To prepare for our paint projects we removed everything from our walls. It was at that point that I discovered how badly a watercolor painting from a friend had faded. We received the watercolor as a wedding gift from my college friend, Mary Claire. It was a unique gift because it was original art, a fine winter landscape with pines and a church beautifully matted and framed. I was a bit shocked to see the damage, considering that the picture had hung in a corner not known to receive direct sunlight. It makes me think of my friend, whom I miss dearly, and with whom I lost contact many years ago. Mary Claire, I wonder whatever happened to you. Perhaps you are now married with children of your own. Are you still in Wisconsin? Are your parents still living? Is everything okay? I shall send my angel after you.
Another college friend, Morgen, just sent me a copy of a needlework magazine which she found at an antique shop. It contained an article on the needlework of the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict of St. Joseph, Minnesota, where we both attended college. The article brought back fond memories of the needlework exhibit which I saw at the Sisters' Haehn Museum. Because I knit and embroider, and was a project leader in those areas in our 4-H club at the time, I arranged for the club to tour the museum. The exhibits were incredible. The magazine article had a photo of the St. George tapestry done by one of the nuns. The article told how many hours it took to complete it, and how many stitches were in this or that section of the tapestry. I could believe it. My response when seeing it at the museum was that it must have taken forever. The back looked almost identical to the front, which was a marvel in itself. My cross-stitch projects have certainly not looked like that! It reminded me of the Bayeux Tapestry of William the Conqueror. Another portion of the exhibit which stands out in my memory were angels on a vestment. The sleeves on the angels' garments were stitched in such a way as to look transparent, showing the arms underneath. What skill that took to execute! At the very end of the display were modern stoles woven by one of the nuns. Although the stoles may have been made of fine wool, which I appreciate as a knitter, they did not have an inkling of the beauty of the embroidered vestments. Their use in a home setting would have appealed to me, but in church they seem out of place. Too hip.
The needlework magazine had another reference to nuns, this time in an article on Polish bridal caps. That article was interesting because it talked of "unveiling", the ceremony in which the bride received her cap. I have heard that word just recently in our Bible study on the Book of Revelation, which means "unveiling". It is also reminiscent of customs which I have heard in other countries, namely Kristin's (Kristin Lavrensdatter by Sigrid Undset) wearing her hair long before her wedding ceremony for the last time. and then putting it up or covering it afterwards. The nuns came up again because of their work on liturgical vestments: They taught local Polish women, who in turned used those methods in making their bridal caps.
Now to put that article in a good spot for safe keeping. Best goes into my knitting folder.
Thanks, Morgen! Very cool.
I have roast beef in the crock pot for supper. I had thought we would take a walk today, but the football game is on, and Husband is watching. My sinuses are draining, so I do not feel up to it anyway. Besides, I have two assignments to do for our Bible study, and I would really like to finish Little Women today. My guess is that I will start reading, and then fall asleep.
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