Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas Wishes

Well it's been a very productive  December. I worked as much blackwork as I can be done with the supplies in stock. Placed an order for more black Silk thread, now to wait for the mail.
However when I was able to visit my local stitchery shop, I was able to pick up many beautiful colors of splendor silk that now I have a plan for a future project. So a polychrome silk embroidered coif on linen is in the works. In the meantime idle hands are bad, I have pulled out my gold threa transitioning some of the goldwork on this piece. Best to be productive and useful, while I wait for the silk to come in the mail.

 For Christmas I bought a six book series in regards to goldwork and stumpwork. The series is interesting, I had picked up a book about her before; named Jane Nicholas. I discovered this author wrote many other books in regards the topic and decided that the one book that I had was not enough and I want to see other projects that she has made and researched. So I bought the series of books and there's a lot of interesting information in regards to stumpwork. I do look forward to finding ways of putting a little bit of stump work and some goldwork into a few projects as long as I can document it. In the meantime I'm going to come up with the composition then I can work and put in some small three-dimensional frames as an examples.
Of course the past couple weeks of been transitioning a new cat, her name is Star. She has been an early Christmas gift to myself. It's been wonderful to watch her blossom and be accepted by my other two cats. It wasn't until Christmas eve we really had a breakthrough with everyone getting along. Really do look forward to watching her grow up in the new year.

As far as actual Christmas gifts I received a few phone calls from close friends on Christmas which was lovely to hear from them. Received a gift card, a body lotion kit, and another bottle of my favorite perfume for Christmas. Along with a large goodie bag which will probably take me some months to actually finish.

The house has maintained being clean and organized and does not need as much upkeep know that I know where everything is located. Even with the transition of the new cat, the house is maintained being fairly clean. Just the normal struggle of trying to find time to do laundry and plug in a few chores here and there. A secondary Christmas gift that I was able to do for myself, was retrieve my maiden name. I was able to submit some paperwork to the courts to have that transition back. I was able to get that switched through a few government agencies on Christmas Eve day. So a great gift to myself of having my old name back for Christmas. Over the past month I was able to get all bills switched into my name for the household which is also been a relief. 2014 has been work and transitioning to a new life. 2015 is getting opportunity to live that life to the fullest. The world is my oyster; full of possibilities.  Looking forward to seeing what's in store for me in 2015.

We are all works in Progress,

Mairin

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Coif Blackwork Diary

Picture of extant example from Private collection 
Day 8- All blackwork complete

Day 7- blackwork almost filled in
and some goldwork progress
Day 6- vines now to fill in leaves
Day 5- less progress but halfway
Day four – almost halfway
Day three – making progress
Day two – blackwork continues
Day one – beginning blackwork embroidery


At this point I have ordered the gold thread for all of the goldwork. So I am waiting for it to come in the mail, it should arrive before Christmas. As I am slowly working on all the blackwork. I am keeping in mind my supplies of my silk embroidery thread and being as very frugal as possible for its consumption. I did get in touch with one of my local embroidery suppliers. Just see if they carry more of this particular thread, waiting to hear back.  My very elaborately stumpwork embroidered box that I had purchased on eBay some months back, am dedicating to goldwork supplies only. Since bought an extensive amount from a supplier I found online. Figured this would be a beneficial idea considering not only does the box has some goldwork on it. As well as the opportunity. to try to store my very find materials not only in a beautiful container, but to make sure that they or safely organized.  So my embroidery box with peacocks has all of my silk embroidery threads and general supplies, while my floral embroidered stump work box contains all of my goldwork supplies beads and other accessories for embroidery.

On a literary note, I acquire seven more embroidery books with money or receive for Christmas. They are various different books by an author named Jane Nicholas. She specializes in stump work and goldwork embroidery. Possess one book of hers in regards to 17th-century stump work, and I enjoyed the book so much I found and research other titles that she may have written. I do look forward to receiving these in the mail and adding them to my expanding list of embroidery titles.

