In addition to the pin ball I showed you yesterday, Sharon also brought a pair of needlework accessories, a shoe and a pinwheel. The shoe’s sole isn’t completely attached to the upper; inside is a place to store needles. Sharon explained that the shoe was a “test project” taught to her sampler guild by the designer, who wanted a group to troubleshoot her instructions.

Jennifer was very excited to see Sharon’s shoe; Jennifer made and brought a similar shoe. The same designer had published a needle shoe project in a magazine and Jennifer made it. We of course took photos of the two shoes (Sharon’s on the left, Jennifer’s on the right) and the two shoemakers. (And I hope I got all those details right. Every session I promise I’ll take notes on the fascinating backstories of all the needleworked treasures, and every session things happen too fast for that!)

On the table in front of Sharon and Jennifer you can see Sharon’s pinwheel that matches her shoe, and Jennifer’s scissors case that matches hers. Also visible are Sharon’s Quaker motif sampler and Jennifer’s blue needlework accessories, plus a second pinball of Sharon’s (the sage-brown one). Riches.

Our Girl in the UK wrote a couple of times today. I wouldn’t have thought it possible to sound breathless in an email. The Laton jacket, through heaven only knows what conjunction of chance and chocolate gifts, was not on display. It was behind the scenes, unmounted, on a table in front of Tricia. She gazed, studied, photographed and worshiped it within an inch of her life, and as she says “almost cried.”

Then, of course, she also got to spend time with 1359-1900. I doubt her feet have returned to earth.

Today’s pictures are all courtesy of Robbin. (Thanks again, Robbin.) She and her camera captured several events I missed, all of which occurred on Day Three (Thursday, for those of us who are having trouble keeping track…).

First, here’s Laura the Extreme Costumer, in her embroidered jacket, and the rest of her ensemble, working at a frame which I think wouldn’t have been that foreign to a real 16^th or 17^th century embroiderer. Laura and Jennifer flew in to join us for Thursday and Friday. It was a treat to meet them and see their work. On Friday, Laura shared with us some of her sketches of items in the V&A collection – her drawing is as beautiful as her needlework. While waiting for an open embroidery frame (at times on Thursday and Friday we actually had more qualified stitchers than we had frames for them to work at), Jennifer made ties for a forehead cloth out of sewing thread by the fingerloop braiding technique. Another guest, Marilyn, was knitting and conversing about Japanese embroidery techniques. It was like a smorgasbord of fiber arts.

Our next special guest was Shay Pendray, who couldn’t escape being set to work. I came back into the room just as she was leaving the frame, and forgot to ask if she made any stitches? I hope so.

Today I attended the Patuxet Strawberry Thanksgiving at Plimoth Plantation, a really special event. The weather was gorgeous and we had a great time, but it did involve walking from one end of the museum to the other, more than once. And after this busy week, I’m too tired to think. Tomorrow we’ll finish up the story of Session One.