Monthly Archives: May 2007

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Here is the embroidery for the large Aer

Large Aer Embroidery  

As you can see, this isn’t the entire Aer, but is the embroidery for the middle of it. It is difficult to see in this photo, but there are several rows of blue embroidery inside the smaller section of embroidery in the middle – so everything is tied together.

For those who may not know what an Aer is, Orthodox chalice covers are a set of three, the largest of which is tied over the priests shoulders during the Great Entrance during a Divine Liturgy. It has a different role in a Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, but I don’t want to confuse things here 🙂

The two smaller cloths are in the shape of a cross, and, God willing, I will actually cut those out this week. I have to be careful with that part as I only have enough brocade for the two cloths. No room for mistakes, and brocade isn’t cheap – and I doubt I could match the pattern of the current brocade so I would have to start all over again. . .

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An amazing thing!

I never cease to be amazed at how things happen, from the smallest to the greatest. One of the more recent events directly impacts this blog, so I thought it would be nice to mention it.

I had mentioned getting a camera cell phone as a way to take pics of my needlework for this blog (and for documentation purposes – I can’t actually remember what I did or HOW I did it without a picture of two).

Lo and behold, a friend of mine who happens to be a professional photographer happened to overhear my saying I would do this – and wound up giving me a digital camera that a bank gave him and his family a couple of years ago! They have never really used it – they have much nicer and far better equipment around the house as one can imagine.

 This was very kind – and as soon as I can get some new batteries, there will be some new, and current, pictures on this blog. Be very afraid 🙂 I will try and take care of the first round before I leave for tonight’s vigil service (Sts Constantine and Elena is the patronal feast for my parish), but time will tell. Right now a nap is of rather more importance 🙂

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Three interesting blogs

I have a fairly long list of blogs that I check on at least a semi-regular basis. It doesn’t take as much time as it may sound because most of them only get updated irregularly – but they are well worth the reading when they are.

Not many people visit my blog, and most of those have blogs that I read regularly – and I figured you know the address to your blog so I didn’t include them in my list 😉 You  also probably already have the following blogs on your list as well, but continue reading, just in case you don’t!

November In My Soul has two very interesting posts on the book of Jonah – both are prose – one from the perspective of Jonah and the other from the perspective of Leviathan.

 An Orthodox priest has a blog that is very good at presenting things from a different perspective at Second Terrace, it is a wonderful combination of prose, poetry, ponderings and philosophy. The most recent post lays out some of the fundemental differences in Orthodoxy through his explanation of why he isn’t a good ethicist, the post before this is a wonderful meditation on Saint Photini, (the woman at the well), and her meeting with Christ.  He also has a wonderful collection of posts grouped under the category “Philosophy of Cats”.

Fr. Stephen’s blog “Glory to God for All Things” is just wonderful! ‘Nuff said. Read it 🙂

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3 Projects at the same time?

Someone who reads this blog commented when we were talking on the phone the other evening that I am working on 3 projects at the same time.

Actually, if I were honest, it is probably double that – but there are several projects I haven’t worked on in a LONG time – and I do intend on changing that once I get through the current list of projects. God willing. Should I live that long 🙂

You see, there is the liturgical embroidery – that I am not yet ready to go back to until my spirit settles some more after the death of my stepfather a couple of weeks ago…

Tiramisu is a huge project, and the little work I’ve done on it so far tells me it will take quite some time to finish – and I have promised liturgical embroidery projects for TWO monastic sketes…. sorry Tiramisu, but liturgical emboidery takes presidence once I get back to it.

In the end, I think that there are lots of reasons for multiple projects. It isn’t to keep from being bored (I dare anyone to tell me that creating things of beauty could ever be boring!)… nor is it because I don’t have “better things to do” – for that isn’t the case either.

I think that it is the allure of learning new skills with which to use to create things of beauty – and what can be more beautiful than something that will be used in Orthodox worship? It seems to me that it is the end-purpose of the work that makes it beautiful – not what little effort I may have put into it. Does that make sense?

 Ok, I will stop pondering, and go pick up a needle – in the end – needle and thread is a much easier medium for me to express myself than words. I keep trying though 🙂

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Current Project Roll Call!

God willing I will soon break down and not only purchase a cell phone (for trips only), BUT it will also have a camera – so I can take pics of my projects rather more easily and post my progress here. Why yes, I AM too cheap frugal to buy a digital camera 🙂

I am FINALLY able, God willing, to actually cut the two small chalice covers. This has been something of a journey as I ruined the first set I cut. Folks, brocade isn’t cheap… This has been a learning experience and a half. I didn’t expect otherwise, but I didn’t understand that you have to “look” at brocade differently in order to get it right. No wonder it costs more to have experienced needlewomen to work with the material (or needlemen, I don’t wish to discriminate 🙂

Luck of the Irish is finally being started this week. I haven’t done goldwork before and am told it goes quickly – I pray that is so as it is due in August. Luck is the second picture in this

Tiramisu was started yesterday, but it won’t be completed in time to send it to the instructor for judging, though I MAY ask for an extension assuming that I think I stand some hope of being able to complete it in time. This is a blackwork project and it isn’t a small one…

There are other projects, but these three are my primary WIPs (works in progress). The others are still laid out on the “needlework table” to prod me along, but sadly I haven’t yet figured out how to live without sleep…

When I break down and purchase the camera phone, I will start posting more regular updates. I know, I should get a camera. . . Oh Well 🙂