Jane Brocket MA
I had my MA graduation ceremony today. The thing I was most interested in was the colour of the hood, having worn an extremely dull colour when I was a BA a long time ago. I really wanted bright pink with a fur trim and maybe a few sequins and rhinestones. But no, the English MA was a worthy, Green and Black's milk chocolate colour. I should have done music; they had a hood in bright aqua with white trim.
It was a lovely morning. I did the MA at the very picturesque Royal Holloway College (part of London University). It was bulit in the 1870s by Thomas Holloway, proprietor of Holloway's Pills, and he instructed his architect to base the design on that of the chateaux of the Loire. This is entrance to the North Quad.
The sun shone and we all got very hot in our robes and mortar boards, but it was wonderful to share the day with Simon and the children, who gave me so much support during my two year immersion in Victorian Media & Culture.
And here's the textile/stitching link. My dissertation was on 'Fat Fairies' - large, buxom, attractive women performers who dressed and danced and sang and spoke as fairies in pantomimes, burlesques and extravaganzas from 1840-1870. I did a huge amount of picture research and unearthed some brilliant visuals. I told Linda Miller all about them and she agreed to make me one of her embroideries on the subject. I sent her lots of pictures to give her ideas and this is what she came up with. (The photography was difficult because the piece is framed). I love my Fat Fairies.
Tomorrow I fly to New York for three nights. Back Monday.
Oh!, how absolutely darling!! Please could you give me her address!!
Marthaxx
P.s Well done on the MA!!
Posted by: Martha | July 13, 2005 at 04:54 PM
Congratulations on your achievement, Jane! Maybe it's just the sunlight shining on it that makes it look so, but I think your hood is just lovely. (And honestly, even if it were a truly disgusting color, could it really detract from knowing you're finished?) If you come up with any good uses for your hood, do share. I only wish I could find a reason to wear mine about.
Posted by: Julie | July 13, 2005 at 04:59 PM
Congratulations on your MA! :-)
Posted by: Kajin | July 13, 2005 at 05:10 PM
Congratulations and well done !
Fat Fairies ! How wonderful. I,obviously,was born too late.
Posted by: Emma | July 13, 2005 at 05:20 PM
Fat Fairies rule! Congratulations on your accomplishment and enjoy your trip to NY.
Posted by: margene | July 13, 2005 at 05:36 PM
Congratulations on finishing! Such a wonderful benchmark to have behind you...
Posted by: kelly | July 13, 2005 at 05:43 PM
Anything that is the color of Green & Blacks milk chocolate (a favorite of mine) can't be all that bad.
Congratulations on your MA...it must feel good.
Posted by: Liz | July 13, 2005 at 06:30 PM
Congratulations!
I also think that your hood is quite nice, and coordinates very well with the incredibly beautiful college. I am feeling a little bitter right now, picturing my own school...
Anyway, enjoy your trip!
Posted by: mm | July 13, 2005 at 06:50 PM
oh happy, HAPPY day!
Have a lovely trip...
and to me? That looks like
the lovely color of la Tache...
(wink,wink)
here's to YOU!
(and your fabulous fat faeries!)
Posted by: greta | July 13, 2005 at 07:00 PM
oh have a wonderful trip. and congratulations on your various (and beautiful) accomplishments.
Posted by: anna | July 13, 2005 at 08:55 PM
CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!
I hope you celebrated with a big tumbler of Champers ?
Posted by: lyn | July 13, 2005 at 09:10 PM
i've been reading your blog for a few weeks now. i love your work, stories and the beautiful pictures!!!!
congrads on your studies!!
Posted by: laurie | July 13, 2005 at 10:12 PM
Congratulations! Enjoy NY.
Posted by: Jess | July 13, 2005 at 10:57 PM
Congratulations!!!!!
And what a wonderful subject - now I begin to understand your "ladies" even more. I hav one similar lady, although in a later time frame, who travelled the world from near here in the 1800s as a "Giantess" - that was on her passport, and she was recognised as the largest woman in the world - she really enjoyed herself - sang, played music etc - and had a wonderful life. Miners even threw gold nuggets on stage to her!
Posted by: Chloe | July 13, 2005 at 11:10 PM
Congratulations! Does that bring back memories of my own grad school grad ceremony. My hood is one of my most treasured posessions. Kudos!
~ Regina Rioux Gonzalez MFA
Posted by: LadyLinoleum aka Regina | July 13, 2005 at 11:30 PM
Congratulations! How exciting. :)
Posted by: Jill | July 14, 2005 at 12:19 AM
Congratulations, Jane! I guess it's too late now to ask if you'd like to meet up in the Big Apple, but I hope you have a fantastic trip! (PS. Gorgeous fairies.)
Posted by: Axelle | July 14, 2005 at 01:14 AM
Wow! Congratulations! Have a great trip!! :)
Posted by: robin | July 14, 2005 at 04:30 AM
Congratulations Jane!
Posted by: claire | July 14, 2005 at 06:41 AM
Congratulations :) Professor of Knitology next, perhaps? (it has a Koigu trim to the robe)
Posted by: Alison | July 14, 2005 at 12:40 PM
Congratulations. Might a graduation garden lady be next in your series?
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 14, 2005 at 08:26 PM
Congratulations and don't fret about the hood colour, you clever thing!
Posted by: Linda | July 14, 2005 at 09:17 PM
Many congratulations! Enjoy your trip!
Posted by: Fiona | July 15, 2005 at 05:36 AM
Hurrah! Congratulations on your worthy achievement. My husband earned a BA in English and MFA in creative writing and I'm pretty sure he didn't get to wear pink or sequins either.
Posted by: laurie b. | July 15, 2005 at 07:19 AM
Congratulations on your graduation. This ceremonial dress thing is completely unheard of here in Norway, but I must say i like the hood as it is. Would be lovely on a long cape over an evening dress :)
I've done some (just a little) work on fairies, too, never heard of the fat ones! What a great concept.
Posted by: Strikkelise | July 15, 2005 at 09:33 AM