I did it again. I scheduled 5 events in 6 weeks. But, I didn’t commit to any projects due at these events! This allowed me to focus on fixing up my current wardrobe to function in both hot summer days and cool spring nights. As I write this during a 100 degree heatwave, I reflect… Continue reading Grand Tour of Spring 25
Project Updates 2025
Things are happening! I promise I am still embroidering, though some garment projects are taking center stage at the moment. Here are some updates on projects I started a while ago. Redwork Pillow I started this project about a year ago. It, like most counted projects, is very repetitious and therefore, often hard for me… Continue reading Project Updates 2025
Ethical Materials for Reenactment
In 2024, I gave myself a challenge to not buy any clothing. I have lots of clothes, and in 2023 I spent an unreasonable amount of money on fast fashion, as I think many people do. This process led me to think about the ethics of all the things that I buy including the materials… Continue reading Ethical Materials for Reenactment
Renaissance clothing of 2024
In 2023 my focus was on medieval clothing and perfecting the fourteenth century kirtle. 2024 was about building my renaissance wardrobe, fighting with shoulders and making detached sleeves! A Wench takes a Mouse for a Walk The year started off strong with the production of this blue and yellow Swiss/German dress from the early 1500s.… Continue reading Renaissance clothing of 2024
A Deep Dive into Medieval English Embroideries by A.G.I. Christie
A few weeks ago, the embroidery focused social media was atwitter that suddenly, a rare book about Medieval English Embroidery (known as Opus Anglicanum) from 1938 was available for download on the internet. The book can be downloaded here. As an art historian, I am always skeptical of a publishing that far in the past… Continue reading A Deep Dive into Medieval English Embroideries by A.G.I. Christie
Grand Tour of Fall 24
For reasons that have more to do with the luck of scheduling than anything else, I bit off more than I could chew this fall. I attended 5 events over 4 weeks, including my favorite immersion event, the Decameron this fall. And on top of just getting my elegantly clothed self to these events, I… Continue reading Grand Tour of Fall 24
Hiking the Appalachians
How a Trossfrau, two soldiers and their forester hiked the Appalachians. I was invited to join some Landskenkts in a hike in the Appalachian mountains of Pennsylvania. Due to some miscommunications, I did not realize what a long (or high) hike this would be. Our path would take us by the Pinnacle, or highest point… Continue reading Hiking the Appalachians
A Kingly Shirt
Story of recreating a 1540s linen shirt. This year my friend and mentor Beth asked me if I would be interested in helping make one of the many Elizabethan shirts for the new King Consort for the East Kingdom. After much debate over time and commitments (and my own excessive obsession with perfection), I said… Continue reading A Kingly Shirt
The Sun Dress
Designing and making the dress of a German Noble Woman ca. 1520. And now we begin part two of making the sundress. In Part One, I made the under kirtle, as well as some silly sleeves as shown in a woodcut of a Wench taking a Mouse for a Walk. For the materials of this… Continue reading The Sun Dress
A Wench takes a Mouse for a Walk
The under dress for recreating a German Renaissance Illumination, or a Wench takes a Mouse for a Walk. I have loved this dress for a long time and it's been on my to-do list. When the perfect wool went on sale this fall, I scooped it up. But, there are lots of things that need… Continue reading A Wench takes a Mouse for a Walk
The Inevitable Scadian 