Giovanna Fregni
@giovannafregni.bsky.social
Archaeologist, artist, traveler, loves ancient metalworking tools.
Living in Northern Cyprus
Living in Northern Cyprus
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
#drawingpen #crowquillpen #quillpen #arttools
June 29, 2025 at 9:17 PM
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
#drawingpen #crowquillpen #quillpen #arttools
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
#karaoglanoglu #olivegroves #pomegranatetrees #northerncyprus #easternmediterraneanlife #summerincyprus #cyprus
May 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
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
#karaoglanoglu #olivegroves #pomegranatetrees #northerncyprus #easternmediterraneanlife #summerincyprus #cyprus
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
The pattern is The Sun and the Cross by Svetlana Rogatykh.
The yellow yarn is hand dyed using pomegranate peels.
#crochet #crochetblanket #handcrochet #sunandcross
February 28, 2025 at 8:43 AM
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
The pattern is The Sun and the Cross by Svetlana Rogatykh.
The yellow yarn is hand dyed using pomegranate peels.
#crochet #crochetblanket #handcrochet #sunandcross
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.
February 23, 2025 at 3:40 PM
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.
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.
The almond trees are blooming now.
February 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM
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.
The almond trees are blooming now.
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
#northcyprussheep #chiossheep #sakızsheep #handspinning #cardingwool
February 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
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
#northcyprussheep #chiossheep #sakızsheep #handspinning #cardingwool
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
#modena #sangeminiano #bronzecasting
February 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
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
#modena #sangeminiano #bronzecasting
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
#northerncyprus #villagelife #karaoglanoglu
February 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
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
#northerncyprus #villagelife #karaoglanoglu
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...
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...
January 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM
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...
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...
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
#crochet #crochethook #handmadecrochethook #whittling
January 14, 2025 at 9:44 AM
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
#crochet #crochethook #handmadecrochethook #whittling
This is why the Vounous Symposium was created. It raises awareness, and brings artists and archaeologists come from around the world to recreate the ceramics. Today replica statues stand in front of the Ayia Irini municipal building. An open air museum is being developed near the Vounous necropolis.
January 13, 2025 at 2:51 PM
This is why the Vounous Symposium was created. It raises awareness, and brings artists and archaeologists come from around the world to recreate the ceramics. Today replica statues stand in front of the Ayia Irini municipal building. An open air museum is being developed near the Vounous necropolis.
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
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
January 13, 2025 at 11:40 AM
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
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
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
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
December 27, 2024 at 11:02 AM
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
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
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
#tamales #mexicancooking #bananaleaves
December 20, 2024 at 4:15 PM
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
#tamales #mexicancooking #bananaleaves
December 8, 2024 at 8:57 PM
November 30, 2024 at 7:19 PM
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.
November 28, 2024 at 6:20 PM
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.
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
#jewelry #paperart
November 25, 2024 at 1:58 PM
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.
November 22, 2024 at 8:45 AM
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.
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
#handdyedyarn #walnutdye #fiberarts #naturaldyes
November 19, 2024 at 8:48 AM
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
#handdyedyarn #walnutdye #fiberarts #naturaldyes