This BJP is in large part dedicated to a wonderful Australian woman Maisie Jarratt who was an haute couture bead embroiderer for over 60 years in Sydney. According to the Powerhouse Museum Maisie specialised in this medium all her life. As a dressmaker she learnt beading at the age of 14 or 15 from a Madame Lorremo who came to Sydney from France in the 1920s. Maisie subsequently worked for Madame Pellier in Sydney, until she married. After her marriage Maisie continued to work freelance and she was so skillful and artistic that Sydney fashion designers from many different fashion houses gave her free reign to interpret colours and designs for her beading.
Maisie perfected her twin skills of hand bead embroidery and French tambour beading and subsequently taught many other embroiderers in Australia. She published four books with Kangaroo Press, one of which has required seven reprints. The most famous example of Maisie's work was the beaded bra that she designed in about 1962 for Berlei.
Here's a link to Maisie's work including the bra in the Powerhouse Museum. I think Maisie passed away in her 80s earlier in this 21st century.
And now on to Autumn yet again.....
These are the unadulterated colours of my beautiful Chinese tallow wood tree taken just this morning. They are so beautiful and i especially admire the way the veins of the leaves are almost drawn on in a stronger colour.
And this one was special as it has a web with dew drops layering over the leaves.Thankyou for dropping by and don't forget to sign the "guest book" and leave a short note. I'm trying to answer your comments also in the comments section - a reason for you to drop in again! cheers, Kaite
WOW Kaite, that's really interesting. You put such thought into each of your pieces and the background to this one is fascinating! I'll be sure to check Maisie's work.
ReplyDeleteps the leaves are just gorgeous!
Regarding the 'slow' concept..it reminds me of India Flint. I was lucky to have an exhibition of her work in my gallery last year and hope to do it again next year. Her work is fascinating and beautiful too.
thanks Sarah, and i think that India Flint is part of the Slow Cloth group on Facebook, i've seen her writing there. K.
ReplyDeleteWe were introduced to the slow food movement when we visited Italy last year...I love the concept of slow cloth too. Lovely piece you've made this month :-)
ReplyDeleteAfter studying the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path of Buddhism, "Mindfulness" has become my mantra.
ReplyDeleteI see and feel that in the placement of every element in your piece. It has beautiful meditative flow.
Unless I somehow missed it, this is beaded flat, not a stuffed piece, right? It's absolutely lovely!
I love your little bead lady, she's gorgeous! The Slow Cloth movement sounds very cool, and right up my alley. I joined on FB. I think trying to maintain a store online makes a person feel too rushed. I closed my stores and am just concentrating on being the best weaver I can be. I want to learn more about slow cloth.
ReplyDeletehey kaite...I just love this little gal and her colors combo is among my most favorite...when our nasturtums bloom in summer and fall I'm in heaven, lol!
ReplyDeleteslow cloth is a philosophy I embrace, as well...esp. as I see jude hill practicing it.
Lovely BJP - as always! I enjoy the descriptions and your thought behind the design.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed by the spider web in the chinese tallow! I am also afraid to ask what spider would make such a large web with such large holes - does it expect to catch birds???
Thankyou all for your thoughtful comments.
ReplyDeleteBarbara i have also studied the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path of Buddhism, and Mindfulness has been my mantra for many years, tho i am not always in the right mind.
SOoC - I haven't joined the FB slow cloth group yet but i read it and jude's blog everyday, i'm trying not to sign up to FB. good heart with being the best weaver you can be.
Jenn - the web is about 12" diameter so the holes are not too large for night time moths. i think the spider is an orb.
Bead babe - do you also eat your nasturtium leaves and flowers?
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Oh, she's beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteBarbara, yes this is a flat beaded piece. |<.
ReplyDeleteShe's lovely and is looking very fresh! Is it the colours or the fact that it's probably cooled off a lot by now? The leaves are very yummy as well. I don't blame that spider for spinning it's web over them.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy I enlarged your project picture because I hadn't noticed that you had beaded the month onto it too. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteAND...the first picture of your tree? I was absolutely certain it was a painting until I read the text and realized that it was a photo. I love it.
She's so so pretty, Kaite and I'm really glad that I enlarged the photo because there's so much more detail to see that way...and the colors *shine*. I know it is autumn on your side of the world but I believe she's multi-seasonal because I also see SPRING springing forth (which is happening on my side of the world!) I really like how you varied your beaded edge, too - adds so much interest & extra dimension...
ReplyDeleteA beautiful reflection of this time of the year.
ReplyDeletePJB and nature are attuned to each other in tranquility
Happy Stitching Terry
Anne Marie, the colours of the tallow wood are fresh looking because they are rain washed, and yes, the temp has dropped just a little in the past few days.
ReplyDeleteMagpie and Sweetpea, yes it is essential to enlarge the photo. Mr Google wouldn't post it the size i wanted.
And Sweetpea, the edge is fun to do, you'll find the instructions in any good Native American beading book as it is Native American edge beading, and it is easy to vary.
Thankyou all for your lovely comments, they 'make' my day.
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I'm thinking that beaders are just naturally inclined toward mindfulness and the 'slow bead' way of thinking. How can you be anything else? She is lovely and its so much fun to hear about fall as we in the states are urging spring to come on.
ReplyDeleteYour color palette and inspiration photos are just beautiful. I also like the movement of your doll. Thank you also for the information about Maise -- it was great to make the connection.
ReplyDeletethanks Susan, i think it's important for us to know the history of bead embroidery and especially those who have come before us and before the days of great publicity. Woman like Maisie have been out there making a living doing this way before we were even born. |<.
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