Thursday, May 15, 2014

Pear Drops of Fickle Rain

Recently participated in the Lewisburg arts festival with my shire, hosting the medieval encampment
16th Century Replica Paternoster 
that we do every year. Was well organized, though it being the weekend had a little work I need you before I left.  The call did hold me up though there was a spot waiting for me I was able to set up some youth activities like our heraldry game, coloring and heraldic color matching. Wore my teal Elizabethan with Mary Queen of Scots heart shaped hat gown and got to work a little bit on my embroidery on my waistcoat in between families visiting.

 A beautiful demo is always the weather was very fickle. It couldn't decide to rain or if it wanted to be sunny out. This concern caused a few of us to pack up a little bit earlier than expected and then the sun came out for the rest of the afternoon.  So we finish up the day on a high note and luckily not a wet note.

Tricolor Pearl Necklace
On another note while I was at the festival, I did  get a little bit of shopping and I only found one item that I wanted to purchase which was a strand of pearls. Though these are three color alternating strand of pearls with lavender and light pink pearls as well as white pearls. So this gives me something to kind of play with and enjoy there in fantastic shape and I got them for less than I bought my white pearls a Ice Dragon a few years ago.

As far as my pearls go I do want to get a pair of black pearl drops to go with the black pearl strand that I have so I can use that with garb. I have to figure out whether not I want to get a different color drops earrings for this strand. I'll have to check about colored pearls in renaissance period. Whether not I may want to matches up with some of my shades of pink garb.

Playing with some more  beads I also decided to look up and create a replica-based 16th-century
Teal Silk Elizabethan Gown
Paternoster.  The strands of beads are the precursor to the modern-day rosary. Most of them tend to have a 50 beads, though there are many period extant pieces showing beads in various different numbered strands. Most are strands are on silk thread, with no knots in between each bead, there looser set so you can move the beads as you pray, a large majority have have a tassel on the end. Extant show straight strands and other ones were looped and later paternoster a have a small drop of about five beads. This was not added till about the 15th or 16th century.  Some paternoster had larger or different colored dividing beads between the decades of 10. These were for the our father, still others do not even have this feature at all. I went for something I was a little bit fancier since my persona is 16th-century so I have three decades that's 30 beads plus the our fathers that is 33 on the loop and 7 on the drop. I was using all of the available freshwater pearl, brass filigree, and coral rose carved beads that I had available. Might be total on the strand is 43, but I need to see if I can find more of these rose carved coral beads, planning on restringing this paternoster to have the 50 beads. Since that is common set up, is still debatable whether not I will use the drop at this point but right now I'm just kind of playing with the concept.

Special thanks to Livia for taking this photo at Lewisburg Arts. I tried to crop out the background a little bit and it's a tad bit blurry but you get the idea.

Regards,

Mairin


Greetings from the Twin Cities

You know you're in a really posh hotel when...,they have ducks in the lobby. Not only is this a beautiful courtyard styled hotel but there happens to be a waterfall with little ponds in the courtyard, it happens to be some ducks to live there.What a fantastic place to spend a relaxing week of study.

 The flights and were not very long but I found out that the pressurization of the cabin is something that I can't stand. It makes my head feel like cotton and turns my stomach. I did get sick on my connecting flight unfortunately, not pleased at all. I liked my lunch very much where it was, in my stomach.

Other than that I was able to meet one of my other district teammates to here for
training. It is good to get to know one another, he's newer so to try to help him as I can. I will still have a week full of classes and plenty of training for myself to do so we will see how this all works out. I don't know what it is going to look like in the evenings but other than studying, I do hope to get a little bit of embroidery time while I'm here. I did manage to bring all of my supplies with me on my carry-on with no issues. Realized I forgot my non slip work shoes. They are at home in the living room, some good they are doing me at home. In the mean time, I have black satin slip-ons that fit the uniform standard.
After getting my clothing ready for tomorrow and getting settled then it's a time for a long nap. I will see if there is any crafting based things I can find or historical items I might be able to repurposed while I am out here in St. Paul. They will have to fit in my carry-on bag and fit TSA criteria but you never know what one can find.  I just hope that after visiting the mall and things like that, I will be able to get everything in my bags. I know that I have a three ring binder with information I get to take with me . And a 3 ring binder with pest ID to got to put in my bag as well. I think a lot of these things will have to go in with my embroidery.
I can see Ecolab corporate office from my balcony, very neat! Lots of studying and information to learn . It's gonna to help me be a better employee. Went to the Mall of America, nothing like seeing  an amusement park in the middle of the mall. There was a lot of interesting things that you got to see, do other than shop  and lots of different stores. Found out the entire loop of the mall was about a mile and a half . I walked the whole first floor than headed to some shops I wanted to see.  I found out that the craft stores about 7 miles away from where I'm staying. To get to them would take a lot of time and effort in the evening,  they didn't seem to be any uniquely interesting fabric shops a lot of them are your general chain stores.
Though I was able to fine are few unusual things, like a llama for example. I found a stuffed animal made from a skin and from wool of a Llama.  Sales of items are used as direct donation to lama herders to provide them ways of affording what they need.  Such wonderful store, great items out of wool. Wish I could afford a flock, these are the llamas really cute. So i took opportunity for some charity.

