[Artemisia] a new challenge

[Sue Clemenger]

This woman still does (carry handwork).  Just ask my co-workers.  Or the 
people at the laundramat.  Or the people on the bus (I commute), or 
pretty much anyone from BSK.  It's knitting I tend to carry with me, 
though--the embroidery I do is detailed enough that doing it in a moving 
vehicle is difficult (bumpy roads, mostly).  I'm finding, though, that a 
good long road trip to Coronation or something can get me the better 
part of a pair of socks, having the luxury, as I do, of not driving. ;o)
I bring things to events, as well, but am often busy in the kitchen or 
something, so not much gets done, handicraft-wise.  Luckily enough, 
knitting *is* period-appropriate for my persona's current time period 
(mid-late 14th century).  Spinning is, too. <g>
--maire "have tools and wool, will travel" ni nuanain...

Georgia Foster wrote:

> Women in period, and up until the 1930s often carried hand-work with 
> them (men's hands were usually occupied with the tools of their craft).  
> It was only with the mass recruiting of women in the work force in WWI 
> that women no longer carried hand-work as a matter of routine.
> 
> As a referent, if you wish to find me at events, I am usually the one 
> walking around with a wad of tatting in hand and a ball of string 
> leading to a pocket pinned to my skirt.  I have no particular skill at 
> it ... I just do it to keep my hands busy.  (recall the adage "idle 
> hands are the devils playground" ... etc.  If my hands are full of 
> tatting, or needle work, or bobbin lace, or card weaving, then they are 
> obviously not doing something they ought not.
> 
> I would further encourage folks to research what would have been period 
> for them to have "in hand" and "show your work".
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Malkin
> Otherhill
> Artemisia