Glitter and Shine

Finally had time to sit and embroider the goldwork on my coif. Its by no means complete, though progress has been made. I have the whole bottom row scroll designs complete. I have the second row almost done, four more scrolls designs to do on this row. I post pictures showing the sparkly progress.  I want to be half way done by the end of the weekend. Here's to a goal! The early work schedule is good, it to gets me home sooner to have a smidgen of a social life. Had a bad week of divorce hang ups, tablet screen breaking, and some minor inconveniences. Its ok will be able to take my stress away on my Saturday yoga session. Was great to spend some of Valentines with my sister. Bought some new Magic the Gathering cards and see if I can enhance my decks. So have find time dig through them and come up with' a stradgedy for a deck or modify the others I have made a set or two back.

Sort of Valentines gifts to myself, bought new boots my ones have gotten too loose in the calves to be wearable. Though I am happy to get new ones that fit snugly. Got them cheaper than the prices found online. Two sweaters with laces on the back, one in blue and one in green. Plus its better to try them on, sizing on clothes and shoes not standard through the fashion industry. Would like to make this my life goal, but no influences on modern fashion industry. Darn!

Bought new tablet with word processing capability and storage I can do research papers on it. Worth the extra money spent for Bluetooth and the other features plus a larger screen. Not sure what to do with my broken one, will have to see what I can do with it. Maybe get it repaired. Lots of cat socialization this week. Which they deserve so much more of my time, than they receive. So a nice relaxing weekend until the pipes at my house frozen with the cold weather.  So that did take up time but was able to get things thawed for the most part. Some house chores to do and  more embroidery to relax to make more pretty things to wear.

Well back to it,

Mairin

Balancing Act

Well it turns out that organizing really makes a difference. I have reorganized all of my costuming and historical research books. As well as all of my personal novels. So my library is much more categorized and easier to view all of the titles in my collection.

I am now able much easier to find many items on hand. As well as able to reorganize my extensive costume and accessories collection. Now searching is easier in my trunks and my closet, select an outfit with accessories under an hour.

After having lost so much weight, many of my outfits are loose. Which is not very accurate depiction of the clothing of the time. so there will be a lot of time this winter adjusting the fit of my clothing to make sure that it is up to proper standards. In the meantime there is a small selection of historical clothing outfits that will now fit.

More or less the month of October has been a fall cleaning of sorts. I was afraid with all of the changes that I would not be able to attend  SCA events. However I had filled a need at the most recent event called AE war. I was able to fill in for Chatelaine, which was a great experience to try to help in a different way. I also brought some examples of period embroidery, since this topic wasnt on display this event. What was nice to be able to educate on embroidery and help newcomers that would be interested in this immersive experience.

Recently found out that my commission for having my heraldry done in stained glass is complete. I am hoping to pick this up at my next event. And looking for a safe window space to display how gorgeous this custom work of art is. Speaking of custom things, I have a few commissions I am also working on. As I find time, I also have a piece of clothing I am working on for a friend for upcoming festivities.other than alterations, and the gowns that I have spoke about over the past several months. I do not have any additions to new gowns that I want to add.

Howwever, there is always a possibility of finding a new historical portrait to be inspired by to make a creation of a gown. In the meantime I'm going to try to focus a little bit more on embroidery. There are some research projects that I'd like to complete in regards to it and just to become better versed in this skill.

I feel very blessed now to have space to safely display all of my spinning and yarn creation items. I have also found some time to figure out the inner workings of my yarn Swift. It needs some work to make it do what it supposed to do, which is measure about 80 yards of yarn and then click to indicate that there is 80 yards on the winder and a skein is full. At this time I would have to count the revolutions of the yarn winder to fix approx figure out the amount of yarn that would be on the arms. Having the clockwork gears inside carved and working properly will make this a much more functional piece. My spinning wheel is still in fantastic shape and now has a space that it can be properly displayed and used. I am noticing however that many of the working parts are fatigued when I purchased them, and have become more so since I have been using the wheel. So I am having some spindles and spools made for my spinning wheel that are going to be representative of the current equipment, but will be new and be able to put up with more use.

