Found some Inspiration

Elizabeth Littleton
Lady Willoughby

Well more adventures on the home quarantine files. I am working on my doll project daily as there is limited things to do while one is at home, that don't make alot of mess or noise. Not that is really a requirement but I don't like to bust of of working and strait into something unless there is good reason and a plan. So since I am in planning stages, which means the plan is not well formulated yet.

Credit:
Tudor Tailor

I was debating for some 48 hours the proper outfit for the new larger doll friend. Wanted something with some color, texture, and more than just black. So many formal portraits from the early Elizabethan age just go nuts with black with trim and texture.  We need some more color in our lives in gentry portraiture. So I chose the portrait of Elizabeth Littleton, Lady Willoughby from 1573. It has several features that fit my requirements. Loads of color, showing a checked red silk lining.

Credit:
Tudor Tailor

Here I found out from those who viewed the original painting, the Tudor Tailor authors.  There seems to be an overlay over the red to make it more pink in color. So the theory is that a checked organza was over-layed the red material to give pattern and also texture. Although this is conjecture since its a painting of a formal portrait dress from the period. Although very plausible.

Fabric choices
and colors 

 So I have a pink silk lozenge pattern woven fabric. I am going to over dye it red to make it closer to the dark coral red pink than the current tea-berry pink it’s current color. I also have some ribbons that I will be also over dye that have points sewed on the ends. I won’t be doing an overly strong bath but definitely would like one to two shades redder closed from ballerina pink to coral pink.  For the under-gown and the outer fitted gown I am using a simpler material, a wool herringbone in a nice textured brown.  There was choice of a dark navy and grey a the tan with brown. Since we have warm colors in the red and pink the brown was more pleasing to the eye. Although definitely made of sturdy materials for these two pieces of clothing.

Fitted gown material

I ordered the supplies for all the wood carving for face feet and hands along with several books for reference. Faces are not easy not matter if you are drawing, sculpting or carving. So I want to make sure to get the features I want in the process. In the past I have done some wood carving but this will be an all new adventure for faces and hands. Going to need prayer and maybe a small miracle it turns out . Although I plan on taking my time to get things just right. Well going to sketch out the features of the clothes in the right colors and see what I like. Nice part is the planning because I can make and take time on decisions for the clothing layers since I have materials already.

Thinking about all the choices,

THL Marrin O’Cadhla