It's been a busy day photographing in my studio today, the winter light has been lovely in here. Sunny but not too harsh. That lovely winter sun that seems to bathe everything in clean light, you know? Even though the light was so gentle I still needed to diffuse it a wee bit and to do that I used my old faithful embroidered tablecloth.
It's perfect because it's such a bright white colour. I've found it in a charity shop so many years ago now, and before that I think it must have served time in a home that held many a dinner party, or possibly a restaurant or hotel around Edinburgh? I don't know, but whatever it's story it has been well used and washed so many times, probably boil washed since the cutwork stitching has become so brittle and fragile. I have to be very careful handling it these days as it will tear so easily. It spends most of it's time hiding a suitcase that sits by my desk, but every now and then it is called to action to help me with my work. I adore how the light highlights it's embroidery and cutwork, it completely reverses how it would usually look. The white stitching becomes dark and shadowy while the cutwork blazes a little trail of light across the fabric. So pretty.
It's perfect because it's such a bright white colour. I've found it in a charity shop so many years ago now, and before that I think it must have served time in a home that held many a dinner party, or possibly a restaurant or hotel around Edinburgh? I don't know, but whatever it's story it has been well used and washed so many times, probably boil washed since the cutwork stitching has become so brittle and fragile. I have to be very careful handling it these days as it will tear so easily. It spends most of it's time hiding a suitcase that sits by my desk, but every now and then it is called to action to help me with my work. I adore how the light highlights it's embroidery and cutwork, it completely reverses how it would usually look. The white stitching becomes dark and shadowy while the cutwork blazes a little trail of light across the fabric. So pretty.
What a brilliant & beautiful way to display such a lovely tablecloth ! It looks splendid !
ReplyDeleteWe're not as lucky and are experiencing the greyiest, darkest month of January ever ! And way too mild for January too.
Wishing you a fabulous rest of the week !
xoxo
It shows it off to it's best, doesn't it!? I love that the light behind the embroidery adds another dimension to it's beauty... which I know is something you love to dearest Sonia! I still have one of your postcards to prove it :)
DeleteIt's grey and wet here in Edinburgh today but not too chilly so not all bad. I hope the sun finds it's way to you soon, even if it's only a day as it was here.
Happy Friday and hugs to you and Gary! xxx
Beautiful photography, looking forward to hearing what it was you were photographing all day. Intrigued x
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few vintage table cloths, they are all so beautifully handmade. These photos are lovely. Have a great weekend x
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post, Emma. Light certainly changes everything. I used to work in a diffused space that made all my photos so easy!
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Rachel! You're right, light controls how we see everything and especially how we perceive colour. It's fun to play with it when we're taking pictures but so tricky to control when we need it to do something 'just so'.
DeleteHappy New Year to you my dear friend :) xx