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I was working with an item today that just utterly flabbergasted a part of me (the other was deeply frustrated with the catalogue record AS SOMEONE APPARENTLY THOUGHT IT WAS PRINTED ON SILK, coming back to that in a minute) … but ANYWAYS … said item is a replica of a medieval manuscript prayer book THAT IS ENTIRELY WOVEN out of grey and black silk … WOVEN … text, images, intricate grey scale, WOVEN … NOT PRINTED …

And it’s flabbergasting because it’s from 1888, Jacquard machine, IT USED PUNCH CARDS to weave these intricate pages … something like 400 weft per near square inch … IT looks like a page of textured paper, but it’s not, it’s entirely SILK … F*CK …

Anyways …

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Lantanas in the afternoon.

Bsky / Tip jar

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Sarah Brin - Untitled, 2025 - Acrylic on canvas

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Ocean Quigley - Into the Blue Distance, 2025 - Oil on linen

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Tide Pool - Jeremy Miranda , 2023.

American , b. 1980 -

Acrylic on canvas, 29 9/10 × 35 2/5 in. 76 × 90 cm,

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Lehrbuch der Zoologie - Otto Schmeil - 1930 - via e-rara

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Migration. Lori Nix, Kathleen Gerber. 2001.

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Michiel Schrijver (Dutch, born 1957)

"Silence of the sea" 2013

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Guido Reni - Saint Catherine of Alexandria, ca. 1638 - Oil on canvas

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Trương Tân (Vietnamese, 1963), Floating on the River, 2008. Lacquer on wood, 39.5 x 31.5 in.

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Tubes and Tines

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A grammar of Japanese ornament and design - Thomas W. Cutler - 1880 - via e-rara

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Embroidery Meets Art: Victoria Rose Richards’ Stunning Aerial Landscapes

Art takes on many forms. While some mediums are widely recognized, others remain underappreciated despite their beauty. Embroidery, for example, is an ancient craft that often flies under the radar—yet in the hands of a talented artist, it can be truly breathtaking.

Meet Victoria Rose Richards, a 26-year-old embroidery artist from South West Devon, UK. Though she holds a degree in biology, her true passion lies in needle and thread. Her mesmerizing aerial embroidery landscapes evoke a deep sense of nostalgia, capturing the beauty of the countryside from a bird’s-eye perspective.

“Do you have fond memories of visiting the countryside as a child? A nostalgia for those simpler, rose-tinted memories? These are the feelings I focus on recreating in my aerial embroidery landscapes,” Victoria shares on her website.

Her journey into embroidery began as an escape from boredom. After facing various challenges in life, she realized that creative expression was the key to fulfillment. What started as a simple hobby soon became a lifelong passion—one that has brought her both joy and a thriving career. Now, nestled in the countryside, Victoria finds endless inspiration in the landscapes around her, weaving emotion and memory into every stitch.

Embroidery has been around for thousands of years. According to historical records, the technique dates back as far as 30,000 B.C., with some of the earliest examples originating in Ancient China between the 3rd and 5th centuries B.C. By the early Middle Ages, embroidery had already made its way to Europe, where it became a symbol of wealth and status. Nobles adorned their clothing and homes with elaborate stitched designs, turning embroidery into a coveted art form.

The craft saw a major transformation during the Industrial Revolution, particularly with the invention of the first embroidery machine in mid-19th century France. This innovation paved the way for mass production, making embroidery more accessible than ever. Today, with the help of modern materials and technology, the art form continues to evolve while preserving its traditional charm.

Despite its long history, embroidery remains a unique and fascinating craft. Artists like Victoria Rose Richards ensure its relevance by pushing creative boundaries and offering fresh perspectives. Her work proves that embroidery is more than just decoration—it’s a medium for storytelling, emotion, and artistic expression.

Through her breathtaking aerial landscapes, Victoria brings embroidery into the modern art world, allowing us to rediscover the beauty of this ancient craft. And thanks to artists like her, we get to experience its magic in ways we never imagined.

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Linocut Art by Elina Adrshina (source)

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Be Bop en cave. Paris. 1951

Photo: Robert Doisneau

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Vogue, March 1920. Illustrated by George Wolfe Plank.