Tabitha has recently adopted the chair is one of her new favorite locations. Along with the new to me reclining rocker wingback chair that I was able to procure. the Jasper and Tabitha take turns sitting on the new chair. They are finding life much more calm than they did last week during all of the moving. Other than their normal running around the house at full speed playful times, things are much more calm.

So other than working my normal busy schedule for work. It is been nice to be able to come home to some very happy cats. Be able to relax a little bit and unwind in the evenings. Some days are longer than others so there is less time in the evening to arrange chores. But at least I am able to make it work on my own schedule. Now that my personal life is much more in my own control, I hope to get my work life back up to the standards it needs to be. Unfortunately I only have so much time during each day to focus on certain things.

Regards,

Mairin

Crewel Twists

It's noted in an inventory from the Victoria & Albert Museum, that there is a waistcoat embroidered in red wool embroidery on linen cotton twill fabric. Though my waistcoat is done as wool on silk, there's at least one instance where wool was embroidered on these waistcoats in the late 16th century. I contacted their textile in costume department to find out if they have a full-length picture of this garment, there was no full-length pictures showing this particular waistcoat. So waiting to see if they will correspond back.   From what I know also sarcenet is a type of silk fabric that was used also in these garments. Though the surviving examples most seem to be linen based ground fabrics. Granted it is one instance out of many garments made, were made but many that didn't make it through time. This leaves a realm of possibility some creative aspects in the design of these jackets did occur, from made of the colors to the fibers chosen did vary, a little food for thought.

It's my goal to have my waistcoat completed by the New Year. It's been far too long to let it go unfinished. I just recently acquired some spangles for the finishing touches. Over the last month I replaced all of the wool functional stitching with matching colored teal stitching. Now I am working on the embroidery all over the body of the waistcoat, with spangles after that. Then linen lining added and fastening ribbons or hook and eyes. Light at the end of the tunnel at long last.

In the meantime I've been doing other sample embroidery with silk to get used to its characteristics.  Some of the projects to try out will work with some new stitches from an Elizabethan stitches book. I'm also looking into some gold work stitches to make some smaller projects like a set of cuffs for gloves, an embroidered polychrome coif, a monochrome coif with gold work and other projects.
So lots of stitching and my future and looking forward to many a unique project to be made.

On a different note the First Annual; Lake Augusta Renaissance Festival was a success. There was a lot of compliments on how educational and family friendly this event was for the public.  It's different this Renaissance Festival is compared to commercial festivals. I think we had a very good crowd the weather was nice, I spent most my time embroidering and  helping out in the arts and sciences tent.

Regards,

Maureen

Work Hard...Play Hard

Found gold organza gold embroidered placemats on Ebay, been eyeing up these for a while. I figured a partlet was possible but didn't realize there was enough for a matching bonnet. These have some Tudor like embroidered flowers, gold seed and bungle beads on gold embroidered leaves and swirl edge with scalloped edging. This was a lot if fun to make, though it was a lot of assembly and careful stitching. Organza is not very forgiving on fraying, so had to negotiate the gorgeous gold shiny fabrics carefully. These were made from placemats, as seen by the photo below. Took an evenings worth of hand sewing to complete.

It's ironic that once I bought this and started assembling it, into a new to me partlet/bonnet set, that one later gown I purchased would match it. A couple weeks after buying the placemats for my birthday, bought two Elizabethan gowns in partial completion for a steal of a deal. It had a small amount of binding tape the same color as the burgundy in the partlet flowers. I found a merlot burgundy fabric to line the sleeves, which there was enough fabric to complete the sleeves and guards. I have to add the burgundy trim that I have, which was from an SCA auction in large quantities. Figure I can try a few different combinations of laying trim and see what looks nicest.

