giovannafregni.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Last week I wanted to do some fine drawing using a fine steel nib pen. I went to the local art supply store, but they didn't have any. Rather than order one online, I went outside and pick up a crow feather and made myself a very good drawing tool. #drawingpen #crowquillpen #quillpen #arttools

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

This is the first in a series of articles I wrote about metalsmiths in mythology and archaeology. I hope you all enjoy it.

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

It's always bothered me about how generations get labelled and the label is accepted without anyone questioning its validity. Who creates these labels, anyway? So, I wrote an essay about it. #labels #stereotypes #generationx #babyboomers #generationy #generation #marketinglabels

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

I've put another article up on Medium. This one is about starting my daily drawing routine. It's a warmup exercise where I do a small piece of a drawing every day.

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

I've been writing on Medium lately. It's a kind of a social network for authors. It's also a giant cash pool. Readers can join for $5/month and the money goes to pay authors. Here's a sample of one of the more popular articles that I wrote and published on Medium. medium.com/true-travel-...

submitted 22 days ago • 1 comment

The fields that were recently full of flowers are now full of wild oats. The olive trees are blooming and the pomegranate trees have baby pomegranates swelling at the base of the flowers. #karaoglanoglu #olivegroves #pomegranatetrees #northerncyprus #easternmediterraneanlife #summerincyprus #cyprus

submitted 42 days ago • 1 comment

There's more of the Bayeux Tapestry!

submitted 101 days ago • 0 comments

www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/how-... The Gre Filla site in the upper Tigris Valley, has been under excavation since 2018. Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period layers revealed architectural structures, copper artifacts, and vitrified materials that point to early pyrometallurgical activities.

submitted 102 days ago • 0 comments

In the 60's NASA landed successful missions on the moon using equipment powered by little more than transistors. Today billionaires are littering the Moon with debris from their failed attempts. With all their advanced technology, they can't duplicate the success rate of missions from 60 years ago.

submitted 114 days ago • 1 comment

I finished another crocheted blanket square. This time using the second motif. The blanket is coming along nicely. The pattern is The Sun and the Cross by Svetlana Rogatykh. The yellow yarn is hand dyed using pomegranate peels. #crochet #crochetblanket #handcrochet #sunandcross

submitted 122 days ago • 1 comment

This is the closest I get to advertising, but I want to give a shout out for my Patreon Page. It’s dedicated to experimental archaeology. Patreon goes to support my work in experimental archaeology. That’s not just writing on Patreon, but also my podcasts and my website, Ancient Tools and Craft.

submitted 126 days ago • 2 comments

Today was pasta making day. I am experimenting because flour is different in every country I've lived in. While the manti I've had here looks the same as tortellini, the pasta is much more glutinous. The flour I used made a very nice elastic dough, so I'm hopeful these will turn out.

submitted 127 days ago • 1 comment

New Podcast Episode! This one is about the museum in Fratta Polisine in Italy. It's the oldest known European glassworking site & has amazing exhibits. It's worth visiting, but if you can't get there, I've made a little virtual trip for you. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDNU...

submitted 129 days ago • 0 comments

It's been ages since I was at the market and I needed fresh food. There is one stall that made artichokes look like flowers. There's a man who only sells garlic. I also bought winter squash. I plan to make tortelloni filled with squash and walnuts this weekend. The almond trees are blooming now.

submitted 130 days ago • 1 comment

A short essay about sharing knowledge up on my Patreon page. #experimentalarchaeology #sharingknowledge #archaeology #bronzecasting #metalworking

submitted 133 days ago • 0 comments

Last year I met a shepherd who had tons of sakız sheep wool to give away. Sadly, the wool was clipped very short. Fortunately my cards are making usable roving from the wool. It will not make a soft yarn, but it will be yarn! #northcyprussheep #chiossheep #sakızsheep #handspinning #cardingwool

submitted 134 days ago • 1 comment

My trip to Italy in early 2025. I went for the festival of San Geminiano, the patron saint of the city, but also went up to Luca's home and workshop in Polinago. We were up in the mountains casting bronze. Then later I visited my cousin Paolo in Cento. #modena #sangeminiano #bronzecasting

submitted 135 days ago • 0 comments

I love this time of year here. While Italy was still in winter, here it is full on spring. It's still chilly in the evenings, but walking outdoors in the day is wonderful. #northerncyprus #villagelife #karaoglanoglu

submitted 135 days ago • 1 comment

The Fish are on Etsy! I'll be taking them to Italy and shipping them from there. It's a limited time sale while I'm there, so catch your fish while you can! Each fish is hand made & has a chain to hang or wear as a necklace. I can make it into a pin on request. www.etsy.com/listing/1863...

