Fashion on the Ration Verdict

Yesterday, 3rd May, I headed up to London to join a good friend of mine, Laura Howard of BugsandFishes, to nip over to the Fashion on the Ration Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum. A place I don't think I've been too since I was a kid, needless to say it's changed quite a bit since then. Especially given the major revamp which saw it close for a considerable amount of time to do it. 

Alas, as it was a paid for exhibition I don't have any photographs from the actual exhibit so you'll have to use your imagination, or pop over to the website to see a few snap shots. It certainly was very well laid out, and very interesting. I always was a sucker for a well tailored attire, and especially uniforms. You might recall in 2012 I went to Goodwood Revival which was an utter hoot and who doesn't love a spot of dressing up. 

Anyway, back to the exhibition. A very well curated collection of clothing and not just women's there was information on the demob suits and how men's clothing was adapted to use for the whole family. I think the only thing I found that they missed a trick on, was having live demonstrations of how clothing was adapted (there were a few videos but nothing beats seeing it in person), even the mending that was constantly talked about, how do you darn tights? I think that would have added an extra something to it, and perhaps even to entice kids into the whole make do and mend. Which I am sure some people see as just a passing fad, forgetting the realities of what people had endure during the second world war. Would we cope now? Not so sure, for one thing the clothing that many people purchase now, really wouldn't even survive to being mended or patched. 

Still, it was very interesting and easily navigated and viewed in a comfortable hour and a half. 

I also liked being able walk about the IWM again, especially the WW1 exhibition on the ground floor..or was it basement?

Been to any interesting exhibitions of late or is there one coming up you can't wait to see. 

Silver Linings...

At last! A full day of sunshine and not a cloud in sight, except for one rather pretty, silvery cloud that I completed during the week, it's all mounted and now ready for framing. With the brightened weather I even managed to get some fairly decent photo's of it and for a bit of a trial I ordered a small stack of postcards from Moo to see what it and other embroidered works looks in print.

I'm so thrilled with the outcome, from a random little sketch last year to this simple, shiny and uber effective appliqué. I'll admit I was really tempted to add more beading to it but stopped myself when I finished couching 'every' because I thought what it had was enough. 

Whilst I was mounting the piece I posted a picture over on Instagram, and I got the following question:

@themasonbee what do you mount it on? I’ve never done that before.
— Rebecca Greco (@hugsarefun) February 15, 2014

Twitter is somewhat limited to answer but I thought I might expand on it here. Using the picture in question I pinned the embroidered piece of fabric to two layers of mount board (preference is museum grade) Before doing that I put a couple of layers of wadding underneath, it helps keep the fabric layer smooth. Now normally I'd have wrapped a layer of calico over the wadding and not put it directly against the embroidered fabric but as the silk is already applied to calico I didn't want to add more bulk. I then laced the embroidered fabric around the wadding and card, then slipped stitched silk on the back to cover the lacing and the card.

I'll admit, that this is the easiest way of mounting work but it isn't the completely proper way of doing it. But noneless it's secure and does the job brilliantly for what I need it to do. Now I need to buy the shadow box for it to go into.

I do feel a bit forlorn now that it's complete but not at the same time as I have already the next design to work on. Essentially, I did a doodle of a dragon last night and I am so excited by the design that I'll be working on that next week. Whilst also finishing off my place mats (nearly all stitched), designing and making an ATC (Artist Trading Card) for a swap I'm involved with and I'm also considering signing up to take part in the Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap not that I don't already have enough things to work on. I don't have long to decide whether or not to do it, but nothing like leaving it to the last minute to make a decision.

During the week, I sent out my first newsletter (check it out) for this year and I showed a few snippets of future patterns and I also mentioned with publications I am in this month. Now on that last point I make a correction. I thought that the project I did for Crafty was in this one, but it would have actually been in the March edition...I say would have been but if you didn't already know, the publication is being pulled. Gutting, and rather sad news, as I think it was really starting to find its feet and a cracking magazine. Now I am not sure where that leaves my projects, I need to get some clarification on that but it's probably likely I'll be able to release what I did on the blog instead or turn into little paid for patterns. Not sure, either way I'll keep you posted!

Finally, and not least if you wondered why I didn't blog last week, I had a very busy weekend of seeing good friends and being all cultural. On the Saturday I ventured up to London, despite the atrocious weather, to see a fellow Laura and to hit various smaller more obscure museums; Sir John Soane's Museum, The Hunterian Museum and Two Temple Place. It was a hoot of a day, tiring as hell at the end of it but well worth it. Highly recommend all the museums if your looking to go somewhere that aren't the usual suspects and they are pretty close together, in fact Soane is cross the square from the Hunterian. It was meant to be!

I hope you lovely lot are well and safe in this utterly mad weather!