 Here is what the fabric looks like.  The bodice was complete but needed to add a back panel, sleeves, skirt and eyelets. It comes out as a similar to side back lacing on me.  So I will have more control over the fit and not squeeze into a gown too small.  The picture to the left is a good photo of the color and damask pattern variation.  It's very beautiful in person. Lining with the burgundy fabric really punches it up, all because I followed the same color binding tape on the gown bodice. Right now besides setting sleeves and laying the trim. Looking into laces for these but still lots of finishing to be done before looking to lucet laces and points.

I have a second gown with puffy sleeves and yardage for a skirt. It's burgundy with gold lozenge pattern. Though there are laces on the front, maybe to attach a placard. I have to set a back panel to make this side back lacing to fit. Sleeves fit and length is good. Looking for pleating the skirt, attaching it to bodice.  I need to figure out if I can find hundreds of freshwater seed pearls to accent the lozenge fabric. Not sure if I want to make an open from skirt or keep it closed.  There is black binding  on the bodice and the black laces. So got to figure out this war puzzle of fun.

So collecting real silk for A&S projects.  Finishing off these partial gowns and accessories for something new to wear. For now just keep up working on these and thoughtfully plot my next A&S project for the coming months.

Regards,

Maureen

Time to myself

I did a wise thing when planning my vacation in January.  Took the day before and the day of my birthday off.  Which makes me happy because in the middle of the summer being as busy as I have been with work, it is nice to take some time for myself. Which I plan on this being a lovely sewing/ embroidery extravaganza at home. I may just plan it again this way next year as well as plan in some long weekends to disburse out my vacation days.

In the meantime, I have one panel of my embroidered waistcoat full of flowers, spangles to be added

soon. So progress be at slow is being made, photos to come. My research continues more into these garments. I definitely can say no more now about these garments that when I started this project. I had mentioned about not making any more large scale embroidery projects. But with my knowledge that I have now,  might actually change my mind. Though nothing is certain at this point I have a few projects in mind but nothing that needs to be started right away. With the anniversary of my birth soon approaching, been trying to figure out what I want to get for my birthday. I'm not exactly sure at this point but fabric is always on the list.Actually books are also on the list of items that are great for birthday gifts. I acquired two new ones on embroidery that I find really fascinating. Thereby the Glasgow Museum one on 17th-century embroidery, by Rebecca Quinton and another book by the same author in regards to samplers..

My birthday wish is to learn to be more historically authentic with all of my garb. It definitely have crating the historical silhouette but I believe that to really achieve the next level in my historical tailoring, it is now time to work with all period materials, as much as possible. Focusing on more authentic materials, techniques, and finishes in my garb.  So I've been looking for silk at good prices that either I can dye or find ways of using in smaller amounts. I do have some wool that was gifted to me that I have to put to some good use. These are huge yardage amounts maybe 3 to 5 yards but it's definitely something I can use and work with. I know that I will need to stock up on the following: some silk organza, silk taffeta or dupion, and medium and tissue weight of unbleached linen.  I will need to also stock up on buckram, cotton wadding, and some millinery wire to make some hats.

It's not to say that any of the interesting synthetic fabrics that I already have, are not to get used. Though used in projects that are not to be arts and sciences based. When I use the synthetics for garb, there definitely just garb, not arts and sciences related.  I have some synthetics purchased recently that are going to make great Italian gowns for warm weather events and maybe Pennsic in the future.

Finding out more about the portrait that I'm interested in replicating. There is a portrait of Mary the I that has these beautiful coral silk sleeves done with goldwork and a matching fore-part skirt that is just gorgeous. So I have enough silk, I believe to make the four sleeves the skirt and a strip enough to do make a hood too. This is one the projects I want to get a good start on during my birthday break. The only item left that needs to be found in some sort of goldwork needlelace that seems to be on the edges of the fore-sleeves. I also need to get it hold of about 3 to 4 yards worth of black silk velvet.

Have the black silk fabric and the coral silk fabric at this point so I have about half the materials collected. The beautiful embroidery on the collar which house is believed to be copied on wrist cuffs underneath the fore-sleeves would be easy to replicate. So this is the next gown to be made,  unlike the rushed predecessors I think this is going to take most of the year to make.

