History of Craft
History of Jewelry: Seed Pearl
Among many types of antique jewelry the amazingly beautiful things made of pearls, tiny as a poppy seed, known as seed pearls stand out. They impress with their complexity and some special tenderness! I am very interested in these fantastic creations of human hands! What is their story?
Heritage of England: Exquisite Embroidery by Helen M. Stevens
Helen M. Stevens was born in Belmont, Surrey, England. In 1981, she established her studio, True Embroideries, and since then her original embroidery became famous worldwide, presented at international exhibitions in Australia, USA, France, Italy,…
Embroidery Technique from Florene: The Forgotten Bargello and Its Limitless Possibilities
I first saw this technique in one of encyclopedias about embroidery — a few scant words about its history, basic rules and features. There was nothing special about the technique in these words. Just one of the options of the counted-thread embroidery. But there were pictures beside.
The Splendor of Spanish Religious Embroidery
One of the interesting facts about Catholic churches is that usually one doesn't see such a large number of icons like in Orthodox temples but they have really great statuary art.
Magic Patch
Many see patchwork as a lovely thing, but gaudy grandma's quilts and country rugs of wild colors. However, this technique has long outgrown the purely utilitarian stage of "use all unnecessary".
Walk along Indigo Path. Joseph and Miriam Ko's Workshop in Austria
Being engaged in printing and dyeing fabric, we are always interested how Indigo craftsmen work in other countries.
Kalocsa: Floral Folk Embroidery, Painting in Hungary
It seems to me that this is what spring mood looks like: bright colors of flowers intertwine in intricate patterns. Hungarian Kalocsa is atmospheric, intimate, soulful — seeing it once, having studied the weave patterns, you will always remember…
Lace Masterpieces from Victorian Era
At the end of the 19th century, collars "Bertha" became famous, which lay on shoulders and partly on lush sleeves (this style of sleeves is called "leg of mutton"). The main difference between these collars was their width, in size they are sometimes of size more like cape than a collar.
Victoria Museum in Kiev
Last week we all went to the Victoria Museum. This is a private Kiev Museum dedicated to style and costume. The occasion was special - the presentation of Victorian brooches collection catalog. Victoria Lysenko, the head of the Museum, has a clear…
Lace Artists
For many years I was fortunate to work on the "Snowflake" as a designer together with Galina Marowski and Angelina Rakcheyeva, talented lace artists. Now they are honored artists of Russia.
Style and Dynamics in the Photos by Norman Parkinson
Accidentally I came across some photos, I really liked them, and decided to learn more about the photographer.
St. Valentine's day: How did the First Valentine Cards Look Like
St. Valentine's day is coming. It's February already, the day became longer, and it smells like spring. The mood, of course, can not be romantic.
Russian Imperial Family Doing Crafts
The last empress, the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, was a great artist. During her spare minutes she always embroidered, knitted, painted.
Papier-mache Dolls' Tale by Natalia Lopusova-Tomskaya
She is a mystery. Nobody knows how a mere mortal can buy her doll. They say, you need to sign up for the months ahead...
Art Nouveau Jewelry and Decor by Philippe Wolfers
At the end of the 19th and in the beginning of the 20th century the Art Nouveau style gave the world many talented jewellers. For example, in France it was Rene Lalique and Georges Fouquet, in Spain — Luis Masriera, in Belgium — Philippe Wolfers.
The History of Creation and Peculiarities of the Chinese Brush
Chinese craftsmen believe that a brush connects heaven and people. In the moment of creating a painting or a calligraphy work it becomes a conductor…
Amazing Rozenburg Porcelain of the Art Nouveau Epoch
Rozenburg Porcelain factory (Haagsche Plateelfabriek Rozenburg), the first in the Netherlands, adopted the features of the Art Nouveau stylistics at the beginning of the 20th century. Jurriaan Kok, the artistic director, together with chemist…
Temari: A Japanese Art of Embroidery on Balls. Ideas for Your Creativity
Temari story covers several centuries. It first appeared in China, grandmothers made them for children from scraps of old kimonos. The balls were imported to Japan in the 8th century. Then they were made so tight that they hopped and bounced from…
How Queens' Garments Were Washed and Where Stored
For example, the dresses of Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria (Sisi). According to the rules of Spanish etiquette (which was taken in the 16th century and…
Amber Luxury by Old Believers from Transbaikalia
Fire beads. Amber Luxury by Old Believers from Transbaikalia. I'm not a writer on Livemaster.
How Did Famous Irish Knitting Appear
How Did Famous Irish Knitting Appear Well-known sweaters, made in Irish knitting technique with its…
Tsutsugaki, Katazome and Katagami: Paper Lace
Tsutsugaki (筒描) is another Japanese resistance fabric dyeing technique. Parts of the picture are reserved with rice paste, part of the fabric, not covered with paste, is painted, then the paste is washed off.
Folk Embroidery Samples on Shirts in Staraya Kuta, Kosovo District
This summer I visited festival in the village of Staraya Kuta, Kuta, Kosovo district, Ivano-Frankivshina region. The purpose of my trip was to see as many folk embroidered shirts as possible.
Chinese Enamel: History of Conquest of Europe
Made in China. That doesn't sound right! 100 years ago it sounded really weighty. There is a very long tradition of jewellery art. It is significantly different from the West.
Story of One Gift
Not long ago I received an amazing gift from my Mom. When I took the package in my hands, I realized that it was something unusual.
Nishiki: Fabric Worth Gold
Nishiki is a patterned silk brocade with embossed jacquard pattern. Its originated in the 7-9th centuries, when Chinese culture elements of Sui and Tang dynasties came to Japan. By the 10th century, after the termination of diplomatic relations with…
Shibori: Unusual Fabric Dyeing
Shibori — this is how Japanese pronounce this word! Jap. 絞り染め, dyeing by binding is one of the world's oldest fabric dyeing technology.
Watercolor Fragrances by Jo Malone: Caught, Stoppered Summer
Usually I tell you about small craft perfume shops, today in the title of the article you may see quite famous perfume house. Why? It's simple. Yes, it will be about Jo Malone, but about the time when it was a real artisanal workshop, known only within the hometown.
Art Deco in Erte Jewellery by Roman Tyrtov
This small selection is dedicated to the jewellery by Roman Tyrtov — a French artist of Russian origin, who is known as Erte. Roman Tyrtov chose this name not accidentally — so his initials were pronounced in the French manner.
Victorian Earrings-Transformers
Here you can find a selection of Victorian earrings-transformers! These unusual jewels were used in 2 ways.
Radiant Mosaics by Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany became famous not only due to the invention of a new technique for making art stained glass, but also due to inventing new types of glass, which became the main, distinctive feature of his mosaics.
Unique Beaded Temple with a Difficult History
There is a unique cave monastery of Saint martyr Anastasia in Crimea. The skit is located in the middle of the mountain gorge Tash-Air, 8 km from Bakhchisarai. Approximate time of creation of this most interesting place is 7-8 centuries.
Napron History: Transformation into Fashion Accessory
A napron for a real man. Guess who first started to wear naprons? The clue, that were men. Okay, we won't torture you with guessing. Officials in the service of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt wore naprons.
