With a bit of luck I will get my passport back this week stamped with a shiny visa for China! Getting one was my first encounter with Chinese bureaucracy :). I will also see my doctor tomorrow for a refresher jab to protect me against nasty diseases. We embroidery artists lead exciting lives! Although I am not sure if I am an artist. I have been denied this title by the German authorities. They basically say that embroidery is not an art form, but firmly belongs in the realm of craftsmanship. At first I was knocked off my feet by this, but now I am preparing to defend my case. Getting recognition as an artist means that I am able to afford social security fees again and that my health insurance bills are almost cut in half. This would mean that my business could finally make a modest plus instead of a monthly loss... What you see here is the kit for my week-long series of workshops at the National Silk Museum in Hangzhou, China later this year. As the workshop-series is open to anyone, it is highly likely that I will have a wide variety of abilities in my class. Apart from the four techniques (Appenzeller whitework, crewel, goldwork and Schwalm), they will have four pieces of Aida band on which they can cross-stitch the names of the techniques. The bands are later used in construction to hide the seams between the different fabrics. Although it is highly likely that there are people in my class who have never done cross-stitching, explaining is easy and people can soon work on their own. With 15 people in class, I won't always be immediately on hand. Having something easy on the side you can always return too whilst waiting will probably come in handy. One thing I have learned over the years is that people mean wildly different things when you ask them to bring fine-tipped embroidery or craft scissors. Especially beginners manage to bring whopping big blunt paper scissors for goldwork classes. I have therefore included a pair of decent craft scissors in my kit. It is exactly the same pair of scissors I bought all those years ago when starting the RSN Certificate as an absolute beginner. And they are still my favourite goldwork scissors! Thanks to Google Images, I found my non-name scissors and was able to buy them for my Chinese students. As the kit includes many different materials, I packed each project separately. I printed a picture of the finished project onto re-usable labels. This makes them easily identifiable for non-English speakers and people can re-seal the bag and so keep supplies together. All kit materials will be packed together into a paper bag. I will urge each student to write her/his name onto the bag to avoid misunderstandings.
I've also included a shower-cap into the kit. The museum will provide embroidery hoops with seat frames for each student. The free shower-caps you often get in hotels are perfect to protect your work when you are not actively stitching. The other thing I have included is a simple goldwork cutting board. It is one half of a round plastic containers my dad used to house his screws, bolts and whatnots in. I lined the base with a piece of red velour and presto you have a cutting board. If I had more space in my suitcase, I would prefer to give each student a small round tin (I always upcycle my hair-clay tins this way!). Being able to cut your threads and then screw the tin close is even better. What else will I have at my disposal in the classroom? I've asked for an iron an ironing board. After all, I had to fold the fabrics to be able to get them into my suitcase. In preparation, I have already drawn all (bar one) patterns onto the fabric using a normal lead pencil. Unfortunately, the lines of aqua trick markers might not be stable when flying. I landed in America once with very faint lines... The only pattern I will have to draw before class, is the Appenzeller monogram. I'll use a trick marker and a copper stencil. It just doesn't work well with a lead pencil. And last but not least, I will have a sewing machine in my classroom. Although I am not sure any of my students will be able to finish all four projects in time to start the construction of the pronkrol, when some so, they can use the sewing machine for quicker construction. I am getting so excited! P.S. I've been interviewed for an article by Crafts Industry Alliance on the 'Benefits of limiting your time on Social Media'. Unfortunately, they left out my remark on the dangers of particularly Facebook using our data for commercial gain and the undermining of democracy. This was an important reason why I deleted my accounts after being hacked.
17 Comments
Mabel
11/9/2018 12:36:01
Hoi Jessica, voor mij ben je al heel lang een KUNSTENAAR een met stip!! en een geweldige docente ze moeten gewoon niet moeilijk doen. Wat een geweldige ervaring wordt het gaan naar China. Echt geweldig en de dames kunnen blij met zo een juf zijn.
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11/9/2018 16:48:45
Dank je wel Mabel! Ik denk dat ik je maar bel als het allemaal niets uithaald. Dan gaan we samen gezellig demonstreren en bij ze op de stoep staan in Wilhelmshaven. Gek idee trouwens dat ze in dezelfde straat hun bureau hebben waar ik jaren als archeoloog gewerkt heb...
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11/9/2018 12:44:51
Fantastic work you do!
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11/9/2018 16:51:49
Thank you Meri! Yes, I am so looking forward to be able to wander through the museum. You can even see textile conservators whilst they work :).
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11/9/2018 16:55:43
Gaat een taai klusje worden :(. Wat me het meeste boos maakt, is dat ze m'n ingevulde formulieren en al het 'bewijsmateriaal' niet zorgvuldig lezen. Zo moest ik ze eerst al corrigeren dat ik geen Strickerin maar een Stickerin ben. Nu moet ik binnen een maand een officieel bezwaarschrift indienen. Gelukkig ken ik wel iemand die me daar bij kan helpen!
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11/9/2018 16:14:12
Jessica, I hope you have a wonderful trip to China. It sounds very exciting!
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11/9/2018 16:57:08
Thank you Margaret! I'd wish I could take you all with me :). Group-stitching on the Chinese Wall anyone?
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Monica
11/9/2018 21:30:32
Hoi Jessica, misschien helpt het nog om ondersteunende brieven van erkende kunstenaars of high level opleidingen bij je protest te voegen en bijv. de prijs die voor je prachtige vos hebt gewonnen? En lesgeven aan een buitenlandse universiteit op uitnodiging, misschien? Succes daarmee.
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11/9/2018 22:43:42
Dank je Monica! Het vinden van erkende kunstenaars die voor de instanties acceptabel zijn, is dus het probleem. Ik ga me nu proberen aan te sluiten bij een kunstenaarskolonie hier in de buurt. Daar zitten helaas geen textielkunstenaars, maar ze staan verder wel goed aangeschreven. De Royal School of Needlework en de vos haalden niets uit. Volgens de instanties gaat het hierbij niet om kunst of een kunstopleiding, maar puur om handwerk.Net als mijn uitnodiging naar China; geen kunst, maar handwerk. Met dat laatste ben ik het overigens eens. De vos is natuurlijk ook problematisch omdat het grafische ontwerp niet van mij, maar van Millie Marotta is. Ook zien zijn instanties als de Royal School of Needlework en Inspirations Magazine niet als kunstkenners. Daar kan ik ook best inkomen. Het probleem is echter dat er voor kunstborduurders, zo ver ik weet, geen officiele verenigingen bestaan met een reputatie die voor de instanties hier aanvaardbaar zijn. Ik heb echter ook werkstukken gemaakt die wel degelijk kunst zijn en niet puur handwerk: de monnik onder de boom, de paarse annemoon, het viooltje, de gouden knoop, St. Alanus, St. Laurence etc. Helaas lijken ze ze bevooroordeeld ten opzichte van het borduren, dat dit nog een hele kluif gaat worden. Maar opgeven doe ik voorlopig niet!
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Velia Antila
11/9/2018 22:40:01
Hi Jessica,
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Leigh
12/9/2018 05:26:46
When I was I Beijing several years ago we went somewhere that sold cross stitch kits. As we had to wait for a kit to come from another store we sat and watched buyers. Each buyer had the fabric changed to 11 count aida and the store owner drew a grid on each fabric for the stitcher.
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Marina
12/9/2018 13:54:12
I hope you have a safe flight to China and all the best for your classes there! I really look forward to reading about it on your blog. Keep us up-to-date!
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