Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio

@isasaxonists.bsky.social

Dr. MRO. Literary Historian. Public scholar, activist & small biz owner who dyes yarn inspired by Black/brwn premodern figures. WOC: product of Black & brown love. Gif lover. Racist magnet. Abolitionist. Not Eddie Murphy. She/hers www.RepublicOfYarnia.com

I'm behind and I'm also under the weather bc the sun refuses to shine here but I promised you all a draw for customer appreciation. Congrats to our Yarnian who won a free freaking skein! Thank you all for sharing, caring & creativity. Another draw in a couple of months!!

Yup, Yarnia has both a yarn club & a roving club. Some fiber lovers have joined both & now I have to figure out how to consolidate these for some of you bc that was unexpected. I should never ever underestimate fiber lovers. I have learned my lesson. 🧶 Anyway next month's sneak peek coming soon!

a cartoon of a tomato with the words join us on it

ALT: a cartoon of a tomato with the words join us on it

media.tenor.com

Lady Lettera 😷 🍁@ladylettera32.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Today I learned that @isasaxonists.bsky.social offers YARN SUBSCRIPTIONS and seriously as soon as I have room in my budget I'm going to sign up!

#BHM Day 15: Black Pilgrims on the Road 🧶 The figure at the heart of this colorway is a Black knight shown mid-journey, riding with purpose rather than spectacle. He appears in the late-15th-cent travel account of Arnold von Harff’s travel account, a record of pilgrimage routes, 1/6 #yarnsky

Split image. Left: a skein of yarn in a silvery platinum grey with subtle undertones of pale purple and soft pink, resting on airy fiber. The color appears cool at first glance but shifts gently with light. Right: a late medieval manuscript illustration showing a Black knight on horseback during pilgrimage, wearing light-colored garments and riding through a simple landscape. 4 skeins of yarn in a silvery platinum grey with subtle undertones of pale purple and soft pink, resting on a variegated lavender blend. There are leaves scattered around Bild
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 14: Warmed Earth Embrace 🧶 This is a new colorway & perfect to talk abt today as it's rooted in tenderness, freedom, & quiet intimacy. The colorway draws inspiration from Miguel Ângelo Lupi's 1879 painting depicting a formerly enslaved Black couple seated closely together. #yarnsky 1/6

Today is the last day to get your hands on Feb's monthly yarn or roving colorway: Petals & Presence. The story of our figure of inspiration was one I really enjoyed researching bc she was a little outside my area of expertise. Twas a win win bc I learned so much along the way too! 🧶 #yarnsky

Variegated yarn in merino/tencel with an image of a portrait of a Black woman holding up floral garland. Variegated yarn in merino/tencel with pearl necklaces and dried flowers scattered Variegated yarn in merino/tencel with an image of a portrait of a Black woman holding up floral garland. Variegated yarn in merino/tencel flank roving in the middle

#BHM Day 14: Warmed Earth Embrace 🧶 This is a new colorway & perfect to talk abt today as it's rooted in tenderness, freedom, & quiet intimacy. The colorway draws inspiration from Miguel Ângelo Lupi's 1879 painting depicting a formerly enslaved Black couple seated closely together. #yarnsky 1/6

Left: A hand-dyed yarn skein in muted earth tones of lichen green, weathered sage, soft grey with warm persimmon highlights winding through the strands. 

Right: An 1879 painting showing a Black couple seated closely, bodies angled toward each other in a quiet, affectionate moment, rendered in subdued greens, oranges, and warm browns.

