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


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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