Commissions
Restoration of an altar cloth made of three panels. The embroidery was lifted from the old, damaged damask and placed onto new damask with a linen support. The embroidery was thus preserved and the appearance of the altar cloth was brightened.
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Antique silk wedding gown with heavy silver embroidery, cleaned and supported onto strong linen. |
My impression of what the Victorian gown on the left would have originally looked like before alterations in the 1950s. |
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Monogrammed handkerchiefs |
Monogrammed handkerchief for a wedding |
This is still one of my favourites. An art piece commissioned for the birth of a baby. Such a lovely idea.
I am happy to discuss your commission requirements in detail, no matter how large or small the project. It all starts with an email.
Most commissions fall into the following categories:
New Commissions
Heirloom pieces, wedding gowns, etc.
There are many reasons you may wish to commission a work of embroidery; to celebrate a wedding or birth, as an heirloom piece or as artwork for display.
Conservation
Preserves an item in its current state so that it will not deteriorate further.
Conservation allows delicate items to be put on display. This could mean trapping loose embroidery work under a very fine (almost invisible) net or attaching a sampler to conservation-grade mount board.
Restoration
Usually brings an item back to full working order.
This could mean replacing missing stitches in the embroidery or transferring whole areas of embroidery onto new fabric.
What is the difference between conservation and restoration?
The main difference is in the goal. If the item needs to be used again then restoration is often the only way to achieve this, however if it is for display only then conservation may be sufficient.
Should I conserve or restore my antique textile?
The answer is personal choice and even the experts change their minds every few years. However, one thing to consider is the historical significance of the piece. If it has great importance then restoration may destroy its integrity. In this situation the preferred method is conservation, with the option to create a new version for use.
Images shown with kind permission of the owners