If it’s summer, it must be Roman…

That title isn't quite fair, as I am generally interested in the fall of the Roman empire, north and south, so it does make sense for me to have a Roman outfit beyond the 103 temperatures.  I'm not being very academic about assembling this one though…   (Perhaps someone has a snazzy background?  I've got great pics of the ruins of the baths of Caracalla, but that doesn't quite work for post-apocalyptic logic reasons…must look at old travel photos.)  Edit: Lorenzo proposes Pompeii, apparently. This garment is an experimental chiton.  It's a very loose weave linen, with teensy gray stripes. … Continue reading If it’s summer, it must be Roman…

Non-SCA early period fora, furniture and oil lamps

My buddy Cynred introduced me to Roman Army Talk, which I've been finding a terrific resource for my Coptic interest. Today, I stumbled on Kelticos, which has lots of lovely (and new to me) archeological directions, as well as people who are very focused on late Iron Age Europe. I was actually looking for some guidance on a ceramic oil lamp, because this weekend I can play with dirt under the guidance of Kerstyn Gartenier, but of course, I got sidetracked.  Here's an illustrative exchange about Celtic household furnishings: Joan Liversidge is an expert on furniture from Roman Britain. She … Continue reading Non-SCA early period fora, furniture and oil lamps

Millefiori glass bowl

We're all atwitter over the new find in London, a Roman millefiore bowl of impressive size, and unfortunately just-lost color.  (This contemporary bowl using the same technique, is for sale, here.  It's not as big as the lovely one just found, only 11cm dia x 3 cm height.  But I'd be happy with it.  If it was red.) I had not known that millefiore – fabulous glasswork now associated with the island of Murano, in Venice, called "thousand flowers" – was so old.  I'm very glad, as I've loved it since I first spent more than I ought on some … Continue reading Millefiori glass bowl

Book Review – Early Christian Mosaics, The Bog People, Archeologia

I had some time to burn before catching a flight recently, and found myself in an academic rare/used bookstore.  Today I picked up the package of books I asked Alcuin Books to send back. Can I say how lovely it is to walk into a bookstore, be asked "can I help you", say "I'm looking for 6thc archeology, particularly Kent, or Anglo-Saxon textiles, but also the Mediterranean" and be handed a folding chair and pointed to three places?  Just smashing. In the box for me were: (St. Agnes – I love how her over dress is hiked up to show … Continue reading Book Review – Early Christian Mosaics, The Bog People, Archeologia

Refocusing persona development – 6thc Kent

I haven't really done any persona development since getting my name (15thc Flemish, Margareta Gijsberts, called Greet, which is a 15thc pet name).  The last two years, my first two years, I've been following advice to play around…try things…and I've gotten sucked into Major Funness that required Themed Clothes. But now I think it's time to settle down and focus on one placetime for a while, and that's going to be 6thc Kent.  Southeastern England, influenced by the Anglo-Saxon, the Jutes, and some highborn Frankish marriages, after the pullout of the Romans, but before the Holy Roman Empire swells back … Continue reading Refocusing persona development – 6thc Kent

Bibliography: 6thC (includes Kent/Roman/Byz/Coptic)

(note from Greet: I’ve noted which copies I own, which sources I’ve read carefully, and which ones have been recommended to me from whom.  They are organized by topic that I’m interested in, and appear more than once as appropriate to the topic that I’m researching.  Links for shopping might also appear on the useful-links-elswhere list here.)WOMEN’S CLOTHING -KENT Owen-Crocker, Gail.  Dress in Anglo-Saxon England.  2004 ed.(Asta/Maudey/et al)(own)(currently reading) Rogers, Penelope Walton.  Cloth and Clothing in Early Anglo-Saxon Britain, AD450-700.  2007.(Asta/Maudey/et al)(own)(currently reading) Ewing, Thor.  Viking Clothing. (Gwen) Ellis, Peter Berresford.  Celtic Women. 1996 (own)(currently reading) Nalbinding site Chadwick Hawkes, … Continue reading Bibliography: 6thC (includes Kent/Roman/Byz/Coptic)

Norse clothing used “blue-green”, Early English red, Irish pink/purple

I'm still madly preparing for Gulf Wars, but in the midst, this snippet from the 12thCgarb list on appropriate colors for various northern placetimes is really interesting!  Emphasis mine: But that is not what Rogers found and the fact that it is what makes it interesting. Looking at her graph, she found nearly 75% of her samples from the Norse textiles (found in Norway and Denmark) to have been dyed with woad, compared with only 20% in England and less than 5% in Ireland. This chemical evidence seems to confirm what can be inferred from both the literature (not only … Continue reading Norse clothing used “blue-green”, Early English red, Irish pink/purple

Necklace from my Roman

This is the necklace that I wear with my Roman garb.  It's on a 1/4" grid. Mom made it for me, out of Swarovski crystals and glass, I think, for a production of the Nutcracker party scene when I was dressed in a poofy red satin dress complete with Dolly Parton wig.  As I didn't have, um, enough to fill out the neckline, the director asked me to come up with Serious Jewelry. I like it a lot, but wish it was done in amber or green jade…it would match more of my stuff.  Here it is with the Roman … Continue reading Necklace from my Roman

North Sea dress, experimental

The blue woolly debuted at Menhir, and People Who Know Things liked it.  Photography light was Not So Great – someday I'll be more rigorous about modeling/archiving my garb.      The blue-green color is awesome.  It's nice and cozy.  I like the front opening cut.  I like the tubular tablet weaving on the neckline.  The skirt is as full as I could ever want it (it's a bit heavy when I turn quickly running to fetch something).  I love the brooches and want more.  And some beads. The sleeves are too long, and having them vented doesn't help.  The … Continue reading North Sea dress, experimental