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Jun. 30th, 2004 04:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jadegirlLJ is still being cranky at me, so I'm not sure if this will even post, or post 32 times.
Mail-love from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
firinel today, a lovely, meaty letter full of things to think about. We were just talking about you yesterday, Fin - remembering that Picasso quote you told us about, and musing about the varied value judgements placed on art and artists, and the need for art integrated into day to day life.
I keep thinking about William Morris, and his failed experiment. Frightened by the Industrial Revolution, and seemingly seeing quite clearly where it would lead (when we used to watch the Food Network, I could never understand why so many commercials were for pre-prepared foods) he began employing artisans and craftspeople to create household objects by hand, integrating the ideas of beauty and usability, while maintaining a respect for the skills needed to make such things. The problem was that if he was to pay his employees a living wage, it drove the prices of his goods up so much that only the rich - the new captains of industry - could afford them. One of the last talks he gave bemoans this as the great failure of his life.
I remember a day at the Sterling renfaire, looking over some beautiful jewlery, natural motifs done in copper and brass. Sir was buying me a dragonfly bracelet, and I overheard a husband and wife - she was admiring a necklace in a stylized grapevine, and his was muttering about the prices, and said "We could get something at Wal-Mart for half of that." I was stunned. That sort of thinking is just Linear A to me.
In other news, one of Sir's birthday gifts to me was a collection of bath stuff from Medieval, Inc.. It's quite lovely, with beautiful scents and wonderful packaging. I've seen those products in some pretty popular fashion magazines, too, so it's fairly sucessful. What really struck me, is that there's not a damn thing in her line I don't know how to make myself. (However, I'm perfectly happy getting such things as gifts. I'm a great baker, too, but that doesn't stop me from going into every pastry shop I see. How else will I get ideas?) It's going to take some time, since things are still pretty unstable for us financially, but when things finally do settle out, I'm going to move full speed ahead with the bath-shop. First I'll need to buy my bases in bulk - hazelnut oil and such things are pretty expensive, but make for the best products. (Hazelnut oil is good for oily skin, in facial washes and body lotions) Once I have a good supply of bases, I'll make up 'dummy stock', the basic washes, lotions, and creams, all just waiting for scenting, that way when an order comes in I can just add the scent and send it on its way, without leaving the entire formulation till the last moment. If Medieval can do it, why can't I?
Since my birthday just passed, I'm swimming in yarn. I'm finishing up the tank top from the cover of the latest Vogue Knitting, and then I'll be starting Elizabeth I, in a gorgeous sienna-colored silk/wool. However Hush-hush is just screaming "You know you want me!", and the yarn for that is quite cheap. It's perfect for me - I have a very flapper-girl body type, otherwise known as "flat as a board". :) There's also a lace camisole in the works, and a new dice-bag for Sir, knit in a pattern called 'dragon skin', and, and, and....My hands are still giving me trouble, but Bob says it sound degenerative, so I'm just doing what I can, and dealing with the pain.
I'm chattering. I'll stop now.:)
Mail-love from
firinel today, a lovely, meaty letter full of things to think about. We were just talking about you yesterday, Fin - remembering that Picasso quote you told us about, and musing about the varied value judgements placed on art and artists, and the need for art integrated into day to day life.I keep thinking about William Morris, and his failed experiment. Frightened by the Industrial Revolution, and seemingly seeing quite clearly where it would lead (when we used to watch the Food Network, I could never understand why so many commercials were for pre-prepared foods) he began employing artisans and craftspeople to create household objects by hand, integrating the ideas of beauty and usability, while maintaining a respect for the skills needed to make such things. The problem was that if he was to pay his employees a living wage, it drove the prices of his goods up so much that only the rich - the new captains of industry - could afford them. One of the last talks he gave bemoans this as the great failure of his life.
I remember a day at the Sterling renfaire, looking over some beautiful jewlery, natural motifs done in copper and brass. Sir was buying me a dragonfly bracelet, and I overheard a husband and wife - she was admiring a necklace in a stylized grapevine, and his was muttering about the prices, and said "We could get something at Wal-Mart for half of that." I was stunned. That sort of thinking is just Linear A to me.
