I am making progress on the next book. I’ve received emails back from two of the museums that I contacted saying that they are willing to help me, by answering any questions I might have. I am so very grateful that people are willing to do this for me. I understand that most museums are understaffed and underfunded, so for people to be willing to devote time to my questions is just lovely.
Last night I started a new project for the book. It is quite different from anything I’ve ever done before. I hope it works out. If it doesn’t, you’ll never see it! 😉
I still wish that I could travel to the home of the embroidery I’m going to be focusing on. I just know it would be such a valuable experience for me for the book. However, my husband insists that he would be coming with me, and then the girls both insist too. That makes it quite an expensive little exercise!
I keep hoping that the money will miraculously turn up in our bank account, but that’s not at all likely. I even considered using a crowdfunding website like “GoFundMe”, but I feel pretty weird about asking people for money like that!
I’ll just have to convince myself that I don’t need to go.
Of course, not going, I’ll have to purchase photos to use that I could otherwise take myself… I won’t be able to see the embroidery up close and personal… I won’t be able to ask the questions that I would only think of when I see the work in the flesh… I wouldn’t be able to purchase local materials and support the local economy… I wouldn’t be able to meet local craftspeople who still make the embroidery and treasure it as part of their culture… I wouldn’t be able to get a real feel for the culture, and see how the embroidery fits in with that…
I’m not doing a very good job of convincing myself, am I?! Must try harder!
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
Yvette, do you know if there are any museums in Australia that have any pieces of the type of embroidery you are researching? You never know and if so, it might be easier for you to see an example this way. Also: if there are any ethnic communities in Australia of the people originally from the area you are studying, sometimes retirement homes and community centres hold people who would love to reminisce and who can pull out family treasures and perhaps show you a stitch or two…
Jeanine in Canada
http://www.italian-needlework.blogspot.com/
Great suggestion, Jeanine, but unfortunately it’s not going to work for this particular embroidery. I’m pretty sure that it would be almost impossible to find the sort of thing I am after, here in Australia. For one, I want really old embroideries – from the 1800s – and they just wouldn’t have made their way to Australia. Australia was only settled by Europeans from 1788 onwards, and the fact that this embroidery does not come from England, where our settlers came from, means that the chance of any really historical pieces having made their way here is almost impossible.
Other historical and ethnic embroidery styles – yes, that would be a great idea to follow up on, but this one, no. 🙁
I really do think you could consider the crowdfunding thing! A friend’s band crowdfunded their latest CD recording, and offered fans a copy of the CD or other goodies, depending on the amount they donated. I would happily donate for a copy of the book, or a discounted book!
It sounds to me as though you need to investigate the crowdfunding site. Photos just don’t give the full impression, after all!
Of course, if everyone placed their orders for the Sardinian book (which you would get MUCH sooner!) then that would have the same net effect for me… 😉 http://www.vettycreations.com.au/sardinian-book.html
Yvette, have you considered revealing which country you want to go to? You may have a reader there! Or a reader may know someone who would be happy to billet you. I know billeting can be a bit awkward, but it might be worth the risk!
Hi Linda, again a great suggestion. However, I’m not willing to say which country! 🙂 In the scheme of things, it’s the airfares that are the largest portion of any money I’d need to spend. Australia is a long way from most places!