July 2010
Agatha Christie collected many things. One of those things being Stevengraphs; silk bookmarks or pictures made by Thomas Stevens, a Coventry silk ribbon manufacturer.
That collection can now be seen at Greenway, Agatha Christie’s holiday home which is just across the River Dart from Papilionaceous here in South Devon.
The house is now owned and managed by the National Trust and more information can be found on the National Trust website.
Given our close proximity to the house and collection we are delighted to be both continuing the tradition of the Stevengraph here at Papilionaceous and also supplying our own take on these collectable bookmarks to the National Trust shop at Greenway.
The Trust have a second property close by which is well worth a visit.
Coleton Fishacre was the holiday home of the D’Oyly Carte family and is an Arts & Crafts style house set in magical gardens.
[And yes, you will find our bookmarks there as well!]
The fax room at Greenway with a selection of Stevengraphs on display.
©NTPL/Nick Guttridge
June 2010
Papilionaceous have been weaving fine silk jacquards for gent’s braces since the very start and have been working with Devon artist Simon Drew for almost as long.
We are now able to offer Limited Edition Simon Drew silk braces to you direct.
The braces are made in Leicester, England by Albert Thurston Ltd and the designs are officially licensed from Simon Drew.
Designs shown are:
“camel in the wind”
“sitting duck”
“putting on my top hat”
“fairy hat/hairy fat penguin”
and “gentlemen prefer ponds”
And they are all available from the Papilionaceous shop here:
Simon Drew Braces at Amazon
May 2010
Between 31st May and 14th June Papilionaceous is featured at the Devonshire Collection of Period Costume – Totnes Costume Museum, Totnes, Devon.
Alongside bags, braces and bookmarks we are delighted to be showing very fine silk trimmed Fair Trade Panama hats from Pachacuti.
For more information on these lovely hats visit Pachacuti here.
April 2010
We came across Bookdarts a while ago now. Similar to a bookmark in as much as they are place keepers, but also very different in that they keep a specific place, a specific line on a page – without the need to resort to the (sharp intake of breath) underlining in pencil that you may just let yourself use in your ‘working’ copy.
This is what their makers in Oregon, USA have to say:
Book Darts are precision-cut, paper-thin metal line markers that attach easily to any page.
To use, place Book Dart at desired line, close book and press in. Sliding a Dart onto a passage assures you can recall it easily even in a closed book.
Often judged indispensable by students, educators, and other readers of what has lasting value.
Answers the question: “How can we mark our exact passages, find them again, quickly and surely, and never harm the page?”
A good idea we thought, so slightly odd that they have yet to be really taken up here – as far as we know that is. To address this issue we have ordered some stock and they are now available in the UK from Papilionaceous at Amazon.
We are currently sending out free samples with all silk bookmark orders but if there is nothing else that you need at present just send us a stamped, self-addressed envelope and we will send you some Book Darts by return. Our address is here.
Book Darts are available from us in three colours: brass, bronze and stainless steel and quantities of 12, 18 and the tins of 50 pictured above.
Book Darts from Papilionaceous at Amazon
March 2010
One of the questions I get asked most often is: how did I get into weaving silk ribbons in the first place?
Part of the answer to that is that my first job on leaving college was selling silk ties in the tie hall of Liberty in Regent St.
At the time (1989) the dominance of printed silks for men’s ties was starting to give way to wovens and this resurgence of woven silks resulted in a steady stream of rather interesting pieces of silk weaving turning up in front of me on a regular basis; pieces of silk that provided me with a great deal of inspiration and encouragement that this might be an interesting path to follow.
Second on the list of questions most often asked is: do we weave silk ties?
No we don’t; for the simple reason that we only weave at 40mm wide. Even if it were to be a very narrow tie it would still need to be cut diagonally across the cloth (ties are cut on the bias so that they have a certain amount of stretch and are able to be tied in a nice knot) and what we weave is just not wide enough.
Having said all that, twenty years after first selling ties I am now selling them again!
Designs are by Simon Drew, with whom we have a long association, and though we neither weave the silk nor make the ties they are still a ‘Made in England’ product and complement our range of Simon Drew bookmarks rather well we think.
The first two designs are available now via our shop at Amazon:
trust me I’m a ducktor silk tie
And also from the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium
trust me I’m a ducktor silk tie, tall duck and handsome silk tie
February 2010
For some, myself included, the topic of Fly Fishing will forever be associated with the name of J.R. Hartley; he may have started out as a fiction but the book he was looking for eventually became reality.
There is no need to scour Cecil Court to find our Fly Fishing bookmark though!
Also, from the original by John Collier: ‘Lilith’
A woman with a chequered past who may, or may not, be suitable for your Valentine.
Both are available now from Amazon:
Lilith
and the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium:
Lilith, Salmon Flies
January 2010 (II)
The snow and frost has gone for now so our thoughts turn towards Spring (perhaps).
We have some tulips anyway!
Tulips at Amazon
the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium
Also, from the original by Gustav Klimt:
‘Water Serpents II’, a new double sided bookmark.
Water Serpents II at Amazon
the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium
January 2010 (I)
To keep that New Year’s Eve feeling going just a little longer we present a new, double sided, his and hers ‘Cocktail’ bookmark.
Cocktail bookmark at Amazon
the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium
Also, a second mark inspired by the art of Japan. To give it it’s full title:
‘The Courtesans Wakana and Wakanoura of the Wakana House’, by Utamaro Kitagawa
Utamaro Kitagawa bookmark at Amazon
the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium
December 2009
With Christmas on the way we thought stockings would be in order.
Our silk stockings are courtesy of Alberto Vargas.
Available here: Vargas Silk Stocking bookmark at Amazon
the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium
Also seasonal in parts of Europe, carp.
We present ‘Red Carp under Wisteria’ by Kuniyoshi Utagawa
Available here: ‘Red Carp under Wisteria’ silk bookmark at Amazon
the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium
Completing the three wise bookmarks is a new colouring of our very popular Aubrey Beardsley Lily.
Available here: Green Lily bookmark at Amazon
the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium
November 2009
Two new book marks this month. Both feature small details from much larger works.
The details are taken from:
The Virgin and Child Enthroned by Margarito of Arezzo
and
The Annunciation by Carlo Crivelli
for further information see the Bookmarks ~ Fine Art section
also available to buy from the Papilionaceous Silk Emporium and Papilionaceous at Amazon
October 2009
Thank you to everyone who stopped by at Alexandra Palace.
If you have now arrived here to find out more, you could try:
Papilionaceous bookmarks on Amazon
September 2009
New bookmarks this month:
Featuring artwork by: Follower of Hugo van der Goes, Georges Seurat, Paul Cézanne and Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Further details in the Bookmarks ~ Fine Art section
August 2009
Your favourite bookmarks are now available alongside your favourite books!
The link below will take you to a selection of Papilionaceous silk bookmarks on the Amazon website.
and for the books:
July 2009
For anyone in the South Devon Area – especially with the weather the way it is today – The Annual Stokenham Arts and Crafts Exhibition is on from 24th July – 1st August and is well worth a visit.
Next month sees the second Celebrate Start Bay event in Slapton:
“The annual free celebration of ‘all that is good’ about the Start Bay area showcasing local arts & crafts, food and drink, and the great outdoors! All-weather event: Stalls in the village hall full of information and shopping opportunities; Plus a full programme of outdoor and indoor activities & entertainment, talks and workshops.”
Celebrate Start Bay 2009
For older news, see:
News 08/09
News 07/08
