Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Golden Apple Subtletie

A friend of mine was  running a tourney on the weekend with a mythological theme. She asked me to make a golden apple to give as the prize for the event.

We decided that fruit cake would make a tasty base for the apple, and I decided that a light fruit cake would be best as it tends to appeal to a wide range of tastes. I planned to try and cover the fruit cake 'apple' with marzipan.

As these things tend to go 'pear-shaped' (no pun intended!) I wanted to make a test apple first.

I decided to experiment with colouring the marzipan first, instead of doing my usual trick of painting the marzipan after moulding.


The pictures below show my 'test run'. I used yellow food colouring kneaded into the marzipan and lightly sprayed with edible gold shimmer paint. I think it came out too yellow.






Check out the big fingerprint in the middle. I was too eager and touched it before it was fully dry!






So for the next and final apple, I left the marzipan plain and sprayed the apple with edible gold paint after the marzipan had dried a bit. It took several sprays. I used one can between the two apples. 






The apple before the leaf was added. I dusted the apple with bronze dusting powder and gold dusting powder.


I used a cutter to shape the leaf, and painted it with green food colouring.



The apple travelled fairly well in my un-airconditioned vehicle, especially considering it was a 33 degree C day.


The apple presented to the winner.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Planning, planning....

Friends of mine are due to step up as Royalty in the next couple of months, so this week has mainly been spent charting non-counted embroidery designs from period Modelbuch sources and looking at Renaissance portraits. Not a bad way to spend some time, but I am itching to get embroidering!

I will be pretty busy with Coronation items for other people over the next several weeks. At the end, I should have some very nice photos to share.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Extant Italian Dresses link

Today's link is to a site that I am sure many will find helpful. Anea does great research, and I love her work!

from: http://aneafiles.webs.com/bronzino.html


Here is her research on extant Italian dresses- http://aneafiles.webs.com/renaissancegallery/extant.html




Saturday, November 17, 2012

No sewing today

Today I did absolutely no sewing; not a stitch! Look at the lovely High Tea that our friend prepared for my Sister's birthday! It was DELICIOUS!



Friday, November 16, 2012

Sloper Pattern Drafting Link


Someone directed me to this site. I haven't had a chance to really look at it yet; if anyone uses the instructions, I'd love it if you would post comments or a critique. Thanks

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Pattern Drafting 101: Basic Bodice Sloper
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A sloper (also sometimes called a "block") is a simple, fitted pattern which can easily be manipulated to create more detailed patterns. In this video I'll go over the basics how to start drafting.

My method gives you something that fits pretty well, but is not perfect. To make a perfectly fitted sloper, start with this method, sew a sample in muslin, then fit it to your body. As much as I like to break down fashion and sewing into a science or into something very mathematical, it's really more of an art, and the only way to achieve perfection is to waste a lot of time and a lot of fabric.

I'd say taking the time to make a "perfect" sloper is worth is, because it's something you can reuse over and over again as a template for other patterns. I dont mean to discourage you though, this method makes something that works fine 99% of the time. It's just that I probably enjoy pattern drafting more than I enjoy sewing, and I'm always trying to better my current technique.

Anyway, this video is somewhat long and dry but if you are interested in fashion design and patten drafting, you will have to understand these basics eventually. And there are many projects I have in mind that are so simple.... but only if you already understand sloper basics. I wanted to have a video that I could refer people back to when they had questions. This isnt the best tutorial, but it is an introduction and hopefully it will help you understand how to think about clothing design and how to approach pattern making.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Daily Inspiration - Titian

Titziano Vecellio (Titian) Portrait of a Girl (Lavinia)

Portrait of a Girl (Lavinia) by Titian
c. 1545
from: http://starlightmasquerade.com/PortraitGallery/Ladder-Laced-Venetian/inspiration-pages/Venetian10.htm


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Green and white necklace

Today's post is of a necklace that I made and really like. It is so simple, and very light, which makes it great for hot weather, or those days when you feel like wearing understated accessories with your garb. It is made from small crystal beads, and is a nice alternative to pearls.



Saturday, November 10, 2012

Daily Inspiration - Licinio?



Today's inspiration comes from this interesting portrait where the sitter appears to be wearing two partlets.