submitted 155 days ago • 1 comment

Another shopping trip to the Çarşamba Market in Girne. #carsambamarketgirne #carsambamarket #girne #persimmons #hurma #strawberries #artichokes #wednesdaymarket #notherncyprus #kuzeykıbrıs #pears #purpleavocados #openmarket

submitted 166 days ago • 0 comments

The crochet hooks I bought here in N Cyprus are a little shorter than ones in the US, so it pokes my palm. I have a lot of branches from pruning the peach tree, so I whittled a handle. It'd be more elegant if I had a lathe, but it works nicely. #crochet #crochethook #handmadecrochethook #whittling

submitted 167 days ago • 0 comments

I've started a new project. It's a blanket for the sofa, something to wrap up in on a cool evening. The pattern (The Sun and The Cross) is easier than it looks. The gold yarn is the wool I dyed with pomegranate peels. #crochet #thesunandthecross #crochetblanket #mosaiccrochet #handdyedyarn

submitted 168 days ago • 0 comments

I've written another article and published it on Medium. This one is about curing olives. #olives #preservingfood #NorthernCyprus #cooking #Slowfood #foraging

submitted 170 days ago • 0 comments

Today was dyeing day! Last night I boiled pomegranate peels to make dye. You'd think that pomegranates would make a bright red dye, but actually they make a golden yellow dye. This is exactly the colour I want for my next knitting project. #naturaldyes #pomegranate #pomegranatedye #handdyedyarn

submitted 185 days ago • 1 comment

Today was tamale day. It's an all day process of mixing dough, making filling, and wrapping in banana leaves. I shredded chicken and roasted peppers from the garden to make a mole filling. I'll make another batch tomorrow. Maybe I'll add olives to the filling. #tamales #mexicancooking #bananaleaves

submitted 192 days ago • 1 comment

This week the fish are red! #paperart #paperjewelry #cyprusart #fish

submitted 204 days ago • 0 comments

This week I made purple fish necklaces :) #paperarts #cyprusart #fish #paperjewellery

submitted 212 days ago • 0 comments

I was asked to write a short essay and illustration about nature from an archaeologist’s POV. I had postcards printed up to send to my Patreon supporters. If you don’t get them already and are interested in this postcard (or more postcards!) check out my Patreon page. patreon.com/archaeology.

submitted 214 days ago • 0 comments

I've been frustrated trying to make jewellery. Materials are difficult to find in N Cyprus. So I decided that I would work with materials that I can get here. The fish is made of layers of paper, wire, and pearls. It reminds me of the animals I used to make when I did enamelling. #jewelry #paperart

submitted 217 days ago • 2 comments

Last year I bought jalapeno plants. When one started bearing small round peppers, I thought that there was something wrong. Then I realised I had a chiltepin peppers. #Chiltepin is the original hot pepper. It's an archaeological pepper! and about ten times hotter than jalapenos with a smoky flavour.

submitted 220 days ago • 0 comments

Earlier this month I bought green walnuts at the market in Girne to use as a dye. It's not as dark as I hoped, but they turned out nicely. The wool isn't very soft, so these will probably become a jacket or a blanket. #handdyedyarn #walnutdye #fiberarts #naturaldyes

submitted 223 days ago • 0 comments

Ever since I shared a house with @arkymorgan.bsky.social, spinning has been a subject that fascinates me. So, it's interesting to see the date for the use of spindle whorls being pushed farther back. #spinning #ancienttextiles #archaeologicaltextiles #fiberarts #archaeology #materialculture

submitted 224 days ago • 2 comments

1 / 3 Here is a very brief introduction to me: I was born In the US, lived there, England, Italy, and now North Cyprus. In the US I was an artist, jeweller, metalsmith, and gem cutter. Later I got degrees in anthropology and archaeology. I have an MSc and PhD from the University of Sheffield…

submitted 226 days ago • 1 comment

2 / 3 ...where I specialized in archaeological metals and experimental archaeology. Later I worked at Birmingham Museum on the Staffordshire Hoard. When my UK visa expired, I spent a few years travelling around Europe, casting bronze, building furnaces, and writing.

submitted 226 days ago • 0 comments

3 / 3 I have a website about experimental archaeology: Ancient Tools and Craft ancienttools.net & a Youtube channel www.youtube.com/channel/UCcA... In addition I am into all forms of textile work from spinning to knitting, especially any ancient forms of the craft.

submitted 226 days ago • 0 comments