Pretty in Pink.....Well Light Red

There has been many a long debate amogst the costume community if pink was considered at period color. The term Pink is modern and only goes back to the late 17th Century as a description for a color, we hear of the term rosy or rosa in an early poem to describe the dawn sky by Lucretius as a pink hue.
  It is a name for cutting small slashes to decorate fabric in a pattern known as "pinking" which dates back to the 14th century.  It also date to the plant, garden pinks which is a form of Dianthus, a more wild relative of the modern carnation. Pink was a form of yellow hue in painting and mixed with other ingredients to make the yellow various shades in paint during the 17th Century. So that is the history of the word but what does that mean to us?

Some folks like to use light red as a reference to pink usage in costuming pre-17th Century. Modern reenactors, costumers, seamstresses and tailors will refer to the rose color of the gown, and yet others skip over the color all together. I have known some folks to opt for more coral orange based hues, and yet others to embrace the color in certain shades shown in paintings. Still more debated due to age and light fading the paintings may have shown another hue all together different to the depictions we see know of renaissance paintings. I myself try to keep the shades depicted from the actual paintings and sometimes hunt for hours finding the best resolution photo.

  I collected a few example images of paintings in this mysterious hue, many of these I am interested in making gowns just like the paintings. A few gowns are in progress and others are a figment of my garb making imagination. Enjoy my mini Pink gallery of gowns.

Thanks for looking,

Lady Mairin

Best Year Ever!

     I have been plugging away on a comission, nearing the end. I have hat and beading then its all done and soon ready for shipping. Will post photos when done with the gown, I am testing it now to make sure all the seams are tigh. In the meantime I have been organizing Lewisburg Arts Demo and so begins the Scadian Spring and Summer busy season.

      This is the time of year my shire works on Public Relation more and really we pull out all the stops for making the demos amazing. This year was no exception, I was able to put out a small advert in the booklet this year about our new activites. Also was in more than one location as well as featured times for dancing and fighting. We had a stand amongst other no profit organizations in Hufnagle Park near the beginning of the vendors and our usual interactive medieval encampment in Soliders and Sailors Memorial Park at the other end of the festival. So I floated between both all day, was well tired, sweaty, sunburnt, and had a headache by the end of the day. Though it was well worth the effort, because I think it was one of the best public concenious festivals we have worked in many years. The day was a sucess though still alot of work for folks, though I feel that this is just the way this demo goes. I heard nothing but good from those who saw us and the public is always curious to talk to us at both locations. I consider it a triumph, and my first time Democrating an event was not easy. I couldn't have done it without the aid of my local Senechal who is just wonderful, Lady Anoinette De Lorraine.

     Its turning out to be the best year ever, aleast Scadianwise.  I won Ice Dragon Novice Pent Award, Baroness Choice Award, I am new companion to the Order of the Sycamore, was accepted into Haushold WeisserLowe received my favor, and now found I won two 2nd Place Sylvan Quill awards! I am just speechless with all this happening within the past few weeks, its alot to take in.

       The Sylvan Quill is recognition in many categories showing excellence in writing, content, layout and for authors and newsletters AE Kingdom wide.  I recieved Best Article and Best Article in Kingdom Newsletter both 2nd Places. 2nd Place Best Article was for A Home of Their Own; Aricle on 16th Century Dollhouses and 2nd Place Best Article in Kingdom Newsletter was for Evolution from Fashion to Toy: 16th Century Dolls. Three other shire mates cleaned up with Sylvan Quill Awards: Lady Vivienne Yardley recieved 1st Place in Best Article with an article on Modern Medieval Traditions, Matire Gille Beauchamp recieved 1st Place for Best Regular Feature with his continuing Dietary Series and Lady Ariel Grenwich recieved 2nd Place for Best Over All Newsletter.  This has been my first time putting in articles and have been new to the whole process, it was just an honor to get one of my articles asked to be put in the Kingdom Astel.  I am just in total shock really and very flattered everyone thought so much of my articles to vote for them.

     I wish my mundane life could be so cheery, my personal finaces continue to be a struggle with limited hours at work.  I am working very hard to find better paying employment, that doesn't want to own your soul for working at their place. Its a tough job market, I feel lucky if I get an interview. That "good job" itself seems to be a challenge of the ages, and the goal of countless. All I can do is pray for blessings in this area as I have been blessed Scadianlife.

In the meantime I look to Living in the Dream,

Lady Mairin

Medallion Medley

Well here is a story for you:

 I had showed my Order of the Sycamore medallion to my shiremates at War Practice. All of us agreed, that I should give it more pizzaz to go with my late period gowns and accessories. I had worked out a design on the way home in my mind. I wrapped the copper loop in white ribbon and sewed flat gold beads around the outside to give shine and texture. I then used UV protected nail polish and built up layers of clear polish on the center brass leaves design, added black lines with ball point pen, and layered more clear polish over top to secure the ink. Then colored red side of the medallion, and redrew some lines that were faded with the additional color. I added one last layer of clear all over the leaves. Its not the most period method but I didn't want to changed much from the orginal given.

The necklace is one I have had made from beads given as Arts and Sciences favors when I started in the SCA, Oh some 8 years back, I keep all tokens just in case. I also made a neat pair of earrings from two matching tokens. On this projects I added the bread caps and filligree for that fancier late period touch.

I hope to get my Sycamore scroll at my next Aethelmearc Kingdom event, which will be AE Academy at the end of June. I am excited, been wondering how it will look and what the exact wording would be and who was the person that has made it. In the mean time, I will work with others in the scribal community to check if it will make it to me. I believe it is a finished project, since Their Majesties mentioned it was no able to make it to War Practice and not a work progress and such.

