Recent(ish) Scrolls

The text in this blog will be pretty short. Mainly because I honestly don't remember many of my references for these pieces and don't have my library at hand at this moment to refer to...

This is a Golden Maple Leaf scroll made for Allegretza. It was a back-scroll assignment done with Windsor and Newton purple gouache, Holbein brilliant gold gouache, Higgins Black Magic ink, on Bristol vellum finish hot press. I'm thinking the border on this was slightly modified from a border from the Winchester Psalter, but don't quote me on that. I'll have to check my references and edit this later.

Here we have a Gryphon of Artemisia Scroll done for Duchess Caryn. This was based on the Hours for the Use of Paris in a style that I've just loved for years. Most pieces in this style have a sort of "patch-work" look, but the more organic shapes here drew me in and told me I had to do this piece. The white cat is based on Caryn's device or Coat of Arms, and I admit that I arbitrarily chose to do the Gryphon in white - mainly to see if I could, and to match the cat.

Latest Projects

I have not been sitting in the dark since the gold brocade gown, though that may seem to be the case. After the announcement that I would be sitting vigil for elevation to Laurel, I depended on the lovely Serafina Basso, who did my gown with the assistance of several people in beading and jewelery. I was utterly pleased with the results, pictures of which can be seen all over the web, but here are a few of my favorites:



I take pretty much no credit for that gown, save perhaps the design and fabric choice (a fabulous green/blue shot silk taffeta imported from Thailand). But, of course, I had to share.

Since then, I have created a Golden Maple Leaf Scroll, a Norse tunic, and a norse rectangular cloak.

The latest project was a ginger colored linen gown, with aqua linen guards. It was originally intended to be a middle-class Open-front Venetian, but ended up more of a Campi-style working class, with a dropped V-waistline rather than straight. This all happened accidentally due to an error in seam allowance, but it all worked out rather well, I think.

The dress is quite comfortable. The bodice is interlined with cotton duck and the front, along the hand-sewn eyelets, is boned with four pieces of 1/4" spring steel boning (2 pieces in each channel, 2 channels on each side). The guards were hand sewn, and the apron was added at the last minute with a scrap of grey linen and some red cotton cord from my stash. The apron was 100% sewn by hand.



I'm overall quite pleased with how this project turned out, though I do intend to create matching sleeves for days I don't want to be quite so "dressed down." I now have camping garb that both fits and is in good repair. It is a momentous occassion!