this too shall pass: TEXT 2013

The earliest writing was impressed into clay tablets. I enjoyed trying to copy some of the cuneiform with embroidery, but then realized that these forms were pressed INTO the clay, not written ON it. So I tried some reverse applique (like the technique used in molas). Not exactly what I wanted, but I do like the stark color contrast. I later developed a complicated reverse embedded lettering technique (which I'll describe in a future blog) which would be great for this.  Also, learned that most cuneiform tablets were actually small enough to fit in your hand...somehow, I'd always pictured them as 8.5 x 11

Galgolitic script. It was created by St Cyril in the 9th century, and I found it online! (I don't understand why people watch cat videos when there is such an amazing amount of fascinating information - and images! - to see). I just had to try embroidering the rounded, looping letter forms.  

As a child, I struggled with the Palmer Method. My curved letters were often illegible. But Palmer had been developed as an easier form of handwriting - something everyday people could use. Before Palmer, Spencerian Script was the elegant form for handwriting. And before that were various forms of Copperplate. Today, penmanship is no longer being taught in many schools. And handwritten invitations and thank you notes are no longer sent by mail.

Years ago, when I taught art to small children, I explained that SERIFS were like tiny mittens and shoes for your letters. Diacritical marks? fancy jewelry on your ABCs...

Many colonial schoolgirls learned to sew (and to hate sewing) by creating samplers. I would have received low grades for my sloppy cross stitch on this sampler.