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Testy Silk Tests

So I’ve been working with combinations of different silks and different vellums and trying to find the sweet spot where it all goes together perfectly. It is not working out that way.

Filament silk does not work the same way as spun silk. Spun silk works a whole lot better in many ways but it is not nearly as pretty in the end result.

The best vellum is soft and “felty” in feeling. Not stiff and flat and processed in a way that would make it perfect for paper.

The best silk (of the filaments) I think would be the Trebizond. The reason I feel this way is because the filaments are not firmly melded together like the ones in Au Ver A Soie – Soie Ovale. I think this has to do with the twist – I use one of the three strands at a time with the Trebizond and while it looks all twisty when I use it, the filaments have some give and take in relation to each other. Because the vellum I’m wrapping in silk isn’t in nice even and straight pieces, the silk on one side has more or less space to wrap than the silk on the other side and so when a piece is finished the cut end of the strand is pretty jagged. The Trebizond slides through my fingers and stays straight which I did not expect as the result of the twist.

I wrapped The majority of an Arras rose in a lovely rose pink color and finished the Herrentals poppy in a rich gold color. Both are in the Au Ver A Soie – Soie Ovale. They both look stunning.

I am working on an Arras rose in a white cream color in the Trebizond silk. I will need to finish that one up first before I go buying more silk but it’s clear to me that I will have to do this project with filament silk because it just looks so much nicer.

I’ve decided that the cabinet for the shrine will probably be made from aromatic cedar. I haven’t decided for sure yet but if the cedar prevents moths and moths can eat silk then it is probably the best wood to use. I first need to find out if any of the original cases were of cedar.

And lastly – I picked up two of my ILL books at the library today. They had just come in so they express checked them in so I could check them out.. The other two should be here by Monday. One of them, The Beguines in Medieval Paris by Miller, looks very interesting and has a whole chapter on silk workers around 1300. I look forward to diving into it. Thankfully it’s in English!