... 2008

so here it is already pushing the end of January

We finally signed up for high speed internet service, and got a new computer to boot through the Telus deal. Vista takes a bit to get used to, and it had some serious fits the first few weeks, but, knock on wood, seems to be going along ok now.

I've discovered a few divine internet links recently, and have been downloading some LOVELY antique documents. All to do with needlework and such. Heaven!

A collection of .jpg images from old old old cross stitch booklets, all zipped up for downloading. The site is french, so I got lost pretty easily after snagging these lovelies. The link is http://www.lamaisondanael.com/livrets_nouveaux/anciens.htm

They also have a collection of other patterns, http://www.lamaisondanael.com/grilles/mois.php

Now for the amazing link...
This place has hundreds of pattern booklets in pdf format - free to download and use for derivative works or to share the patterns for free - but NOT to sell the patterns. Some real lovely ones in here - lots of art deco style...
http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/

and if that's not enough to fill your socks, you can check out a site that has provided quite a few documents to the Antique Pattern Library, http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/books.html

Don't let the 'weaving' part discourage you, there are tons of needlepoint, cross stitch, lace, embroidery, and yes - weaving. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds publications, all antique. They actually have a system where you can purchase the files on cd, and I can tell you, the amount of hours I spent here collecting and then burning the files to cd, it would have been well worth it to purchase them. Don't have an 'extra' $250.00 laying around though...

Sooooo. That brings me to my current personal data torture.
One of the books is a study of American Samplers, published in 1921. Quite a lovely book. I wish the images were a bit higher resolution, but hey, it's free. And quite a lot of information on sampler in the 1600 - 1800. The torture part comes in here. I've decided to use this particular book in my personal education and study of the art of the sampler.

I hope I can make separate blog entries for this project. I'm not real familiar with this whole blogging thing, we'll see how it all goes shall we?

:-) hugs to all my loved ones (-:
Sandra Rose