In other news, one of Sir's birthday gifts to me was a collection of bath stuff from Medieval, Inc.. It's quite lovely, with beautiful scents and wonderful packaging. I've seen those products in some pretty popular fashion magazines, too, so it's fairly sucessful. What really struck me, is that there's not a damn thing in her line I don't know how to make myself. (However, I'm perfectly happy getting such things as gifts. I'm a great baker, too, but that doesn't stop me from going into every pastry shop I see. How else will I get ideas?) It's going to take some time, since things are still pretty unstable for us financially, but when things finally do settle out, I'm going to move full speed ahead with the bath-shop. First I'll need to buy my bases in bulk - hazelnut oil and such things are pretty expensive, but make for the best products. (Hazelnut oil is good for oily skin, in facial washes and body lotions) Once I have a good supply of bases, I'll make up 'dummy stock', the basic washes, lotions, and creams, all just waiting for scenting, that way when an order comes in I can just add the scent and send it on its way, without leaving the entire formulation till the last moment. If Medieval can do it, why can't I?
Since my birthday just passed, I'm swimming in yarn. I'm finishing up the tank top from the cover of the latest Vogue Knitting, and then I'll be starting Elizabeth I, in a gorgeous sienna-colored silk/wool. However Hush-hush is just screaming "You know you want me!", and the yarn for that is quite cheap. It's perfect for me - I have a very flapper-girl body type, otherwise known as "flat as a board". :) There's also a lace camisole in the works, and a new dice-bag for Sir, knit in a pattern called 'dragon skin', and, and, and....My hands are still giving me trouble, but Bob says it sound degenerative, so I'm just doing what I can, and dealing with the pain.
I'm chattering. I'll stop now.:)
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no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 04:23 pm (UTC)(pokes gently) So when are we going to see pictures of your shawls, anyway? I'll show you mine if you show me yours.....:)
no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 01:37 pm (UTC)A student once asked me if the handmade silver Celtic-style bracelet Ian gave me was from Argos, a catalog shop. *sigh* Yes, Argos sells Celtic-looking bracelets. But mine is handmade, solid silver and a lot nicer than what they sell. Oh well.
The Elizabeth sweater looks lovely!!! The other is nice also, but I really like the first one. I wonder if maybe I could hire you? :)
no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 01:51 pm (UTC)Most of Starmore's designs are incredible. Some of her arans are a little heavily cabled for me, but she's got an amazing sense of color in her Fair Isles. I've been lusting after EI since I first learned to knit.
I'm not for hire - I couldn't be, with my hands making knitting time a questionable thing, but give me detailed measurements, and a sense of what colors you find flattering. I've been wanting to make something for you for a while now! I had been think of a shawl, since you might be able to wear that to events, but EI is certainly not to be missed. I've also seen it done plain, without the triangle of openwork - like this (http://www.knittingbeyondthehebrides.org/photos/Texture/alison_elizabethi.jpg) . Which do you prefer?
no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 05:58 pm (UTC)Makes me want to knit again.
I prefer it with the openwork.
*chuckle* not that you were asking me, but you know me - gotta poke my nose in.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 05:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-08 03:19 pm (UTC)But if the offer is still open... :)
I sometimes have trouble with wool right next to the skin. Could it work with cotton? Or something else? If you tell me how much, what weight etc. I could send yarn to you. And some extra yarn as a payment.
I think I like the open one better.
I would have to take measurements; my body's changed so much in the past four years that my old measurements are no longer valid.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-08 06:38 pm (UTC)I'll do some swatches to see how the fabric shows up in cottons...Is the wool problem itch or an allergy? If it's itch, I'm doing mine in Designer's Choice Silky Wool, a silk and wool blend with no itch whatsoever. I'll email you with the specs for yarn weight and gauge, so the salespeople can help you pick out a proper sub. I'll also email you the sizing info, so you know what measurements I need...as I recall, it's bust size.
Oh, one other thing - the openwork pattern will show up best in a lighter color.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 01:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 01:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 04:52 pm (UTC)I'm glad you got such wonderful birthday presents! I'm sorry about the pain, though.. =/
no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 05:07 pm (UTC)You really need to get the ball rolling on this bath-soap project. Gogogirl!
no subject
Date: 2004-07-02 07:39 am (UTC)I'm really ready to get to work on this too - I have webspace, am researching credit card processors, and have all my suppliers lined up, it's just waiting for the money. With his job being ended, we just don't have the spare cash to get me off the ground. At this pace, I'd say I should be underway by early next year-ish, although I might do a small invite-only run for the holidays.
Missing you - how's the new place shaping up, and the job?
no subject
Date: 2004-07-01 10:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-02 06:35 am (UTC)I've bought a lot of cups, bowls, etc. from a friend who is a very talented potter/ceramicist; everytime we serve tea in one of her mugs as opposed to a mass produced one I feel like it's a small victory.
But she basically went out of business because shops couldn't sell her stuff cheaply enough to sell and still meet her expenses; people would come to her sales and try to bargain her down when she was not making much profit to begin with.
She and her husband just moved to his farm in W. Virginia -- perhaps the lower cost of living will make it possible, again.