Well, if you see this image... it seems that plain old shorts (ok, breeches) without netherstocks *were* worn in 1564 somewhere on the Continent, as seen in this image. I don't much info on it yet, but have asked the photographer.

It's not like it's the first time I've seen any image that shows a man wearing "shorts"... but the other images were woodcuts, or hand painted woodcuts, where those lines could simply have been showing regular breeches, or very skin tight netherstocks might have been worn. But in the above case... his lower legs are as flesh toned as the rest of his uncovered areas. Even the fancy paned slops/breeches to the short wearing man's right seems to have nether stocks that match his paned upper stocks.

I know.. this might let men wander around without their netherstocks, but unless they are of the working class like this fellow, they really should still wear them. Seeing noblemen without proper netherstocks (and sorry, tube socks to below the knee is so NOT it) just makes me snicker. Why yes, I've seen this!

Yesterday we watched Heroes, trying to catch up so no sewing, just some blackwork during the day.

Right now, I am was taking a short break from the stitching tonight. I've sewn up and pressed all the seams on the fashion fabric, and it looks very full. The fabric is too stiff however, so it isn't going into nice folds, but it does look nice. I am going to test a large swatch tomorrow and see it will survive a cold water wash. If so, I will wash the whole thing to see if it will loosen up a little. If not, I will live with the stiff look. I know, normally I would have washed the whole thing before even cutting it, but I didn't think I had time to do it. Now I am learning that I should have made the time. Ah well; live and learn.

The lining is what I am doing now. I am cutting thick faux fur into strips and just adding it as a facing down the front of the white lining. Setting white fur onto a white minkee lining, is like driving in the snow. I can't tell where my needle is going, I am just following the edges and hoping I am driving straight. I've got one side done, and will do the other before calling it a night. Kids don't have school tomorrow, so I can sleep in a little (I hope).

I am also covered in bits of fluff. I used a rotary cutter on a single layer, and found that one side had no fluff, while the other side had chunks I had to remove. I think a shower before bed, or I will inhale even more of the fluff that's now in my hair and elsewhere.

Oh, and I would have taken pics tonight, but the camera I think is eating the batteries. The charge was completely gone, and I hadn't touched it in days, and that was with a full battery charge on fresh new batteries made specifically for digital cameras. I think there is a short, and the days are numbered for this old digital Olympia of ours. Hopefully pics tomorrow.

Well, back to the other facing... looking at the time, I think shower is next after I turn off the lights in the other room.

Not a whole lot to report on the creative front until this weekend. I had been sick, so spent each day doing a little blackwork, and not much more, trying instead to recover my health.

This weekend however I did get more creative. Yesterday Rob and I worked on the kids' play room, where we are painting the walls into a castle motif. That was tiring for me, but we did get one more wall done.

Rob's been working on his creative side, trying to create pomegranate jelly, which we love. Yesterday we got a juicer and he's been happy juicing the pom seeds. Today he made the jelly, low sugar and Splenda versions. I hope to try some tomorrow for breakfast.

Today I finally whipped out the stash fabrics I had set aside for the Tudor loose gown, and this evening got to work on it. ( description of the damask frock project under here... )

So, hopefully I will be able to finish all this before the weekend. There won't be any major details to add other than the beads I use as aglets, and a sash of some sort. I plan to wear it over my regular Tudor kirtle.

Only creative thing I did all day was work on my blackwork partlet project. Not wanting to take up a photo showing the few motifs and infills I did, no photo will be posted today. In fact, I think I will only post photos on it as a section gets filled, since it really is now rather repetitive.

I am also mentally working on how to inventory my sewing things, but that was mental work with nothing to show for it. Right now I am downloading Bento 3 demo, to see if it will work for what I need. Looks interesting, and for less than $50 for the newest, seems worthy of trying. It is from the makers of FileMaker, the long running database company that my long time mac fan friend has positively commented on for ... well since we were in college together in the early-mid 90s.

That is all. Now off to bed. zzzzzzz...

On yesterday's post, I did up the photos proper and added them in to complete the entry.

I started my early morning hours working on the blackwork embroidery. Not a whole lot, but it got me going. Nice to just sit and sew/embroider without a deadline hanging over my head.

Since I've actually been creative all last week working on Relle's purple Tinkerbell friend's outfit, my sewing room was a big mess. So, today was spent cleaning my sewing room and I hope to get things organized so I can find things. I did find the missing grommets that I can now use to finish off Relle's belt so she can wear it again.

I then spent a little more time doing blackwork, so I can say I did create today. I've realized in comparing the completed portion to a finished partlet that I went too far down the front on one side, and not far enough to the armhole area, so it may end up either getting cut off at the bottom, or just cut longer in the front and hidden when worn. I am now filling in at the side to make it wide enough.

( pics behind the cut... )

Got most of the fairy bodice done, and started into the skirt with lots of petals to serge. Got 4 done, 4 more to go. Polyester organza doesn't shift too badly with the serger, but it is pinned down a bit which slows me down. It was harder to do the narrow machine hem even with my special foot, but it looks decent even with the slight ruffle to the edge.

