MADELEINE'S HEP HERD

Steampunk Scarves Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . Here are the scarves to go with the postcards in the last post. There are five of them, all long narrow rectangles of fine silk chiffon with hand rolled edges. I call them Steampunk Scarves because the printing technique is an early photographic process invented by John Herschel and used by Anna Atkins to create the first ever published book of photographs (1843). Surely they are the perfect steampunk lady's accessory.

Lace Postcards Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . Just a quick post via flickr today. I figured it was worth commemorating the fact that I managed to tie my own shoelaces a couple of weeks ago. After several years of being too arthritic to reach my feet and then a year since my first hip replacement, I now feel supple enough to wear lace ups again! To celebrate I did some other laces as well! The postcards above are part of a collection of cyanotype prints I've just finished. They're all printed directly from textile samples - not all are technically "lace" but it's a good catch-all for these fabrics. As well as around 20 prints on paper, I'm making a few silk chiffon scarves as well. Should have a corner devoted to these at the Coburg House Open Studios Weekend . Attack of the Knitted Tentacle update coming soon!

The great measuring. 91 cm Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . [Another post that starts with an apology - not good...] Anyway I am sorry I haven't updated the world about the results of the Trundling Knitter's efforts - I blame Facebook! The knitting walk was two miles and resulted in 91cm of I-cord being knitted. Stuart came to cheer the start of the walk and the whole route was observed by Mike (who took the photos and videos ), Fawns and Iain. The measuring was checked by Raffles, the Transreal tapir and his young friend (pictured above). A huge thanks goes out to all the people who sponsored the Trundling Knitter. You £339.39 raised in aid of World Tapir Day's campaign to save tapir habitat in Ecuador. The Just Giving donations page is still open if anyone hasn't donated yet. see http://www.justgiving.com/worldtapirday The knitting produced on the trundle will be incorporated in my next mad scheme - an exhibition called Attack of the Knitted Tentacles, of which ...

27th April 2010 sees the coincidence of two events of personal importance, my final orthopedic examination after last year's double hip replacement surgery and World Tapir Day . I intend to mark both events simultaneously by walking the measured mile-long footpath in the Meadows in Edinburgh for the first time without my walking sticks. To make sure I can't hold a walking stick in either hand, I'll be knitting as I go. That covers the renewed mobility but what about the tapirs? Well, the good folks at World Tapir Day have announced the 2010 Trundle for Tapirs - an initiative encouraging small local, fund-raising efforts all around the globe to preserve the habitat of Mountain Tapirs in Ecuador. While this campaign focuses on the tapirs there are obvious benefits to the ecology of the region and in turn to the whole planet. So to help me mark World Tapir Day, I'm asking as many people as possible to sponsor my walking knit to raise funds for World Tapir Day's n...

Today is designated Ada Lovelace Day - a day to celebrate women who have contributed to science and technology. In the nineteenth century Ada worked on programming Charles Babbage's calculating machines using a system devised to control looms that automated the weaving of pattern in fine fabrics. She is the icon of this day on which bloggers around the world write about inspiring female scientists. Find out more at www.findingada.com My contribution to this day is a bit serendipitous. I hadn't been sure what to write about and the day had nearly gone when the subject was given to me be a random choice of TV programme. I was watching Bettany Hughes' Ancient World about Alexandria - around half the material revolved around Hypatia (right). This woman lived in fourth century Egypt; she was a philosopher in the true sense of the word - a lover of wisdom. She assisted her father in his mathematical scholarship and grew to become a respected scholar in her own right and the ...

felted crochet coral fragments Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . Well it's been ages since I posted anything here and I don't really know why or where to begin. I had my second hip operation in October 2009 and been recovering slowly since then. I've been far from idle over the months but not in a blogging mood. I think mostly due to post op fatigue and physiotherapy. Facebook is also partly to blame - it's been easy to keep in touch with friends and family that way but it's also a huge thief of time. Now that I'm back at the "day job" full time things are a bit more disciplined. So what of the arty work? I'm finally finishing off the coral critters brooches that I started in the spring. That's one in the photo. There should be a couple of dozen when I'm done. I've also made some nudibranchs and starfish and plan to send them off to the Irish Hyperbolic Coral Reef project in Dublin. 42 Mobius Mufflers! There's a bit of end ...

Alba ad Astra Originally uploaded by MadeleineS . Mike at Transreal Fiction has agreed to extend the run of the Alba ad Astra exhibition to the end of September. All the documents, so carefully researched by Gavin Inglis and Andrew C. Ferguson of Writers' Bloc continue to be on display along side my photographs. If you thought you'd missed your chance to see this fantastic piece of research into Scotland's engineering past then don't despair - there are still a few weeks in which to visit it at Transreal Ficiton, 7 Cowgatehead, The Grassmarket, Edinburgh. If you can't get a long to the show you can see the photographs and some of our research notes at www.madeleineshepherd.co.uk . The collective which constructed this exhibition is currently considering how to take it forward. We hope to be able to report on the expected return of the Golden Eagle capsule on 30th November, regardless of restrictions that may be placed in our path. We also hope to be able to rec...