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

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.

Medallion Medley

Well here is a story for you:

 I had showed my Order of the Sycamore medallion to my shiremates at War Practice. All of us agreed, that I should give it more pizzaz to go with my late period gowns and accessories. I had worked out a design on the way home in my mind. I wrapped the copper loop in white ribbon and sewed flat gold beads around the outside to give shine and texture. I then used UV protected nail polish and built up layers of clear polish on the center brass leaves design, added black lines with ball point pen, and layered more clear polish over top to secure the ink. Then colored red side of the medallion, and redrew some lines that were faded with the additional color. I added one last layer of clear all over the leaves. Its not the most period method but I didn't want to changed much from the orginal given.

The necklace is one I have had made from beads given as Arts and Sciences favors when I started in the SCA, Oh some 8 years back, I keep all tokens just in case. I also made a neat pair of earrings from two matching tokens. On this projects I added the bread caps and filligree for that fancier late period touch.

I hope to get my Sycamore scroll at my next Aethelmearc Kingdom event, which will be AE Academy at the end of June. I am excited, been wondering how it will look and what the exact wording would be and who was the person that has made it. In the mean time, I will work with others in the scribal community to check if it will make it to me. I believe it is a finished project, since Their Majesties mentioned it was no able to make it to War Practice and not a work progress and such.

So after working on the medallion for two days, I wanted to show my results. With the layers of polish and pen, I added the heraldic colors of the Order of the Sycamore on the medallion itself. I found out most folks use a polymer enamel modernly that is easier to work with compared to the traditional glass methods. Nail polish is not that far off from what they use commerically, in period they would use glass powder, a hot kiln and many hours of work on metal in many shaped pieces to adhere the enamel to and make links to make chains in various lengths. I hope to use my medallion as a way in my Jewelry class to show how one can take something simple and make a late period piece come out of simple materials found at home.

Well back to more mundane activites,

Lady Mairin

Elizabethan Gallery

Goldwork, Embroidery and Elizabethans

Well I have made a major amount of progress over the past few days with the Elizabethan/ Jacobean Embroidered Jacket.  Which is thrilling to see the project just take shape before me. I have the collar and shoulder tabs completed including lining, I also have the all the embroidery on all the gores done, I will have to line jacket from the natural waist down to the bottom edge but have fabric set aside for that when it is assembled.

The goldwork to set on the on the other half of a front panel, that's it as far as goldwork on this project. I expect with time I have, the goldwork will be done today. The Elizabethan flowers will be a chore, though i think they will be fun to do but time consuming. So yes getting all the floral work done will be easier said then done. The back panel and sleeves are ready for embroidery. I will have to take photos of all my progress, so far.


After the large majority of flowers done on all pattern pieces, it will be time to assemble the garment, then line it with linen and half satin on some edges, set the lace trim on all edges and pearl in shell accents and other finishing touches.

 I am really pleased with all my progress, though with my choice for design mainly the peacock it looks very eastern inspired, which is not what I wanted to do but I am hoping that the flowers, fruit, and insects will make it look more english and garden like, so I am considering my choices very carefully. Here is to lots of luck with this project, I will need it. Wonder if I can get this done for renaissance faire later this month, that may be too ambitious. Though it would be fun

Regards,

Maureen

16th Century Chatelaines Exhist

After being inspired by my online hand embroidery group on Facebook, I noticed a lovely piece posted yesterday that I needed to make post here. A Chatelaine, what is this you may ask? A Chatelaine is a French Term for "Keeper of the Keys". It refers to the Mistress of the household who has all the daily items at the ready to do her duties. In the early 1840's these came back into use, and contained various filigree chains joined to one pin with a clip on the back and dangled from the waist of a skirt. Eventually a necklace and brooch version was made when fashions changed. A Chatelaine displayed the fine sewing implements and other useful tools of a proper household Mistress. Items included but not limited to: an awl, scissors, thimble, perfume bottle, watch, compass, pin cushion, needle case, bodkin, small coin purse, and of course keys. These decorative but functional items could be made from precious gold, most popularly silver in the Victorian age, brass, copper, silk ribbon or needlework. All depending on your station in life depended on how fancy of one you received, these were normally given as a gift to a young lady. This was a common gift from a groom to his bride on their wedding day, now that she was to take her proper place as head of the household domestics, she would need one of these to help with tasks.

