Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Yesterday's Billet-Doux

Oh, May. It never fails to be interesting month. It is even one of the few months with two labors, hawking or courtly love. So, depending on your station, perhaps your months has been knights on horseback, hunting parties, and men going hawking in the forest. A boating party on the Seine. At Amiens a peasant resting in the shade. A man may be daydreaming about his beloved in Autun. Or at Vezelay, a man leans on his shield, lost in thought. You know... all things none of us do. Ever.

In a more realistic bent, instead of courtly love many of use have instead been living this year's Rare Book School Valentine's Day Thought "anything worth doing is worth overdoing." So far it seems to be going quite. We'll see how that leaves everyone heading into the mowing of June. Or perhaps we'll be the one's mowed.

Hawking. We really have nothing to equate to hawking here. I can say that we were gawping (at least that rhymes) at the sales of today's Schimmel Forgeries Collection at Bonhams. What an auction! I won't say much because PhiloBiblos, likely do a full auction report and a far better job than I could. Until then, you can read the auction preview. But, I will say that I was certainly surprised. I expected huge sales.

Well, I just wanted to make sure I got something in about the labors of May. I would write more but I am off to overdo some things before there just isn't any more day left to do things in!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

March, March, March

March already, can you believe it?! We set it off with a blizzard here - you know, really wanted to nail the whole in like a Lion bit, even though it's the month of the ram. So too, I suppose there's plenty of time for pruning later, it is a long month after all.                                                                                                       What is this ram and pruning business you ask? Just the medieval zodiac and labor of the month, that's all. One of the most interesting things about March is that there is no alternate labor for it. All eleven other months have two, mostly because the rich had different labors than the poor, like feasting instead of trying not to freeze to death by warming next to a fire... if you had one. In all fairness where one lived might also have effected the labor of the month due to the weather or growing seasons. It is not likely that farmer's wheat in central England and central Italy were ready for reaping at the same time. Of course the labor's of the month are rarely applicable now, I still like them. Time Sanctified, by Roger Wieck, is a fantastic book if you're interested in the labor's of the month or anything pertaining to medieval books of hours, which are quite fascinating. Though books of hours are generally made up of all the same; a calendar followed by specific subjects from the bible for each of the eight hours of prayer with tribute to each of the evangelists they often differ in their decoration, images, style of text and what important dates they put on their calendar. See there's a lot to know about books of hours.

Maybe it's a hang over from books of hours but it seems that our favorite way to commemorate something is to give it a day. With only a fixed number of months and days I feel it's time we pick a new method to commemorate things. How can March be important and significant as colorectal cancer awareness month when it's also International Ideas, Adopt a Guinea Pig, Red Cross, Irish-American Heritage, National MS Education and Awareness, Small Press, Women's History and Youth Art Month too, to only name a few.  That doesn't even get in to the weekly and daily honors. I don't know, maybe it's fun or maybe it's over done.

Whether you'll be recognizing Dr. Seuss Day (2nd), National Grammar Day (4th), the Iditarod (3rd- 13th or so), Pi Day (14th), Brutus Day (15th), the Ides of March (15th), The Gardner thefts anniversary (17th) or St. Patrick's Day (17th) this month, happy March. May it bring longer days, milder weather, warmth and spring.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Not Too Shabby!

I don't know about you, but I really, really do not like shopping.

Well, to be fair I like some shopping. I like book shopping and I always liked signing up for classes in college and grad school, which felt kind of like shopping. But I do not at all enjoy clothes shopping, or grocery shopping or any of shopping of that nature.

Which is why it was very surprising to me that I really enjoyed browsing Shabby Apple online. It's not the same old clothes for the same old stick figures. There are lots of really cute dresses in a variety of styles. Being me, I wasn't able to stick in there long enough to browse the entire site but beyond the body type guide, which suggests items from their collections based on your body type, and a quick glance at a few of their collections I happened to click on their swim section which are all vintage inspired one piece and tankini suits. I thought that really captured the essence of how Shabby Apple stands apart - wearable clothes (meaning mature adults could wear them to work or elsewhere and be both age and setting appropriate), for real people, with a little vintage twist of classiness. Refreshing. I highly recommend Shabby Apple the next time you're on the market for something new to wear.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Can Fashion Really Work Upcycling?