My eyes are too gritty to stay awake. I hope to get most of the fairy outfit done tomorrow so I can make Cam's wizard's cloak for his Harry Potter outfit. He doesn't have to wear it for school, since they aren't doing Halloween activities anymore (now it is a "fall party" on Friday, no costumes), so I can finish it up on Saturday if needed.

Now off to sleep.

Just wanted to post that I've begun cutting into Relle's purple sparkly fabrics for her Tinkerbell friend costume for Halloween. Still have one more fabric to cut, the tulle for the skirt support. Her fabrics are all sparkly, except the tulle, so I expect to have lots of glitter around the house when I am done. And she picked out the color, well, she picked out the multicolor glitter fabric we are using for her wings, which I then used to pick out the other colors in the sale satins. We almost went with a rust color, but then it would mean different wings, and she didn't want to do that.

And I have to say I am not impressed with Fiskar's Donna Dewberry brand of rotary cutter. I bought it because it was purple, and I wanted a new rotary cutter. It died after only cutting 4 (paired) pieces of the pattern, on polyester sparkly fabric. It got stuck, wouldn't rotate, then it would rotate but not cut through the top fabric layer, even after several attempts in one area. How sad is that?

Thankfully, my trusty Olfa cutter had no problems with the rest of that fabric, or the sparkle organza that had little bits of hard shiny bits to cut through.

I may just take the DD cutter back to Joanns, and get replacement blades for the Olfa instead.

Well, off to bed, with the rest of the fabrics to get cut tomorrow.

Art Every Day Month* is in November. aliskye is the one who posted about it on FB, and I like the idea, especially since I don't write and therefore am not involved in NaNoWriMo - but always found it interesting those who do make that effort.

I am artistic, and November is a good time for me, since I can work on things from making Xmas gifts, to making costumes, to continuing what I am already doing like my embroidery project. The rules look pretty simple (she considers "art to be anything you can create, whether that be painting, sculpting, dance, knitting, cooking, jewelry-making, doodling, etc..."), and I can find time to post, even if it is just a photo or short post of what I've done.

I am looking forward to November! Anybody else want to join in?



*I am going to shorten it in my notes to ArtEvDaMo. The owner of this idea has it as AEDM, which shorter, just doesn't ring the same to me.

I went to hsifeng's place tonight for a few hours for a nice round of stitch and bitch. More like stitch, chat, and show off a few things on my behalf, since it's been a few weeks since we last sat down to sew. I had to leave early because Rob had to go into work for a short bit, and I needed to get home to put the kids to bed. I then sat down and pulled out the kirtle, which I had managed to stitch the front and pin most of the back before I had to leave.

My kirtle is now sewn all around, so it is good to go! I will try it on tomorrow to double check the length before putting i on the dress form to prep the gown bodice on. You know... it wasn't that bad going once I had gotten all the threads pulled off, the bones clipped, and the bottom cut off. Definitely faster than making it all new again.

Debating on if I want the gown bodice to sit a little higher than the kirtle bodice. Before it didn't matter, as the back of the skirt was done as rolled pleats. But for some reason I didn't do rolled pleats this time, but large cartridge type pleats instead.

I am thinking on the gown I might do the rolled pleats to see how they look. I didn't like the large cartridge pleats on the gown, and if nothing else will end up with regular cartridge pleats. I am also removing the linen lining from the back of the skirt to remove the weight (not to forget the lining got really muddy and it is still stained there), and putting in some wool strip to pad the pleats... hmmm... this may be overkill if I am going to do rolled pleats, so.... I think I need to play with the fabric to see what I need to do to make the pleats work well. Hmmm... but not tonight. The brain is starting to fuzz, so off to bed I go.

Finally getting around to fixing my Tudor outfit seen in my icon, and seen in my web site here. ( details on refit behind the cut... )

I need this done for Hanford RoK this upcoming weekend. Hopefully it will all get done in time. And then I can work on other things, tho' will I? Good question. Hopefully at least one simple high necked smock would be nice for GWW, as would a new gown, but... one step at a time.

Well, I've been busy on that blackwork embroidery partlet project. I need to actually physically put it away for awhile, or I will continue to work on it when I need to work on other items, like refitting my Tudor outfit for next weekend. I did get it to pretty much fill up the available space I am working in, so I figured I would take a photo of it before I shift the fabric around and then put it away.

Here it is.

Progress on 9-25-2009 About 2 weeks worth of progress.

The blank spot in the middle bottom area is deliberate. I realized after I started that the center front would be cut in half all the way down, so no point putting in a flower or fruit if it would just end up all cut up. I am also avoiding the center front area so I don't end up with lots of little silk pieces. The cut edges will either be rolled hem, or may end up bound... most likely bound in silk as I am thinking of lining the partlet with a fine linen/cotton fabric to protect the backside.

I will be taking it with me next weekend to work on at faire. This will give me something to show and talk about with folks while I sit in camp keeping off my knee as best I can. I may even get a scrap of linen in a smaller hoop to let kids do some blackwork as well. But that one will more likely be drawn in and done in a different stitch than the Holbein stitch I am doing.