I found a 16th century reference to this online but am looking for more concrete evidence of this in a book, though I have gone through my library and have not found a reference to a tool such as this.  The following is what I found:

"An early form of bag or wallet was the drawstring leather pouch which carried coins, and which was looped through men's girdles or belts for safety. It was a simple development of a circle of fabric drawn up together with two lines of stitching going round the edge in parallel lines in different directions and knotted to make the drawstrings. This was seen from the 12th to the 16th centuries, often worn with a dagger or knife. Such pouches could in fact be stolen by determined thieves who would cut them loose. This suspension of a functional object from the belt has parallels with the medieval 'chatelaine', a chain with keys attached about the waist, which was necessary for housekeepers even when simply moving from wing to wing within the larger houses of England. The chatelaine was revived in the 1840s as a device for suspending needlework and domestic tools, such as a pair of scissors, a tape measure, a thimble case, button hook, penknife, and needle-case from a device hooked onto the waist-belt." From Brief History of Bags and Purses from Hantsweb.  
 Link: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/dress-and-textiles/bags-collection.htm

I am thinking this would be a good topic for my local embroidery guild, but want to find better references before attempting it.  For now I have my lovely silk one with an ornate peacock brooch, so I am contented. Eventually I want to make my own crewel embroidered version of a chatelaine, but not until the research backs it up.

The one you see was made at midnight on an after-work sugar binge, and stayed up till 1:40am completing the final touches this morning. Its best to do things when inspiration strikes you. On that note, I did finish the peacocks on the left hand Elizabethan glove, all I have to do is the floral border, though its easier said then done.

Likes a Good Challenge,

Maureen

Finishing March on a Busy Note

Well finished the embroidery on my elizabethan hankerchief earlier this week. In working this small sample project, it gave me an idea on how the silk thead I have works with the silk fabric for the elizabethan shirts.Also was visited by the inspriation fairy, to make an elizabethan embroidered jacket. This is meant to match the same olive green demask skirt I am using for the underskirt of the peach elizabethan gown. I have enough of the olive green floral damask fabric to make a whole skirt not just a fronted skirt like I normally make for most of my gowns.

In addition to working on plans for the wedding and such, I made a herladic pendant of my own heraldry. I have no idea what necklace I am planning on putting it on, its on a silk ribbon right now. I did get a chance to try on some of my new gowns, the plan black silk elizabethan with puffy sleeves fits beautifully. Though I am still waiting and debating trim to start revamping and decorating the gowns. The white velvet ribbon is late in the mail and I have ideas to match it with a gold lace trim that will completment the Black Shoulder Puffed Elizabethan gown really well. I still m working on a theory for the coral fabric to go with the gold and black doublet gown, its going to be epic if I can get it to work right.

So small victories this week, I have had lots of requests for custom gowns via email and right now. In the process of weeding out those who are serious. One commission I am waiting for fabric in the mail. I am looking at selling off some of the less worn garments in my trunks, though I have to dig in my trunk to get them out and ready for sale. I just have to get rid of those I am not wearing and make room for ones that are worth my time.

The new gowns have loops for hangers, so I am hanging them up and putting the childrens totes out in the shed. They are taking way too much space in the front bedroom closet, which is the garb closet. There isn't anything that can be damaged in the totes being in the shed, so that is my goal tomorrow. Beside cutting the grass and going to do laundry. Also have errands to finish up just general picking things up for the cats and all the fineries of household management.

