seed pod #066
February 1999
© Copyright 1999 Maria Pahls
the fence post
(editor's letter)
dear friends:
perhaps my favorite of all holidays is st. valentine's day. i think it has something to do with the fact that valentines cards and sweets are seldom displayed 6 months before the day's actual arrival. other reasons include no goofy holiday mascot, no big "build up", no mad rush to the mall and then back again to return every thing...
valentine's day, though not a "big" holiday is still richly laced in tradition. the sentiments once did and still do come from the heart. let's face it, you may *have* to buy certain people christmas gifts but you only give valentines to those that hold a special place in your heart.
happy valentine's day,
maria pahls
p.s. the resources section contains several web sites that sell wonderful papers, teach paper and lace making as well as victorian ribbon work-all wonderful projects to incorporate into a valentine for someone special.
miscellaneous letters sent in by readers
lori baker says hello
"Hi Maria,
Just wanted to commend you on the article for CLOTH DOLL! Very nice!!! For the 1999 Valley Forge/gallery of American Craftsmen show I've been trying to do some different things... smaller bunnies and bears stuffed with excelsior and aged. Lots of rabbits, hares and bunnies... (It's Easter, you know!) Even a few little mohair chicks peep, peep, peeping around!
Getting a little crazy and making spring colored bunnies (yes, pink, lavender, blue, yellow, etc.) but then dunkin' them in the tea, dye, coffee, etc. Dirty, ole pnk" happy creating to all, and especially those getting ready for shows!!!
saundra is busy as usual, here is what she's up to...
"One thing I'm working on and for a change of pace, is a hand woven rag rug which will be approx. 24 x 36 - actually longer with fringe. What a fantastic way to use up that yardage of fabric you fell in love with when you bought it 5 years ago or those pieces of fabric left over from making doll clothing that you just hate to part with because you like the color.
You wouldn't believe how great printed fabrics look when used in the rug. I used one paisley print done in tan, brown & peach and it looks like a tweed when woven up. Then I used up my brown with some small design on it that is a poly/cotton that I bought about 8 years ago, but that looked great with the paisley. Finally I used up that 2 yards of autumn print that I got tired of. The rug is going to fit right in with my country home with all those earthy colors.
The rug project was started while waiting for the supplies to arrive so I could begin Shari Lutz's Izannah Walker doll that was featured in The Cloth Doll magazine. I've since gotten the supplies and I am working on two heads. I want both a black and white dollie and am now at the fine sanding of the heads. Anyone who would like to make the doll but is wondering if it will be difficult, have no fear. Shari has been very responsive to my questions and has a true interest in how I am doing.
Maria, you did a fantastic job with the article on primitives and I certainly hope others will follow your lead so that we'll all see much more on primitive doll artists and doll patterns in other doll publications." (see book wormies for info on the book saundra used for the rug.)
(see book wormies for info on the book saundra used for the rug)
primitive ponderings
questions asked by readers, then replied upon in later issues.
Rosalee writes to ask:
"Seem to be marching up and down in the one spot here. I have been making a doll that involves some paiper mache but am having a devil of a time with the face - papier mache wouldn't stick... I used paper mache mix, it said to mix with water, smear glue on the surface you will apply the paper to, and stick it on. I got balls of paper, wouldn't stick to anything."
rosalee, for your papier mache i think you may want to be sure you are putting enough glue on the surface of your fabric. also in case we forgot to clarify you are using liquid white glue, right? like a tacky glue...
next make sure you wash the glue off of your hands before going to the papier mache, don't let the glue dry before adding the papier mache and make sure your papier mache is not too runny or lumpy. you should be able to hold it in your fingers without it running thru yet be able to squeeze it and have some liquid run out (as well as a bit of the mache).
also if you are really having trouble with sticking then put a little bit on, just the size of a coin. let it dry then you can add to that (the mache will stick to the dried mache) and keep adding and drying adding & drying. when it is all dry you can put a final thin smooth coat over the top(but since that takes so long, only use that method if all else fails). or you may need to put the squeeze on papier mache-
if your papier mache is too soggy or your too impatient to wait for long drying times, try this... put a large blob on a thirsty towel and then fold the towel over on the blob. push down on the top layer of the towel to squish out the extra moisture. your papier mache should easily lift off the towel. maria
tips & techniques
heart & hand project
the shakers often used the heart and hand motif and their motto was: "hands to work, hearts to God". of course the fact that the shakers housed men and women (including spouses) in separate parts of their houses didn't allow for too much romance.
heart and hand stitchery. sizes may vary this example is 5"X7". draw and cut out hand & heart from paper. cut a black wool back ground 5" x 7" trace the heart on red wool (use chalk)& the hand with pencil on white wool. cut the red wool heart & sew the heart to the white wool hand before cutting hand from white wool. cut the hand and sew to black backing. embroider with saying if desired.