In the meantime on another crafting front, made a hand strung, hand-knotted freshwater pearl necklace. I'm looking for some nice closures for it and more findings to make a pair of earrings as well. The other pearls I have leftover are going to be made into an awesome looking snood. Looks very regal.Well that's pretty much it for now, little things to keep me amused and out of trouble. Besides working a very busy schedule at work.

Keep Looking Up,

Mairin

So Many Pretties and So Little Time...

 
It is now that wonderful time of year again where I am deciding what I want to make next. I have a custom order pending, I'm waiting to hear some details. Custom orders are always a challenge and joy, I'm very excited to get started.
Included better photos of the embroidery box that I recently completed. The pictures before were a little dark. So cropped these and lightened them up so the detail is more distinct.

 I believe from what I can gather it's going to be in accessorizing late period gowns with a possible hat order depending on the customer. Which is always a good challenge to match up existing outfits to find proper accessories to give it that period finished look . So far my idea is to hand strand and knot a long freshwater pearl necklace on silk. I have some fantastic silk cord at home that will work great for this project. I also have some gold over silver ear wires that I will be able to use for dropped pearl earrings. I have to locate the proper size and weight freshwater pearl drops for the planned earrings. These two accessories are very commonly seen in anything from an Italian late period through some Spanish late period and English late period clothing. So these two items are very much something that you could transition through multiple gowns if need be. For the different time periods I play with within 100 year span I find it these transition pretty well from time period to time period.

I still have one late Italian gown that I want to make that is white silk with coral edging.  I have a  late Tudor in red velvet with brocade sleeves and inset skirt with foresleeves that are decorated. These two are gowns that I still have on my mind, that I want to make. Which I'm going to include the following pictures as inspiration from portraits. So these are pending projects but there's no deadline on when to get these gowns done. I have some red velvet but it is a  polyester nature. And it would behave for the well, it is the perfect shade to the red velvet in the portrait. Unfortunately it is not the content that I would be needing to make a arts and sciences based project. The other pieces I have for the foreskirt and the foresleeves is a similar pattern but not extact. But it would be a viable option to Pearl and finish them in a period method with lining them properly. I have some fantastic coral velvet that I would love to use for the coral and white and Italian gown. The portrait itself does look more like a silk fabric, in Italy silk was popular considering the climate. So I'm trying to find a viable trim that will simulate the white with pink embroidery we see on the gown. Trying to find a white silk that will suit the composition of the portrait. So I do want to hold off till I can find the right silk with undertones for this project. I do not normally make white gowns but this is one that I have admired for some time.

So on the garb plans for this year, projects waiting in the eaves.  I believe that these 2 gowns will occupy most of this year sewing time. Right now I am focusing on finishing my embroidered jacket.  I have decided to take out the coral wool stitched edging that I've been putting in for some months. Using matching teal thread in very fine small stitches around the teal trim. I am not able to take off the blue edging on outer edges of the jacket otherwise it will not fit properly. This occurred because of a improper patterning and sizing issue when I had created the project. Though at this point I know that when is complete it will look fantastic. I will be able to wear it over myself teal gown and it will match beautifully.  The silk downs that I bought off of eBay have proven their worth time time again. They are consistent with their fit in sizing, they work great as an under kirtle, since they're fully lined and boned, for Italian or English gowns.

Everything has a learning curve and I've learned very much of the past few months especially from a Ice Dragon on the areas I need to improve upon. So I'm trying to take this time to carefully choose the projects I want to do next. And see how close I can get to a proper historically accurate project. And I believe that working from portraits is really going to help me try to get that finished look. I do get quite a few compliments that I have stepped out from a portrait with my gown as is, but I want to make my silhouette more historical accurate and impactful if I can. 

Living the dream,

Mairin

All work and no play...

