Some feather Craft

I am very inspired by the arts of the Amazon. Especially the feather crafts.

 

I wanted to make some things that look like they may have been gathered from an exotic trip. So I have used hemp string of my own manufacture. I have not used any modern findings or methods. I am also very interested in 'Bush Craft' and indigenous cultures. Also I like to try and imagine what my Palaeolithic ancestors may have made as an expression of their identity and culture.

 

Hair decoration inspired by the art of the indigenous Amazon people.

 

Above you can see body feathers of the Macaw. Each feather is individually attached to my own hemp string.

 

And the end is decorated with Amazon Parrot Tail feathers.

 

Dyeing the Stuart/Jacobean skirt

The Mordant Bath. 

 

I am lucky enough to have a large boiler that I use for these larger projects. Here is the fabric in the mordant. I used Alum and Cream of Tartar. The Cream of Tartar keeps the fabric soft during the process.

Mordanting is probably the most important part of the dyeing process. The fabric should be stirred regularly.

And the dye stuff.

Lovely and cheap.

I like to get the colour out of the dye stuff before adding the fabric.

Here you can start to see the dye stuff colouring the dye bath.

And some pictures of the fabric after dyeing.

 

 

 

 

 

Tudor Bodies Update...

The Bodies are now finished!

When I am brave enough I will get some pictures taken whilst I am wearing them!

They were quite comfortable or at least not as uncomfortable as I was expecting! But since putting them on after the festive season they are not so comfortable..... I wonder why.......

wine, chocolate etc etc....

I edged them in some linen binding tape. This makes them look very neat. It is getting harder and harder to find this tape.

I get mine from here.
http://www.empressmills.co.uk/acatalog/Bindings_Tapes.html
They do two different kinds of tape. A linen tape that is woven in a twill weave, which is the right one, and they do a book binding tape.

 

I wove the laces on my lucette and I bought some aglets from here
https://www.facebook.com/LucyTheTudor
She used to have a web site that I used. I hope this is the same woman!
I apologise if it is not....
or was it here...
http://www.classhistory.co.uk/Annie/bits.htm

All the eyelets are hand stitched and the entire thing is hand sewn in linen thread.
This I get from
http://www.stef-francis.co.uk/natural-yarns/35-3-linen
And also from a trader called Saxon Yarns who goes to the TORM
http://www.reenactorsmarket.co.uk/

The Hard rush I get from nature!
It is best picked shortly before you need to use it. This as I have mentioned can be found in wind swept damp fields that are grazed and also in ditches. It seem to readily self seed. I had a small amount growing in the garden.

The Hobbit - My Outfit!

I went to see THE HOBBIT over Christmas.... Like many other people, But, I made an outfit to go and watch it in!

I wanted to use some of the Black silk velvet I had.

I love silk velvet.

I love the look the drape the mystery of it. I hate sewing it!

I have tried all sorts of tricks that I have heard and found on the Internet. I still usually end up doing it the old fashioned way though.
Pinning then basting stitches then sewing on the machine. It is still not straight forward. I sometimes resort to sewing it by hand. I have had a lot of practise at hand sewing from all my Historical recreations.

I still have to use the machine to do the over edge stitching on modern clothing. This usually comes out terrible on silk velvet. But as long at it does the job I have had to put up with how it looks. As long as it does not affect the outward appearance and functionality of the garment.

I wanted an every day elf style dress that I could wear over more normal mundane clothing. I had to make it slightly larger but I ended up making it too big..
It took ages and no shortage of swearing to get it to fit. But after countless adjustments it looked OK.

I was not sure how to fasten the front. I used a trick from Tudor clothing. Instead of the usual buttons I used ties.This idea also makes the dress more adjustable if I put on weight. I bought some sheer black ribbon to do up the front. This I cut into tie-able lengths and then fray checked the ends then hand stitched them into place.  I also used this method on the sleeves. So when I leave it undone on the sleeves they hang down loosely.

I also wanted a high neck collar. But I did not want it to be stiff but soft, unstructured and slightly slouchy.

With the fabric that was left over I made my signature Elven Travel hood. This is separate and can be used as a scarf instead of a hood. I wanted to perfect my design so I can try and sell them in my Etsy shop later in the year. This I  lined in a silk cotton mix fabric especially designed for comfort as a lining.

 

The term 'everyday elf' is quite deceptive as elven clothing is always beautiful and elegant even what is considered everyday wear.

I will try to add my pictures but the Blog will not allow me to upload any images. It has not let me for a while. it is annoying!!

A picture speaks a thousand words even a poorly taken photograph like mine...

https://sites.google.com/site/elwynsweb/everyday-elf/everyday-elf-page-2

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ElwynsHome?ref=si_shop

I have found a round about way of adding pictures.... Even more difficult and convoluted than it should be......

I may have to find an alternative blog provider if I can not adjust to the changes.

Martinmas or St. Martin's

Yesterday was St Martin's day. This was significant to the population of England in times past more for the practise of slaughtering one of the family pigs.

Firstly this is when the pig would be at it's fattest after being fed on beech mast and bad fruit. Also the times of dearth are ahead and the family would not be able to feed too many mouths.

Every part of the pig would be used from it's blood to it's intestines. The meat would be salted down for winter consumption, the offal turned into sausages and the head into brawn.

There was not a mass slaughter of animals at this time of year just a reduction of livestock numbers to winter manageable numbers.

This would be carried out through the months of October through December. It was a practise that can be traced back to Saxon times.

December from a Medieval calendar

Ginger ale Update

This brew came out a bit mild.
Next time I do some ginger ale I think I will use more ginger and chop it really really finely.

Ginger Ale / Beer

Whilst making my ale I took the opportunity to syphon off some wort. I added my wild yeast (Alfred) to this liquid and left it to do it's thing.

It took a couple of days to do much but when it did it was lively and very active. It was still happy this morning so I decided to make some ginger ale.

It is at least a year since I have made any but it is a deceptively simple process, with astonishing results.

Firstly peel then grate or chop a couple of ounces of ginger. I find taking the skin off makes a better flavour.

Dissolve 2-3 ounces of sugar in about 2-3 litres of tap water over a slow heat. Do not heat over 40-50 degrees Centigrade.

You can add the ginger any time in this process until this point.

Leave the gingery mixture to steep for an hour or two.

Sterilise your bottles, strainer and funnel.

Cool the liquor to ambient temperature.

When you are ready add your prepared yeast  to the bottles then strain the gingery mixture into this too. Shake and stir! Then seal the bottles loosely and keep it thus for two days.

Then refrigerate it. It will keep for up to two weeks.

Good Luck and enjoy!!