A couple of weeks ago I posted some SEM photographs of threads taken from 17th Century needle laces on Instagram and it sparked quite a bit of discussion and many questions, so for this episode of TextileStories I wanted to tell the story of some of the research I have done looking at thread samples taken from 17th century laces.

It is amazing what we can find when we set our preconceptions aside and simply look. I would love to hear from anyone else who has been looking at fibres used to make lace as I think it is definitely research worth continuing!

This episode may be best watched on YouTube as the slides are quite important to follow along. You can find the version with the slides here: https://youtu.be/GbFkj5_HG34

A couple of papers on the subject can be found here: https://www.textilesupport.net/papers-to-download

For more reading about the fashion for Italian lace in France during the 17th Century you can download the "Revolt of the Passements" from the University of Arizona’s digital textile archive via one of the links below:

A great translation of the poem "Revolt of the Passements" can be found here published in 1935 by New York’s famous Needle and Bobbin Club, the original text in French comes first and is followed by the English Translation:

https://www2.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/books/unk_pass.pdf

Here instead is a copy of one of the Needle and Bobbin Club’s journals where the poem has been illustrated with examples from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York:

https://www2.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/articles/nb30_pas.pdf

The idea of lace music, or a lace album might first seem strange, but anyone who makes bobbin lace, or has been in a space where people are making bobbin lace knows that this craft has its own very special music; the sound of wooden bobbins dancing as a lace maker works is both beautiful and hypnotic, so it might not be such a huge leap after all…

Over the last 2 years the collaboration between composer Paula Matthusen and artist (and lace maker) Olivia Valentine has taken this sound and reworked it into a complex process or composing, performing and recording the sounds of lace and place. Between Systems and Grounds is the name which they have given to this collaboration and to their new album which they launched on December1 in Brooklyn.

I was fortunate to have been able to speak with Paula and Olivia the evening before the launch and chat about their unique project, process and their specially designed lace music box.

Tune in to hear all about this fascinating story…

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog

To read more about Paula and Olivia’s work go to: https://betweensystemsandgrounds.com/

You can also find the album on Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon.

Would you prefer to watch a slideshow while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEWyEEuojOfsVZdkK5KGBZqzhKYg3ztnX

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free

http://brokeforfree.com/

I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Australian contemporary basket maker and sculptor Catriona Pollard who in this interview shares with us some of her personal journey coming from the world of business to rediscover a part of herself through the art of basketry. Catriona's organic sculptures offer an opportunity to reflect on our own interconnectedness with each other and the world which surrounds us, inviting us to see the beauty in ordinary objects and slow the pace of our daily lives.

Join us to hear about Catriona's process of collecting and giving new life to materials, her approach to making and her current exhibition which is on until June 3 2018 at Sturt Contemporary Australian Craft and Design in Mittagong (south of Sydney)

http://www.sturt.nsw.edu.au/

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog

To see more of Catriona's work go to: http://theartofweaving.com.au/

Would you prefer to watch a slideshow while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEWyEEuojOfsVZdkK5KGBZqzhKYg3ztnX

Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free

http://brokeforfree.com/

To start off our 2018 series I caught up with the heroic English lace maker Jane Atkinson to discuss her journey into the craft, her inspiration and approach to lace design and her exciting new exhibition which will be held at Walford Mill Crafts, Dorset, in September. Jane and I have also been cooking up some lace surprises for our listeners in what will be a year of lace!

Check out our new lace campaign at https://www.textilesupport.net/lace-support

It was a real pleasure to speak with with designer Ali Rauf this week on TextileStories. He recently did Australia very proud taking home second prize in the fashion section of Hand & Lock's international embroidery prize with his own over the top contemporary take on shisha embroidery.

Join us as we discuss Ali's childhood travelling around the Middle East and the Sub Continent, the importance of making in traditional cultures, and the wonderful things that happen when children are exposed to rich cultural and creative realities from an early age.

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog

To see more of Ali's work go to: http://www.birdskin.net/

Or follow him on instagram: @birdskinau

Would you prefer to watch a slideshow of Ali's work? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/7kCXyaia6no

Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free

http://brokeforfree.com/

This week on TextileStories I was delighted to catch up with the amazingly talented embroiderer Elena Thornton who recently took home three prizes from this year's prestigious Hand & Lock Embroidery awards

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog

To see more of Elena's work go to: https://www.elenathornton.com/

Or follow her on instagram: @elena_thornton_embroidery

Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/4E4DHJv_XVI

Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free

http://brokeforfree.com/

This week on TextileStories I had the pleasure of chatting with mixed media artist and new lace maker Maggie Hensel-Brown about her textile journey which has led her to recently discover the art of needle lace which is taking her practise in a whimsical and meaningful new direction.

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog

To see more of Maggie's work go to: https://maggiehensel-brown.squarespace.com/

Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/RsO5wICsojY

Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free

http://brokeforfree.com/

This week on TextileStories I was joined by jeweller, enamellist and lace maker Alicia Jane Boswell. She discusses how she came to work with metal and eventually textile techniques and how working with these helped her to create a sense of connection to the women in her family and a sense of home.

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog

To see more of Alicia Jane’s work go to: http://aliciajaneboswell.com

Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0Hum1w641U&t=2s

Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free

http://brokeforfree.com/

A conversation with young independent fashion designer Cora Bellotto. Cora discusses her journey so far, her thoughts about slow and sustainable fashion and where she would like to take her label next...

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog

To see more of Cora's creations go to: http://www.corabellotto.com/

Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqFmWSR7ThQ

Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free

http://brokeforfree.com/

An interview with the inspirational British embroidery artist Diana Springall; discussing her career, her decision to make her vast collection available online and her mission to raise the status of embroidery as a form of artistic expression.

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog

To see Diana Springall's collection online go to: http://dianaspringallcollection.co.uk/

Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGUA5VNCpjw

Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free

http://brokeforfree.com/