Let's Hang Out with Tanya

I've followed Tanya Bentham's blog for years now.  She's an expert in the English Medieval style of embroidery called Opus Angelicanum which she teaches and publishes about.

https://opusanglicanum.wordpress.com/

Why is someone who does needlepoint read about early Medieval needlework?  Because it's our heritage and because Tanya's hilarious!  I don't know anyone else who combines historical research, hand dyed wools, and Medieval humor to create both satiric and bawdy pieces that are a delight to explore.

https://www.textileartist.org/tanya-bentham-a-modern-twist-on-medieval-embroidery/

Who can resist a saint with a can of cat food, monsters, or a rat eating French fries, anyway?  

Besides, Tanya always gives me ideas, like using light to create a shape instead of various shades of color.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 26, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Pearl Edged Nimbus

Dr. Jessica Grimm is a German expert in Medieval embroidery, especially ecclesiastical pieces. Occasionally she does a free tutorial on the techniques used, including this explanation of how a pearl edge halo (or nimbus) was created on a chasuble, or sort of long sleeveless vest worn by a priest over other church garb.  Jessica shows exactly how to create a halo of couched gold over a layer of silk, how to edge the outside with a bundle of thread and then now to attach pearls to the rim of the nimbus.  It's a lovely technique and applicable to the angels we enjoy creating in needlepoint.

https://www.jessicagrimm.com/blog/tutorial-pearl-edged-nimbus

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 23, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Stereotypes About Men and Women Stitching Persist

Dr. Jessica Grimm, a specialist in medieval embroidery, has a fascinating article on her blog about the modern stereotypes we have about male and female stitchers--which were firmly in place in the 14th and 15th Century!

https://www.jessicagrimm.com/blog/image-and-reality-embroiderers-in-the-medieval-period

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 17, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Celtic Illuminated Manuscript Designs

Joseph M. Dunn created an original series of needlepoint designs based on Medieval Celtic patterns in illuminated manuscripts.  You can see his work on Needlepoint Nation and read a bit about them at this link.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/3803066523103811/

Lovely work!  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 17, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Insight into Eleanor of Aquitaine

Kreinik has interviewed Gay Ann Rogers about her latest design, Eleanor of Aquitaine, for their blog.   It's an interesting read as Gay Ann talks about faces, her use of Kreinik to build up layers around gems, and more.
http://kreinikthread.blogspot.com/2017/05/new-eleanor-of-aquitaine-needlepoint.html

This kit is on sale until Gay Ann runs out of supplies, so if you are interested, visit her website.  You may also enjoy clicking on the Eleanor tab to read a bit about the inspiration behind this design.
http://www.gayannrogers.com

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 2, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Embroidery for the Little Boy in You

If you have a male child who is turning up his nose at your stitching, show him this. 
http://saves9embroidery.blogspot.com/2013/10/night-knight.html

Pippa Foulds rocks!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Silk Comparisons for the Reproduction Embroidererr

Right now reproduction embroiderers in the United States are most interested in 17th Century (think Queen Elizabeth I) embroidery, mostly due to the influence of Tricia Nguyen whose class on stumpwork caskets and now stumpwork mirrors and her work reproducing older styles of threads have been very influential.  However, in my experience European stitchers are more interested in the Medieval period.  I thought everyone would enjoy reading Isis's article on which type of silk is most like what Medieval embroiderers used.  I think at that period the silks they stitched with would have originated in China.  Can you imagine the journey those silks would have made to end up in a great European house?
http://m-silkwork.blogspot.com/2013/10/silk-yarns-comparison.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Bit of Background on Opus Anglicanum

Opus Angelicanum (or English work if my high school Latin hasn't totally failed me) is medieval ecclesiastical embroidery, highly prized at the time.  This brief article was written to promote a tv program on the embroidery on BBC4.  If you live in Britain, you might be able to play it on their website (second link).
http://www.spectator.co.uk/arts/arts-feature/9033391/english-embroidery-the-forgotten-wonder-of-hte-medieval-world/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03c2766/Fabric_of_Britain_The_Wonder_of_Embroidery/

By the way, there is an organization devoted to ecclesiastical embroidery education.  They apparently hold embroidery classes in the mountains of North Carolina.
http://www.hexaemeron.org

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.