sister_raphael: (scissors)


A few people have asked what my stitching, the stab and flat fell, look like on the right side. This is what it looks like unwashed and unironed, which tends to make the sewing disappear just that little bit more. It shouldn't be done in a contrasting colour to decorate or pretty it up. Stitches were not a pretty feature.
sister_raphael: (supercute)


This week I found this sweet 15th century manuscript image of what is almost exactly my roses curtains (which I based on two 14th century images) Isn't it just great? The manuscript is a German book of chess dated at between 1450 and 1500. Leipzig, UB, Ms 1595 for those who'd like to see more! Some historians try very hard to read a lot into the roses, citing that white or red denotes loyalty to a particular political side, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say not ALL roses represented the houses of York or Lancaster. Sometimes they were legitimately just a decorative feature.

It's very interesting that her cloak joiner seems to attach under the cloak, rather than with two external brooches like we usually see in both manuscripts and statues, although this could be an artistic representation rather that how it was worn in real time, which is one of the things about medieval art and clothing research which is tricky! When sources conflict, it may be an actual thing or just an artist who didn't know better..

Also a great looking settle she's sitting on. With a striped cushion (not a lambswool). And cute stripey rug, although it's quite possible that the rug is actually a large, striped cushion, which would be consistent with other artworks of women sitting in chairs. Again, the lack of tassels might indicate a rug, or just a cushion without tassels. An enormous amount of cushions in medieval art have tassels or Turk's head knots at the terminating corners.

Anyway, it's pretty nice for me to see my curtains represented in more art of the middle ages.


sister_raphael: thatsfantastic (thatsfantastic)
Single medieval women in the form of new widows were often in a position to travel. In fact, one particular widow was told by her husband on his deathbed that as soon as he dies, she was to make all haste and not wait, and visit five shrines in holy places for the good of his soul. He not only named the places she was to go, but pre-paid her expenses for all the trips.

Our widow was instructed to not wait at home and observe the usual grieving practices, she was to leave right away! He felt that he hadn't made amends for his sins at these places personally, and so it was very urgent that his widow was to go post haste.

What could she do but pack her bags and comply? ... and here she was, a newly single woman out seeing the world and not a person could censure her for it. It was her husband's wish. She absolutely could not refuse.




Medieval ampulla like this one from my collection, which you can see here in The Gilbert Collection, were favourite pilgrimage souvenirs. They contained water blessed from shrines and it was hoped that the water would have protective qualities and cure sickness for those at home who could not travel to the shrines themselves.

In the case that a widow loved her husband dearly, forced travel at the time when she would have preferred to be at home surrounded by her loved ones and family, would perhaps have been just awful. In the case that it was an arranged marriage or the husband had not been a kind man, perhaps a trip away might have saved her the effort of pretending to grieve.

False grieving was commented on by clergymen who wrote that some widows force pretend tears at the funeral whilst at the same time looking for a new husband before the old is in the ground or, and this is a double edged sword here, wailing extensively because the husband has died and the widow and children have no source of income and no means to live without him.

Honestly, this is a legitimate concern, but was interpreted by some as being selfish. Thoughts should be firmly directed on the deceased, not on herself, was the feeling.


For more information about single medieval women who travelled, there's a chapter in my book, the Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women, out in most countries now or available directly from Mango Publishing in the USA.



sister_raphael: (supercute)


The little linen early 14th century gowne is finished.

I stayed up late and after completing the side seams and hem, pinned in the reinforcing strip around the neck, stitched it into place and made two little eyelets for a brooch closure. I'm very happy with it.

I have cut a gore for the back of the gowne, but since it's being worn by a slender young lady in a few months, I feel it isn't really needed. Before I was it, I will split up the back and put the gore in, as the amount of growing likely to happen before next year and the next wear will be substantial. The extra gore will make a nice flow over her shape, whereas this year, the young lady is still quite slender.

