May 13, 2006
Victorian Magazine is an ezine that devotes itself to all things Victorian which I think many readers here will enjoy.
I particularly liked this embroidered silk costume and for silk ribbon embroidery fans take a look at this robe
The rest of victoriana.com is also worth exploring as there are articles on Victorian needlework and crafts as well as costuming and customs.
March 31, 2006
I think those who are interested in costuming will find this link to an instructional article on Wig Making useful. Further poking about this site lead me to an article on making false teeth .
I am not about to start making false teeth but I am constantly amazed online. When ever I stumble upon a site like this, a stupid grin creeps across my face as I have one of those ‘well I never’ moments. Anyway I am blogging this site because Lars Carlsson is a Swedish makeup artist who is very talented and has generously published and shared tips and techniques. I am sure (I am serious about this) someone possibly a costumer out there, will find these instructional step by step articles very useful.
If nothing else its something different over your morning coffee
December 23, 2005
For some amazing interpretations of what a hat can be take a look at the head gear created by students at the German Academy of Art in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
December 2, 2005
Now I am sure this is exactly what you need over your morning coffee but if you need to know the difference between an achkan and a vajani this Glossary of Indian Fashion terms will help you.
December 1, 2005
A chapter on shawls from Harper’s magazine December 1850 is available online. It describes the Cashmere shawl as “ A garment capable of appearing the most feminine and graceful in the world.” The article is a from a fashion spread of the day, is beautifully illustrated, and explains how the shawls were produced and from what fibers they were made. I think many will find it charming and informative.
October 24, 2005
The Indiana University Library has published scans of all 128 plates in the 1922 edition of Oriental costumes: their designs and colors by Max Tilke, (1869-1942). The colour plates in this edition are just delightful as they are all hand drawn. Take a look at this Embroidered Bornu woman’s shirt , this garment described as Woman’s blue woollen garment with colored floss-silk stitching and Lesghian jacket (archaluk or beshmet) from Kubátshi .
I just love the way these garments are illustrated.
October 23, 2005
I am still poking about collating together ideas for my Katrina block for the All that Jazz Quilt project. I discovered on Drea Leed’s Elizabethan Costume Page there is a new section devoted to Depictions of Jesters and Fools in Medieval and Renaissance Art . Don’t miss browsing at least some of these links as the history is fascinating.
This site in turn lead me to these images of jesters from The jesters Mask
October 20, 2005
Many costumers will be well aware of the Costume and Textiles in the Medici Archive.
The Medici Archive Project was founded in 1995 in order to produce documentary sources for scholars and realize the potential of the Medici Granducal Archive, housed in the Archivio di Stato in Florence. An aspect of this project is to document Costume and Textiles in the Medici Archive. The archive itself has a long and interesting history as it was founded in 1540.
October 18, 2005
I found these interesting excerpts online from the Costumes and textiles of Royal India by Ritu Kumar
As a taster…
“Among the many hundred gods in the Hindu pantheon is Vishvakarma the God of Craft. He is worshipped by artisans around the country. Every August, Vishvakarma puja is held when craftsmen lay their tools at the feet of a statue or image of the god and pray for his blessings. While it is not known when exactly threads were first shuttled through the warp or when the earliest looms appeared, it has been established from evidence found in the Indus Valley that the skills of weaving and dyeing in India are as old as civilization. The crafts of India are rooted in a continuing tradition, which revolves around the enhancement of nature’s gifts. The creative processes of dyeing, spinning, weaving, painting and surface ornamentation were integrated into the cycle of life and followed the rhythm of the seasons. Craft workers created forms in accordance with the canons written down in the Shilpa Shastras, which prescribed the discipline for the performing and visual arts. By the 16th century a vast repertoire of techniques and designs had come into being and has continued to expand ever since.”
September 6, 2005
Poking around on the net I often take note of smaller museums just in case I am ever travelling in a particular region. There is nothing more frustrating than unpacking your bags after a trip to have someone ask did you see such and such? I admit no, I did not and then be told it has a textile collection of some sort. So on this is a self indulgent note as I discovered the Costume and Textiles section of the Manor House Museum in Suffolk UK. This collection specialises in fine embroideries with “ornate surface decoration.” It is just my cup of tea, so I have made a note of it as there is only a little information provided online about the collection.