My first response would be, "Work it out of its system, hopefully!" - but I may in fact be wrong.

First, you may ask "What is upcycling?". Upcycling, as I was introduced to it - hence huge over simplification alert, is the reusing of a material to make something of equal or better longevity than what it was originally. That is to say instead of using 500 potato chip bags to make an iodine bottle, using 500 chip bags to make a messenger bag. Theoretically this is a really great idea, wine cork cork-boards. However, personally, in clothing I often also find these efforts to be extremely ugly and would never be caught dead carrying a satchel with junk food labels emblazoning it (never mind buy one!). I know, I know you might say "aw, but it's cutesy kitsch" - I just cannot agree. Now, in all fairness there are less gauche renditions of this phenomenon - think seat-belt belts (hey, I said less). So, as much as I like the idea, I'm just not a fan when it comes to clothing items and accessories.

Then you can imagine my shock as I was reading the news this morning when I happened upon an article in the NYT about the great future of upcycling in fashion. Fashion recycling can be pretty iffy as it is, and those are already items intended to be worn as clothing. But using non clothing items....

I must admit, though I'm still wary of the idea, silk parachutes as cargo pants or canvas sails as a hat or coat - maybe upcycling does have a fashion future for the discerning of taste. So, keep your eye out for increasing instances, and better manifestations of what I formerly called the movie concession-wear trend. Who knows, maybe even I'll come around.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Has Spring Officially Sprung?

It certainly has not where I am, but that hasn't stopped people from willing it to arrive. This story begins with my very rare treat for myself, a coffee or tea, to sip while I wait for the bus to work after my morning workout. One day last week just happened to be one of those treat days. Conveniently there is a chain coffee shop in the same building where my gym is located and when I got in line I couldn't help but notice these


One of the women who works the cash register decided to have a little fun with the doughnuts... so she wedged the doughnut holes back in and made flowers out of them! She also made rain doughnuts (you can see one of those in the far back). Though it was overcast, bitter cold and blustery out seeing these little creations certainly brightened the day. Perhaps they'll do the same for yours.

Upcoming Events, Etc

Unfortunately, due to my busy schedule most of the February events I'd originally profiled in this post have come and gone. Yikes! So, with a hopeful glance towards March here are two that you can still catch in the next few weeks.

Frock & Roll: Fashion that Rocks, designer cocktail party, at the Baum School of Art Rodale Galleries on February 25th at 7PM. This party is to celebrate the exhibit of the same name that explores fashion outside of daily attire. Anticipated to be present will be several designers including Annie Haslam, Annina King, Scott Hanna, Stella Zotis and others. For details visit, http://www.strive2inspire.com/


The Sea, at the Phoenix Art Museum (living near the Phoenix Art Museum must be a real treat) opening reception is Friday March 2nd from 6 to 8 PM. The exhibition runs from March 3rd through July 15th and will focus on the expression and influence of the sea in fashion as manifest in color, design, patterns, etc. from the 19th century to today. To learn more, visit: http://www.phxart.org/exhibition/TheSea.php

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Late Winter, Early Spring Fashion Exhibits

If you're looking for something fabulous to do this weekend and you live near Allentown, PA; New York City; Massillon, OH; St. Paul, MN; Paris, France or Lyon, France - look no further.

 Currently running Fashion and Costume Exhibits are....

 Frock & Roll: Fashion that Rocks, through March 2nd at the Baum School of Art (Allentown, PA). This exhibit explores fashion outside of everyday attire and includes both pieces from international designers (McQueen, Yves St. Lauren, Gucci, etc) as well as emerging talent including pieces from designers seen on the hit show, Project Runway. http://www.strive2inspire.com/ 

Staging Fashion: 1880-1920: Jane Hadling, Lily Elsie and Billie Burke, at the Bard Graduate Center (New York City), though April 8th. This exhibit delves into  influential fashion leaders and the turn of the 20th century and the roles they played. The relationship between celebrity figures and fashion is also explored. http://www.bgc.bard.edu/gallery/gallery-at-bgc/focus-gallery-3.html 

