Feathered Cloaks of Polynesia Throughout the islands that are part of  Polynesia there are many commonalities, although each island (or island group) may differ somewhat in their customs.  One textile of remarkable beauty is the feathered cloak, but found only in Tahiti, Hawaii and New Zealand cultures.  In Hawaii, feathered cloaks denoted rank as the…

Wallpaper: A Textile Cousin When I lecture about various categories of textiles I frequently  use an analogy of a family tree.  So, let’s say the nuclear family is apparel and apparel fabrics, furnishing fabrics for curtains and bed and bath linens.  These are the most common textiles and immediately familiar to us.  Next in the…

Wallpaper: A Textile Cousin When I lecture about various categories of textiles I frequently  use an analogy of a family tree.  So, let’s say the nuclear family is apparel and apparel fabrics, furnishing fabrics for curtains and bed and bath linens.  These are the most common textiles and immediately familiar to us.  Next in the…

Liberty Style There is no better example of “overdoing” home décor than that of Victorian aesthetics.  The second half of the 19thC saw, in Europe, and, especially in the United Kingdom, the rise of a middle class.  Education in all aspects ( science, art, literature) was highly regarded and Victorians were determined to display their…

Liberty Style There is no better example of “overdoing” home décor than that of Victorian aesthetics.  The second half of the 19thC saw, in Europe, and, especially in the United Kingdom, the rise of a middle class.  Education in all aspects ( science, art, literature) was highly regarded and Victorians were determined to display their…

Magic Cloth of Nettle Fiber For many years I have been collecting stories from literature and cultural folklore concerning textiles that contain magical properties.  The magic may be due to technique, the creator of the fabric, some supernatural intervention or the fibers used. One of my favorite fairy tales is called Wild Swans ( also…