Script and Scrolls

 

digitized handwriting - stitched onto cotton, water colour crayon added

E.Cantin

 

Digitized script outline - stitched onto cotton

E.Cantin

 

Digitized script - stitched onto white Lutradur and heat treated

E.Cantin

The foggy weather didn’t put Lizzie & I off our visit to Hertford to view some more documents. I had made an online reservation requests for the two of us and everything was waiting for us when we arrived, it almost seemed too easy.

We spent over 2 hours carefully opening bundles and scrolls to photograph them. I was surprised to find that some of the documents I had asked for where actually bundles of scrolls. I was expecting single scrolls so got much more than I expected. I was glad I hadn’t hoped to read them as the scripts were pretty well indecipherable as well as being mostly in Latin (I think). The different types of script, decorative motifs, symbols and condition of the documents were a real feast of visual interest for both of us.

I was particularly interested in a bundle of tally sticks – on our last visit we were shown an account scroll with a tally stick attached and it had lit a spark for me. I had heard of these in connection with keeping records of debts and goods/money exchanged and owing. I haven’t given much thought as to how I will bring these into my piece yet, but I will come back to them.

Over the past couple of year I have been mainly hand-stitching on reclaimed and eco-dyed textiles. Recently I took a chance and bought a second hand computerized embroidery machine.Among other things, this allows me to digitize images into stitch. I got it at about the time that this project started so I thought I might include it as one of the techniques I use. This also means that I have to learn how to use it, so it stops it from sitting in a corner sulking

I have been experimenting with digitizing images of hand-writing and stitching out some samples. It’s taken quite a few attempts to reach a result I am starting to feel happy with, see the top photo.

Now I am applying the process to some script from my photos of the archive documents. I hope to build up patterns from these to use as an element in my piece, see the bottom two photos

I seem to be developing this piece in a rather muddled way ….. I don’t yet have a clear picture of what I am aiming at, but I am picking up themes and ideas I want to include as well as thinking about the stitch tools and techniques I might use. There is more about my thinking process on my blog.

3rd Jan 2014 – made more samples during the holiday period, latest update here on my blog