Unusual additions to needlework

I've just got the Feb/March edition of 'Stitch' the bi-monthly magazine of
the embroiderers guild (? UK)
( website http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/ )
and there is a wonderful article in there about a piece from their museum
collection . At first glance it's a pleasant but unremarkable spray of what
looks like Berlin work flowers worked on black velvet , but in actual fact
the flowers are made from overlapping layers of fishbone shaped into petals
!
Should we now take up fishing as well ? After all , we can already make use
of the line thread , lure silk and feathers , hook holders , actual tackle
boxes and now oh glory , we have a suggested use for the aftermath !!!! (all
that and a fish supper - bargain !)
Take care
Jan

An addition to my own post - reading the article properly , the flower
'petals' may be actual fish scales , apparently one of the Victorian
favourites was to use fish scales in this way and there is a detailed
explanation on how to soak the scales for use and put 2 small holes near the
base in order to stitch the scales in place while still pliable.
Take care
Jan
"Jan Lennie" wrote in message
...
I've just got the Feb/March edition of 'Stitch' the bi-monthly magazine of
the embroiderers guild (? UK)
( website http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/ )
and there is a wonderful article in there about a piece from their museum
collection . At first glance it's a pleasant but unremarkable spray of
what
looks like Berlin work flowers worked on black velvet , but in actual fact
the flowers are made from overlapping layers of fishbone shaped into
petals
!
Should we now take up fishing as well ? After all , we can already make
use
of the line thread , lure silk and feathers , hook holders , actual tackle
boxes and now oh glory , we have a suggested use for the aftermath !!!!
(all
that and a fish supper - bargain !)
Take care
Jan

It figures! In my family, all that we try to catch are catfish. I
suppose one could make creative use of the 'whiskers', but they come
with no scales.

Does the iridescence of the scales hold up over time? Does it mention
what type of fish was used?

Jan Lennie wrote:
An addition to my own post - reading the article properly , the flower
'petals' may be actual fish scales , apparently one of the Victorian
favourites was to use fish scales in this way and there is a detailed
explanation on how to soak the scales for use and put 2 small holes near the
base in order to stitch the scales in place while still pliable.

--
Brenda Lewis
WIP: "Pink Baby" photo frame, Candamar

They recommend carp ,perch or goldfish and colouring the white scales with
Damar varnish mixed with powdered colours .
The description / instructions are apparently taken from Dictionary of
Needlework by S.F.A.Caulfield and B.C. Saward (1882)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
Jan
"Brenda Lewis" wrote in message
...
It figures! In my family, all that we try to catch are catfish. I
suppose one could make creative use of the 'whiskers', but they come
with no scales.

Does the iridescence of the scales hold up over time? Does it mention
what type of fish was used?

Jan Lennie wrote:
An addition to my own post - reading the article properly , the flower
'petals' may be actual fish scales , apparently one of the Victorian
favourites was to use fish scales in this way and there is a detailed
explanation on how to soak the scales for use and put 2 small holes near
the
base in order to stitch the scales in place while still pliable.

--
Brenda Lewis
WIP: "Pink Baby" photo frame, Candamar

Hey! I have goldfish!
C

On 2/2/04 5:54 PM, in article , "Jan
Lennie" wrote:

They recommend carp ,perch or goldfish and colouring the white scales with
Damar varnish mixed with powdered colours .
The description / instructions are apparently taken from Dictionary of
Needlework by S.F.A.Caulfield and B.C. Saward (1882)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...5762174/sr=1-1
/ref=sr_1_1/103-1837268-8250207?v=glance&s=books
Jan
"Brenda Lewis" wrote in message
...
It figures! In my family, all that we try to catch are catfish. I
suppose one could make creative use of the 'whiskers', but they come
with no scales.

Does the iridescence of the scales hold up over time? Does it mention
what type of fish was used?

Jan Lennie wrote:
An addition to my own post - reading the article properly , the flower
'petals' may be actual fish scales , apparently one of the Victorian
favourites was to use fish scales in this way and there is a detailed
explanation on how to soak the scales for use and put 2 small holes near
the
base in order to stitch the scales in place while still pliable.

--
Brenda Lewis
WIP: "Pink Baby" photo frame, Candamar

Thanks, Jan! Carp are easy to catch since I've accidentally caught some
while trying for catfish. They love to bite on plump kernels of sweet corn.