It's been a hectic month, finally finished my work. I took on additional work to help with accounts needing serviced. Very successfully completed them before my deadline, which makes me happy. Turns out these locations I trained at over 9 months ago, so soon as I entered; recognized them immediately.  Finished them in time to make the trek home to meet up with hubby for us time, yay!

With my extra time was able to watch Maleficent in 3D with hubby yesterday. We had free tickets due to our loyalty club membership. It's not how I expected it to be but was interesting how the story danced in detail around the original animated feature from 1959.  I wish some of the story wasn't so rushed to workout the iconic scenes. Though overall I liked and the animation effects and such were dazzling. Out of the live action films so far I would say this is the best sticking to the original with a twist being from the villain point of view. It uses the first telling as a tale woven through time and the facts were lost in translation, which does happen in history. 

Since I had the rest of the weekend to myself despite being on call, I was able to finish up a small embroidery project that I had been working on for some time. This is the embroidery box that I created as inspired by the 17th-century embroidery caskets used to store embroidery items tools notions. Now this one is just a simple square box,  I was able to cover it over with Aida cloth and some of the edging is a strip of cross stitch fabric, the strip was decorated  for a bell pull.  I used it to go all the way around the edge of this particular box, as well as accent the top cover. I added some looped lace on the top cover for interest.I was able to also add one of my patches of my heraldic arms, there are two sequined peacocks with cockleshell's pearls and glass beads accenting flowers around the sides all done with silk. Most of this is a conglomeration of items that I already had in my embroidery stash of awesome. The peacocks I purchased specifically for this project and they would be considered tree ornaments in their original state.

Contemplating the next project. Though it's best for me to go back to the embroidered jacket to make actual progress on it. Came too far to turn back now, it will look great when done. I just wish it could embroider itself sometimes. Brings to mind my favorite scene in the 1959 movie Sleeping Beauty is, when the fairies are making the dress and it magically sews itself while waltzing in the air. I kind of wish there was that type of magic for creating my renaissance gowns as easily. The gown making scene by birds and mice in Cinderella was good too.
Wishing there were more hours in a day,

Mairin

Greetings from the Twin Cities

You know you're in a really posh hotel when...,they have ducks in the lobby. Not only is this a beautiful courtyard styled hotel but there happens to be a waterfall with little ponds in the courtyard, it happens to be some ducks to live there.What a fantastic place to spend a relaxing week of study.

 The flights and were not very long but I found out that the pressurization of the cabin is something that I can't stand. It makes my head feel like cotton and turns my stomach. I did get sick on my connecting flight unfortunately, not pleased at all. I liked my lunch very much where it was, in my stomach.

Other than that I was able to meet one of my other district teammates to here for

training. It is good to get to know one another, he's newer so to try to help him as I can. I will still have a week full of classes and plenty of training for myself to do so we will see how this all works out. I don't know what it is going to look like in the evenings but other than studying, I do hope to get a little bit of embroidery time while I'm here. I did manage to bring all of my supplies with me on my carry-on with no issues. Realized I forgot my non slip work shoes. They are at home in the living room, some good they are doing me at home. In the mean time, I have black satin slip-ons that fit the uniform standard.

After getting my clothing ready for tomorrow and getting settled then it's a time for a long nap. I will see if there is any crafting based things I can find or historical items I might be able to repurposed while I am out here in St. Paul. They will have to fit in my carry-on bag and fit TSA criteria but you never know what one can find.  I just hope that after visiting the mall and things like that, I will be able to get everything in my bags. I know that I have a three ring binder with information I get to take with me . And a 3 ring binder with pest ID to got to put in my bag as well. I think a lot of these things will have to go in with my embroidery.

I can see Ecolab corporate office from my balcony, very neat! Lots of studying and information to learn . It's gonna to help me be a better employee. Went to the Mall of America, nothing like seeing  an amusement park in the middle of the mall. There was a lot of interesting things that you got to see, do other than shop  and lots of different stores. Found out the entire loop of the mall was about a mile and a half . I walked the whole first floor than headed to some shops I wanted to see.  I found out that the craft stores about 7 miles away from where I'm staying. To get to them would take a lot of time and effort in the evening,  they didn't seem to be any uniquely interesting fabric shops a lot of them are your general chain stores.

