Trace application completed - felt for art exhibition, also in search of vintage nappy pins!

Today was the closing date for applications for the Trace exhibition in Bristol in late July.  My application, together with images of my work and of a study for what I am proposing for the exhibition, was emailed off this morning.  Now to wait and see if I am successful.  Meanwhile, I need to get on with the rest of this series of pieces.  I am using my own colour photographs of details of the painted plaster walls at Tretower Court and juxtaposing them with coloured and textured felt incorporating vintage linen woven textiles which represent the domestic context.  Some of the wool used will be from Ryeland sheep, a historic breed which is contemporary with the building, and genuine medieval coins form the period – themselves bearing traces of extensive handling – will be embedded in the felt.  (see pic, which is of the study and shows the linen but does not have coins)

I am also doing the preparatory work for another piece.  A little while back I acquired some pieces of French vintage linen.  Being vintage, it shows signs of wear, and this particular piece is made up of four pieces which appear to have been cut down from larger, threadbare linens.  It has itself been patched and mended and has some thin areas and a few marks.  I rather fell in love with this piece of linen, and began to think about how I could use it in my work.  Those of you who know my interest in social history will not be surprised that what I am planning to do is a tribute to this piece of linen's history as a domestic artefact, with references to the kind of things that linen has been used for in our homes in the past.  I also recently acquired some vintage shirt buttons, so some of these will be stitched to the linen.  Elements from samplers, produced by girls to demonstrate their domestic skills, will also be worked into the linen, together with drawn thread work such as was used to trim table linen. I am also tracking down vintage haberdashery - pins and needles - to attach to the work.  As an allusion to the childrearing aspects of domestic life, I'd like to include some vintage nappy pins - still an icon of babyhood even since the invention of the disposable.
So I have put the word out (via email and Twitter) that I need some vintage nappy pins!  It will be interesting to see how many appear out of the ether.  And it's rather lovely to have so many people involved with my work.