I think I have decided what I am going to make for the project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I have at last decided on what I am going to make for Threads of time.

I have been working in my sketchbook exploring different ideas.

I started off with a mindmap.

Then I thought it would be interesting to keep a weather diary.

But I soon found that I wasn’t very good at doing daily entries and abandoned that idea.

I also looked at the lace fragment in the collection and the individual motifs that it consists of.

I made a lino cut printing block of one of the motifs and explored ideas around the use of that particular motif.

Still working with the motif I used weather maps from the newspaper and photocopies of Sir John’s weather diaries as collaged backgrounds.

Next area I looked at was costumes from the 17th Century.  I have always liked the slashing of fabrics to show the fabric underneath.

This really appealed to me and so I made some samples.

I thought this idea could have potential but how I wasn’t yet sure.

Then I looked at the pastime of gaming.  Sir John was interested in racing as shown by the race card for Brocket Hall in the collection.  No doubt he would have been interested too in playing cards and betting, which was a very fashionable pastime of the 17th century.  Gaming purses, such as this one, taken from Victoria and Albert’s Museum website, were used by the players to keep their money or counters in.  The owner’s coat of arms was often embroidered on the base to ensure that the owner could be correctly identified.  When we first met at Herts Archives we had seen the Coat of Arms belonging to the Wittewronge family.

I liked how the bag is drawn up by the cords into even pleats.

I had been wanting to make a fabric vessel/vase for some time so putting the idea of the slashing, paning and embroidery used in the 17th century I have come up with the idea of a vessel with an inner and outer layer.  The top edge of the outer layer would be drawn up like the gaming bags and as the vessel widens out the underneath fabric will show through.

Now all I have to do is decide on its form, colour, fabrics and method of construction.

At least I know now what I am working towards.

I look forward to seeing how others are getting on.