THE SCOTLAND COLLECTION OF CLOCHES AND MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

THE SCOTLAND COLLECTION AND MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

AFTER A TRIP TO THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND IN 1995, I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN EVEN THE MOST FLEETING IMPRESSION THAT THIS GORGEOUS COUNTRY HAS LEFT ON ME.

IT'S TUMULTOUS HISTORY, POETRY, LITERATURE, INVENTORS, CASTLES, ABBEYS, TAPESTRIES, LANDSCAPES, BAGPIPES, TARTANS, AND AMBIENCE, IS SO INTOXICATING!!

THOSE IMPRESSIONS HAVE BEEN IN CREATIVE GESTATION

FOR 14 YEARS!

FINALLY I HAVE FOUND A WAY TO HONOR THOSE PRECIOUS MEMORIES IN A COLLECTION OF HATS, INDICATIVE OF MY OTHER OBSESSION.

I HAVE CHOSEN THE TIMELESS SHAPE OF THE CLOCHE HAT, ON WHICH TO APPLY THAT AMBIENCE, IN THE FORM OF RICH DETAILS OF THOSE GLORIOUS OLD MEDIEVAL TAPESTRIES, DAMASKS, BROCADES, SUMPTUOUS VELVETS, ANTIQUE LACE, TASSELS, FEATHERS, PEARLS, CORDING, AND ORNAMENTAL BROOCHES.

HERE YOU WILL SEE THE EVOLUTION OF THE COLLECTION AS IT MOVES FROM THE PLAINER SCOTLAND COLLECTION, WITH IT'S HARRIS TWEEDS, HERRINGBONE WOOL, FELTED WOOLS, CLAN TARTANS, HERALDIC BUTTONS AND BROOCHES, AND FEATHERS, TO THE MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS COLLECTION.

IN HONOR OF THE WOMAN WHO SHOULD HAVE OCCUPIED THE SCOTTISH THRONE, BUT INSTEAD, LOST HER HEAD TO HER MORE POWERFUL COUSIN,

QUEEN ELIZABETH I OF ENGLAND, I HAVE FAITHFULLY RENDERED THIS COLLECTION IN THE FABRICATIONS AND DETAILS THAT WOULD BE FITTING TO HER MEMORY.

AS THE QUEEN MARY COLLECTION EVOLVES, I WILL NO DOUBT INDULGE THE AUTHENTICITY THAT IS THE 1500's, AND REPLICATE THE DESIGNS IN THE HAT STYLES OF THE ERA. THOUGH MY AUDIENCE OF BUYERS MAY BE SMALLER, I CANNOT CONSIDER THE COLLECTION COMPLETE WITHOUT PAYING FULL ATTRIBUTION TO THE COSTUME OF THE DAY. FOR THE REST OF MY AUDIENCE, I WILL BE ALLUDING TO THOSE RICH DETAILS IN THE MORE WEARABLE CLOCHE STYLE.

I HOPE YOU WILL STAY CONNECTED AND WATCH THIS COLLECTION TAKE SHAPE, AND SEE ITS' PROGRESSION.

I DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHERE I WILL END UP WITH IT. IT IS A MYSTERIOUS RIDE, THIS WONDEROUS PROCESS CALLED CREATIVITY. I AM LITERALLY TRANSPORTED OUT OF TIME AND PLACE WHEN I AM WORKING. AND FOR NOW, THAT MEANS THE 1500'S!

THE THIRD HAT IN THE MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS COLLECTION IS ALREADY INCUBATING. DUNDRENNAN ABBEY IS IN PROCESS, IN HONOR OF THE LAST PLACE SHE STAYED IN SOLWAY, BEFORE SHE SURRENDERED HERSELF TO HER COUSIN.

QUEEN MARY WAS PROMPTLY IMPRISONED FOR 19 YEARS, UNTIL HER EXECUTION

AT FOTHERINGAY CASTLE ON FEBRUARY 8TH, 1587.

