Friday, January 21, 2011

Ending January on a Jewel Note






Well its nearing the end of the month and progress is slow but that happens when you can't work on gowns at your job. However, I did get the lovely Tudor necklaces done with the supplies I gushed about in my last post. They turned out stunning and can't wait to wear them with a new gown or one of my treasured Tudor creations. I worked hard and finished them a week ago and they are more beautiful than I envisioned.

There has been some developments on my prospective Helen Snakenborg Elizabethan gown. I got the fabric and trim in the mail last week. Extremely ecstatic to see the perfect shade of peach staring back at me from the envelope I received in the mail. Its not silk like I hoped to find, but $80 a yard is just too rich for me when it comes to fabrics. Its 100% polyester but I am happy with it for the price and color.

Instead of being unhappy with the makeup of the material I focused on the right shade of perfect peach. Since the images I found online varied from shades of brilliant peach to soft light peach, I browsed more satin than I want to mention comparing my image to the photo of the materials online. Justin and I just recently procured a new flat screen monitor and its lovely to see the colors jump right off the page. Its really helped alot with this gown research because I can see much more clearly the details of the painting when I zoom in on a image.

I purchased "a look like lace" to match the velvet and gold embroidery on the original gown, it just so dead on its uncanny. This lace like trim works out wonderfully for the effect I am trying to achieve with this gown. I mentioned about using the silk charmeuse my sister bought me in my last post, which I do intend on using it for the lovely embroidered shirt originally used for the portrait. Though I wasn't sure about the floral embroidery that I would have to stitch to make the roses on the shirt. So I had to look into this more intently.

This week I gathered information on the proper technique from my local embroidery guild meeting. I showed my progress to the shire guild mistress and good friend, Lady Jaqueline De Moliere. She is thrilled with all the work I have done to get the fabrics and trim just right, we had lots to talk about. I told her about the embroidery for the shirt and making it from crewel techniques which she agreed either would work depending on my execution of the embroidery. I was unsure of the proper steps for this, which she told me back them they normally embroidered the fabric first with the outline of the garment traced out. So this is what my intent is so I hope to embroider a test square of the pattern to figure out stitches and begin this within the week, fingers crossed.

I do have an a book Exploring Elizabethan Embroidery in the mail to me but I am not sure how long it will take to get here from Great Britain, though it is already in the mail. So far so good. Lots to think about and work on so I will leave it at this for now, more updates as the come.

Oh my heart just one gown at a time, lol.
Maureen

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Replica 1560's Venetian Italian Fashion Doll

Replica 1560's Venetian Italian Fashion Doll

Replica 1560 French Fashion Doll

Replica 1560 French Fashion Doll

Tudor Q and A

What is a Tudorosity?

A mashed combination of the words Tudor and Curiosity to create the word Tudorosity. Tudorosities is the plural form and the deffinition is as follows.

Tudorosity- an desire to learn or know anything about the Tudor dynasty associated with years 1405 through 1603.

Most people ask my why I make the Tudor garb ?

I find the clothing of this era not only beautiful but also challenging to sew. There is much more care and purpose put into making garments and wearing garments in the Tudor Era. I love the look of Tudor so much I wanted to explore the way clothes were made back then and the subtle changes in fashion and styles of time.

How did you get started in this interesting hobby?

I started with art first, I love to draw, paint, and sculpt all the traditional fine arts. So being able to draw helps me visualize the looks I want to create in my garb. History has always been a huge interest of mine and I've had a knack for sewing since I was 7 years old. It all started with doll clothes and I learned cross stitch embroidery from my grandmother when I was little. I am self taught sewer, crochet, knitting, embroidery and tatting. My methods are learned from books mainly and there is still so much more to learn.

What is my favorite outfit and why?

It would be like picking a favorite out of one of my future children, its impossible. I love all my gown creations and really like the distinct differences in all the styles clothing I make for the Tudor Era.

Do you make the whole outfit including hat, shoes, and undergarments?

I do have a goal of making a complete Tudor from the skin out. As of right now I make 90% of my gowns and accessories. The shoes and stockings, are bought online and the petticoats are a close reproduction but not made by me. .

How long does it take to make a gown?

It all depends on the type of gown. The making relies on the time period and class of the design. Generally if I work on it 8 hours a day on a sewing machine it will take 3 days to get the basics and another 5 days to do finish hand-sewing details and beading. So a week to a week and a half if working on it steady for that amount of time. I work a full-time job so it does take longer than a week to complete. I put over 40-100 hours per outfit depending on its complexity, its like its own full time job of sorts.

Do you make renaissance clothing for sale or custom orders?

No, due to new employment and changes in my lifestyle. Unfortunately, I have no time to support sewing for others. Though I recommend sewing lessons for those adventurous few. There are many fine folks who make and sell historical clothing. I suggest guidance with sew from many fine historical enthusiastic costumers out on the internet.

How long have you been making these elaborate costumes?

I have been in the Society of Creative Anachronism coming up on my 18th year. Active since 2004 working at demonstrations and volunteering when I could between working and other life's distractions. I really concentrated on Tudor sewing in 2007 and worked with patterns to learn proper fabrics, techniques, fit, and silhouette. I really enjoy the eras transition from a medieval form fitting layered cotterdie to the boned Tudor kirtle and then to structured Elizabethan clothing.

Replica 1490 Milan Italian Fashion Doll

Replica 1490 Milan Italian Fashion Doll
Based on art by Giovanni Ambrogio

O’Kealy Heraldry

O’Kealy Heraldry