I cut down in my to do list by doing dishes and vacuuming the house this morning. Ah well at least I have the day off, sewing will be in my future certainly on Saturday;-)

Make it a Great Weekend,

Maureen

Jewelry Boxes and New Jewelry

Spring is near and so is lots of planning

Haven’t had time to post been a busy lady, though that is expected with a wedding approaching. I have a commission coming in to be done by July, waiting for the fabrics and trim coming from the buyer. Really thrilled, that helped pay for Justin’s tux, and my rings soddered. So really happy, I have someone else interested in the gowns I have on Etsy, though they have no gotten back to me on which on they want I would need to resize them. Hope they sell fingers crossed. Sent the invites but no response yet, get thought everyone was going to be mailing responses back asap, guess we will see. Justin and his best man are fitted for tuxes; they will look great knowing those two. I picked up my garters while there at a good price. I made all the bridal flowers and décor for the church, I have bird seed and tule for toss bags at the end of the service, have the ribbon too. Oh it’s going to be good fun.

I modified my bridal tiara to include 6 fresh water pearls and 5 rubies. It all goes with my wedding colors. A friend found a wooden stamped box with roses on it, I cleaned it up fixed hinges put a clasp and lined the inside with velvet. The case is now worthy of magnificence for my tiara and bridal jewelry. Oh I did a drawing o f my wedding outfit everything and it will be fun to see how it all turns out. Pictures of course will be posted when the deed is completed next month ;-)

On life, I have many irons in the fire, ones particularly on a new job. Hoping it all works out because it will be the boost income I need to get life started and moving on to better things with my new life with Justin. Lots of prayers and luck are needed on this, hope to hear more soon.

On the wedding front, I had my rings to be sodered together. The wedding band and the engagement ring got a professional opinion on the sizing and it doesn’t need to be resized. The metal is polished up, the stones clean and checked to be secure in their settings. It looks like new, I put in back in its box so it stays brilliant for the wedding. Plus I am not married so I don’t want to cause confusion. Justin and I need to make an appointment to get the marriage license. We here thinking of making that next week, since I know that we both have to be there. So I have to get a good time to get that done.

I have been working on my left Elizabethan Glove embroidery more consistently over the last week; I have one peacock supporter done and ¾ through the other. I have to do the leafy boarder with flowers and that will finish it all up. So far so good, this is good practice for all the embroidery I will have to do with the silk shirt. Which I have to find where I placed the silk cuttings for the shirt, they are in my sewing room somewhere. All the spaces and no storage it’s just a jungle in my sewing room.

On the jewelry front, I sold several pieces on Ebay and there is lots of interest on the remaining few costume jewels left. I have made a bunch of new Tudor style jewelry for my own use. Ideally my purpose was the jewels could be worn with a fancy dress outfit or with my Tudor gowns. The first bunch is gold plated pieces using briolette cut beads, which appear as a perfectly round teardrop shape bead. I found theses in genuine Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby on Etsy. Put them with the gold plated pieces to give them some punch, it’s lovely. They are not period jewelry which was much heavier but they will at least go with the gowns and use real gemstones so I am happy with the how they turned out. I had bought several faux glass cabochons back in the summer. So I made several lovely pieces using gold plated filigree bead caps, freshwater pearls and cabochon drops and also did that with small rhinestones necklaces two sets have matching earrings. All in all they are really lovely and I have a photo collection I will post of each piece. Very pleased to be building a semi precious and precious gem collection with my Tudor looks, it just looks more finished to me than large fake pieces.

Ice Dragon is my March Madness per say, it’s the Kingdom of Aethelmearc’s biggest Arts and Sciences competition. My areas of expertise are toy making, costuming, accessories, fiber arts and jewelry making. I do want to add embroidery but have not many pieces I feel comfortable entering; none are research on embroidery techniques or methods but may be entering my Elizabethan Gloves may change that eventually. Still have lots to document on this and will have to wait till next year. Right now with the wedding an all the planning I am busy but its relaxing not going to Ice Dragon and scrambling to complete a project and documentation. Speaking of documentation, I came across more for Marionettes. I photocopied the pages are set to put them in a small folder or binding them into a thin book per say. Not sure on which I want to do but I have time and options ;-)

Well that is all the news from here lots of Renaissance stuff and wedding planning.

Good things to come,
Lady Mairin

Christmas and all that Loot

Well it was another good holiday this year everyone liked the gifts I bought, so success! Food was great at both places we visited, didn't expect anything less. This is the way the Holidays should be every year. Here is the list of loot we receieved and bought with money and or gift cards: Strike Up the 12 Days of Christmas Carol!

