Showing posts with label laurel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laurel. Show all posts

Sunday, July 1, 2018

DING!!!

So, for the past few weeks I have been working on a peerage cloak for a friend of mine who was given her writ at Birka in January. Last night at East Kingdom 50 Year, she was elevated to the Order of the Laurel and I can safely post the finished pictures of the finished cloak now.  I am so very pleased with how it came out. Sadly, the heat from the day forced me to leave early and I was unable to present the cloak myself and see her face when she saw it.  I found this picture of her wearing it online this morning.

Materials:
  • Cloak is constructed of navy blue wool and golden linen
  • All embroidery was done by hand in split stitch, blanket stitch, stem stitch and satin stitch with Splendor Silk embroidery threads on linen and then hand appliqued onto the cloak. 
  • There is tablet woven trim that was made by a friend of hers in her shire. 
  • 90% of the cloak was hand sewn except for the joining seam of lining to outer wool fabric. 
  • She chose the design and style to span her two persona's. 
Mistress Christina Jenevra de Carvalhal

Order of the Silver Crescent

Order of the Maunche

Her device

East Kingdom Tiger
Full shot of embroidered laurel wreath trim down front of cloak. 48" long





Monday, February 26, 2018

Scanning.....Scanning......Scanning...

So, while cleaning up my sewing/craft area in the basement, I came across my binder of documentation from projects that predate this blog and were saved on a computer that long ago died and was disposed of. So, I spent a good hour of my evening scanning them in and posting them on google docs.  Posting them here so I can save the links as well as share.

15th c Men's Goldwork hood:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1n-BAgbhgNNJ18rBY7_HZSaikBNfSf8sz

Appliqued Heraldic Banner
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1S225ntfHi4DU8o-ZEiO2n63mAFQ5YgD1

Blackwork Chalice Cover
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CDKxvwkrtcyFZYxfqKY2ke2nhXDmr66C

Blackwork Coif
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Q0ZyDoxMX8AXQEfmqOMmVkTs_t6QGO1h

German Brickwork Pouch
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QaJucOp1O5WMa5mT_V7JmM0biWqkdy_9

Embroidered Men's 14th c Embroidered Hood
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1KqjdRUfzc19GTEcwdo4TYKlyecqob3zM

Gothic era Outfit
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dWpT0ERh3HqhgaA9vEC7l8Zm-Hhg3U0M

Stumpwork Queen's Order of Courtesy Glove
https://drive.google.com/open?id=174vJklgTUjTeYfzx97g40pBrhxpDDg2I


I also taught a class on embroidered book bindings and I've uploaded the handout I made as well.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12rWETEXnwpBBgkmhPR4aLm2lOBZGcW2d/view?usp=sharing

And I have now freed up one square foot of space in my basement. I'm sure that extra space won't last long. LOL!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

New Projects! SQUEEEE!!



New projects always excite me! I have three on my plate right now..two have no deadline. One is a commissioned book for a friend's elevation. He was given a writ so he is aware of the impending honor.  I am currently doing research on that project. Im contemplating embroidering a scene on one half of the cover, in a similar manner as the alms purses were done (pictured below is an example that is housed at the Met in NYC). More on that when I have a more concrete design.


My other projects are a blackwork set of cuffs and collar for a friend, per her request. Ive started one here. I am going over four spaces because over two on the fabric she provided would make me blind. Im fast approaching that with age so I dont want to hurry it along. ;)





I am using Splendor twisted black silk, one strand, over four as I said. I like how it is coming out.


My other project is a norm...a pair of socks. This is great for me to have at work for when its slow or if I have a particularly chatty client, which is quite often when you work in the antiques market.




This yarn is a 75/25 Superwash merino wool/nylon blend, fingering weight.   I figured with Christmas coming, a few handmade presents for family and close friends is in order...and I do so love to knit.

Well, back to work! 

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Laurel Vigil Book

I made this vigil book for a friend that was elevated yesterday.  Thought I did not base the design off of any historical piece, the gold work techniques were used on several books made in the 1500's. The signatures were stitched together with a Coptic stitch. The shield was done in split stitch.
 
 
Materials:
 
Velvet fabric
linen fabric (base of shield applique)
Parchment Paper
Silk Embroidery Thread
Gold metal thread
Gold boullion
endpapers

 
 


 
 



 






Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Walk Down Memory Lane...


 
I was going through the bookmark file and I came across the link to an old shutterfly account I had. The last time I entered into it was 2011! While I was looking through the pictures, I came across some shots of embroideries and sewing I did that I had lost the original pictures to. So I'm posting them here for view and to keep track for my own records.  I am doing this from memory so bear with me on the history of each item.
 
 The first two images are of a wool hood lined in red linen with gold metal thread embellishments on it. I recreated this hood from an image in an illuminated manuscript from the 14th c.  The good gentle modeling it is Count Isenwulf from AEthaelmarc (when he lived in Eastern PA many years ago).  The gold metal thread I used was Japanese metal thread so, not a true gold metal but it was what I could afford at the time. It was couched to the wool with silk thread.
 
 

 
The acorn embroidered below was one of man that went onto a cushion for Dutchess Brenwen as her gift from The Guild of Athena's Thimble.  Members were asked to embroider an acorn that would be appliqued onto a cushion of a bench for her. The one I created was silk stitched onto linen. The cushion is also pictured beneath.



 
 
Below is my display from an A&S event that was held in the Shire of Eisental many many years ago.  The laurel hood was made for Mistress Lettice Peyton. It is a summer weight wool outside and a fine yellow linen inside. Each leaf was embroidered with DMC cotton thread (it took a lot and all these items were made when I was a stay at home mom so money was a factor) in split stitch. I outlined each leaf  and the stem with Japanese gold metal thread, couching it down. 
 
Also on the table is the embroidery for an apprentice belt I was creating as a commission. Above it is the start of an alms purse that was later damaged by a two year olds dirty hands and juice cup (ahhhhh kids). 
 
 To the right of that is a German brickwork stitched pouch lined in silk.  The stitching was done in silk threads as was the tassels and the cording.  The ground cloth was a counted linen fabric that is used in cross stitch but was PERFECT for this project as it was my first attempt at it this type of counted work and the even weave of the fabric made for the perfect stitch.
 
The purple hood was one I made for the boys with little ivy and leaves on the hem. it closed with a cloak clasp. The embroidery was done with DMC cotton thread, because...well...Kids!

 
 

 The napkin below was one of many (I did only one) that were created for Pennsic gift baskets. The napkin was provided to me and the instructions were to embroider a white heraldic rose onto its corner. I used silk embroidery thread by Splendor. The napkin was a linen with a crochet lace edging.

 
I look back at a lot of what I did and it really lets me see how far I've come. Lets me see what I've learned and how I would do things differently if I were to work on these projects now. 
 
My only regret is not having put that alms purse embroidery in my craft caddy that night. Ill have to get started on another one for myself one of these days. 

 Hi!  I have moved my blog to wordpress. After a short I will be shutting this one down.  Here is the link to the new site where i backed up...