Fly fringe shawl

Many of you are probably familiar with the fly fringe, explained by Vivien, but have you seen a whole garment made out of it? While browsing Nordiska museet’s collections I found this shawl that seems to be just that!

Swedish fan

This is a post mostly based upon the fact that I’m Swedish, but I think all of us can appreciate great workmanship when we see it. 😉
See, I was browsing the MET for my new Tumblr – Awesome fashions of all times, and I searched for what Swedish obejcts they might have. I came across this very elaborate fan from the 18th century, made by a Swedish fellow named Carl Gustav Klingstedt in 1715–25.
The motif is somewhat macabre – scenes from land and sea battles. I guess you would want to depict your countrys proudest moments where people can see them and Sweden was kind of a superpower in Europe in the 17th century and fought big battles, see. Prolly made sense back then – but to me it looks strange. XD

Swedish fan at the MET

Detail

Detail

Finished walking stick! <3

I’ve finally put together my extremely cheap walking stick!

To remind you: I got this awesome black bamboo stick for 10 SEK (about 1 EUR, 1,55 USD and not even 1 GBP)! It’s actually a garden decoration, but it’s straight, light and hard – plus it totally has that chinoise air! The knob is a curtain rod knob I got second hand for 5 SEK (about 0,50 EUR, 0,78 USD and 0,50 GBP). More about where I got the materials in this post.

So I’ve spent about 1,50 EUR, or 2,33 USD, or about 1,50 GBP on this beauty. Smiling Fox Forge’s walking stick is $50 – without the chinoise air! ;P The total length is about 147 cm.

NEW walking stick and top knob!

Sorry for being away for a while, I’ve been working a lot. I know I have a few unanwsered comments, I’ll get to them. ^^;

It seems buying stuff is easier than making the pet-en-l’air, suprise suprise. ;P
   Last week I bought a new walking stick! I have no pic yet – since it’s still in Robbie’s car. But it’s bamboo and it’s black and I baught it for 10 SEK – that’s about 1 EUR, 1,55 USD and not even 1 GBP! It’s actually made for garden decoration, so the quality might not be the best – but I don’t think I’m gonna go on extreme hikes with it anyway! It’ll look great in photos I should think! ;D
   For Swedes I can recommend taking a look at your local Granngården store! That’s where I baught mine and they had these bamboo sticks in all sorts of colors, I was very tempted to buy a pink one! ;D Many were cracked where I bought mine though, so look at the stick before you buy it!
   And just today I bought a top knob for it! My first thought was “curtain rod knob”, and my second thought was “second hand”! I went to my favorite Myrorna last week and came home empty handed – but today I went after work just because I was passing by. I found this little cute knob. And it’s not plastic (like most I found the last time) – it’s brass (I think)! <D And what did it cost me? 5 SEK! About 0,50 EUR, 0,78 USD and 0,50 GBP!

Will and wigs

I’ve been drawn to the pet-en-l’air more and more lately, nothing’s happened yet – but at least I have the will to keep sewing! XD
I had an awful dream last night – I came to some sort of costume meeting in my half finished outfit, I just had one hoop and had to hold everything up and together – extremely embarrassing!!!
I feel that if I only could get past this trimming part it’ll all flow better. I’ve been thinking about restorting to the machine for the petticoat, but as I write this I’m reconsidering it. ;D

On another note, I just found an amazing wig maker on Etsy! Guess the name! – AntoinettesAtelier ofc! If I only had the money!

More after the cut!

Medieval materials for the 18th century reenactor?

I was just cleaning up my favourites and I found this Swedish shop selling stuff for the medieval reenactor – Medeltidsmode. I had a look through the shop to see if I should save the link. I am interested in medieval reenacting, but right not I have only the 18th century on my mind – so my radar is set on that period. When looking through the goods I found myself thinking: “Ooh, that fabric would do nicely for shifts” a.s.o.
   They also have these old-fashioned pins, said to be perfect for fine fabrics:

So go have a look through the shop! Or go have a look in other medieval or maybe renaissance reenacting shops. Everything wasn’t new and novel in the 18th century – still today we use techniques and materials with roots waaaaay back in the history of fashion. ;D

Fan!

Sorry, been busy – but look what I found! =D

Shoe problem

Baaah! Now I remember why I stopped in the middle of rococo-ifying the shoes! The tounges I made fit over the gaps from the old rubber bands when I don’t wear them, but are too small when I do wear them. The top of my foot is too high! It’s just like half a centimeter or something, so maybe I can fit it somehow, but it just got a whole lot more boooooring!

I have a STICK

Dam-dam-daaam!
   I always take a power walk before breakfast (no, not power nap ;P), along Svartån – the small river that runs through Örebro where I live. This morning was no different, except I saw something long and very straight washed up on the bank. It was a perfect stick for a walking stick! It’s a weee bit crooked at the bottom – but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to find something as straight for free. It’s dirty and still has it’s bark, but I think it’ll be super nice after a little care! =D

Silk & the 18th century in Swedish radio

It just struck me that I forgot to post the promised photos of that yellow silk I’m aiming to use for a pair of mitts. So here they come! ;D

This is the box I found it in, it says “Yellow silk for table cloth” in my grandmother’s writing. I’m guessing it’s left-overs from the making of the table cloth, saved in case the table cloth would be damaged.

And the silk:

And for my fellow Swedish-speaking 18th century-philes… This morning my favourite morning radio show, Morgonpasset i P3, had a guest – Sara Lodin. She’s an 18th century freak and anwsered questions about the 18th century in the show this morning. Listen to the show here. And here’s a pic of Sara in full gear in the studio (from the site):

Well, now I’m off for sewing! ;D