Portfolio

Zephyr Preservation Studio offers the following services for all your textile conservation and preservation needs:


Conservation Treatments

Conservation treatments for all types of textiles, including flags, banners, quilts, embroideries, samplers, costumes, shoes, carpets, upholstery and tapestries.

Dress: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right with both bodice elements

Dress: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right with both bodice elements

Civil War flag conservation: top picture - working while suspended on a bridge so the middle is accessible.

Civil War flag conservation: top picture – working while suspended on a bridge so the middle is accessible.

Sampler: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right

Sampler: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right

Christening gown: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right in a shadowbox

Christening gown: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right in a shadowbox

Upholstery: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right

Upholstery: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right


Documentation

Documentation is the most important step in conservation. Knowing what the piece is made from will lead to the best treatment.

Fiber identification with a microscope

Fiber identification with a microscope

Examining a garment

Examining a garment

Examining an embroidered piece

Examining an embroidered piece


Cleaning

Cleaning a piece removes harmful particles that might cause further damage over time. Vacuuming with low suction is one way to clean a textile. Wet-cleaning, tide-line reduction and glue reduction are other ways to clean – it all depends on what the piece needs.

Low-suction vacuuming of a quilt

Low-suction vacuuming of a quilt

Cleaning soiling with a dry sponge

Cleaning soiling with a dry sponge

Detail of tide line: before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom

Detail of tide line: before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom


Stabilization

Stabilization is the technical term for repairing a fabric or object and can be done with a variety of methods: underlays and overlays are the most common.

Stabilizing ribbons on a baton

Stabilizing ribbons on a baton

Detail of loss, stabilized with an overlay: Before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom

Detail of loss, stabilized with an overlay: Before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom

Stabilization of a tear with an underlay: before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom

Stabilization of a tear with an underlay: before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom


Consolidation

Consolidation is similar to stabilization – it adds an ‘infill’ fabric to mask the loss in the original and is integrated into the piece.

Detail of loss in a rug: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right

Detail of loss in a rug: before treatment on the left, after treatment on the right

Detail of loss in rug at the edge: before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom

Detail of loss in rug at the edge: before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom

Detail of loss in felt: before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom

Detail of loss in felt: before treatment on the top, after treatment on the bottom


Mounting and Preservation Framing

Textiles can be mounted using velcro or a hanging sleeve, usually for larger pieces like quilts or tapestries. Preservation Framing can extend the life of your treasured textile by protecting it from dust and light using UV coated glazing.

Stitch-mounting a sampler prior to framing

Stitch-mounting a sampler prior to framing

Framing a mounted textile

Framing a mounted textile

Quilt with velcro-mount hanging

Quilt with velcro-mount hanging


Exhibit Preparation

Exhibits can be extensive endeavors – call if you need some assistance for your next big show!

Costume installation - dressing a mannequin

Costume installation – dressing a mannequin

Flat textile installation - sewing a twill tape along one edge so it can be secured to the display board with pins

Flat textile installation – sewing a twill tape along one edge so it can be secured to the display board with pins


Mount and Mannequin Construction

Mounting flat pieces or costume on mannequins can be time-consuming – give me a call if you need some help.

Dressing a mannequin using an Andover Form (see Resources for link to Andover Form)

Dressing a mannequin using an Andover Form and other needed undergarments (see Resources for link to Andover Forms)


Collections Preservation

Surveys, Environmental Monitoring, Pest Management and Disaster Preparedness assistance are available.


Reproductions

Reproductions can be very helpful in prolonging the life of the original piece. The reproduction can be used for display or educational programs.

Reproduction: original flag on display in an older photograph on the left; reproduction on the right

Reproduction: original flag on display in an older photograph on the left; reproduction on the right

Reproduction shirt made so that it could be displayed in a room with a non-ideal environment. Original on the left; reproduction on the right

Reproduction shirt made so that it could be displayed in a room with a non-ideal environment. Original on the left; reproduction on the right


Educational Lecturer

Educational lectures for the care and handling of textiles are available.

Lecture for care and handling

Lecture for care and handling


Workshops

Workshops for all things textiles – in-person, hands-on, or on-line.

Showing how to roll a textile on a tube

Showing how to roll a textile on a tube

Discussing vacuuming textiles

Discussing vacuuming textiles