Journal Pages Sept and Oct

I've found the restricted colour challenge for blue a bit more difficult than I thought it would be.  I like to work to a theme, that way I'm likely to actually finish the series, this blue section is based on Nursery Rhymes.  I've been reading about the origins of some of our English nursery rhymes and how they are linked to important historical events.  My JP's therefore reflect the origins rather than the more popular childhood versions.  The majority of nursery rhymes, mainly passed on by word of mouth, fall into two sections 'subversive' and 'teaching'.  They may be more sections but the majority of songs fall into these two.

Nursery Rhymes such as Monday's Child is Fair of Face,  One, Two Buckle my shoe, As I was going to St Ives teach numbers, days of the week, logic puzzles etc.  Boys and Girls come out to Play refers to the time of child labour and the only time they had to play was at night.  However if they played they ran the risk of being too tired to work and therefore earn money. This is summed up in the last line of the rhyme

 "Those who would eat must work - tis true."

My September journal page is not truly a nursery rhyme but the earliest 'subversive rhyme' recorded.  It is associated with the itinerant preacher John Ball who used it to incite the 'Peasants Revolt" in 1381 against their feudal lords. 

September JP - When Adam delved and Eve Span.

My October Journal page is "Ring a Ring a Roses" and most people would know that the 'ring a roses' refers to the rosy red rash in the shape of a ring of the Bubonic plague.  Although there was a great plague in the 1300's this rhyme goes back to 1665 when the Great Plague hit London.

Ring a Ring of Roses

A Pocket full of Posies

Atishoo Atishoo

We all fall down

I've used hand dyed fabric and lace for both journal pages together with printed fabric, ribbon and hand stitching.  The background for the Ring a Roses page was spray dyed over a piece of lace curtain.