As soon as a baby is born, it is swaddled to keep it warm. After someone dies great care is taken with the dressing and presentation of the body. In many cultures the textiles used at these times have ritual importance and meaning, even though we may not be aware ot it.

My name is Monique van Nieuwland. I am a textile artist and currently a graduate student at the Australian National University, Institute of the Arts, enrolled in a Master of Philosophy course. My research is focused on the use of textiles at the time of birth and death - The opposites of birth and death, beginning and end, and how they may be linked through textiles. I am interested in finding out what function, colours, symbols or designs are used in textiles at the rites of passage such as birth and death.

I am inviting you to take part and assist with my research by answering the questions in the following survey. The information you provide will only be used towards my research into textiles with ritual importance at the time of birth and death. I hope this survey will reach people who come from around the world. You do not need to know anything about textiles or textile techniques to be able to answer the questions. If you are not comfortable with the subject of birth and death, you are under no obligation to take part in the survey. You do not need to provide details such as names or other personal information, unless you are available for follow up questions.

Thank you very much for taking part in this survey.

Yours sincerely,

Monique van Nieuwland
Email: Monique.Van-Nieuwland@anu.edu.au