Anyway, it's finished, and I'll post up a photo of it soonish.

sister_raphael: (underconstruction)


More simple running stitching makes for a boring photo, but it gets things done!

A question in this week about the lines of stitching often seen on the outside of medieval re-enactors' clothing. It's not decorative, it's the reverse of the seam being stitched down.

Whether you fold an extra time to encase the raw edge, or not, you will see a faint line on the good side. Two lines indicate wool or a thicker fabric where the seam is opened and laid flat before stitching down.


My photo shows the seam in progress, unironed, with the stitching almost invisible from the good side. Stitching seams down affects the drape of the garment, as overlocked seams encourage the fabric to fold inwards along the seams whereas stitched down seams encourage the fabric to continue the flow of the fabric.

Later this week, stitching a hem! Who knew sewing was THIS exciting?! 😅

sister_raphael: (underconstruction)
Marking out some decorative daggues on the bottom of a man's surcote. Time consuming, but the result will be worth it!

and here's the finished result...


sister_raphael: (deardiary)

Found this week in England and shared with me by a friend!

This beautiful lead ampulla which comes from a shrine where pilgrims could purchase a little holy water to take home with them. The raised motif on the front can still be seen.

Photo used with permission of the owner.

sister_raphael: (booksale)


Thank you Karen and Michael, my local Stones Corner bookshop for having me as their Author On The Sidewalk today! A big THANK YOU to everyone who stopped for a chat or bought books or both!

Books@Stones supports Australian authors and stocks a bunch of other cool things (the native animal puppets are so cute), games, and funky book related merch.


See you again here for a Book Event Night in the coming months!

sister_raphael: (sideeyes)
In the Middle Ages, many men had many feelings about things that really were none of their business, like girls laughing. Guibert de Nogent was just one of many who felt young ladies should be ashamed about feeling good about themselves.

sister_raphael: (casualfriday)

I bought a surcote! Yes, I did!

Just because I sew doesn't mean I can't buy something from a friend!

I love the French wool quality and colour. It's hand finished though I will hand finish all the inside seams and it will receive a fur trim glow up with some jewelled buttons or band down the front.

Some people feel I shouldn't buy stuff because I make my own, but that's just silly! Look at this wool! Just look at it!

Stay tuned for glow-up!

sister_raphael: (homesweethome)

Down where the water lilies grow, wearing my sand wool surcote for the first time!

Another photo from AROW, one of the very few which is usable. My thanks to my friend Nigel for taking this one.

sister_raphael: thatsfantastic (thatsfantastic)


Down by the water lilies! Fun with friends at an event this weekend.

AROW is our yearly Abbey Re-enactors Only Weekend where without the public, we can chill, test our new things for the coming season and mingle with friends. It's also a really great opportunity to take some nice photos without all the members of the public in them. That's the theory, anyway.

Unfortunately, there were an enormous amount of cars left on site for the entire weekend and almost every camp had modern items clearly in view, which not only spoiled the ambiance, it made taking nice photos extremely difficult. Happily, there was a little sunshine and a clear spot down by the lake where the water-lilies were blooming their heads off.

I was able to get a few nice photos, but as almost always, the photos I look of other people are lovely, and the ones of me are weird angles, out of focus or have clothing malfunctions.
sister_raphael: (casualfriday)

Today at Phoenix Phestival I showed my friend Annette how to make this great new look for herself!

We didn't have everything we needed, but we both love the result!
sister_raphael: doingart (doingart)
I made a Museum treasure hunt!

A few weeks ago I had my official book launch for The Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women at the Abbey Museum of Art & Archaeology, and we had a short speech, lots of scrumptious food and I made this fun Scavenger Hunt for the Museum and Art Gallery for guests to really have a closer look at the displays!

While not all items are medieval, they are all things associated with the life of a single woman!

Here's our item card that I made! Obviously, you can't collect them. It was a find-and-photograph and first one back won a prize!

