House dress. I’ve not been able to find a larger image so I can’t get “close enough” to determine how it all goes together. Time to collect images of extant examples and fashion plates in a Pinterest board, and start comparing them. And time to think about whether or not this is a style seen in New England…and time to get ready for work.
Housekeeping!
27 Thursday Sep 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
Dana wisely stands back while I pull the cork on 18th century cleaner
Hey, there’s a maid in my parlor, or, tidying up the belated thank-yous.
In chronological order, this blog was nominated for a Super Sweet Blogging award, which is a tricky thing for me, because folks, I am not sweet. I’m not even Truvia. It is not a nice thing to have to decline an award, but I cannot list 13 blogs, and really, I am not sweet, and I don’t eat sweets much, either. More savory…or salty… Vinegar and lavender… But to take the sort of weasel-y, non-sucrose way out, many, many thanks to Thoughts from an American Woman for the generous nomination and for following my blog. I’m always astonished by, and grateful for, the variety of readers and hope people enjoy the ride.
Then I found out about the Liebster Award, from Sabine at Kleidung um 1800. Thank you! 5 blogs with fewer than 200 followers I can manage.
An American Seamstress, sewing costumes and sharing her process
The Pragmatic Costumer, real-life sewing
Tracy Loves History, history I never knew
Kim-ing, sewing from this century and the last
Letters of Note, correspondence that deserves a wider audience
I don’t know if all of these blogs qualify as having fewer than 200 followers, but I do know there’s some interesting writing out there. It’s good to know other people are trying the same things, or different things, taking some risks trying to learn to skills, and sharing their experiences. Thanks to all who read and write.
And now, I’m off to find money for boilers and an event, finish a new shift, send my kid to school on time, and generally hope I muddle through this day with openness and as much joy as I can manage.
“warmest greatitude”
08 Saturday Sep 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
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J. G. Burdette at Map of Time nominated me for a Versatile Blogger Award, for which I am grateful. It’s also quite suitable, since I may veer from 18th century bonnets to heating coils to cooking in a tin kettle in a short span of time. My friends tell me you get used it, so buckle in and enjoy the ride.
Accepting this honor means I need to follow the rules:
- Thank and link back to the person who nominated you (see paragraph 1)
- Paste the award to your blog (check)
- Tell 7 thing about yourself (OK, see below)
- Nominate 15 other blogs (I can manage 12, I don’t have time to really read more than that on a regular basis.)
So, 7 things about me:
- When I was a child, I had a fold-out paper Georgian house to color in, with paper furniture to assemble, and for which I made paper dolls. This is no way resembles my current work with furniture and mannequins in an 18th-century house.
- I had a hard hat when I was 8, and somewhere there’s a photo to prove it. It’s not lost, I just can’t find it right now.
- I played Samuel Adams in our 5th grade play, and insisted that my mother make me a frock coat with coordinating cuffs and waistcoat. Yes, I have always been this way.
- If I can’t read The New York Times daily, I start to experience withdrawal symptoms.
- William Faulkner is one of my favorite authors, followed by David Mitchell. I like words.
- For one brief shining moment three years ago, I truly understood dew point and relative humidity and felt really smart.
- Life’s short: buy a good hammer is a decent philosophy for living.
My favorite blogs:
- The Still Room Blog: a little of everything, every day, always well written.
- Kleidung um 1800 Beautiful handsewing
- Sew 18th Century, costume and local
- Mimic-of-Modes, on costume and other things
- Historic Cookery, yes, what it says
- Things I Vacuumed Today I feel you sister, and you had me at Vacuumed.
- Opus Anglicanum Historical textiles
- Hyaline Prosaic, historic sewing
- Serena Dyer, historic costume
- Researching Food History
- Four Pounds Flour Historic Gastronomy
- FIDM Museum Blog more historic fashion & museum
Kitty Calash 