The painting is held in the collection of the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado, Lisbon.A hand-dyed yarn skein in muted earth tones of lichen green, weathered sage, soft grey with warm persimmon highlights winding through the strands. It is placed on a creamy silk hank of yarn 

Right: An 1879 painting showing a Black couple seated closely, bodies angled toward each other in a quiet, affectionate moment, rendered in subdued greens, oranges, and warm browns.Open skein of yarn in muted earth tones of lichen green, weathered sage, soft grey with warm persimmon highlights winding through the strands.
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 13: Tranquil Teal 🧶 This boy appears in the background of a 17th-cent French painting by François Dagobert Jouvenet, positioned behind a named European figure. The boy is left unnamed himself. This young boy w/ dark skin wears a white turban & a silver collar, & holds a green 1/8 #yarnsky

#BHM Day 13: Tranquil Teal 🧶 This boy appears in the background of a 17th-cent French painting by François Dagobert Jouvenet, positioned behind a named European figure. The boy is left unnamed himself. This young boy w/ dark skin wears a white turban & a silver collar, & holds a green 1/8 #yarnsky

Left image: A twisted skein of hand-dyed yarn showing a smooth gradient from deep sapphire-teal through lighter teal into soft white, photographed against similarly toned yarn in the background.

Right image: Detail from a 17th-century French painting showing a young boy with dark skin wearing a white turban and a silver collar, holding a green parrot against a muted blue-green background; he stands behind a European figure and looks slightly off to the side with a calm, composed expression.In the top is an open skein of hand-dyed yarn showing a smooth gradient from deep sapphire-teal through lighter teal into creamy white

Below it is a picture of a 17th-century French painting showing a young boy with dark skin wearing a white turban and a silver collar, holding a green parrot against a muted blue-green background; he stands behind a European figure and looks slightly off to the side with a calm, composed expression.Bild
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 12: Earth and Sky Bearer🧶 What does it tell us when a Black figure appears not as an exception, but as part of the everyday visual world? This colorway is grounded in a late 15th-cent. image from Le Kalendrier des bergers (The Shepherds’ Calendar, 1493), a popular #yarnsky #yarnmarket 1/6

Day 11: Early Modern Black Voyagers🧶 This colorway is inspired by an anonymous Black nobleman depicted in "Merchant Receiving a Moor in the Harbour," a Dutch painting by Nicolaes Berchem (1620–1683), c. 1650. The term “Moor” in premodern Europe was not a fixed or singular identity: it #yarnsky 1/6

A skein of hand-dyed yarn held outdoors against a blurred green background. The yarn transitions in a smooth gradient from golden yellow at the top through burnt orange, deep vermillion red, and into dark indigo and violet at the base. Beside it is a cropped detail from a 17th-century Dutch painting showing a richly dressed Black man wearing a golden turban, indigo tunic, and deep red robe, standing in a harbor scene.An angled line of skeins of hand-dyed yarn with flowers scattered over top. The background are several open skeins of the same colorful yarn. The yarn transitions in a smooth gradient from golden yellow at the top through burnt orange, deep vermillion red, and into dark indigo and violet at the base. Beside the line of skeins is a cropped detail from a 17th-century Dutch painting showing a richly dressed Black man wearing a golden turban, indigo tunic, and deep red robe, standing in a harbor scene.3 angled lines of skeins of hand-dyed yarn with flowers scattered over top. The yarn transitions in a smooth gradient from golden yellow at the top through burnt orange, deep vermillion red, and into dark indigo and violet at the base.
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Day 10: Black Warriors in the East 🧶 The Darabname reminds us that the medieval & early modern world was vast, interconnected, & vividly imagined far beyond Europe. Produced in Mughal India in the late sixteenth century, this illustrated epic re-tells Persian heroic history 1/6

Day 10: Black Warriors in the East 🧶 The Darabname reminds us that the medieval & early modern world was vast, interconnected, & vividly imagined far beyond Europe. Produced in Mughal India in the late sixteenth century, this illustrated epic re-tells Persian heroic history 1/6