{crossposted from my main blog}

The Tudor Lady's Wardrobe pattern arrived in the mail today, with my name on the front cover. Woohooo!

I know what I am reading today. :-D

Been busy today doing little, but enough. Have been so busy working on the blackwork, that I've neglected the stuff I should be working on for upcoming events, from my scroll that needs to be turned in in a few weeks, to any sewing I should be working on. And I've gotten my right arm sore from the work. But it is looking pretty! I've got about 2/3 of the current hoop filled (12" or so hoop size). A little further, and I will have to shift to empty fabric.

I spent tonight working on my scroll, which I will discuss in my regular journal.

Tomorrow I plan to start on taking my Tudors apart, so I can shorten the bodices, take off the skirt lining which is weighing it down, and put it back together.

It looks like my knee will not be in better shape by the weekend, so I most likely will not be going to Northern/Casa de Fruita faire this upcoming Saturday. While I want to go, I also have two upcoming back to back events I need to focus getting things ready for. The blackwork I've been doing took time away that I could have better spent working on those things, like shirts and a warm loose gown. But I will do what I can to catch up. None of it is critical stuff, so I am not going to push it. I just want to at least get started and work on them as I can.

Well, off to do something else. Not sure what... other than I need to clean the nibs, and probably do the pile of dishes (ugh).

Reposted from my main blog. Sorry for the double post to those who read both.

The Tudor Lady's Wardrobe Pattern is DONE. We'll start shipping tomorrow.

Many thanks to each and every one of you for all your patience and support.

Love,

Margo and Doug

Oh yeah! Now I am doing a happy dance, figuratively, since my right leg is not doing well.

And for those who might not know by now, I helped Margo with the research on both Tudor pattern sets. This means I need to update the men's clothing info while Margo takes a break, as she will be working on that one next.

Slowly working on my blackwork embroidery. I figured I would share a photo of the progress.

Embroidery 9-15=2009 Progress shot tonight, after two more evenings of work.

I am learning to connect the lines so they appear more unified than it otherwise would have been. And my lines are getting straighter, with fewer holes from overtight tension at the turnbacks. I think I will be pretty decent at this by the time I am done... which is still a long ways off.

Well, off to bed as my shoulders are a bit tired, and I have an early day tomorrow.

I spent the weekend at a tiny ren-faire in the mountains with my Barony. And spent some time starting and working on my early Elizabethan linen blackwork partlet. It was nice to get back into working embroidery again. But I realized that I really am better at working this without my glasses, which tells me just how funky my eyes are getting, as even with the bifocals.



I am using one strand of black silk embroidery silk, that I picked up a few years ago from a local source. The linen is an evenweave I got from an online source, I think eBay; too far back to remember. The pattern I am working is an allover flower & knotwork design, and it is not fully period. It was designed by Ianthé d'Averoigne, the editor/author of The New Carolingian Modelbook (plate 59). It is her design, based on period designs. I just rather liked it, as it was more than just one motif over and over and over again, as in the period modelbooks. It is also lots of different flowers, which I adore. And since this is for an item I will wear at faire, and most likely not enter into competition, I thought I would enjoy working this. I did have a period pattern I had taken & modified from one of my books, but... I lost the modifed pattern, and I didn't have time to rework it again before faire started. So, this will do even better I think.

The part in the middle is actually my sample piece. It has been so long, I figured if I started there, it would balance out the whole pattern onto the partlet. But that center piece will be cut out when I make my collar opening. That's ok, I really messed up badly there, so I am not too concerned about losing it later.

It will also take me some time to get done... I just plan on working on this daily, just a little at a time.

If you haven't seen koshka_the_cat's latest post on her own kirtle bodice, I really like how she has made it lace up the front, but the laces remain hidden behind an extended fabric overlap. This really fits in with the images I've been uploading and looking at of early 16th century images (but I think she is going for later 16th century).

And I will be doing the same with my wool early Tudor working class gown I have planned. Which, thinking about it... will probably end up in a similar green wool that I have in stash, bought from the same vendor Katherine bought her wool from. How fun!

I gotta get working on my own early Tudor stuff. Really I do.

I've been rather blah lately on the projects I have in front of me. I want to make a ruff, for me, not for someone else I don't even know to wear before I get to. So I am going to make something simple for the guy to borrow. That way I don't have to freak out should something bad happen to it.

And I am blah on my watchet blue loose gown, too. Just not inspired to finish it, really. So off it will sit for awhile in its box until I get the closures done for it.

I am not sure what I want to work on, but after having read a recent post by demode it reminded me that when things aren't working, to work on something else. And really, what I want to work on is one of the many things I've recently been inspired to work on, not something that lacks it.

The question is what... what is it that really calls to me? That makes me just wanna go for it? And hopefully that won't require lots of work or research beforehand? I think I need something pretty and simple, that can be made in a relatively short order of time so that I am jumpstarted into sewing for me, for fun, for whatever that makes me happy.

And once my head clears and my body stops aching, I will do just that. I just need a good nights sleep first.