Another Look at the New Look at the Massillon Museum (Massillon, OH) through April 1. This exhibit focuses around the response of fashion to the social and cultural changes post World War II. Topics include, Dior's very feminine silhouette, ready-made and homemade adaptations, everyday adaptations and the design and historical perspectives of these items. http://www.massillonmuseum.org/exhibits_maingallery.html

Character in Costume: A Jack Edwards Retrospective, at the Goldstein Museum of Design (St. Paul, MN) through May 20th. This exhibit highlights Edwards' 50 plus year spanning all major cities across America and his method of bringing character to life via costume detail. http://goldstein.design.umn.edu/

Goudemalion. Jean-Paul Goude A Retrospective, at Les Arts Decoratifs, the Louvre (Paris, France) through March 18th. The over forty year career of Goude is traced via diverse subject matter/format, with specific emphasis on his creative process, from fashion to photography and advertising to performing arts. http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/francais/arts-decoratifs/expositions-23/actuellement/dans-la-nef/goudemalion-jean-paul-goude-une/

Fashion Icon, Fabric Museum (Lyon, France) through March 25th. The elaborate dress of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus from the 12th through the 19th centuries is the focus of this exhibit. The adoration of these figures through the embellishment and coloring of their clothes as intertwined with the liturgical calendar and other Catholic practices is examined here.
http://www.musee-des-tissus.com/

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Dickens's Birthday and a British Navy Hoax

Though he's dead, today we celebrate Dickens' 200th Birthday. If you're a fan of the BBC and/or PBS, this anniversary certainly hasn't escaped your notice. Regardless, it is rather amazing how much more attention some people receive for their birthday after their dead than they likely ever did while alive.

Though the Brits have already had their Dickens - courtesy of PBS we can look forward too our fill in late February and April after season two of Downton through January and early February (with a possible break for March).  Before we dig in to Masterpiece Mystery for the spring and summer.

Some fun Dickens activities for you today include:

A Charles Dickens Birthday Quiz (and answers)

A look at some real life people Dickens knew that may inspired some of the names of Dickens's characters

A Dickens audio walking tour

A Review of the new Dickens biography

Images of Charles Dickens's home interiors (who knew he was so into interior design!)

Dickens's Life in Pictures

Admission Deals to the Charles Dickens Musuem

A walking tour video of Dickens's London, guided by actor Simon Callow - for those of us that can't make it to London

Haven't had your fill of Dickens' London yet? Try this image tour

Dickens in short form - for those that want to celebrate by reading a Dickens novel but don't have the time

How to teach children about Dickens

A ghost story that served as inspiration for Dickens

Also don't forget to visit http://www.dickens2012.org/ for Dickens information and to find fun Dickens events where you are!

Only 102 years ago, also on this day, Virginia Wolf and her (five) pals, known as the Bloomsbury Group,  on February 7, 1910 dressed up at Abyssinians and boarded HMS Dreadnought as honored guests. They enjoyed special attention as royal guests, and when it came to a special dinner feast they only declined for fear that their fake mustaches and beards would fall off! They spoke in a made up version of what they thought could pass as Swahili, that ironically, Virginia Wolfe's brother unknowingly translated for the soldiers. Of course, we know about this incident today because Horace De Vere Cole recounted it in a letter to a friend. The accuracy of this account.... well, we'll never know - but it's an interesting tale all the same!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Upcoming History of Fashion and Costume Symposia

Atlanta, GA (May 31-June 2, 1012): The Costume Society of America National Symposium
       This is guaranteed to be an exciting event. First, the key-note speaker Andrew Bolton. Yes, the same Andrew Bolton who, as Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute as the Metropolitan Museum of Art was responsible for Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century (2004), Chanel (2005), AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion (2006), and most recently Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2011) - to name just a few. Bolton has also authored many books and won several awards & acknowledgements. Some might recall that before joining the Metropolitan Museum of Art Bolton had a fruitful nine year run at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London as well. Though the details of the rest of this symposium are under raps, it's needless to say - this event will be a real treat.