Though I was able to fine are few unusual things, like a llama for example. I found a stuffed animal made from a skin and from wool of a Llama.  Sales of items are used as direct donation to lama herders to provide them ways of affording what they need.  Such wonderful store, great items out of wool. Wish I could afford a flock, these are the llamas really cute. So i took opportunity for some charity.

Most the stores I went to visit happened to be ones that were already closed or were not available the time that I visited. So there's was a bead store in the mall; bought some unique cloisonné beads I can't get anywhere else. On my list was an European import store was closed, one another is going out of business.  So as you can see my visit to the mall was pretty short.   They did happen to be Lego world and amusement park in the middle of the mall but I was not really interested in those particular. I was looking for some interesting and unique, which there were several stores.  Definitely a lot of territory to cover. After my visit to the mall a few things, I went and to my company store to get myself polo shirt and other branded items. Around other items I can use for work.

Fixing and Creating

I received the embroidered jewelry box in the mail from Ebay. It's lovely embroidery looks to be inspired Jacobean with 3D elements, made in India.  There were a few issues with this particular piece. The back panel as you open the box made the lid slide around and was unstable. So I took some matching colored thread and stitch the corners on the back panel to make sure that it was much more secure. Which did really help make sure that you could open and close the box without much trouble and not stress the panel with readjusting of the lid. If this was not fixed it would eventually have the lid ripoff. All these details were disclosed by the seller so I knew what I was getting, new little bit of decorating and some fixing was needed when I purchased.

It's really a pretty piece, larger than in the photo, which is great needing lots of space. I added a few of the berries I made to add some more color, looks nice, not sure if I will add more stumpwork elements or not, guess will see.

I am still creating my personalized embroidered sewing box.  Took photos of the crate I am starting with, bought at the thrift shop for a few cents. It looks like it was a display a bath and body works, though any of that will be covered with fabric.  I am debating a few period designs, for this project but it's best to draw them out to see if they will work for  my intentions for this sewing kit. Brainstorming is my favorite part, making items is fun too but time consuming. Though one doesn't get work done just thinking about it.

Finshing my training at work, packing for my trip to corporate headquarters, lots to do and so little time.

Regards,

Maureen

17th century Respite

Machined Embroidered Jewelry Box

You never know what items you may use until you find a use for them. My poor home has a collection of various different items that I found it through the years that I knew I was going to use for project in the future, I just didn't know when. Mostly when I am out shopping for various different pieces of needlework notions, beads and other findings inspiration strikes and another project is added to the already long list of items I want to create. Luckily I do my best to try to make sure the items that I purchased our ones that I will eventually use. A lot of them came together with the 16th-century embroidered waistcoat, that I am still working.

Embroidered Waistcoat 

I have's been seeing a new project put on by a great site; thistle-threads.com, about a course called cabinet of curiosities. Though unfortunately I do not have the amount of money to take the course or for the materials. However I do like the idea of the course topic, and it has inspired me to see if I can make a needlework sewing box of my own. This is going to be somewhat of a spinoff on the same themes as my embroidered waistcoat and will be 16th century needlework heraldry based themes and motifs.

Found the wooden box that I needed for the base as a piece that I had picked up for dollar at a thrift shop, it is a small slatted display box for soap. I am going to get all of the exact measurements off of this box, drawout on my linen the exact measurements that I need to create a needlework outer cover for this box with lining. Then after all the patterns are laid out, I am going to needlework them on the frame, then pad the work with a thin layer of cotton batting. Then stitch all of the pieces together around the wooden slatted box. Pad also the inside with the same cotton batting and then lined the lid and line the interior of the box. This box is not nearly as deep as I would like. Though I'm not finding the other varieties of a deeper box that I feel I could sufficiently needlework in a timely manner.  This would definitely be a useful piece for me to store my small sewing items at home and have it near my favorite sewing chair.

