Elevation of a Teacher, Friend, Mentor

       

Went to Aethelmearc Kingdom 12th night, was there to help my teacher with transition to Laurelhood. Which is a great honor to witness and be able to participate.  Her Grace, Mistress Illish ODonovan, very happy for her long deserved new status. It's great to be part of this eclectic family, Haus WeisserLowe. Was wonderful to meet more members, and get to help with the business of the day.

        Secondly I am very happy to embroider her veil and added beads to give it a extra boost of sparkle.  I stayed up all night finishing the initial design on the silk veil, later finding it was a gift from a dear friend of Illishs'. After arriving at the event, changed and settled, I was requested to add special leaf beads to the corners of the veil. Which I wanted to add beads to the design anyway, so it was all done in one long shot of beading at the event. I added beads to the design to give it more depth. It turned out heavenly in the lights of the chapel. I have a gold glass bead in the middle of each set of leaves and leave beads on such corner and three near the crossing laurel boughs. I really like how it turned out. It was a beautiful heartfelt ceremony.

      Wore my pink Elizabethan gown, based on Helena Snakenborg Marchioness of Northampton portrait from 1569. Didn't have the embroidered silk shirt underneath like the painting but it really look awesome with the partlet, matching bonnet, and purse. So totally happy with the look. Going to look to finish my embroidered jacket will match the pink of the bonnet hat, pouch. Forgot to wear my chatelaine but was busy with the veil all day.Though the partlet will not be able to be worn with the jacket.Though I think I can plan it all out up use the other accessories to the most advantage.

So for now got lots of embroider ahead. I assembled the jacket to make sure the fit was right, looking good so far but still have body panels to embroider flowers and the large peacocks. Well here is to lots of embroidery and praying my compression gloves keep my hands in good shape. The winter weather has them acting up and are sore. Progress will be posted as usual.

Regards,

Mairin

Beaded Pearled Blackwork Partlet

  Completed the blackwork partlet with beads today. Here are some photos of the completed project and matching theme with the other items I completed recently.

Debating on wearing these next weekend for Kingdom 12th night. I .have my peach Elizabethan gown I want to wear with pouch,  partlet, bonnet with peach pearls. Will give it a trial run for fit and make sure it looks right. Want to post photos but will see if time allows.

I have some embroidery to complete for someone at this event. Will show it later when completed, though I will have to work steadily on it this week to get it completed on time. Though I like a good challenge, will get my things done first before the mailed project comes.

New Years Resolution and updates.

I am not normally the type of person to make a New Year's resolution, not because of failure. But more or less I don't always have time to commit to a New Year's resolution. Though I have to say this year I do have one. Which is to complete the Elizabethan embroidered jacket that I had finished the sleeves on earlier last year. I went ahead and took a look at my pattern pieces last night. The gore pieces that I have for around the waist and body for well despite being sized wrong originally.

I do believe it's going to take several months until the jacket is complete especially with getting it lined and already to go. I think I'm at least to the halfway point or real darn close to it. I found a few pretty snowflake pillows on clearance recently, that remind me of Elizabethan flowers and are giving me some inspiration to start embroidery on this jacket again.

In the meantime I created a silk pouch to go with a few mother of pearl purse closure pieces that I bought for Christmas with the money my mother gave me for a present. The silk was salvaged from a shirt, so I could create the blue background and use the Elizabethan costuming groups device so I could use that as a way of showing that group that I belong to online. I admit might be looks a little bit big in the body but at this point it's at least a good attempt at doing one. Accented it with gold colored glass beads to give it a little bit of shine, as well as scissor charms that are also red presented on the device. I have currently been using up some of the last of the pre blackwork fabric, shown in previous posts, in an attempt to make a partlet. I have the face pieces beaded already to go I just have to line it and attach a collar as soon as that is done I will post some photos is looking very nice.

As far as the holidays go everything went pretty well. I am still waiting for the book to come in on
London lost jewels for the Cheapside hoard. I had ordered it well before Christmas and I'm not exactly sure since it's coming from England it's taking a long time. That was the main item that I got with my money my mother had sent to me and the other part was some embroidery tools and supplies. I also ended up trading some gift cards with my hubby to get some other books. I had ordered him a box set of books he was looking for a while as his gift.  So I ordered myself the one book I was needing, 17-century dress women's patterns book 1. I received book 2 at a great discount at an SCA event. I enjoyed the book so much, decided that I needed to get the first one to add to the collection.

In more history were cool pattern book news, I found out that they are putting out another addition of a Janet Arnold book for ladies patterns. I believe that this one is to deal with farthingale's as well as bum rolls and other types of stays and corsetry.   I am sure it is going to be a long while before this book comes out. And I have heard that there is a lot of effort to preserve a lot of the notes and original items that Janet Arnold used in all of her lovely research. So from what I gather there is going to probably be other volumes of her books coming out, postmortem. It would've been one awesome experience to meet her, it is unfortunate that she had passed while I was still in middle school. For those of us who make historical clothing, We salute you Janet Arnold.

