The Ungalled Hart

I often work on multiple projects simultaneously. Such is my enthusiasm for exploring new hobbies. One of my latest endeavors involves creating a fore-edge painting book press. The design isn’t complicated so I figured it would be simple and less expensive to make one myself. However, as I quickly discovered, having the right tools is essential for woodworking projects. After struggling and unfortunately destroying some beautiful purpleheart wood, I turned to my father for help. He made the press but turned it into a collaboration project by leaving the sanding for me. The end result is a beautiful and unique press that will allow me to fan out the pages of a book at a specific angle, without causing damage to the book covers. I can then paint the fanned-out pages with a creative design. If I gild the book edges with gold, that design will be hidden from view when the book is closed. This traditional method of fore-edge painting dates back to the 15th century, and I am thrilled for a...

In the past, writing was a painstaking process that required significant time, effort, and skill. Whether inscribed on tablets or written on parchment, manuscripts were highly valued for their rarity and the knowledge they contained. To protect these precious works from theft, some monks added book curses to their manuscripts. While many of these curses were entertaining, such as those that threatened to pluck out the thief's eyes or execute them, others were far more severe. One such curse was the Anathema Maranatha. Unlike curses that aimed to inflict physical harm or punishment, the Anathema Maranatha warned of spiritual consequences. Anathema means "accursed" or "devoted to damnation," while Maranatha refers to the return of Christ and the judgment that will follow. Together, these words formed a serious warning to anyone who committed sin, suggesting that their very soul was at risk of divine judgment. Modern readers sometimes misunderstand this curse, be...

All morning I've been test-stitching these little guys and finished around noon. I thought it turned out really cute so I've uploaded the pattern to my Etsy Shop . I combined different rabbits found on various Illuminated Manuscripts so it looks like they are marching off to war. Ready to move on and test stitch my next pattern a book curse! Spooky!

I just finished test-stitching my tiniest pattern and put it up in my Etsy shop . It's a winged pig inspired by one found in a real Illuminated Manuscript. My goal was to make him as tiny and cute as possible. I think I nailed it!

Oh the adorable but somewhat problematic presence of my cat while working on my projects. Despite my best efforts, he always seems to be drawn to my materials, especially yarn, thread, and fabric. As much as I try to distract him, he just can't resist. Despite the occasional frustration, his charm and cuteness make it impossible to stay mad at him for long. In fact, I've even given him a new job as my official customer service representative for my shop . His friendly demeanor and fluffy appearance will win over many customers, even if he does cause a bit of chaos from time to time.

  Choosing a name for your business is a big decision, it's the first thing that people see when they come across your store. When I was starting my Etsy shop , I knew that I wanted a name that was both unique and meaningful to me. As an avid reader and lover of all things literary, I turned to my favorite work of Shakespeare for inspiration. I speak, of course, of Hamlet, a story that has everything - ghosts, murder, revenge, tragic heroes, and doomed love. And yet, buried in the middle of the story, Hamlet sings a merry little song that has always stuck with me. Why, let the stricken deer go weep, The hart ungalled play; For some must watch, While some must sleep: So runs the world away. Within Hamlet's miniature ballad there is the line, "the hart ungalled play." To most readers, this line may seem like a simple reference to a male deer living his best life. But it always struck me as one of Shakespeare’s gentle wordplays. You see, "hart" is also a homop...