Jim and I had a great time in Shropshire. The plan was to do some family research with Doreen and Allison about Aunt Joan. Doreen gave me some lovely anecdotes about being Joan's little sister, and wrote these out on some pages of a handmade sketchbook. Allison got stuck into the Wreck This Journal and created some lovely pages. I think I might make Joan's sampler focus on her needle skills. I knew she did dressmaking, upholstery, knitting, embroidery and flower arranging. I did not know that she was a leather worker as well. Allison said Aunt Joan had made lots of pairs of gloves, cutting the leather, punching stitching holes and sewing up, wrong sides facing. She also made leather skirts and jerkins, stitching seams and gluing seam allowances.
Allison let me have one of the most complicated sweaters that Aunt Joan made, her pulled thread embroidery sampler and book, and a few other bits.
Allison tried to do some oral history recording, but the recording device was not co-operating, I think it was full. I shall buy another device and try again later. I can visualise an exhibition where there is an audio recording available for every sampler, and I think this will give a greater experiential depth as the hearing sense is added in to the experience.
Photos to follow
No comments:
Post a Comment