Aestheticism

If you don't know about the Aesthetic Movement during the 1800's then you won't understand why ancient and medieval designs are on my site.... you're missing out!  I have a few older posts about it if you care to read on here, here, here, and here 

So I've been trying to recreate jewelry designs that are inspired from ancient times, here are a few

This piece is several different sizes of fresh water pearls with gold.

I saw this necklace at this site and was inspired to make this pair

This one is lapis lazuli/malachite beads with gold.

This is garnet and gold netted collar.

Here is another design with garnets.

Detail of accent beads cut in free form.

A simple yet elegant design I made for a friend recently, gold with garnets.

Also working on a hooded robe, I used a simple medieval pattern. I found a great version of this pattern here this site has a lot of nice pieces.

The border along the hem

The back where the hood is visible

The pattern is allegedly authentic except for the hood. I plan to add more celtic border to the edge of the hood.

Here you can see the armpit gussets typical of a medieval garment pattern as far as I've discovered...

Monogrammed Skirt

Made this for a friend a while back and didn't get around to taking a picture till now. She wanted the pocket detail to be a little haphazard and patch like with an elegant initial embroidered on it. I used a simple a line skirt and added a ruffle to the bottom.

Raven Apron

Custom design made recently for someone. Machine embroidered raven sitting in a frame, with roses on netting pocket trim and pleated trim for edges.

Victorian Era backgound image

Here is another woodcut I found {I have no idea who did this, it's so beautiful} that I altered a bit so it may be used as a background image.

Just right click and select 'save image as'.

Rest In Peace

For a short time this tiny light burned so very bright.
You will be missed most painfully,
We love you and will never forget
You filled a childless home with laughter
and a loving creatures bliss.

One of my closest companions has shed this mortal coil,
She is released this day May 25, 2012 from her fight with lung cancer
by that stinging needle filled with mercy and sweetest dreams.

She appears in my beading video here, this is why I mention her passing.


R.

FREE Victorian Era & Civil War Era Patterns

I happened upon this site, it is a treasure trove of patterns and they are all free! The illustrations and the pattern are usually included on all items.

"Godey's Lady's Book" is filled with wonderful items to create, this link is to a full page of free patterns for children, men and mostly ladies.

 

As a side note, this boy's pattern is large enough for a female adult.  I would wear this, it is a wonderful design.

And I would love to wear this! Talk about haute couture, for little boys?!

Here is another link to more of Godey's thanks to Hope Greenberg for all her hard work providing this material!!
 http://www.uvm.edu/~hag/godey/

latest background image for download

reworked this old woodcut in Photoshop here is a copy for those who would like it: just right click on image and select 'save image as'

Steampunk Worlds Fair

Calling All VictoriAnna's and SteampunkSammy's! 

Come One Come All to have a Ball!

Dance or cajole you'll have your share...

At the one and only Steampunk Worlds Fair!

steampunkworldsfair.com

Excerpt from main page:

steampunkworldsfair.com

Dahlia scarf hoody and beaded bag

These prototypes are gifts for my friend Jen, another creative mastermind.

I used the tutorials found here for the dahlia and here for the scoody [scarf hoody]

She (BobWilson123) has a huge library of great tutorials for all levels.

free ebooks BEETONS BOOK OF NEEDLEWORK 1870

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15147

Speaking of Aesthetic Dress look at this!

They are restoring this dress worn by Ellen Terry [role of Lady Macbeth at London’s Lyceum Theatre in 1888] immortalized in this John Singer Sargent portrait , http://www.ecouterre.com/victorian-era-dress-made-from-1000-beetle-wings-restored-for-50000/

Pearl bracelet design

I recently made this as a gift for my stepmother for Xmas. Fresh water pearls and 24k clasp and 24k 3 tier bead.

I really dont think this design is Victorian per se, I was inspired by ancient Roman and Greek jewelry I have been looking at so perhaps this would appeal to an Victorian Aesthete instead.

SEED BEAD PURSE UPDATE

This technique is quite time consuming but well worth the result. It's really my first attempt with such tiny beads. So pretty though. This is with a 1.5 crochet needle, rocaille seed beads and cotton crochet thread.

The design I have in mind is not the 'miser coin purse' but more like a small hand bag with a draw string, we will see. I like to improvise as I go and let the project surprise me when I am done.


This was my inspiration,
http://www.somewhereintime.tv/antiques/miser.html

http://www.jewelscollectingdust.com/cutsteel.htm

http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/80095681



Still working at it! Here is the latest on feb 10th: