Request for help

I'm trying to compile a list of existing tassels (including decorative knops) and anything resembling buttons (hand worked- not metal, wood, etc) pre about 1600/50 - particularly medieval - for a project I am working on. The theory is to try to map out a timeline of techniques used before the advent of the passementerie trade as we now know it. If you know of any - on the bottom of extant purses, or decorating anything else, could you let me know? Any info at all will be a big help, but if you do know where the item is held (or picture published) that will obviously be even better.

Thanks!

Start as I mean to go on..... let's hope not!

If it can go wrong it has it seems. Working merrily away on the new brocade tablet weave, only to notice a print-out of the last discussion with the client, where the number of edge tablets changed. And of course, I warped up to the original discussion. Most unlike me, I usually am very thorough with these things, I blame it on the 28 day waiting period for the wool to arrive... (I can't really continue to call myself 'stupid'!) So, I've warped up a new band and have started again. The silver lining? Well, I've almost caught up to where I was on Sunday when I discovered the mistake, but even better than that, the band looks much better somehow, so a bonus. And at least I will have a length of brocade for the portfolio! Hopefully 2009 won't be filled with silly mistakes (perhaps I am just getting old).

Another set of little purse tassels - this time using silk chenille for the skirt, to compliment the chenille embroidery on the bag. The bag's not quite complete, hence only a cropped pic!

And a happy new year to you!

Here we are again, back in the swing of things perhaps! And snow too - my dog is a very happy chappy as he thinks snow is better than a ball! I hope everyone had a nice holiday, we got caught out just before the break with the horrid stomach bug thats going around, and to be honest, it's taken a while to feel recovered. Even now, our stomachs are still a bit tender which of course wasn't fun on Christmas day, and only the smallest drink to bring in the new year... Still, managed to have quite a creative period without turning on the computer for days (that in itself felt pretty good!) and managed to get quite some way with the various writing projects, including the illustrations. So, I should be well on my way for the deadlines I have to meet.

I have also started on the next commission of brocaded tablet weave - this time another Anglo-Saxon design, with gold plate (not gilt) and fine wool. The wool is a deep blue and the contrast with the gold is quite stunning. I have quite alot of this to do in a fairly short time, so this will be the main priority over the next month.

My website is in need of some updating; to this end I have finally added the report on the 18th century tassels which I restored and repaired. I put a note into this regarding dating simply from the item itself (which basically put it anywhere prior to the late 19th century), but as the tassels came from a small stately home, their own date of the 18th century (when the house itself was renovated) really should be trusted. You can find the pdf here.

And, in an effort to keep this blog a little visual, here's one of a set of four little purse tassels -

I actually thoroughly enjoyed doing the needlework on the pear-shaped mould, a technique called limace spirale in French, time-consuming as it was!

I also watched (probably) one too many repeats of costume dramas - there really is a woeful lack of leek buttons on film and tv, even the newer dramas. Shame that. Perhaps I ought to start up a Campaign for Leeks in Costume or something...

Happy new year to you all!