A skein of hand-dyed yarn in pale lavender, icy blue, soft pink, and white with bright speckles of turquoise, magenta, and electric purple, photographed against a dark navy yarn background. Beside it is a cropped detail from a Mughal manuscript showing a Black warrior in patterned armor and a turban, holding a shield and weapon, rendered in vivid jewel tones.An open skein of hand-dyed yarn in pale lavender, icy blue, soft pink, and white with bright speckles of turquoise, magenta, and electric purple. On top of the yarn  is a cropped detail from a Mughal manuscript showing a Black warrior in patterned armor and a turban, holding a shield and weapon, rendered in vivid jewel tones.A skein of hand-dyed yarn in pale lavender, icy blue, soft pink, and white with bright speckles of turquoise, magenta, and electric purple, photographed against a dark navy yarn background.
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 9: Black Friars 🧶 Not all Black figures in medieval European art are symbolic, allegorical, or exoticized. Some are simply there bc Black people were there. In the image from Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry (c. 1416), 3 Black monks appear in a scene of 1/7 #yarnsky #yarnmarket

#BHM Day 9: Black Friars 🧶 Not all Black figures in medieval European art are symbolic, allegorical, or exoticized. Some are simply there bc Black people were there. In the image from Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry (c. 1416), 3 Black monks appear in a scene of 1/7 #yarnsky #yarnmarket

Side-by-side image. On the left, a hand-dyed skein of yarn in a smoky blend of slate blue, warm brown, soft grey, and hints of ecru, twisted and resting on loosely coiled blue yarn. On the right, a cropped medieval manuscript illustration showing a Black monk standing and facing forward, wearing a brown hooded robe over a deep blue tunic with a belt; the figure holds a staff and is framed by patterned architectural details.BildBild
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 8: Diego Bemba 🧶 This colorway turns to a figure whose presence in the historical record is both rare & quietly powerful: Diego Bemba, a Kongolese aristocrat from Soyo (in what is now the DRC & Angola), painted in the mid-17th century. It is exceptionally uncommon to know the 1/8 #yarnsky

#BHM Day 8: Diego Bemba 🧶 This colorway turns to a figure whose presence in the historical record is both rare & quietly powerful: Diego Bemba, a Kongolese aristocrat from Soyo (in what is now the DRC & Angola), painted in the mid-17th century. It is exceptionally uncommon to know the 1/8 #yarnsky

Split image. On the left, a hand-dyed skein of DK-weight yarn in deep forest green with sage, kelly green highlights, subtle ivory tones, and fine gold sparkle, resting on a white yarn background. On the right, a 17th-century painted portrait of a Black man, Diego Bemba, wearing a dark green garment with a pale collar, holding a small golden box and gazing upward against a muted brown background.forest green with sage, kelly green highlights, subtle ivory tones, and fine gold sparkle, resting on the blue background. forest green with sage, kelly green highlights, subtle ivory tones, and fine gold sparkle, resting on a blue background.
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 7: Ira Aldridge 🧶 Ira Aldridge (1807–1867) was a groundbreaking Black Shakespearean actor whose career reshaped European stages in the 19th century. Born in New York, Aldridge was barred from most theatrical opportunities in the US by racist laws & customs 1/ 7 #yarnsky #handdyedyarn

#BHM Day 7: Ira Aldridge 🧶 Ira Aldridge (1807–1867) was a groundbreaking Black Shakespearean actor whose career reshaped European stages in the 19th century. Born in New York, Aldridge was barred from most theatrical opportunities in the US by racist laws & customs 1/ 7 #yarnsky #handdyedyarn

Side-by-side image of a richly colored yarn skein and a painted portrait of Ira Aldridge. The yarn features deep emerald and forest greens, ruby and vermilion red, shadowed blue-green, and small flecks of gold, photographed against a pale textured background. Beside it is a 19th-century portrait of Ira Aldridge wearing a green tunic and red draped garment, with a composed expression, set against a muted olive background.yarn skeins on a silver platter with beads and dried berries scattered around. There is an open skein on the right. The colors  feature deep emerald and forest greens, ruby and vermilion red, shadowed blue-green, and small flecks of goldyarn skein on a bed of creamy silk yarn with beads and dried berries scattered around. The colors  feature deep emerald and forest greens, ruby and vermilion red, shadowed blue-green, and small flecks of gold
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 6: Black Bohemian Figure 🧶 This colorway is inspired by a Black figure depicted in an early 15th-cent Bohemian astrological ms from the court of King Wenceslaus IV. The figure is not identified as a specific historical person, but their presence is nonetheless meaningful. 1/7 #yarnsky

