We had a lovely afternoon with Annwyn Dean on Monday. She brought some 17th and 18th century fabric and lace for us to look at (and handle!) and talked to us about how they inspired the gorgeous handmade books she produces. The patterns on the fabric and lace are used to emboss paper; she also makes printing blocks reflecting the fabrics. We learnt about the history of cloth production and historical techniques which was fascinating. The backs of the clothing samples were just as interesting as the fronts, showing how different materials had been repurposed as linings and facings.