"Grungy Paper Mache Hearts"
(based on a project sent in by linda taylor)
use the ready made craft store paper mache hearts paint with a Barn Red shade and dry several hours. make a double boiler with an old can and shallow pan of water. (caution do not leave unattended) on a low heat melt bee's wax in the can . add scent if desired.
over a protected surface, "paint" the hearts (one side at a time ) with wax using a 1-inch wide paintbrush. (note: this brush can be used again for wax work) add a few whole all spice pieces to the wet wax before it cools. when first side cools paint second side. You can make it as lumpy as you want by adding on more layers of wax and spices.
for variation try cloves, small pieces of dried orange peels, dried rose petals, and so forth. note: the color your wax is (candle, tart), will influence the color of your end product. also you can replace the string hanger with a 3/4" torn piece of homespun for a more primitive look.
who's it?
what's it?
lehn ware: joseph lehn,(1798-1982), spent the long winter months on his pennsylvaiia farm producing small ,turned wooden containers- egg cups,vases, pin cups, spice holders, saffron cups,etc. - all of which are very collectible today .
crazing: to become covered with fine cracks
patina: a thin layer of corrosion usually brown or green that appears on copper of copper alloys, such as bronze, as a result of natural or artificial oxidation. the sheen produced by age and use on any antique surface.
ARTICLES OF PRIMITIVE
a short history of valentines
in the middle ages suitors often spoke or sang their valentine greetings. it wasn't until after about 1400 that the first written valentines were exchanged as is evident by a surviving sample in the british museum (see prose for verse from this valentine). these hand made early valentines were popular in england and given in place of valentine gifts.
of the many types of handmade valentines made with colored paper, watercolors, and colored inks here are a few explanations....
ACROSTIC: the loved one's name was used on the card. each letter of the name began a sentence of sentiment.
CUT PAPERS: were made to have a lace like appearance by folding and cutting the design with small sharp scissors.
PINPRICK: a needle was used to create the look of lace by pricking tiny holes in a paper to form a design.
THEOREM or POONAH: an oriental style valentine, these designs were cut in oil paper then stenciled onto paper.
REBUS: tiny pictures were placed in lieu of some of the written words. such as an human eye in place of the word "I".
PUZZLE PURSE: among their many folds these contained verses that had to be read in a certain order.
FRAKTUR: these contained illuminated manuscripts and ornate lettering.
the first manufactured valentines surfaced in the early 1800's. assembled in factories and painted by hand the images were in black and white. later in the mid 1800's more flourishes were added such as lace and ribbon and paper lace. machine made valentines came in the late 1800's.
the first commercial valentine greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840's by Esther A. Howland
with the turn of the century valentine manufacturer surfaced called Norcross which eventually became our "hallmark". each year they display rare valentines from years past in some of their many chain stores.
haida supplies
29533 canvasback drive
easton, md 21601
e-mail: haidasup@aol.com
http://www.haidasupplies.com
Tel: (410) 770-5100 (888) 271- 0731
bear supply source - they carry excelsior, kapok, (cotton) and wool stuffing
Loose Ends
P.O. Box 20310
Keizer, Or. 97303
large selection papers, aged wooden finials, and dried fruits.
email: info@4loosends.com
web site www.looseends.com
catalogs available
book reviews
&
books of interest
country threads rugs from rags
16 pages, black & white photos with instructions for "twining" a rug of any size and for building a frame to accomplish the same.
$10.00 + S&H (IA residents add 6%)
Country Threads
2345 Palm Ave Garner, IA 50438
641-923-3893 800-544-6852
www.countrythreads.com
cthreads@ncn.net
A Celebration of American Dolls
from the collections of the Strong Museum
By Dorothy A. McGonagle
Hobby House Press 1997
ISBN: 0- 87588-479-2
(800) 554-1447)
Tidings from the Eighteenth Century
by Beth Gilgun Paperback (May 1993)
Scurlock Pub Co
ISBN: 1880655047
will teach you about the life of early american women. kitchen ware, firing a bake oven, dyestuffs, "jewellire", tea time, bedsteads & bedding, making soap & candles needle work & sewing, how to instructions, photos, diagrams & patterns (800) 228-6389
Paintbox Summer
by Betty Cavanna
ASIN: 066432052X
this is a nice book! but out of print, check your library.
The Private World of Tasha Tudor
by Tasha Tudor, Richard Eric Brown
Hardcover - 134 pages (October 1992)
Little Brown & Company
ISBN: 0316112925
the collector's eye magazine
www.collectorseye.com
(preview of current issue available)
catskill morning farm seller of the wonderful LAVILLE photo frames
http://www3.viaweb.com/catskillmorningfarm/ind.html
hand making paper
http://www.servtech.com/~artfarm/papier.html
arachne's Lace Making
http://www.arachne.com/
vintage vogue Victorian (ribbons)site
http://www.vintagevogue.com/
beautiful paper cuttings by alison
http://www.papercuttingsbyalison.com
prose
A PRISONER'S VALENTINE
charles, duke of orleans, who was taken prisoner at the battle of agincourt in 1415 and detained in england twenty-five years, was the author of the earliest known written valentines. he left about sixty of them. they were written during his confinement in the tower of london, and are still to be seen among the royal papers in the british museum. one of his valentines reads as follows:
"Wilt thou be mine? dear Love, reply
-- Sweetly consent or else deny.
Whisper softly, none shall know,
Wilt thou be mine, Love?
-- aye or no?
Spite of Fortune,
we may be Happy by one word from thee.
Life flies swiftly --
ere it go Wilt thou be mine, Love?
-- aye or no?"
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