Justin got me a sterling silver necklace and bracelet set, Katana handled chopsticks and a CD from our friend"Fig", got a copper colored silk scarf from my sister Melissa, Walmart Gift card from my Sister Teresa; which bought a lovely turquoisey-teal queen size fleece blanket for the couch. A Gift card from my Parents, which bought me some gold hoop earrings with fresh water pearl dangles and 18 inch freash water pearl necklace. Hmm dare I say real jewelry for Tudor Garb? Another Walmart gift card from Justin's aunt (not sure what to get with this one), a Joanns Gift card from Justin's uncle( you know what that will be used for;-) and two festive bath washes, loofa, and sewing bobbin with needle ornament from Justin's cousin. Money from Justin's Grandma, money and lottery tickets from Justin's parents, which I won $59 total on the lottery. Justin won money off his tickets too $29, we are just a lucky bunch. What can I say my future in laws are good to me, they picked the good ones.

Justin got gift cards to Books-a-Million, Cracker Barrell and Applebees, same gifts from Jason as I got, as well as money, lottery tickets, etc. He got a Arabian Dagger from my sister Melissa. He used his gift card from my parents to purchase a new pair of boots for work, I got him two hard to find Deadlands RPG books for his collection and a pair of fuzzy dice. He was very happy with them both, also his other Gram found some of his old comic books, so those are going safely away in his trunk. So a lost and found gift ;-)

We both got gifts from our job, nice throw blankets and gift cards to Dunkin Doughnuts, haven't used all mine from last year but that is ok lots more money for fancy coffee ;-) I still have gifts from the roleplaying gaming group to disperse and my local 12th night to attend, so there is more gift giving on the horizon.

As far as the money is concerned, I am using some of the money to buy two costuming books online from Tudortailor.com, they have two patterning books called King's Servant and Queens Servant(which just came out this month) so I am picking up both of those. I also am looking into a dress watch online, ooo sparkly. Also thinking of 5 real golden rings with gemstones, yet more real jewelry to wear with garb, and well anytime actually. That will probably use all my money but its well worth it. There are a few things I am considering, like some other Tudor garb online also but the books are a definite.

As far as sewing garb, I have made some real progress on my black velvet gown. The bodice fits properly and trim is sewn down on the bodice. I have the skirt pleated and ready to add trim then attach to bodice. So hope to have it all together today and add fur sleeves tonight. When Melissa goes back to Saudia Arabia, I want her to pick up more of that wonderful fabric to make more embroidered renaissance shirts. Decisions, Decsions am able to get alot done in peace while things are slow over the holidays. Oh to be done and take pictures of this and my other recent creations would be lovely. Its a goal for sure, well that is all that is going on right now.

Best Holiday Wishes,

Maureen

At last....its finished...

Well after harping about making this French Hood for a while. I finally completed it last night while at work. Decieded on the beading scheme and it looks lovely as expected. In making the french hood it gave me some ideas on how to execute the design of the foresleeves.

So far this is the plan: I am using the same lovely floral brocade fabric and to match the hood, I purchased 1 1/2 inch black satin ribbon. Which will be put around the edges, the bottom will be filled with silk lining for the poufs, and beaded with white pearls around a black and gold bead same as on the french hood. In my mind its all in the details, am certain this will look great with both the black velvet gown and purple velvet gown, both with ermine sleeves. So its going to be white black and gold with either more black or purple, either way its going to look sumptuous.

I am drawing up the plans for my next riding hat, brought my drawing pad to get the ideas in head onto paper. Lest I forget those stunning details that I have perculating.

Recently I have been dreaming of gowns again and I am sure a new inspiration will be coming soon. Though I have had some ideas for simple elizabethan gowns to make for more simplified look, it would yet again be in those details whether or not how fancy I want to make the gowns. Though nothing is concrete in my ideas, I have ideas on some red and purple curtains that were for sale. The materials are simlar to the weave to the fabric used in my French Blue Elizabethan Gown. Which was also made from curtains, not a coinsidence. So plans are simmering for now, and some more lovely hats may need to be made for these other gowns later on.

