Made by my Sister-in-law on a vintage Singer treadle machine and lovingly hand-sewn name letters. Includes pockets and ajustable buckle.
Home-made apron
Drawing upside down
I took an exercise from Betty Edwards book, “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain”. These exercises are to help people improve their drawing skills. By drawing an image upside down we can develop perceptual skills to see things as they really are. In this exercise I found I had to look at shapes as I really saw them, and I was less able to impose thoughts or perceptions on the image I was copying. Overall I found this a really useful exercise that I will use again.
The image I chose to copy from was the head of Fra Angelico taken from a larger painting called the “The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament” by Raphael, located in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.
The image on the left is the original painting of Fra Angelico by Raphael. The image on the right is my sketchbook drawing (drawn upside down).
Finished drawing. My sketchbook turned the right way up.
Portraits of the living and the dead – using cold wax technique
I decided to explore methods and materials of painting used in ancient Egyptian mummy portraits. I did this because of their influence in icons later, for example the idealised faces, large eyes and robes. The ancient Egyptians were preoccupied with what happened when you die and mummification was an important ritual in the journey into the afterlife. This in turn influenced Roman sculpture where busts became more human and alive.
Also ancient Greek stories are occupied with how a hero goes on a journey to the underworld and is spiritually changed by his experience that leads him to change and lead a better life in this world.
Interestingly the ingredients used in mummy portraits are the same as those used to in mummification i.e. bees wax, honey, water and oil. I melted these ingredients into a small jar and used it as a binding medium to paint with. I used only 4 pigments; yellow ochre, red ochre, black and white to keep a simple pallet.
Painting easter eggs using wax resist dyeing technique
Easter egg painting is a great craft activity that all the community can participate in.
Here I took some wax pellets and put them on a large tablespoon suspended over a candle flame to melt. I brushed on the liquid wax on the eggs (which I had washed and cleaned out earlier) with small patterns and designs taken from a book on folk art. I also used a small canting tool for drawing patterns on the eggs in wax. When I was happy with my design I dipped the eggs in some natural dye and allowed to soak for a few minutes. When ready I allowed them to dry and then gently removed the wax to reveal the negative print of the pattern.
This was a very enjoyable craft that enabled me to meditate on the season of Easter, new birth and resurrection.
Making shell gold
Over the years I saved up lots of scraps of gold that I had left over from water gilding projects. I wanted to use these to make shell gold. This was really important to me to use the waste gold because there is a powerful symbolism there about taking the left over remains that nobody wants and turning them into something beautiful for the glory of God.
I carefully scraped all the little pieces of gold into a small glass dish and with a tiny dribble of honey I patted it into a small paste with my fingertip. I kept going for another 10 minutes and then began to grind it with my finger in a circular motion. I did this for over an hour.
This circular motion was deeply meditative and enjoyable. I reflected on ideas of bringing something into creation – strength, resilience, love, fertility and eternity.
Once the gold beneath my fingers felt sufficiently smooth I washed the gold off my fingers with spring water. I then passed the gold through a piece of habotai silk cloth. This drained off the water and separated the gold from any impurities. I then collected the shell gold and placed it into anther dish. When I am ready I will then combine this with a binder and be able to use this to paint with. Shell gold works very well for the highlights of a garment on an icon or for other fine details in manuscript illuminations. It can also be burnished to give a variety of textures from a soft delicate matt to a shiny and polished look.
St. Brigid's Day Craft
A selection of crosses and other Christian symbols made with rushes collected from bogland near Lough Derg, Co. Donegal.
Sposi Novelli blessing
My husband and I went to Rome for our honeymoon. The highlight for us was to receive the Sposi Novelli blessing (Italian for “newlyweds”). The Pope gives the blessing in Latin during the General Audience every Wednesday morning in the Audience Hall. Couples are expected to arrive in wedding attire within 2 months of the marriage. We were seated at the front with lots other brides and grooms. This was a once in a lifetime experience that we won’t forget.
My Wedding at St James's Church, Spanish Place on Saturday 16th December 2023
The livestream of our wedding can be seen from the folowing link:
Order of Service
Entrance of the Bride
Trumpet Voluntary John Stanley (1712 – 1786)
Introduction and Welcome
Opening Carol
Once in Royal David’s City
Opening Prayer
First Reading
A reading from the Book of Ruth 1: 1-22
Psalm
Ecce sic benedicetur Cristóbal de Morales (1500 – 1553)
Ecce sic benedicetur omnis homo qui timet Dominum:
et videas filios filiorum tuorum.
Pax super Israel.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord:
May you see your children's children.
Peace be upon Israel.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Second Reading
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 12:31-13:8
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia
Exsultate justi in Domino Lodovico da Viadana (1560 – 1627)
Exsultate justi in Domino, rectos decet collaudatio.
Confitemini Domino, in cithara; in psalterio decem chordarum psallite illi.
Cantate ei canticum novum: bene psallite ei in vociferatione.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just; praise befits the upright.
Give praise to the Lord, on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.
Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise.
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 2:1-11
Homily
The Rite of Marriage
Exchange of Vows
Blessing and exchange of rings
Bidding Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
Soloist
Ave Maria Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Nuptial Blessing
Final Blessing
Recessional Hymn
Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven
Signing of the Register
Gaude Virgo Maria Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548 - 1611)
Exit of the Bride and Groom
Toccata from Symphony No.5 in F Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
Traditional Carpet Weaving - using a tufted pile
Prayer carpets draw our attention towards God. As I was weaving this rug I meditated on my own prayer,
Crucify my feet Lord, so that I shall only walk Your path,
Crucify my hands Lord, so that I only do Your work,
Crucify my head Lord, so that my thoughts are only of You,
Crucify my heart Lord, so that all that I do is in You.
I used traditional Persian/ Kurdish carpet weaving tools and methods of working. I set up a warp on a small loom and created a tufted pile using what is commonly referred to as a Turkish knot. I used a combing tool for beating down the woven rows - which also helps to secure the knots in place. The cutting knife is used to cut the wool to continue tying knots. It also had a small hook on the end for passing the wool through the warp. The scissors had an angular bend to enable the excess wool to be trimmed off and to cut the carpet pile down to the required height. I used lambs wool to symbolise Christ, the Lamb of God.
(4 x 4 inches + fringe)