So after working on the medallion for two days, I wanted to show my results. With the layers of polish and pen, I added the heraldic colors of the Order of the Sycamore on the medallion itself. I found out most folks use a polymer enamel modernly that is easier to work with compared to the traditional glass methods. Nail polish is not that far off from what they use commerically, in period they would use glass powder, a hot kiln and many hours of work on metal in many shaped pieces to adhere the enamel to and make links to make chains in various lengths. I hope to use my medallion as a way in my Jewelry class to show how one can take something simple and make a late period piece come out of simple materials found at home.

Well back to more mundane activites,

Lady Mairin

Suprise Sycamore

Well War practice was fun and eventful. Had lots to do and little time to get it all in, one whirlwind weekend.Arrived Friday had a small supper and then to run an errand with Duchess Ilish and the girls, and was glad to wear by black Elizebthan gown with Ermine Fur puffled sleeves. It breathed when it was warm and kept me warm as the night drew colder.  Met friends and waited for Duke Duncan, though the girls got tired and we had to make way back to camp.We went back made a snack, brushed teeth and off to bed. The drums went on most of the night, which was soothing. Though the folks did stay up till 3am, which is typical at Pennsic in general. I woke to cold feet, just the way my body works sadly but I was confortable for the most part.

On Saturday I was the first one up at 7am, got dressed and was working my hair. Everyone else woke and starting getting ready for the day. I finished and packed for Arts and Sciences  Playtime, wore my red on white damask Venetian gown. Very pleased how it wore and was confortable all day, looked very period which is always my goal. It was hot and a bit sticky so Italian was the best choice, though its not my specialty.  Arts and Sciences playtime was very good and a great way to advertise about my classes for Academy coming up in June. Lots of advice and new reasearch information learned, wish I hadn't left my documentation on the kitchen table at home. Duchess Ilish worked on cloth buttons and the girls made butter, which was very tasty by the way. It was a fun time for all. Went back and relaxed in camp, made a small lunch and made way to Duchess's class. I opted to look at merchants nearby, I was able to get a gold lozenge fabric for 1.00 bought some trim for two gown for about 25, bought a lucet and book to learn lucet cord making. Ilish had some lovely brocade that she couldn't use for garb and generously gave it to me, which a gown is in the planning stages at this time.

 Later that day I was installed into the Haus WeisserLowe, so I am Duchess Ilish student. My goal is to learn and serve the hausehold in all scadian possible. I will get some pictures from the day if any were taken. I will also take a picture of my medallion. Hopefully I can find someone who took pictures. Its very late period looking, my scroll will come soon. It didn't make it to the event, hope to see it at AE Academy next month.

By a miracle I found a picture before the crown of Aethelmearc recieveing of my compansionship to the Order of the Sycamore Medallion, praise technology and its wonders. Picture is by Isabel Fleuretan, thank you Isabel. I am happy with my hair despite the heat and humidity, that was done by feel and with no mirror. Medivalist to the end I suppose. I just wish I wore Tudor gown instead. Since that is one thing that I was being awared for along with dolls puppets and childrens work. Though you can't win them all and that gown was darn comfortable despite the heat. Red on white brocade a very Aethelmearcian color combo if I must say so myself.

In the meantime its back to mundane life,

Lady Mairin

AEthelmearc Academy Teaching Classes

I am teaching two classes for AEthelmearc Academy, one is Introduction to Elizabethan Jewelry (2 hr class) and the other is an Introduction to Bruegel Children's Games( 1hr Class). I was able to complete the handouts for both classes. Thought I post a pics of the pretty horde jewels from cheapside in anticipation, I hope to get folks in my courses.  Now to wait for June to come.

 In the mean time almost done with the Swedish custom order the beading is done. Working the last panel of the corset and will be all ready to ship. I hope I can get the straps worked out in the mean time. Selling gowns on Ebay and hoping that they go, really running out of room when making the new ones in progress.

My two good shire mates won crown tournament, now to help and prepare for the impending reign, its going to be and adventure for our little shire. Though this being full of firsts for us we are nervous but I am sure we can all pull it off.

Having more articles put on the shire website, so putting my knowledge out there. Very cool was even neater having one of my articles in the Aestel( Kingdom Newsletter) Always an honor of course.

I am going to War Practice next weekend, very excited to display my items from Ice Dragon. Thrilled to see Ilish Ducan and girls.  Also looking at being at coopers lake is always nice to go "home", will take some classes and hang out. Wish that I could stay longer but finances are not agreeing, selling the gowns would change that, but that is just the way it all works out.

In the mean time lots of prep and packing, got lots to wear but unsure of which ones to pick. Now that is a predicament I don't mind having.  Well got lots more to do before next weekend

Be Blessed,

Mairin

Busy as a Bee in Spring

I wanted to wish Everyone a belated Happy Mayday! Its been a very busy April and will post more about my exploits in garb and all things Tudor. In the meantime enjoy this wonderful weather and festive time of renewal.


Here is some of the wonderful work pictures I promised. This is the just completed Teal Tudor gown. It features a fine gold trim that goes on the front of bodice and on both sides of split from skirt. I added gold jewels set with teal and cream paired with pearls around the neckline and split front skirt. I have yet to take pictures with the jewel collar line, but it is just striking to behold. 


I also wore the same ensemble to Aethelmearc Academy later this summer. I hope to make another teal with pink combo here in the near future. I have to locate my boning to get it and two other gowns stiffened properly.

I failed to mention how wonderful a success Lewisburg Arts Festival was compared to what was planned it was large and we did have folks turnout better at the park with our satilite in Hufnagle telling folks to go to battlefield to check out the interactive displays.  These pictures are from Lewisburg Arts Festival. Thank you Lady Livia for more outstanding garb photos.

Blessings,

Mairin