We'll see how long it takes to get the foresleeves done. Maybe by the end of the week if all goes well. Ver motivated to sew but no fabric to work on here at my job. Guess I will work on jewelry instead ;-)

For now back to the mundane,

Maureen

Ending January on a Jewel Note

Well its nearing the end of the month and progress is slow but that happens when you can't work on gowns at your job. However, I did get the lovely Tudor necklaces done with the supplies I gushed about in my last post. They turned out stunning and can't wait to wear them with a new gown or one of my treasured Tudor creations. I worked hard and finished them a week ago and they are more beautiful than I envisioned.

There has been some developments on my prospective Helen Snakenborg Elizabethan gown. I got the fabric and trim in the mail last week. Extremely ecstatic to see the perfect shade of peach staring back at me from the envelope I received in the mail. Its not silk like I hoped to find, but $80 a yard is just too rich for me when it comes to fabrics. Its 100% polyester but I am happy with it for the price and color.

Instead of being unhappy with the makeup of the material I focused on the right shade of perfect peach. Since the images I found online varied from shades of brilliant peach to soft light peach, I browsed more satin than I want to mention comparing my image to the photo of the materials online. Justin and I just recently procured a new flat screen monitor and its lovely to see the colors jump right off the page. Its really helped alot with this gown research because I can see much more clearly the details of the painting when I zoom in on a image.

I purchased "a look like lace" to match the velvet and gold embroidery on the original gown, it just so dead on its uncanny. This lace like trim works out wonderfully for the effect I am trying to achieve with this gown. I mentioned about using the silk charmeuse my sister bought me in my last post, which I do intend on using it for the lovely embroidered shirt originally used for the portrait. Though I wasn't sure about the floral embroidery that I would have to stitch to make the roses on the shirt. So I had to look into this more intently.

This week I gathered information on the proper technique from my local embroidery guild meeting. I showed my progress to the shire guild mistress and good friend, Lady Jaqueline De Moliere. She is thrilled with all the work I have done to get the fabrics and trim just right, we had lots to talk about. I told her about the embroidery for the shirt and making it from crewel techniques which she agreed either would work depending on my execution of the embroidery. I was unsure of the proper steps for this, which she told me back them they normally embroidered the fabric first with the outline of the garment traced out. So this is what my intent is so I hope to embroider a test square of the pattern to figure out stitches and begin this within the week, fingers crossed.

I do have an a book Exploring Elizabethan Embroidery in the mail to me but I am not sure how long it will take to get here from Great Britain, though it is already in the mail. So far so good. Lots to think about and work on so I will leave it at this for now, more updates as the come.

Oh my heart just one gown at a time, lol.
Maureen

Wow a New Year has Begun

Time passes way to fast I feels like it was only a week or two ago I was posting about Halloween. Over the past few months I have sold four dresses and have more to sell to make room for new ones I have in the works. Still working on the ruffs but have been distracted by alot of other pretty shinies with the holidays.

Its been fairly busy over the holidays, got lots of things I wanted and lots of things for making gowns. Was able to procure lots of pretty fabric for inexpensive that I have plans to make four dresses two Tudor and two Elizabethan. One royal purple Tudor with gold, black and white trim and a black Tudor of the same theme. I also have three Tudor glass cabochons pendants with freshwater pearl necklaces in the works, found the supplies that on sale with lots of other things to make necklaces.

I have my crewel floral and french blue Elizabethan still in the works, going to be more of a 1570's gown since I like the silhouette much better. Still have to draw it up to get the full effect of what it is going to look like. I also have a plan to make a peach gown with black and gold accents after the painting of Helen Snakenborg Marchioness of Northampton, one of Queen Elizabeth's ladies in waiting before marrying a marquis of the English court. Very excited to see how they turn out was able to get all the peach fabric, black/gold trim and supplies for 28.00 including shipping, so it pays to be a thrifty buyer. I will use my silk charmeuse my sister bought me in Saudi Arabia for the wonderful embroidered shirt, its going to look stunning. Well I got to get things rolling for supper and work on some stitchery.

Happy to have plans in the works

Mairin