Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Five Senses Casket Gone

The spots I had reserved for the Five Senses Casket worked in counted work are now gone.  If you are wanting a casket and don't already own one, the opportunities are getting smaller.

I still have 127 spots in the Harmony with Nature casket course that just started and is still accepting reservations.  It started registering in the late fall and already is half filled.  

Harmony with Nature Casket


There is one more double casket class coming called the Four Seasons Double Casket.  People are very hungry for this style of cabinet with the little drawers and secret spots.  So much so that even though I haven't finished stitching it, the request was made to start it now or reserve a spot ahead.  So I opened registration for it a week ago to the list of people I had who had enquired and 20 of the 48 spots are now gone.

As I only have an estimated price, I am allowing people who want to wait until it is done to reserve a space now with a refundable reservation of $500.  If you are interested in learning more - email me at tricia@alum.mit.edu.

You can see the design here below and two of the panels that are complete.  They are the inside of the doors and are amazingly luscious!  If you love the doors but just can't bite off the double casket, the door designs will be released as a course by the summer (we are waiting for silk purl production to catch up).  If you want to be put on a list to get first notice of that course - email me at tricia@alum.mit.edu

Four Seasons Double Casket design showing Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall on the sides and front doors.  The back has Hope, Faith and Charity and the top includes a mermaid in her grotto


Right inner door of Four Seasons Casket

Left inner door of Four Seasons Casket



Friday, February 21, 2020

Five Senses Casket Open for Registration

I finally was able to allow registrations for the Five Senses Casket with the tent stitch embroidery on it because Access Commodities and I have found another old-world weaver who was willing to spend the time to reproduce the linen.

We originally used this amazing old looking linen called Montrose which had been made in one batch some 20 years ago.  In the intervening time no one seemed to want it until I came along and recognized that it was a good substitute for 17th century linen!  But by that time the original weaver was organizing his retirement and closing his looms down.  So Access Commodities bought everything that was on the shelf and we worked through it.

Just when I got the casket done and everyone said - HEY - I want to do that!!  We were out of linen.

This happened to several other good things and so another really deep search for those precious gems of old world makers was attempted.  You talk to everyone and try to find out sources on the ground.  Well one gentleman was willing to try - and it wasn't easy as the climate change has really affected how linen grows and what species can be grown where and that impacts the length of the fibers and thus the quality of linen.

We decided to commission a 10 yard sample and were thrilled with the results.  So the big boat of
linen is headed to the USA and I will have a supply of Montrose again!!  That means that a few lucky people can decide to do a double casket with a tent stitch design over 20 count.  And I know for a few people that is heaven!  Eyesight sometimes gets the best of us.

So if you are interested - come on to the shop and look at the parameters for the course!

Tricia