Quest for Italian Renn

One of my scavenged successes from Holiday Faire’s Silent Auction was a purple overdress. I fell in love with the color and figured it was worth the whopping 50 cents, despite being several sizes too small.

Whopee! The previous wearer had sewn the shoulder straps tighter. 3 sets of existing grommets per sleeve opened the armholes right up. They also fueled a thought: a little research and sewing machine love could yield a respectable Italian Renn.

I would need MUCH added length to avoid the medieval miniskirt look. I could close the bodice all the way at the expense of breathing and mobility so that needed to be addressed. But the shoulder grommets begged for detachable sleeves, and if I used the same fabric in the sleeves as the additional hem, the disparate elements would harmonize. I could also use that same fabric for a modesty panel, thus enabling breathing (a pastime of which I’m exceedingly fond.)

I also decided I would actually pursue a measure of authenticity with this one.

Thus I hit Google. Here are some sites I found useful and concise in the vast sea of costuming and reenacting information:

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~rowen/renbk/rendressbook.html#anchor320283 

http://ilaria.veltri.tripod.com/italiandress.html

http://www.jennylafleur.com/diary/ren02.htm

As I read around ideas flowed. During the Italian renaissance, sleeves became an expression of the wearer’s wealth and downright extravagance. My mind flowed to my findings drawer, and thoughts of trim and piping and pearls flowed freely. The findings will bring additional unity to the mix-n-match pieces of my franken-garb.

My garb closet is full of scavenged linens, muckabout garb, and a few modestly nice dressed. Now I’m looking forward to a hoity toity lady dress! Our shire’s Twelfth Night Party is close enough to provide a deadline and far enough out to keep things low pressure.

This is gonna be fun!

Sylvan Glen Halloween Party

Kalli hosted our shire’s Halloween party this year.  As always with her fetes, food and fun flowed liberally. I enjoyed an added treat– my parents stopped in on a their way from Kentucky to Maine and joined us in the festivities.

We faced an unusual conundrum.   We wanted something simple and quick in the costume department.  Garb was a no-brainer, but is everyday attire among this crowd.  So we took the next path of least resistance– I dressed as a cowgirl and my love dressed as my horse!

See the full gallery at Laughing Gypsy Photography!

Viking and angel at SCA Shire of Sylvan Glen Halloween Party

Pennsic Stirrings

Our last ice storm has melted into mud.

Wolf and I hung out in JoAnn Fabrics after church plotting and planning garb and barding.

Tink found a great source for canvas tents, which hold up so much better than nylon and can be made to look somewhat period without too much effort.

Yup, it’s time to start thinking Pennsic!


Free shipping at Joann.com! Code: FEBFSA835

Your Peculiar Medieval Aristocratic Title

Heartfelt greetings from her Imperial Majesty Gypsy the Mirthful and her beloved husband, His Grace Lord Wolf the Surreptitious!

Every so often we all lose our sense of self in the world. Some hie in to shrinks, others wallow in the empty falsehoods of gossips. Fie on them! Lady Fortune the Absurd of Greater Internetshire penetrates the muck and mire to remind you of the very essense of your being– and she knows you’re royal, to boot!

‘Tis clear she knows my current work schedule!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Her Eminence the Very Viscountess Gypsy the Indefatigable of Hardy St Thomas
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