Other than some recent books, getting through the holiday season, things have been going smoothly at home. Just a lot of prep work and concentration on my new job which I'm very thankful for. Battling the usual chores schedule, trying to get everything done between work and home. The kitties are doing well and avoiding any illness so far, fingers crossed. Hopefully with the added wet food I've been giving them during the winter to help them keep their amino acids and other nutrients up that'll help. Hubby is doing good as well, we just both got over a couple of head colds. We are happy and healthy so far this new year. That in mind, want to wish all of my dedicated readers a belated
Happy Holidays.

Regards,

Maureen

;-)Up to No Good ;-)

It's been a while, sorry to be away for so long. Life has been hectic and it's hard to keep up. Yesterday

participated  in the Kingdom of Aethelmearc: arts and sciences competition. I didn't win but I had a wonderful time, a great day of learning, and feedback for my work. Entered my embroidered Italian pocket, Elizabethan embroidered gloves, and my 16th-century marionette puppets. I had documentation for these, displayed my pearled partlet, but the documentation is still pending on this and my ruffs.  Below are listed a link to some pictures taken of me and my display, while I was at the championship. The teal and pink tudor gown really shows up very pretty and these pictures.

I also made a new chatelaine, one to match the blackwork pin cushion and measuring tape. I used the machine blackwork embroidered cotton fabric and attached it to my Tudor Rose cross stitched Sachet. Made a loop added Bee Pin for Elizabethan Costume Bees from Facebook.  I also covered the back to complete the look. So here is the resulting pictures of the completed work, stayed up late to complete this project.

Lady Mairin at Kingdom A&S Championship

Blackwork Chatelaine

I have been inspired to complete on my version of the Pilmoth Embroidered 16th Century Jacket. Have been working on adding cotton batting on the inside to give body to the jacket. I got pearls and glass beads to add the sparkle to the jacket.  I have some other decisions creatively for this project yet, but I have some good options.


I have the sleeves nearly done, lining the gussets, and work on peacocks on body panels. After all panels are embroidered, beaded, and lined then pieces are sewed together. It's going to take many weeks maybe months to get this project complete. The documentation is going to be non-existent since I did this opposite the norm of period embroidered jackets.Though it's going to be awesome to behold if I can get the vision in my head to be reality.

Work is going well, I am salary now. Interesting to see how this will work out for pay.  Still have to take state exam this month, hope to do well. Going to so more studying this week and stay up to date on my schedule. On the hubby front, Justin has a potential for a new job, hope it all works out. Things are looking up guess we will see how it goes.

Keeping Positive,

Maureen

Suprise Sycamore

Well War practice was fun and eventful. Had lots to do and little time to get it all in, one whirlwind weekend.Arrived Friday had a small supper and then to run an errand with Duchess Ilish and the girls, and was glad to wear by black Elizebthan gown with Ermine Fur puffled sleeves. It breathed when it was warm and kept me warm as the night drew colder.  Met friends and waited for Duke Duncan, though the girls got tired and we had to make way back to camp.We went back made a snack, brushed teeth and off to bed. The drums went on most of the night, which was soothing. Though the folks did stay up till 3am, which is typical at Pennsic in general. I woke to cold feet, just the way my body works sadly but I was confortable for the most part.

On Saturday I was the first one up at 7am, got dressed and was working my hair. Everyone else woke and starting getting ready for the day. I finished and packed for Arts and Sciences  Playtime, wore my red on white damask Venetian gown. Very pleased how it wore and was confortable all day, looked very period which is always my goal. It was hot and a bit sticky so Italian was the best choice, though its not my specialty.  Arts and Sciences playtime was very good and a great way to advertise about my classes for Academy coming up in June. Lots of advice and new reasearch information learned, wish I hadn't left my documentation on the kitchen table at home. Duchess Ilish worked on cloth buttons and the girls made butter, which was very tasty by the way. It was a fun time for all. Went back and relaxed in camp, made a small lunch and made way to Duchess's class. I opted to look at merchants nearby, I was able to get a gold lozenge fabric for 1.00 bought some trim for two gown for about 25, bought a lucet and book to learn lucet cord making. Ilish had some lovely brocade that she couldn't use for garb and generously gave it to me, which a gown is in the planning stages at this time.

 Later that day I was installed into the Haus WeisserLowe, so I am Duchess Ilish student. My goal is to learn and serve the hausehold in all scadian possible. I will get some pictures from the day if any were taken. I will also take a picture of my medallion. Hopefully I can find someone who took pictures. Its very late period looking, my scroll will come soon. It didn't make it to the event, hope to see it at AE Academy next month.

By a miracle I found a picture before the crown of Aethelmearc recieveing of my compansionship to the Order of the Sycamore Medallion, praise technology and its wonders. Picture is by Isabel Fleuretan, thank you Isabel. I am happy with my hair despite the heat and humidity, that was done by feel and with no mirror. Medivalist to the end I suppose. I just wish I wore Tudor gown instead. Since that is one thing that I was being awared for along with dolls puppets and childrens work. Though you can't win them all and that gown was darn comfortable despite the heat. Red on white brocade a very Aethelmearcian color combo if I must say so myself.

In the meantime its back to mundane life,

Lady Mairin