Sunday, January 19, 2025

Æthelmearc Kingdom 12th Night

    A great day all around at Æthelmearc as we ended the winter holiday season with Æthelmearc Kingdom Twelfth Night! This year there were 12 entrants in the Æthelmearc Kingdom Arts and Sciences Championship in quite the variety of arts and sciences this year. So many very well researched and artfully executed scientific displays, enterants made the judging most challenging! Keep up with your thirst for knowledge in your chosen topic. So proud of everyone to entered, it’s brave to share your art to be critiqued. Congratulations to Erik M Herringshaw- THL Merrick as populace choice. The winner of the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Championship was Baroness Antoinette DeLorraine- Ashley Green. Vivats to the winners and all the enterants!

    A picture of my green Tudor Gown over a gold colored silk velvet Tudor Kirtle. Kept me nice and comfortable all day and looking 16th century fashionable for the event.  Was delightfully snowy during the weekend but road were not too bad all in all. New York state is pretty good at managing the challenges of mother nature. Utica I believe does receive lake effect snow, which is partly the reason there was so much in that area and much less across the middle of the state.
     

    On a personal note, I was able to complete my 60 page research document in time to set up a non judged display at Kingdom A&S Champs. The weird and unusual gets attention, did not fail this time either. This is a compilation of 20 years of my doll research, from first projects to my more complicated works. Almost all of my visual references all in one document titled; Visual History of 16th Fashion Dolls: Methods, Materials and Sources. This ended up meeting my goal of being a near professional quality display. Hoping to put this in a future publication. So working on the complexities of that kind of published work is part of my A&S goals of 2025.

    Later this month, I am traveling to visit the museums and workshops at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. Partly to help a friend pack for their new life abroad. Pick up some silk and yarn for my own making purposes. Partly to research the post period portion of my eventual book. My goal being to talk with the ladies at the Mantua Makers shop about how they tend to use the fashion doll they have in house. Talk with the on site Tailor, pick up some Chinz for my version of 18th century dolls to be included in the book. Cite the period method I am familiar with, then visit the 18th fashion dolls in the Colonial Williamsburg foundations collection. Also have clothing discussions with my friend during my week long visit starting on MLK day and that week.

More Dolly Goodness to Come,

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