Today, memorial keepsakes commemorating a deceased loved one are common. One can buy mementos created from funerary ashes, window decals, tattoos, plaques, wind chimes, and blankets, often featuring photos of the deceased. Memorial keepsakes are not a new thing. Before commercially produced mementos became available, hand-made needlework memorialized the death of loved ones. Select the … Continue reading Remembering the Dead with Embroidery
Crazy quilt-making was all the rage in the late 1800s. These were not typical patchwork quilts created from cotton or wool and inspired colonial thriftiness or frontier frugality. Crazy quilts were created from fancy dress fabrics, usually silk, and decorated with ornate silk embroidery and trims. This style of quilting was a product of the … Continue reading The Crazy Quilt Craze – History of 19th-century Crazy Patchwork
Crafts, sewing, and needlework projects are growing in popularity as people spend more time at home. Etsy, the online marketplace for arts and crafts supplies and finished work, boomed in 2020. However, getting creative at home for fun or profit is not a new thing. In the 19th century, creative projects called “fancywork” were all … Continue reading Etsy: Reviving 19th Century Fancywork