So I've been holding this page for a while now, but it has been collecting dust. Finally, a slow day at work, and here it is...my new blog! Shiny spanking new and pristine! I've tried blogging before, but always got sidetracked. I need a space to clear my head, though. When you are a hobby hoarder, it gets crowded up there. Also, because I do do (heh) a lot of things, I get asked a lot of questions by folks who are interested in how to do those things. I don't like talking (a surprise to people who know me). I'd rather explain it here once, and be done. I can't really tell you one thing that you'll see here. Whatever strikes my fancy at the moment will be posted. A lot of history, a lot of historical clothing, some costumes, some historic recipes, some Shakespeare, some opera...
...and lots of Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Lots.
Because I like looking at them. And listening to them. And picturing...well...you know. :D
But mostly history!
Okay, so...let's look at some heavenly bodies.
Oooo....
Aaahhh...
But seriously (as serious as I ever get, anyway)...this week I have two historical obsessions. One ties in to my love of theatre. I saw a Frontline documentary about the possibility that Marlowe wrote Shakespeare's plays. Yes, I know, that is not a new theory, and not proven. I don't know that I believe it. I had not noticed, the first few times I saw the documentary, the name of a book mentioned on there. It is The Reckoning, by Charles Nicholl. After a deep search for the second edition (seriously, Amazon? nothing? Thank you AbeBooks!) and a 2 week wait, it arrived--and I have to say, I have been sucked in. It is told like a story, and it just flows very smoothly. I won't ruin it for you (because I am sure you are rushing out to buy it) by telling you who he thinks is responsible, but he is not a fan of the theory of Kit being Shakespeare. Fair enough, neither am I. If someone else has to be Shakespeare, I would rather it be de Vere, as he is a direct ancestor of mine, and I am selfish that way. But truly...one of the leading arguments against Shakespeare writing his own work is that he did not have advanced schooling. That is NOT a compelling argument in my mind. One does not need college to be intelligent, and neither does going to college make you a genius. I see proof of that every. single. day. Some say he did not educate his daughters...that DOES bother me somewhat, admittedly.
My other obsession of the week...a comic convention this weekend. I am not a big con-goer or anything like that. There is a decent convention here in KC however, Planet Comicon. Data from Star Trek:TNG will be there! I grew up on that show. I had crushes on Data and Worf. See, I've always been indecisive. Anyway, because I am a historiannerd, I figured my getup would have to combine history and pop culture. So....Lady Sybil as a WWI nurse. It was a late idea, inspiration hit me last month after a trip to the excellent WWI museum here in Kansas City. With the anniversary of WWI coming up, I figured it would be useful (as a reenactor) so after I have finished with the con, I can tweak it to be either British or American, depending on the occasion. I was pleased to find that Sybil's get-up is based on actual examples. If you look at this advertising poster for the Voluntary Aid Detachment, you can see where they were coming from.
This is a (very dark and crappy, sorry, museum lighting, phone camera) photo of the American uniform at the museum, which is really not very different from the British.
So, anyway, the outfit itself is pretty typical of just an everyday blouse and skirt from the time period. I am freehanding the pattern based on detailed photos of extant garments. If all turns out well, I will post the patterns on here for anyone who wants them. Since they're very basic, they can be individualized however you like, so long as you promise me it will be historically accurate. Please.
Alright, I've bent your ear...er...eyes...enough, so here, have a baby sloth. Yay!
Photos: 1. Clerks studying astronomy and geometry, from "La Vraye Histoire du Bon Roy Alixandre," France, early 15th century, found on (gulp) Wikipedia.
2. Arab astronomers surveying the heavens, from a medieval commentary on Cicero.
3. Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch War Horse photo shoot, no idea where I snagged it on the internet a ways back, but it's deeelicious.
4. Voluntary Aid Detachment recruitment poster from World War I. Used to be on The Hospital Ship Brittanic site, but I can't get that page to come up. It is on...sigh..Wikipedia.
5. My photo. Hands off that masterpiece. From the WWI Museum.
6. A baby sloth!
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