Most the stores I went to visit happened to be ones that were already closed or were not available the time that I visited. So there's was a bead store in the mall; bought some unique cloisonné beads I can't get anywhere else. On my list was an European import store was closed, one another is going out of business.  So as you can see my visit to the mall was pretty short.   They did happen to be Lego world and amusement park in the middle of the mall but I was not really interested in those particular. I was looking for some interesting and unique, which there were several stores.  Definitely a lot of territory to cover. After my visit to the mall a few things, I went and to my company store to get myself polo shirt and other branded items. Around other items I can use for work.


Sunday, May 11, 2014

Fixing and Creating

I received the embroidered jewelry box in the mail from Ebay. It's lovely embroidery looks to be inspired Jacobean with 3D elements, made in India.  There were a few issues with this particular piece. The back panel as you open the box made the lid slide around and was unstable. So I took some matching colored thread and stitch the corners on the back panel to make sure that it was much more secure. Which did really help make sure that you could open and close the box without much trouble and not stress the panel with readjusting of the lid. If this was not fixed it would eventually have the lid ripoff. All these details were disclosed by the seller so I knew what I was getting, new little bit of decorating and some fixing was needed when I purchased.

It's really a pretty piece, larger than in the photo, which is great needing lots of space. I added a few of the berries I made to add some more color, looks nice, not sure if I will add more stumpwork elements or not, guess will see.

I am still creating my personalized embroidered sewing box.  Took photos of the crate I am starting with, bought at the thrift shop for a few cents. It looks like it was a display a bath and body works, though any of that will be covered with fabric.  I am debating a few period designs, for this project but it's best to draw them out to see if they will work for  my intentions for this sewing kit. Brainstorming is my favorite part, making items is fun too but time consuming. Though one doesn't get work done just thinking about it.

Finshing my training at work, packing for my trip to corporate headquarters, lots to do and so little time.

Regards,

Maureen

Sunday, May 4, 2014

17th century Respite

Machined Embroidered Jewelry Box
You never know what items you may use until you find a use for them. My poor home has a collection of various different items that I found it through the years that I knew I was going to use for project in the future, I just didn't know when. Mostly when I am out shopping for various different pieces of needlework notions, beads and other findings inspiration strikes and another project is added to the already long list of items I want to create. Luckily I do my best to try to make sure the items that I purchased our ones that I will eventually use. A lot of them came together with the 16th-century embroidered waistcoat, that I am still working.

Embroidered Waistcoat 
I have's been seeing a new project put on by a great site; thistle-threads.com, about a course called cabinet of curiosities. Though unfortunately I do not have the amount of money to take the course or for the materials. However I do like the idea of the course topic, and it has inspired me to see if I can make a needlework sewing box of my own. This is going to be somewhat of a spinoff on the same themes as my embroidered waistcoat and will be 16th century needlework heraldry based themes and motifs.

Found the wooden box that I needed for the base as a piece that I had picked up for dollar at a thrift shop, it is a small slatted display box for soap. I am going to get all of the exact measurements off of this box, drawout on my linen the exact measurements that I need to create a needlework outer cover for this box with lining. Then after all the patterns are laid out, I am going to needlework them on the frame, then pad the work with a thin layer of cotton batting. Then stitch all of the pieces together around the wooden slatted box. Pad also the inside with the same cotton batting and then lined the lid and line the interior of the box. This box is not nearly as deep as I would like. Though I'm not finding the other varieties of a deeper box that I feel I could sufficiently needlework in a timely manner.  This would definitely be a useful piece for me to store my small sewing items at home and have it near my favorite sewing chair.

17th C Embroidered Casket
It however will not be a 17th-century replica, as well as the fact that it would not be something that I could document for an SCA related project. These sewing caskets made by young ladies in the 17th-century are post period. Would not be very good to document for the SCA since these are post 1650. This would be one of those projects I would keep to myself and making enjoy as a inspirational-based project, and might be used for gifts for friends and other inspirational based needlework. It seems for some reason I am really inspired lately by things that are passed 1650. I'm guessing that it is a phase, and  I'll be getting back to finishing off my SCA related projects. All artists go through a creational respite from the normal routine. That it does not hinder my ten year long fascination with Tudor and early Elizabethan topics. I found a fun one made commercially that I plan on using for more sewing supplies, which will still be fun to use. Not sure if I will add stumpwork elements or not, will decide when I get the

Besides this gives me another wonderful used to do more fantastic ideas with stumpwork as well as a excuse to use more peacocks, and put my heraldry on something which is always fun. This larger project may give rise to smaller decorated trinket boxes, I could see having something like this with a very personalized name put upon it would be a great gift.

In the meantime I am repleating my ruff and cuffs, resetting then in their bands and we will see how it works out.

Regards,

Maureen


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