17th C Embroidered Casket

It however will not be a 17th-century replica, as well as the fact that it would not be something that I could document for an SCA related project. These sewing caskets made by young ladies in the 17th-century are post period. Would not be very good to document for the SCA since these are post 1650. This would be one of those projects I would keep to myself and making enjoy as a inspirational-based project, and might be used for gifts for friends and other inspirational based needlework. It seems for some reason I am really inspired lately by things that are passed 1650. I'm guessing that it is a phase, and  I'll be getting back to finishing off my SCA related projects. All artists go through a creational respite from the normal routine. That it does not hinder my ten year long fascination with Tudor and early Elizabethan topics. I found a fun one made commercially that I plan on using for more sewing supplies, which will still be fun to use. Not sure if I will add stumpwork elements or not, will decide when I get the

Besides this gives me another wonderful used to do more fantastic ideas with stumpwork as well as a excuse to use more peacocks, and put my heraldry on something which is always fun. This larger project may give rise to smaller decorated trinket boxes, I could see having something like this with a very personalized name put upon it would be a great gift.

In the meantime I am repleating my ruff and cuffs, resetting then in their bands and we will see how it works out.

Regards,

Maureen

In Love... With Books

Looking at the various different types of embroidery out there. I am focusing on new techniques, new materials, and interesting compositions and design layout for inspiration. And I have come across this wonderful book as a suggestion. This comes from online costuming friends who do various time periods of embroidery.

The Complete Book of Stumpwork embroidery by Jane Nicholas is a really fantastic guide to show how to create stumpwork type of embroidery. Stumpwork is a type of 3 dimensional embroidery that occurs in England from about 1650 throughout the 1700s. It builds upon various techniques and stitches from crewel embroidery. Like the buttonhole and detached buttonhole stitches, goes from there and takes it to a new level with adding different materials focusing on three dimensional aspects and texture.

Not only is the book showing you how to create different types of animals plants and flowers, it also shows you various different designs.  From simple small compositions that would make great gifts with embroidering the name of the recipient, to larger compositions that take on a tapestry like feel.  There are many projects shown in this book, there's a list of materials needed for each project, and it goes over the techniques on how to create the project step-by-step.  Love books laid out well showing you exactly how to make the projects that occur in the book. I really look forward to seeing more work from this author.  I found out that this manual is a combination of two different books; one focusing on Medieval flowers and the other one focusing Medieval fauna. These two books were created a paperback format previously they combined them together and put them in a complete manual.

In creating my polychrome embroidered jacket,  I worked with various buttonhole stitches to create levels of texture, and build up upon different levels and different stitches. This takes that and really runs with texture and dimensions. I may be using some of the techniques in very small applications on my jacket, stumpwork would be very hard to wear. Due to the three dimensional aspect, it could get snagged often on a garment-based project and destroy the embroidery or garment. So I will most likely use some of the beading techniques or maybe a few berries for interest but I won't be using three-dimensional leaves or other elements because of the snagging problem. So this gives me a lot of  information and inspiration to continue with more fascinating needlework!

Embroidering like Mad,

Mairin

Reworking with Coincidence

Originally planning to attend War Practice, though a pre-scheduled work business trip has gotten in the way. I received some fantastic feedback with my work last year. This year I will have to send some of my items with friends for the Arts and Sciences display. I wanted to teach as well at this event, though that is foiled with the work trip, maybe next year.

Since I will be going away for work in May, been formulating a way to bring my polychrome embroidered waistcoat with me, so I can work on it with downtime in the evenings. Been working on it every evening right now, taking out machine stitching and replacing it with woolen embroidery stitches all the way around all the pattern pieces. It is looking much better and much more organized. I didn't realize when I had bought the trim for the jacket that it matches one of my Elizabethan gowns perfectly! So I am going to wear this dress underneath my jacket and I really believe that it's going to just accent each other beautifully. Showing the photos to see how extremely close the color match shows. Even with the lights and darks of the silk fabrics playing on each other these were never intended to go together, though it's fantastic that they do!