#BHM Day 6: Black Bohemian Figure 🧶 This colorway is inspired by a Black figure depicted in an early 15th-cent Bohemian astrological ms from the court of King Wenceslaus IV. The figure is not identified as a specific historical person, but their presence is nonetheless meaningful. 1/7 #yarnsky

Split image showing a deep purple hand-dyed yarn skein on pale variegated lavender yarn, alongside a medieval manuscript illumination of a Black figure wearing a simple violet tunic, set against a gold background with green framing.deep violet yarn skein on a bed of variegated lavender yarn 2 skeins of yarn on the left is a violet yarn skein on the right is a variegated skein. Open skeins surround the 2 skeins. On the right is a deep violet and on the left is a variegated skein
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 5: Portrait of a Young Woman 🧶 Today’s colorway is inspired by a late 18th-cent "Portrait of a Young Woman." The sitter’s name & life remain undocumented, as is often the case for Black sitters in 18th-century European portraiture. What survives instead her presence, rendered 1/5 #yarnsky

#BHM Day 5: Portrait of a Young Woman 🧶 Today’s colorway is inspired by a late 18th-cent "Portrait of a Young Woman." The sitter’s name & life remain undocumented, as is often the case for Black sitters in 18th-century European portraiture. What survives instead her presence, rendered 1/5 #yarnsky

Side-by-side image of a peach-toned yarn skein and an 18th-century portrait of a young Black woman. The yarn is a soft solid peach with a pale pink undertone, photographed against a textured green background. Beside it is a painted portrait of a young woman wearing a light peach dress, a pale pink headwrap tied at the crown, and a short pearl necklace. She faces slightly to the side, with a calm expression, set against a muted blue background.2 peach skeins at an angle and 3 more behind them facing in the opposite direction on a pale wooden floor. There are peonies in the background5 skeins on a bed of green yarn (St. Maurice) with flowers scattered. A peach skein is in the middle and 2 silver skeins  (Valiant Maurice Grey) on both sides of the peach skein.
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 4: Maternal Rainforest This is a brand new colorway in time for #BlackHistoryMonth. It's inspired by a 17th-century allegorical image of a Black woman representing the continent of Africa, part of a series of 4 baroque murals (in Prague) personifying the known continents 🧶#yarnsky 1/7

#BHM Day 4: Maternal Rainforest This is a brand new colorway in time for #BlackHistoryMonth. It's inspired by a 17th-century allegorical image of a Black woman representing the continent of Africa, part of a series of 4 baroque murals (in Prague) personifying the known continents 🧶#yarnsky 1/7

Side-by-side image. On the left is a hand-dyed skein of yarn in deep teal, sage green, peacock blue, and burnt orange tones, twisted into a hank and photographed on a light, textured background. On the right is a baroque allegorical painting of a Black woman personifying the continent of Africa. She wears a green bodice and flowing orange garments, holds a scorpion aloft, and stands beside a lion, with a blue sky behind her.an open skein of hand-dyed yarn in deep teal, sage green, peacock blue, and burnt orange tones. Beside it is a baroque allegorical painting of a Black woman personifying the continent of Africa. She wears a green bodice and flowing orange garments, holds a scorpion aloft, and stands beside a lion, with a blue sky behind her. There are 2 feathers in light orange and light blue. Everything is on a silver platter.
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 3: Young Lady with the Orange Blossom (1722/23) Titled "Portrait of a Lady Holding an Orange Blossom," the early 18th cent. painting offers a rare & striking image of a Black woman rendered with dignity, softness, & presence. The sitter is depicted with a lighter complexion, 🧶 1/6 #yarnsky

