I’ve been sitting here at the computer for a while now trying to think of something to write about for the last post of the year and I can’t settle on any one thing. I have just finished and submitted the report for the first year of the project this blog was created for – Professional Tudor Embroidery: Investigation and Re-creation. The three-year project was to start in September 2021 and the first report was actually due in January 2022 but it soon became clear that travel to the UK was still a very iffy proposition. My well-planned seven-week research trip was much delayed and turned into three-week scramble. I filled those three weeks with research but none of it was what had been planned so the whole project was well behind already and the carefully laid out three-year timeline was toast! Hence, the first report just having been submitted. Instead of one seven-week trip in September 2021, there were three separate trans Atlantic trips for a total of 12 weeks away and my travel budget already blown. There continue to be innumerable challenges in keeping to any planned schedule as there are ongoing closures and strikes but I’m determined to get back on track to finish by January 2025. To wrap up this first phase of the project and to put myself squarely on the path forward, I thought I’d post an illustrated review of the work accomplished to date.
I’ve looked at hundreds of extant artifacts… from both sides and through different lenses…
I’ve studied the brushwork on paintings of embroidery…
I’ve struggled to decipher over what seems like a million handwritten 15th and 16th century documents…
I’ve purchased supplies… and watched them being made…
I’ve experimented with re-creating painted embroidery… and had some spectacular failures…
I’ve visited loads of churches, libraries, museums, stately homes… and found loads of Tudor embroidery in all kinds of media…
I’ve tried my hand at translating medieval French…
I’ve travelled by plane, train, tram, tube, bus, car and foot…
I’ve searched for Tudor pins and aglets… and found lots of pipe stems…
I’ve gone to exhibitions and lectures and given a few zoom presentations… I even sat on a jury…
In short, it has been a very busy year and 2023 will be even more so… I hope you’ll follow along me as I start the new year, hopefully with needle in hand!
Tudor Embroidery 
nice
I very much look forward to seeing your embroidery in the coming year . Yes , indeed it is a wonderful passion to have !
Your year has been quite extraordinary. I suspect the stories of the process are as interesting as the research itself. Perhaps you could share some more☺️ I hope we don’t have to wait 3 years to see more of you . Happy New Year
Your time frame and budget may both be blown but my goodness! The items in various media you’ve explored! I wish for you an eased experience in translations of those fascinating documents. Your perservation and dedication will prevail in this research project. Again, I’m grateful for your knowledge sharing and really enjoy following your journey. Hoping this coming year is more cooperative for your plans.
WOW! And what a year it has been. Thanks for taking us along on your wild ride through Tudor England and re-creating the embroidered subjects of your investigation. Do you have any recommendations and sources for paleography? This week I went to the Tudor exhibit and stood in front of Elizabeth I’s New Year’s Role and struggled to make out what I knew must have been English. Where did you learn how to decipher this handwritten script?
I also wondered if you went mudlarking on your own or with a group. Searching for Tudor pins is a dream of mine too!
Happy New Year! All the best for a productive and illuminating 2023.
Perseverance! I ordered a number of wills from the National Archives and just went for it. Since then I have found some handy lists of examples on the internet and there is a tutorial on the NA website: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/ There used to be a course in learning Latin too but it has disappeared. I did try but it was not easy and I did give up on that. If you already know Latin there is a tutorial on transcribing it. The mudlarking was on the spur of the moment because we had an appointment near the Thames in the City. My friend has a permit and the tide happened to be out so we went down to the foreshore for about 10 minutes. It is quite dangerous both physically and bacteriologically. Research before you go!
It has been a busy year! Thank you for taking the time to write the blog so that we have some insight into all that you are learning. Happy New Year! I am looking forward to following you further into the world of Tudor Embroidery!