On a personal note I got to spend a wonderful weekend with my family going to a German Christmas market called Chriskindel Market.  I had a wonderful time watching the various different ethnic dancers, and they had some fantastic embroidered aprons. Took a few pictures, which I will post later that show this wonderful work. I believe the most of this work is most likely machine embroidery however it is nice to see embroidery out in public. Looking forward to getting either a Nother nutcracker or cuckoo clock however they were very overpriced. So I will have to find some other sources to see if I can add to my collection at sometime later. Despite not having picked up anything from this festival, I still had a lot of lovely time spending with my two sisters and my parents. It was nice to be able to get out and do something festive for the upcoming holiday.

Also on a personal note I adopted up a new kitten. Her name is Star, she is an black long hair cat with a white star in her chest. She happen to run in to a friends house while I was there for our normal Sunday visit. After a clean bill of health from the veterinarian, Star has come to live with me and my other two cats Jasper and Tabatha. It took a while for Jasper and Tabatha to warm up to Star. However there everyone seems to be finally getting along after about a week of adjustment. Star is a real treat because she is more of a lap cat, which my other two are not quite that comfortable. So it is really nice to have such a good natured well behaved and trained kitten.  Was wondering whether or not she had belong to someone before. However she was very thin I look like she had not eaten in several days.  Besides being a lap cat, she very loud purrer. I can tell she's very thankful to have a place to stay food to eat and wonderful affection, so an early gift indeed. 

So in the end working on my plans as scheduled, and plenty of new and exciting things to keep me busy and my personal, SCA life. I want to take this wonderful time before the busyness of 
the season to wish all of my readers and a very Happy Holidays and Prosperous New Year. 

Best Seasons Wishes,

Mairin



Sunday, December 7, 2014

All That Glitters.....

After a while of freehand drawing, I finally have my new coif project underway. It took me a while to design from a picture of the extent coif  which is located in a private collection in England. This is a 16 century coif embroidered in coral stitch and then has the Elizabethan loop stitch done in goldwork. The black work itself is very small work so I know is going to take a while and use a lot of gold thread to complete the looped effect.


As I'm working on this project, I decided to do a small change instead of stitching spiderweb stitches inside each of the flowers I put in beads instead. The beads I have already worked into the center of each individual design so as I embroider around them, they will fit properly. I am working this in a black silk thread a 12 ply Splendor hundred percent silk thread. I have two cards of this particular silk. I am sure I'm going to need more eventually. There was just enough pearls and glass beads to fill all the centers. I feel very fortunate that there was just the right number to give this project a dimensionality that I think will be very eye-catching.
I have as of yet to order the proper gilt gold embroidery thread. It is on my to do list and is going to be probably part of my Christmas money to spend for actual guilt thread for this project. Really want to give its true authentic glow. There is something different about true guilt thread, it has a shiny luster that you cannot get from regular DMC or other artificial Goldthreads.

 Along with the particular thread there are other features and materials for goldwork that I plan on ordering as part of my Christmas gift to myself.  I want to design a goldwork specific project for a heart on green fabric done with gold work materials and techniques. And this is a strictly personal item it is something that could be document to pull through this SCA. However I'm going to be designing the project myself so it would not be an extent version however it could be representative of goldwork materials and techniques.  I do want to say particular thank you to THL Jaqueline de Moliere of the SCA for such a wonderful course on Goldthread's and their uses. And her experiences that she was willing to share with my local embroidery group. It has truly inspired me to look into other forms of embroidery and try my hand at something new and exciting. I have received all the Royal school of needlework inspired spiral workbooks. So I have those to look up technique. As well as a received an early 12 night gift from my wonderful friend Thorvaldr of a goldwork technique book.

It's late, best ready for work in the morning. Hopefully gold fever and will not keep me up.

Regards,

Mairin

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