#BHM Day 3: Young Lady with the Orange Blossom (1722/23) Titled "Portrait of a Lady Holding an Orange Blossom," the early 18th cent. painting offers a rare & striking image of a Black woman rendered with dignity, softness, & presence. The sitter is depicted with a lighter complexion, 🧶 1/6 #yarnsky

Teal coiled yarn skein on a bed of silvery grey yarn. On the right is an image of a light brown young woman in a painting. She is dressed in an elaborate teal dress that is probably satin or velvet and has lace/sheer sleeves. She has a lace covering on her head and a thick pearl necklace Teal coiled yarn skein on a silver strip. in the front is an image of a light brown young woman in a painting. She is dressed in an elaborate teal dress that is probably satin or velvet and has lace/sheer sleeves. She has a lace covering on her head and a thick pearl necklace Teal coiled yarn skein on a bed of silvery grey yarn. pink and burgundy roses are scattered around the yarn
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Day 2: John Blanke 🧶 John Blanke was a Black trumpeter at the Tudor court, best known from the Westminster Tournament Roll of 1511, commissioned during the reign of Henry VIII. Blanke appears twice in the ms & is shown wearing the same livery 1/ #BHM #yarnsky #yarnmarket #blackhistorymonth

Day 2: John Blanke 🧶 John Blanke was a Black trumpeter at the Tudor court, best known from the Westminster Tournament Roll of 1511, commissioned during the reign of Henry VIII. Blanke appears twice in the ms & is shown wearing the same livery 1/ #BHM #yarnsky #yarnmarket #blackhistorymonth

Side-by-side image. On the left is a hand-dyed skein of yarn twisted into a hank, featuring soft grey, ivory, mustard yellow, and golden tones with small red and green speckles. On the right is a medieval manuscript illustration of a Black trumpeter wearing a greenish turban and a grey-and-mustard tunic, holding a long trumpet. Decorative banners with red, blue, and gold fleur-de-lis patterns hang from the instrument.a row of hand-dyed skein of coiled skeins (5 in total), featuring soft grey, ivory, mustard yellow, and golden tones with small red and green speckles. Leaves and silver pearls scattered around with a silver strip underneath horizontally close up of variegated mustard grey yarn with green and red specks
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#BHM Day 1: "Alchitrof, the Ethiopian Emperor.” 🧶 Alchitrof is said to have ruled in the 16th-cent & made contact w/ the Portuguese. Records state that he was known for his bravery & his fight against the Portuguese invasion of his territory. 1/ #yarnsky #blackhistory #handdyedyarn

#BHM Day 1: "Alchitrof, the Ethiopian Emperor.” 🧶 Alchitrof is said to have ruled in the 16th-cent & made contact w/ the Portuguese. Records state that he was known for his bravery & his fight against the Portuguese invasion of his territory. 1/ #yarnsky #blackhistory #handdyedyarn

A row of coiled yarn skeins on the left that are a soft variegated blend. On the right is a figure of a Black man with earrings and long pearl lip rings (3). He has a feathered headdress and a striped wrap around himcoiled yarn skeins scattered about with leaves and diamonds scattered around the yarn close up of variegated yarn skeins
Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 6mo ago

It's #BlackHistoryMonth so you know what time it is? Time for a month long thread/post on a different figure and their colorway each day. Stay tuned, learn lots, embrace history, and happy crafting! 🧶 #yarnsky #yarnmarket #handdyedyarn

Collage of Black figures and colorful yarn skeins

Introducing February's monthly yarn club colorway: Petal & Presence. Inspired by a portrait of a beautiful Black woman in the background of an 18thc English portrait. The artist recorded her as a "sitter" so we know she was real & we've brought her to the forefront to celebrate her. 🧶 #yarnsky

Variegated yarn adorned with flowers. In the center is a photo of an 18th century painting of a Black woman carrying matching flowers.Skeins of variegated yarn, lined up and adorned with pearls.Skeins of variegated yarn, lined up around roving yarn of the same colorway.Variegated yarn adorned with flowers. Behind is a photo of an 18th century painting of a Black woman carrying matching flowers. Beside is roving yarn of the same colorway.