Anonymous Venetian (maybe Bernardino Licinio) Portrait of a Woman

Anonymous Painter- possibly Licinio
Portrait of a Woman c. 1550

from: http://starlightmasquerade.com/PortraitGallery/Ladder-Laced-Venetian/inspiration-pages/openbodice15.htm

Friday, November 9, 2012

Daily Inspiration - Anonymous

Anonymous Venetian Portrait of a Woman

Portrait of a Woman - Anonymous Painter
circa 1550
from: http://starlightmasquerade.com/PortraitGallery/Ladder-Laced-Venetian/inspiration-pages/openbodice23.htm



Thursday, November 8, 2012

Daily Inspiration - Veronese


Here are several lovely partlets to enjoy today. All come from the excellent gallery at 
http://starlightmasquerade.com/PortraitGallery/Ladder-Laced-Venetian/inspiration-pages/openbodice83.htm

from the 'Madonna of the Rosary' by Veronese and his workshop c. 1571

Paolo Veronese Madonna of the Rosary

The lacing on this blue dress is beautiful






Paolo Veronese Madonna of the Rosary

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Daily Inspiration - Bassano

Leandro Bassano Portrait of a Lady

Leandro Bassano's 'Portrait of a Lady'
c. 1570, Norton Simon Museum, California

from: http://starlightmasquerade.com/PortraitGallery/Ladder-Laced-Venetian/inspiration-pages/openbodice6.htm

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Some horsey pics to celebrate Melbourne Cup Day



As it is Melbourne Cup Day here in Australia, I had to post some horse-related pictures!




Tudor Horse and Rider 
from: bloggingshakespeare.com




Portrait of Anne of Denmark with horse and hounds
1617 by Paul van Somer

from: http://thedreamstress.com/2012/08/rate-the-dress-anne-of-denmark-with-horse-and-hound/

There still some noticeably Elizabethan influences in Anne's garb, including the ruff and cuffs.




The Family of Henry VII with St George and the Dragon
The Royal Collection 2011/Bridgeman Art Library
from: https://www.artfinder.com/work/the-family-of-henry-vii-with-st-george-and-the-dragon/



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Study of a horse for 'the Battle of Anghiari' by Leonardo da Vinci
The Royal Collection 2011/Bridgeman Art Library
from: https://www.artfinder.com/work/studies-of-horses-and-soldiers-for-the-battle-of-anghiari-leonar/




“Queen Margarita on Horseback” wearing La Peregrina, by Valasquez, 1634-35, Collection Prado Museum
from: http://timelessrhapsody.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/queen-mary-versus-elizabeth-taylor-la-peregrina/

(It is interesting to note how much this costume, painted in 1634-5, resembles Spanish costume of the 1590's, especially when compared to the Anne of Denmark portrait above.)


A Stallion

A horse and Elizabeth I on horseback, unattributed woodcuts or engravings

from:  http://www.elizabethan.org/compendium/87.html








"Queen Isabel on Horseback" wearing La Peregrina, by Valasquez
1634-35, Collection Prado Museum

from: http://www.karipearls.com/la-peregrina-pearl.html




A Costume Design for a Masquerader on Horseback by Leonardo da Vinci
The Royal Collection 
from: http://www.artinmuseum.com/a-costume-design-for-a-masquerader-on-horseback-leonardo-da-vinci/



The Funeral Procession of Elizabeth I
from: blog.londonconnection.com





Daily Inspiration - Anonymous/Tintoretto

Anonymous Venetian (maybe Jacopo Robusti) Portrait of a Lady

Portrait of a Lady
Anonymous Venetian (possibly Tintoretto)
c.1560 - Location Unknown

from: http://starlightmasquerade.com/PortraitGallery/Ladder-Laced-Venetian/inspiration-pages/openbodice7.htm

Monday, November 5, 2012

Daily Inspiration - Veronese

I'm sure everyone has noticed a bit of a 'theme' with my Daily Inspiration portraits lately; Yes, I have a weakness for embroidered partlets!

Paolo Caliari Veronese Portrait of a Woman Holding Gloves

Today's is by Veronese: Portrait of a Woman Holding Gloves
c. 1560
from: http://starlightmasquerade.com/PortraitGallery/Ladder-Laced-Venetian/inspiration-pages/Venetian1.htm

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Daily Inspiration - Micheli

Parrasio Micheli Portrait of a Lady



Parrasio Micheli 

Portrait of a Lady
The Barnes Foundation, Merion, Pennsylvania, USA
ca. 1550

from: http://starlightmasquerade.com/PortraitGallery/Ladder-Laced-Venetian/inspiration-pages/openbodice34.htm

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Daily Inspiration - Tintoretto

Tintoretto Portrait of a Lady

Tintoretto's Portrait of a Lady c. 1575
from: http://starlightmasquerade.com/PortraitGallery/Ladder-Laced-Venetian/inspiration-pages/openbodice121.htm

Friday, November 2, 2012

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Trim dyeing

This week I decided to try and dye some trim that I had in my stash.



I wasn't sure of the fibre content of the trim; I suspected a poly-cotton blend.


I realised that I was not likely to use it in it's pink form, so I pot dyed it with some Rit cold water dye (brown), salt and a little laundry detergent.


I stirred for 30 minutes while the dye liquid simmered. I rinsed, following the dye packet instructions, and waited anxiously to see how it would turn out when dry.


And I was delighted with the result! Now I have too many fabrics that I can use it on!