Jan Lennie wrote:
They recommend carp ,perch or goldfish and colouring the white scales with
Damar varnish mixed with powdered colours .
The description / instructions are apparently taken from Dictionary of
Needlework by S.F.A.Caulfield and B.C. Saward (1882)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

--
Brenda Lewis
WIP: "Pink Baby" photo frame, Candamar

All over the world , and during many generations , people Used what
thet found in their region , to enhance their handwork , we find
beetles, feathers, stones, shells , dried flowers , dried fruits,
branches, dried graasses, etc... but come to think of it , aren`t
threads themselves , made of something people found in nature ?
mirjam
On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 22:38:25 GMT, Brenda Lewis
wrote:

It figures! In my family, all that we try to catch are catfish. I
suppose one could make creative use of the 'whiskers', but they come
with no scales.

Does the iridescence of the scales hold up over time? Does it mention
what type of fish was used?

Jan Lennie wrote:
An addition to my own post - reading the article properly , the flower
'petals' may be actual fish scales , apparently one of the Victorian
favourites was to use fish scales in this way and there is a detailed
explanation on how to soak the scales for use and put 2 small holes near the
base in order to stitch the scales in place while still pliable.

--
Brenda Lewis
WIP: "Pink Baby" photo frame, Candamar

Cheryl you reminded me that one of my cousins , was found one day by
her mother , `polishing` the gold fishes with the same liquid they
used for the silverware. [ she was 4 years old at the time]
mirjam
On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 17:58:00 -0500, Cheryl Isaak
wrote:

Hey! I have goldfish!
C

On 2/2/04 5:54 PM, in article , "Jan
Lennie" wrote:

They recommend carp ,perch or goldfish and colouring the white scales with
Damar varnish mixed with powdered colours .
The description / instructions are apparently taken from Dictionary of
Needlework by S.F.A.Caulfield and B.C. Saward (1882)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...5762174/sr=1-1
/ref=sr_1_1/103-1837268-8250207?v=glance&s=books
Jan
"Brenda Lewis" wrote in message
...
It figures! In my family, all that we try to catch are catfish. I
suppose one could make creative use of the 'whiskers', but they come
with no scales.

Does the iridescence of the scales hold up over time? Does it mention
what type of fish was used?

Jan Lennie wrote:
An addition to my own post - reading the article properly , the flower
'petals' may be actual fish scales , apparently one of the Victorian
favourites was to use fish scales in this way and there is a detailed
explanation on how to soak the scales for use and put 2 small holes near
the
base in order to stitch the scales in place while still pliable.

--
Brenda Lewis
WIP: "Pink Baby" photo frame, Candamar

That's a new one - my sister did eat a few once at the same age!
Cheryl
On 2/3/04 3:20 AM, in article , "Mirjam
Bruck-Cohen" wrote:

Cheryl you reminded me that one of my cousins , was found one day by
her mother , `polishing` the gold fishes with the same liquid they
used for the silverware. [ she was 4 years old at the time]
mirjam
On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 17:58:00 -0500, Cheryl Isaak
wrote:

Hey! I have goldfish!
C

On 2/2/04 5:54 PM, in article , "Jan
Lennie" wrote:

They recommend carp ,perch or goldfish and colouring the white scales with
Damar varnish mixed with powdered colours .
The description / instructions are apparently taken from Dictionary of
Needlework by S.F.A.Caulfield and B.C. Saward (1882)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...075762174/sr=1
-1
/ref=sr_1_1/103-1837268-8250207?v=glance&s=books
Jan
"Brenda Lewis" wrote in message
...
It figures! In my family, all that we try to catch are catfish. I
suppose one could make creative use of the 'whiskers', but they come
with no scales.

Does the iridescence of the scales hold up over time? Does it mention
what type of fish was used?

Jan Lennie wrote:
An addition to my own post - reading the article properly , the flower
'petals' may be actual fish scales , apparently one of the Victorian
favourites was to use fish scales in this way and there is a detailed
explanation on how to soak the scales for use and put 2 small holes near
the
base in order to stitch the scales in place while still pliable.

--
Brenda Lewis
WIP: "Pink Baby" photo frame, Candamar

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen wrote:

All over the world , and during many generations , people Used what
thet found in their region , to enhance their handwork , we find
beetles, feathers, stones, shells , dried flowers , dried fruits,
branches, dried graasses, etc... but come to think of it , aren`t
threads themselves , made of something people found in nature ?
mirjam

Some of the more unusual pieces I remember seeing in one museum are the
Victorian mourning pieces embroidered with the hair of the desceased.

If I ever cut my hair, I'm going to save it to make something along
those lines because I thought the work was pretty.

-georg