With the Ice Dragon feedback I know the areas of improvement and am reworking techniques and methods now so the projects will be better examples of my work. I am disappointed I will not be there to field questions. Though it's important to share my work with others, I use all the trial and error with my many projects as a learning lesson. For me it's easier to learn from creating, I sometimes make my best discoveries about textiles and fiber arts.

I recently had found out that there was some new literature, not known about on the polychrome embroidered jackets. It was in a series of individual subject booklets called the complete anachronist, published through the SCA. I had gone through the long list of topics, there happens to be many a useful topic. I inherited a handful of these from a friend, and was able to complete my Elizabethan  embroidered gloves using one of these little booklets. Now I have one for the my current in progress project.  Now I have ordered and received these on various types of embroidery woodworking and other Medieval topics.

So for now figuring out what events I can make an appearance and get my work reworked for arts and science displays in the future. So busy also working on more late period embroidery styles and reading up on better tudor fit and plans to make period patterned linen bodies and woolen kirtle.

Plotting away,

Maureen

Ice Dragon 2014

Entered the Ice Dragon Pentathlon this year in singles entrant; my polychrome embroidered Elizabethan waistcoat in heraldic display, needlework, and post 1400 clothing. I also my suite if ruffs in accessories and medieval rope knight game in toys.

After doing so well in the novice level competition in 2013. I figured that it would be interesting to see the level that I could do this year, as a singles entrant. Felt that I would be in the middle of the pack of folks that decided to enter the Pentathlon. Which was a good start I thought, comparing scores last year I would have been third place in singles if I had tried that level in 2013.

I was riding with friends but had to leave early before the end of court. Before I left, received Prince's choice for the rope toy puppets. Later found out I was runner up for the Pent, which is second over all, and captured Toy category. Very pleased with the results for a first shot as a singles entrant!

This really motivates me not only to continue to at least enter one thing in every Ice Dragon A and S

competition. It also gives me the motivation to fine tune my projects and make sure that they are the best that they can be from now forward. Checking to make sure that the quality of the materials, the application of period methods, and period techniques are executed to higher standards.  Am interested in seeing where my standings sit in the point rankings. They will not be posted at least for another few weeks until then, my curiosity definitely is peaked.

My Teacher, Her Grace Mistress Illish ODonovan is pleased with my performance, that is the most I was concerned was disappointing her. I want to bring honor and glory to the household in word action and deed. Constant improvement and progression is the goal. I don't know what a great ice dragon pent performance, what this means for the future but it's certainly positive. With winning Novice Pent and Baroness Choice last year along with this years attaining runner up on Singles Pent this year and capturing Prince's Choice.  That means something I should hope, it's not easy and a real struggle to get it just right.

Now on to getting exact replicas, in materials technique and execution if all possible. In the meantime much more work on the embroidered polychrome waistcoat. Knowing my luck will take another 2.5 years to complete ;-) It was the real entry of talk amongst many a gentle, I met during Ice Dragon. Standard gentles can't believe how elegant and pretty it's turning out, there are lots of details for improvement but when it's done will be a stunner. I am hoping I can get it complete to wear by War Practice.

Well back to work and catching up on household chores. The hubby and cats missed me tremendously.  I have much more work to do but looking forward to a healthy challenge.

Excited for the Future,

Mairin

Pretty, Pretty Peacocks

Making some major progress on my embroidery project. I was able over the past week to outline all of my peacocks which there are six. Outlined in embroidery stitches and get their wings in progress. I currently now have three of them filled in with the darkest teal color. Eventually those will also have accents colors stiches to the body and a lighter to green and then seafoam green for highlight.

The crown on the head will have glass beads as will the eyes of the many tail feathers. I will use the three colors in conjunction to create textured tail feathers. After these are done the work on the flowers begins.

Slowly coming together,
Maureen

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