The Ornamented Being

It’s taken me a few minutes to calm down enough to see the keyboard. Currently over at The Tudor Tailor facebook page there is a folder entitled The Tudor Child and a poll that accompanies the photos. Ten minutes later I am still smiling so hard it hurts. It was an absolute honour to have interned with the Tudor Tailor and to have assisted with this momentous project. I am thankful for every moment Ninya and Jane allowed me to work alongside them.

I’m still a bit teary eyed over seeing some of the pieces I created on the potential covers of the new book. 

Oh my goodness gracious where did all these new followers come from? Welcome, welcome! I’m so glad to have you with me! I must apologize because my poor blog looks a little bare. I’ve had an incredibly busy week and I feel terrible that I haven’t posted anything. For all of my new lovelies, I am currently a summer intern at the Margaret Hunter Shop at Colonial Williamsburg (CW for short). 

Most of the week was spent in training which was very long and arduous but I feel much better after going through it. If there is one thing I can recommend you do when you visit Colonial Williamsburg (besides coming to the Millinery shop and saying Hullo!) is to ask questions. We LOVE questions. I was interpreting yesterday when a group of young adults came in. Some of the questions were extremely challenging and I had to defer them to the Mistress of the Shop for help which means that not only do you learn from her answers but I also learn. So please never be afraid to ask questions!

I had training and I interpreted in the shop? You might think that doesn’t sound like too much work but the project I am working on at home is completely different from what I am working on in the shop.

My ongoing project of creating a new petticoat and cap were pushed aside when I decided to kidnap Abby from Stay-ing Alive and hold her hostage. We (read Abby with me “supervising”) are working on a new pair of stays for me to wear in the shop. Jokes aside it’s been an incredible honour to work alongside Abby. Her knowledge and skill never ceases to amaze me. 

One of my first lessons about Williamsburg is that shoes are the most important things in your wardrobe. The small picture at the top is the pair of shoes I was issued from CW and unfortunately they pinch my poor toes. Cue Burnley & Trowbridge Co.! Not only can I trek all over Williamsburg without my bad ankle acting up but, the shoes were made by a shoemaker in the States just for me.  Re-enactors take note, you will never take these shoes off. I’m trying to convince my parents that I need the heeled mules in order to survive. 

The next photo is my lovely bergère from the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop, I just bought a plain bergère from B&T Co (the same company my shoes are from) that I am really looking forward to fixing up. I have all sorts of evil plans!!

My dress is from the shop I am interning in but I just bought this Dimity to make a new petticoat and caraco. It was a draw between the dimity and the blue/yellow stripped cotton but I think I made the right choice!

The last photo is my lovely cap. When I bought my shoes and fabric I also picked up a beautiful peach silk ribbon which I attached to my cap.

I promise you that this week I will have a queue assembled! I’m hope I’m not boring everyone with recaps of what is happening at Williamsburg!?

My self-directed project was to re-create the Ruff worn by Baby John Dunch’s  nurse Elizabeth Field from 1586-1588.

8 yards of fabric later here is my humble creation.

There are a few things I wish I had done better in the photo BUT considering these were taken while packing the costumes up to take to the Tower, I’m pleased with them. I wish I had a high collar so I could have properly tucked the ruff in and gotten the full plate effect but c’est la vie! We had a schedule to keep!