New Jigsaw Free Download

I thought this rather beautiful altar frontal from Bradford Cathedral would make an engaging jigsaw - it is a little tricky! However, sadly, this is not going to work for Mac users. Instructions: Click here next Click Open, then click the .EXE file name and click Run, when you see the jigsaw puzzle, click Play Too many pieces? Try clicking on Trays on the top tool bar to create any number of resizeable trays to sort your pieces ........ you can also click the Cheat button and watch the puzzle solve itself! The software is by David Gray designer of Jigsaws Galore - the powerful jigsaw player and creator for Windows.

Does My Waist Look Tiny in This?

The stomacher, which was a part of fashion from the 16th to 18th centuries, was a central U or V shaped panel inserted or fastened onto the bodice of a dress by means of tabs to cover corset or undergarment lacings. Its purpose was to add structure and pzzazz to a gown. Many stomachers were moved from one gown to another, like a piece of jewelry. In fact in addition to elaborate embroidery, jewels sometimes embellished its surface.

The polychrome hand embroidery of this English 1730 stomacher is executed in silk and bronze metallic floss on a ground of écru linen and is backed with linen.

By contrast this taffeta stomacher, hand-embroidered with silk polychrome floss, of roughly the same date (1720) is French. It has a more subtly tailored outline. Both items are for sale through Vintage Textiles.

East Meets West - the Breathtaking Yuki Pallis Collection

I must tell you about a gem of a private needlework museum and store in Kyoto, and the gem of a lady who owns it: Yuki Pallis. You can find the Yuki Pallis Collection just along the beautiful Philospher's Path in Kyoto, Japan. The space is a combination of the best Japanese and best Danish design, since Yuki-san spent many years in Denmark. Her collection reflects her love for the two countries; she has both an extensive European and Japanese collection of textiles. Some of you may already know of her beautiful books - Hedebo, and Initials and Monograms. These are incomparably lovely books with exquisite images, and though in Japanese, the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Do look for them, they are obtainable in the west.

Clarks Quaker Shoemakers - Embroidered Turnshoes

In October we looked at some Clarks' shoes of the late 18th century. But the Clark family have traded since the mid 17th century in Strete. (So-called because it is on a causeway specially constructed to carry quarried stone above the marshy Somerset Levels for the building of Glastonbury Cathedral.) In the beginning, Cyrus Clark sold sheepskin rugs, boots and woollen slippers. James, his brother joined him later and together they began making shoes. Today the company is still C & J Clarks.
Both these pairs of shoes date from approximately the same time - 1760 - and both are what is known as turnshoes - shoes that were constructed inside out and then turned the right way just before finishing. This first pair of ruby satin shoes are embroidered in silver thread, and you can clearly see here that the thread is wrapped round a silk core which is left behind as the the metal corrodes and disintegrates. Likewise the metal thread which held the spangles in place is virtually all lost.

In contrast to the first pair, this second pair in black satin seem a lighter more modern shoe with fresh sprigs of heartsease and periwinkle-like flowers stitched in worsted or crewel wool.