a week of 'vacation'

This morning I start my week off between classes and residency.  I have been slowly getting up to speed for the day, first thing I needed to do was find the den again...a whole grocery bag full of paper to go to the curb and I can now see the top of the desk and the table beside me where I rest books when I am writing.  Just like cleaning my studio, it's like clearing the brain, getting ready for the next project.

And speaking of projects...Last week while I was procrastinating writing, I looked at Nova Muse, the online collections database of Nova Scotia
Check out this lovely blanket circa 1800 in blue and white check made of wool
http://novamuse.ca/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/12726

The first piece of cloth I am going to warp up will be for a work shirt for Pierre and an apron for me in blue and white checked linen.  In The Dress of the People by John Styles, page 265 there is a great little check from Foundling no. 13169, London Metropolitan Archives.  Unfortunately, I cannot link to the picture as the documents are unavailable until the exhibit is over.  Page 294 of that same book shows an etching by Thomas Rowlandson entitled The Maid of All-Work's Prayer c 1801, British Museum, London, BMSat 9792.  The maid wears a checked apron in blue and white.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=271972&objectId=3027673&partId=1

I have also become quite the fan of coloured neckerchiefs or fichu, and now have three in varying colours along with a white one and a very light pink one.  I have cotton dyed a nice yellow colour waiting for blue decoration, as soon as I figure out how to do that without silkscreening it.  I am toying with the idea of carving my own blocks for printing.