The New England branch of the Costume Society of America will be meeting for a single day symposium  21 April 2012 in Duxbury, MA. This event will include visits to The Nathaniel Windsor Jr House, The Hedge House, Headquarters of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society and The Pilgrim Hall Museum.  Though that is an extremely rigorous schedule I encourage anyone who has the time to explore as much as they can in that area - the American Antiquarian Society, New England Historic and Genealogical Society, the Vassall-Craigie-Appleton-Longfellow House (Washington's Headquarters) in Cambridge, Massachusetts Historical Society and many others are, by New England standards, just a hair's breadth away and well worth the extra time and energy to explore.

The Marietta Museum of Georgia is getting ready for this year's Angel's Project (I believe the date is May 29th - but don't hold me to it!). The Angel's Project is an ongoing tradition of the Costume Society of America. Every year one museum or historic home is chosen for this one day event. Professionals and accomplished hobbyists volunteer collection care, management and conservation skills to a small deserving collection at an institution. Most of the supplies are donated by museum industry businesses or the Costume Society of America (CSA). If you're interested in participating at The Margaret Mitchell House for this year's Angels Project please contact Patti Borello at patti.a.borrello@wmich.edu for details.

Other upcoming Symposia include:

Redefining, Redesigning Fashion hosted by The College of Design at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN). Deadline for papers is May 1st.

Surface Design will be hosted by the International Surface Design Association (San Antonio, TX) in early June. Deadline for papers is March 1st.


Influences on American Bed Quilts: Baltimore to Bengal will be held in November and hosted by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA). Deadline for papers March 30th.

Internationally...

The Textile Commision's symposium "Celebration" is coming up in April. Lectures will include juxtapositions of upstairs and downstairs for the preparation of 19th century dress balls for the House of Orange (and I thought Downton was impressive!), a history of cotton fabrics produced in African countries, the history of the hat, and much more.

The Museum of London, London England, will be hosting "The Body in the Museum: New Approaches to the Display of Dress" set for March 17th. This event is really focused on museum professionals, as it hones in on such subjects as materials to use and avoid for both long and short-term exhibitions, how to create character and movement using mannequins and other challenges concerning achieving the full potential of clothing on mannequins, working with artists, designers as well as other label representatives in addition to other curatorial, design and conservator focused topics. Being a Museum of London event there are sure to be a plethora of examples on display to complement the lectures (oh eye candy!!).

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Resuming Episode


A moth ate words-
I thought it strange to hear,
and a wonder of fate,
that a worm in darkness
can thieve a man's fine riddle,
swallow his song,
sip eloquence and feast in its foundation.
And yet that stealthy guest
who dines on stolen words will leave no wiser.

(who/what am I?)


Well, while I wish that I chewed through books much faster than I do, especially non-fiction. But, I have been undergoing a bit of podcast mania lately. To give some scope to "mania" I mean that I have over 300 podcasts downloaded and waiting for me to listen to them at the moment. It all started when I downloaded Stitcher because I was out of podcasts to listen to - needless to say, I won't run into that problem again! The other half of it is that in less than a year out of the classroom I've been itching to learn new things. As much as I love Radiolab, TTBOOK, The National Gallery of Art (Washington) and Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me; How To Do Everything, Things You Missed in History Class and Stuff You Should Know have been welcome additions to my podcast repertoire. As informative as my current line up is I decided to push the learning envelope a little more - I'll let you know how some of the newbies like NutritionDiva, Learn Welsh, British Library, Fashion Museum and National Gallery (London) podcasts go. (I wasn't kidding when I said I was jonesing for some education - and there are more, many more). 

Podcasts are a fantastic way to inform, entertain and educate yourself while doing other things (like driving, household chores, cooking, exercising, etc). *Disclaimer - I do not recommend listening to Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me while driving, exercising or cooking as it may result in injury to yourself or others from laughing too hard (I myself have almost fallen off the treadmill laughing, at least a time or two)* That being said, perhaps my tastes don't co-inside with yours, but don't let that stop you - there is a wide variety of material available for every interest. Check it out!

N.B. My introductory segment was an Anglo-Saxon riddle. I love Anglo-Saxon riddles, some of them are so timeless! The answer to this riddle is: a book worm. (If you really enjoyed this Anglo-Saxon Riddle I recommend investing in The Word Exchange: Anglo-Saxon Poems in Translation Edited by Greg Delanty and Michael Matto, Foreword by Seamus Heaney. It's a great book!)