Music!!

No true mediveal theme is complete without good background music. Today's listening pleasure is Estampie.

Medieval Midwinter

Midwinter at my house. Happy holidays to all!

Here Be Dragons

Starting out December inspired by dragons...in medieval manuscripts, paintings and modern movies and TV shows.

St. George kills the dragon. Shrewsbury Talbot Book of Romances. 1445

St. George rescues the princess. From Beautfort Hours. 1410

St. George Slays the Dragon by Lucas Cranach the Elder. (1472-1553)

Back to my medieval roots

Where does the time go? After an unintentional lull, I'm back to full-on medieval costuming projects and inspirations. This from The Lion in Winter, a Hallmark production with Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart. Love the authentic feel of the scenery and background characters, set in a wintery landscape during Christmas, 1183 - probably my favorite century for clothing.

Dante's Dante

After recently watching and absolutely loving BBC’s Desperate Romantics, I've been obsessed with Dante Gabriel Rossetti's obsession with Dante Alighieri — particularly the story of Dante and Beatrice. Many of Rossetti’s paintings depicted himself and Lizzie Siddal as the two lovers. These images are from La Vita Nuova, translated by Rossetti and illustrated by Evelyn Paul (yes, I remain fascinated by her work). Amazing how similar her Beatrice resembles the copper-haired lovely Siddal as we know her from Rossetti's paintings.

And I had a nice little surprise looking through The Curtain of Forgetfulness — a small book written by William Lindsey and illustrated by Paul. It is a signed edition!!! The inside also reads that 1,000 were printed on handmade paper, 500 of which were for America and mine is copy 101.

Where does time go? Nearly October already:)

Cloisters Tapestries

Dreaming, fast-foward to the Fort Tryon Park Medieval Faire that I'm attending on October 4th with dear friends Jen of Parrish Relics and Lisa of InByTheEye films.

To add to the anticipation, I'm surrounding myself with medieval sights and sounds. Impossible to not associate it with Loreena McKennit's Bonny Swans as the backdrop in the video is one of the tapestries on display at The Cloisters.

This is one of my favorite costumes that I made and wore to the fair years ago - well, it has been to quite a few fairs.

What to wear to the fair this year? Decisions, decisions.

George Walton stained glass

Glasgow style stained glass panels by George Walton.

Rose Red

Have been busy working on some of my own costuming for autumn's events - one Medieval Faire and one Faerie Conference, much to look forward to. This one is for a very petite dark haired friend - kind of Snow White meets the Evil Queen in one dress.

Fashion plates

From Dover's Historic Costume in Pictures. Braun & Schneider

Frankish illustrations (noted as such in the book as 10th and 11th century) from a new acquisition on historic costumes. Love this period as the women sported long braided hair, so much more flattering than the severity of later centuries when wimples/veils covered the hair. Reminds me of the costumes in Hamlet, one of my (many) favorite period films!

Evening light

Master Frick

Mab's brother Frick, demonstrating his own purfect napping spot.
He does have four legs, one is just "tucked" under.

Regal Queen Mab

Queen Mab, demonstrating the fine art of reclining on velvet.

One more Evelyn Paul

I'm delighted by the little squirrel and owl in the tree branches looking on at Aucassin, wounded, and cradled by Nicolete.
Illustration by Evelyn Paul, early 1900s.

Evelyn Paul Illustrations

The work of Evelyn Paul. Scanned from old books in my collection.

Sweet dreams

Wouldn't this be the perfect bedroom? Like a ruin in a forest, vines and branches snaking their way in, gothic windows open to the sky and a canopy of stars. A beautiful bower.


Gertrude in Gormenghast is one of my favorite fictional characters. Not really admirable for her human parenting skills - she asks the nanny to "bring him back when he is six" in reference to her own baby, Titus. But she adorns and contents herself with a herd of snow-white cats and a white rook, giving them unconditional love and affection. A woman after my own heart!

The detailed artistry of Gertrude’s bodice,
the buttons designed to mimic hazelnuts.