IN MY TRAVELS TO SCOTLAND IN 1995, IN SOLWAY, I WALKED THROUGH THE RUINS OF DUNDRENNAN ABBEY, TOOK SOME STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL PICTURES, AND RUMINATED ON WHAT HER LAST DAYS OF FREEDOM MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE BEFORE SHE CROSSED THE FIRTH OF SOLWAY INTO ENGLAND.

I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG AND THE COLLECTIONS.

HATS OFF TO YOU!!

ELSIE COLLINS/THISTLE COTTAGE STUDIO

WWW.ORSINIMEDICI1951.ETSY.COM

The Joy of Teaching & Creating

I SPEND A LOT OF MY WEEK TEACHING A VARIETY OF THE TEXTILE ARTS TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN AT MY STUDIO, THISTLE COTTAGE STUDIO, IN N.PROVIDENCE, RI.

  I AM ABOUT TO LAUNCH MY SUMMER SEWING & CRAFT CAMP FOR KIDS IN JUNE. PLEASE SEE THOSE DETAILS ON CRAIGSLIST.ORG, AND iLIST.COM.   IT IS ALWAYS A HARD BALANCE TO KEEP BETWEEN TEACHING, WHICH I LOVE, AND CREATING NEW WORKS FOR MY ONLINE RETAIL SHOP WWW.ORSINIMEDICI1951.ETSY.COM , WHICH I INTEND ONE DAY, TO MAKE MY FULL TIME INCOME FROM.  AS MUCH AS I LOVE TEACHING, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, I FEEL CREATIVELY OBLIGATED TO BRING AS MANY OF MY ABUNDANT IDEAS TO LIFE AS POSSIBLE.  I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A FLOW OF CREATIVITY THAT RUNS LIKE NIAGRA FALLS!  UNFORTUNATELY, UNTIL I LEARN TO MARKET MY SHOP ONLINE IN A WAY THAT BRINGS IN A STEADY LIVING INCOME, I FIND IT NECESSARY TO REROUTE THAT CREATIVITY INTO SMALLER TRIBUTARIES BY WAY OF TEACHING.  I HOPE THAT DOESN'T SOUND TOO MUCH LIKE THAT CONDESCENDING ADAGE, "THOSE WHO CAN'T DO, TEACH".  IT ISN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL!  AU CONTRARE!!  IF I COULD SPEND 16 HOURS A DAY CREATING NEW DESIGNS IN ALL SECTIONS OF MY SHOP, I'D BE A HAPPY CAMPER!!  THERE IS NOTHING THAT MAKES ME HAPPIER THAN IMERSING MYSELF IN THE PROCESS AND MINUTIAE, OF MAKING THOSE TINY MAGICAL DECISIONS ALONG THE CREATIVE PATH TO A NEW RENAISSANCE MASK, OR A NEW PERIOD HAT REPRODUCTION, OR  SCULPTING A NEW IDEA FOR A PIECE OF HAND KNITWEAR, OR LEARNING TO USE MY NEW KNITTING MACHINE!!  I WILL BE GEARING UP FOR THE SCITUATE ART FESTIVAL AGAIN COMING UP IN OCTOBER. 

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE KIND OF ARTIST WHO REVELS IN HAVING MORE THAN ONE PROJECT GOING AT ANY TIME.  I GET BORED SO QUICKLY, AND THE GEARS IN MY HEAD SPIN SO FAST THAT, THE ADAGE, "SO MANY IDEAS, SO LITTLE TIME" RINGS LOUD AND TRUE FOR ME!

THAT ALL SAID, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT I'LL SPIN OUT NEXT.  I DO HOPE YOU WILL, AND INVITE YOU ALL TO VISIT THISTLE COTTAGE STUDIO AT WWW.ORSINIMEDICI1951.ETSY.COM, REGULARLY!  

  HAVE A LOVELY AND CREATIVE DAY!!