On the left: a hybrid white Chinese strain. On the right: the Cambodian land race cocoon.
I’ve been raising some silkworms from Cambodia. They’re Bombyx mori, same as all the other domesticated silkworms – but they’ve been bred for centuries to withstand the particular stresses and hardships of Cambodia’s hot, humid climate. They are MUCH smaller than most of the regular strains, and they make a brilliant yellow cocoon.
The new issue of WeaveZine is up, and my article on brocading is in it!
I’m always excited to have something get printed (or, well, electro-published?) – but this format is particularly neat because it allows me to explain with video. So much of textile work is “And then I go like this, and it folds over like that..” and it’s hard to explain in words. The video helps a lot, I think.
I love, love, LOVE getting packages from India.
They are always full of wonderful stuff – but they also have the most charming and interesting packaging. It seems like they’re put together with a particular aesthetic – like they’re put together with precision and care… out of whatever’s at hand.
No, that’s not the shoulder of a wooly yak… that’s a Bombyx silk moth. They’re just really hairy close to.
more moth macros
These are mostly for a friend of mine who asked for a photo… and, you know, just for the love of the pretty pictures.
It’s time once again for the Dallas Asian Festival! It’s at the Dallas City Hall plaza.
The City Hall site has a link to a map, and directions.
Here’s my post from last year’s Festival – it was a good event! Very busy, lots of neat things to see and do. I didn’t get to get out of the booth much, but there was all kinds of food and drink and hands-on crafts and cultural entertainment.
I’ll be with the Crow Collection’s booths; last year, they were green and yellow, but I’m not sure if they’re the same this year.
