This blog’s having a bit of a Rip Van Winckle moment, waking up, bleary-eyed, from a long nap, staggering around and wondering if it can survive in this strange new world.
Ok, slight exaggeration there.
What with studying an MPhil in textile conservation, I decided it would be wise to focus my time and writing efforts on studies.
This is what a textile conservator looks like (working on a bloodstained jacket from Annan Museum)
The course has been a mighty learning curve; I’ve learnt about the science behind textile fibres, and how and why they degrade, researched an ornate Afghan coat, seen the weavers in action at the fantastic Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh, unwrapped and humidified 1500-year-old archaeological fragments from a burial site in Sudan, talked my socks off at the Centre for Textile Conservation Open Day and the Edinburgh College of Art, and conserved an amazing bloodstained military jacket from Annan Museum.
More than that, I’ve met, made friends and shared way too many embarassing stories with my coursemates (two of whom write awe-inspiring blogs: https://textileinvestigations.wordpress.com/ and https://hannahsuthers.com/blog/).
Right now I’m applying for jobs and preparing for the trip of a lifetime to Japan next week. I’ll be taking part in a traditional Japanese indigo-dyeing workshop in Fujino, so thought it would be a crime not to share what I see and learn while I’m there. Check back here for updates!
