Historical Sew Fortnightly challenge #1 - What to Do?

"#1: Bi/Tri/Quadri/Quin/Sex/Septi/Octo/Nona/Centennial – due 14 Jan. Sew something from __13, whether it be 1913, 1613, or 13BC"

It doesn't seem so terribly hard, yet I am stumped for a project for this one. Apparently I am not a 'Teens kind of girl!

Mr C suggested chopines--a truely great idea--but I doubt I could finish them in the allotted two weeks. Hmm...

Maybe it's time to make that gothic fitted dress?

My Historical Sew Fortnightly Project #0

Item, one coif, embroidered in red.

I confess that I have been involved in 16th century costuming for more than 3 decades and yet this is my *first* coif!

I followed the basic, 'fold a rectangle of cloth and fit it to the back of your head' method but added a couple of small darts to shape it more smoothly to the head in back.

I started with one of a pair of embroidered guest towels, Flora from Pottery Barn, which I bought on eBay.

Marking the curve

Cutting out

I french seamed the edge and then pinned in the darts

All sewn up

Voila!

My gosh! That really was super simple!

Well, I've got ONE thing for my Pennsic trailor

You remember the interior fireplace from my plan? Well, I now have the glass-enclosed, liquid bio-ethanol fueled fire to go in it! I'll dress up the front to hide the stainless steel, of course, but I'm really happy to have the glass guards to help keep my skirts from sweeping into the fire.

Best birthday present ever. :)

Oh my goodness! Chopines!

Another amazing find from the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore

Italian. Second half of the 16th century.

I love the careful way her skirt is raised to show off her shoe!

See it in the museum catalog at http://art.thewalters.org/detail/8168/portrait-of-a-woman-as-cleopatra/

The year of walking about, naked.

Clarence and I have been ill for days but I found myself with a little energy this afternoon as I lay in bed, my mind wandering, and I suddenly found myself looking at my piles of clean laundry thinking

"You, know. I don't actually like that skirt anymore."

"Or that one."

"Or that top. Or any of that...stuff"

I thought I'd gotten rid of a lot of my old clothes when we moved to this new apartment. Not so much, apparently! It may have been the fever at work but I have blasted thru my closet--pretty much leaving just 'hooks and some wire.' It's nearly entirely empty!

Feels pretty good.

I'm thinking that my sewing juices may be flowing again. If not, well...

The evil project wish list...

Starting back into working on my pavilion has got me thinking about other projects I'd like to work on...like some thing smaller/lighter/easier...maybe a day shade?

Something like this!

And really, if I'm going to make one, why not two?

Maybe a day shade would be a good gift for the Barony...

Our Baronial device would look great in pearls....

Hmmm...

More on Turkish tents

The Turkish Cultural Foundation has a page on mobile palaces with a bit of tent history and...more pictures!

http://www.turkishculture.org/pages.php?SearchID=753

Amazing how the web changes in two years!