While not all items are medieval, they are all things associated with the life of a single woman! Writing implements, dress accessories, devotional literature and even the much beloved pet, the small white, fluffy dog! What might a woman do with a monk? Why, confess! (although players had lots of fun suggestions of things to do with monks! naughty! Naughty!)

Here's our item card that I made! Obviously, you can't collect them. It was a find-and-photograph and first one back won a prize!

The hunt itself was extremely successful with players racing around the museum and participants helping each other out with wild waving of arms saying "That way! That way!" and even museum staff dropping clues as to which cases to look in! All in all, much merriment was had, with people reporting that it was a lot more fun than they thought it would be.

The absolute funny part is that one of the items, the buckle and chape, was in a case which was out of display due to some water damage from a recent storm, and since people couldn’t see the exact item I had in mind, they were frantically looking for anything which might have been it. Answers included spotting a buckle on a suit or armour, in a painting, and on the clothes they were wearing themselves!

At the conclusion, there were two back at the same time with everything ticked off, so I decided that a runner up prize was in order and everyone left happy!





sister_raphael: thatsfantastic (thatsfantastic)

Book launch photos from "The Secret Lives of Single Medieval Women" on Saturday at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in the new cafe are now up on social media but here's my favourite one: the obligatory Author At The Book Table snap!

It was an absolutely wonderful event and it was a great opportunity for me to gather family, friends, colleagues and enthusiastic supporters all together for a celebration. Guests enjoyed the delicious catering the Abbey Museum events are well-known for, a short but lively talk about the making of the book and a guided tour of the new Art Gallery by Senior Curator Michael Strong. For the more adventurous, we had a Single Lady Scavenger Hunt within the museum and art gallery itself to find and photograph a number of historical lady items which a single woman might have used in her life!

A huge thank you to everyone who came and especially for the Abbey staff who made this little event so lovely!

Thank you also to Nate at Mango Publishing for getting a few books my way for our special day!

sister_raphael: (busywriting)
I have books!!!!!


 
Before you get too excited, I have only 20 books for the official Book Launch event this Saturday, which may not be enough and certainly doesn't cover the order from the museum shop. Just 20 books.

Pretty darn excited about it, though. The cover looks really great!!


sister_raphael: (comeheresaythat)
It's a crisis. I'm waiting to hear back AGAIN from the publisher who I spoke to less than a week ago...

Original launch date 25th March, which was moved when the Editor in Chief left to pursue her own Publishing Company, but the rest of the team remained the same, so not so much of a big deal, right?

It's now 8 days until the scheduled Book Launch Event in the Art Gallery Cafe at the Abbey Museum of Art & Archaeology, where catering is organised and people have changed their work shifts and other appointments to attend. Later weekends are very crowded and people really may not be able to come, especially since the publisher website now says MAY, which is completely news to me. This may or may not be correct, since the book is at the printer as we speak but they should know.
 
My options are:
 
1. Pre Launch Party in 8 days time. I could do pre-sales promo and have some kind of special so that everyone who pays for their pre-order gets a bonus thing? I'm thinking that since the food and staff is organised at this stage, and my sister has changed her Hospital roster to come and my niece and nephew have made space on their work rosters so they can come also, I should just go ahead. People at my work sorted their shifts to come. Organising re-enactors is like herding cats, and a number of them are on the guest list.

2. Delay the whole thing and see what I can wrangle later on about having the same kind of event, but finding a date that works will be a bit hopeless. Not to mention finding a place to have it on short notice. The museum was giving a good price to hire the venue too since I'm a Life Member.

3. Cancel it and don't have a nice launch.

I have already got stuff ready for it at that specific venue. I kinda feel like I'd like to just go ahead and have a Pre launch, but I'm wild that now I'm missing Women's History Month, Markets, AROW, Phoenix Phestival, Mother's Day and likely my Birthday- all times when I would have promo giveaways.

Of course people may feel it's just too stupid to have a launch without actual books.
ARGH!!!!!

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