M'Lady Faire and her Castle

shwmae

pronounced "shoe-my"

Hello, from South Wales

hair jewelry for sale at http://www.gardensofwhimsy.etsy.com/

Let us take a peek at the women of the Medieval Castle today.

Great Eras Collection, Medieval Barbie, 1995

From the scouring servants

to the kitchen

to the ladies in waiting,

to the master hall,

the castle couldn't have been run properly without women.

Duh!

(Of course, a properly run castle also needed men!)

card from Rubber Stamp Avenue's Gallery, using RSA stamps

I will be adding more cards from RubberStampAvenue's Card Gallery.

I love her stamps!

You can see most of her catalog here:

http://www.rubberstampave.com/index.html

If you love pirates, mermaids, knights,

oh, just every category...

she has it!

Visit, order, and say Karen from Brighton sent you!

http://www.rubberstampave.com/

I like this one because it looks to me like the 'princess' is just enjoying  a nice day outside, and there are these knights on horses rushing around, but she doesn't seem alarmed at all. They're just silly knights you know.

That's what they do!

Donegal Castle Keep, restored, Ireland

Liana has made some wonderful paper doll costumes that fit with our theme:

She has stopped creating her wonderful paper doll costumes. I am very sad.

You can see her extensive old blogs here:

http://www.joechip.net/liana/

I think we should all inundate her with requests for more!

:0)

The traditional view of Maids in the time of Chivalry and Knights is

swooning

fainting

delicate

fragile

idle.

This is, of course, the romanticized view of women because of the Chivalry Code.


"The institution of chivalry forms one of the most remarkable features in the history of the Middle Ages."

- Horatio Alger

I will talk about Chivalry in another blog,

as today we devote our time to M'Lady Faire.

painting, a scene from King Lear, Shakespeare

Princess of the Irish Court, Barbie, 2001

Burresheim Castle, Germany

vintage illustration



Portrait of a Woman

by Robert Campin c.1420

Here are some paintings from the Medieval Ages that show women

doing a bit more than

swooning

fainting

being delicate

and fragile

and idle.

Women as Warriors, c.1430

Spinning

Hunting

writing

Why not take inspiration from some of the paintings above,

and draw and color some more outfits for this Lady.

Medieval painting, woman milking cow

Zarnek Malborku

Poland, 13th century

fantasy prince and princess to color

a Fantasy Lady's costume from Liana:

inspired from the movie "Voyage of the Dawn Treader",

based on the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis

from an article about historical women's accessories

www.yesnet.yk.ca

I have enjoyed this adventure through Medieval Ages,

from the woman's perspective.

Oh yes, I still have more castles and knights and Chivalry to come!

hand tinted vintage illustration of Romeo and Juliet

Not quite the Medieval Ages, but still cool!

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HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!! with some Irish quotes and notes

Erin go braugh!
(That means "Ireland Forever" according to wikipedia.)

Indiana Museums of Music, see side bar for website

"There are only two kinds of people in the world -

The Irish and those who wish they were!"

- Irish saying

Don't forget to wear a bit 'o green today!

vintage crate label, Dover Publications



Here are some fun activity sheets for the kids. These are perfect for when they have to wait in line or rides in the car.

TURN OFF THAT TV/MOVIE/GAME!!

fun (cautionary) fact: The brain's activity level is the same

when watching tv or sleeping.

.

Hmmmm....I don't recall ever learning something new or communicating better with others or using any brain cells when I am sleeping....

Remember, click on the picture and it should come up

with a larger version that you can easily print.

Courtesy of Dover publications. See side bar for website.

Here is a fun web site that has international children paper dolls that you can color, cut out, mount on cardstock (yeah cereal boxes again) and play with or display. There is a nice Irish/Scottish boy included.

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/TCR/0615_57-59.pdf

Here is a cute little paper doll girl and an Irish costume:

These are from a booklet of paper dolls "Friends Around the World" by Current, 1985. I will be adding some more of the international costumes in future blogs.

If you haven't tried the joys of glossy paper, do it! I like to print my base paper doll on cardstock, and then print the costumes on glossy paper. Just let the ink dry thoroughly and it works great!

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York, New York, USA

Budget craft:

Free magnets -

Gather together all those business cards and ads on magnet sheets that you aren't going to display.

Gather some images to print out, or rubber stamped images.

  * Don't forget all the wonderful photos, vintage clip and other art that I provide every day!

Tip: Recycled calendars are excellent places to find glossy images. And don't forget pictures of family and friends! (or Pierce Brosnan....)

Trace around the magnet onto printed images/stamped image; cut out.

Attach paper image to magnet front with double stick tape. Trim any edge overhang.

You now have beautiful magnets to include in a card or gift basket, or to display on your metal surface choice of the moment.

"There is no strength without unity."

- Irish proverb

Johnstown Castle, Ireland

Here is a simple bead pattern for an amulet bag done in peyote.

I'm sorry, but I don't know who to credit with this design.

One of my absolute favorite places for free beading patterns is:

http://www.bead-patterns.com/

Well, I still have tons of Irish history fun facts, Irish vintage clip art and images and photos, Vintage Irish Song Sheet graphics, Irish craft ideas.....

But they will have to wait for another day!

I have so enjoyed spreading a bit of Irish the past several days.

What shall we do tomorrow?

inkspired

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dominoes@myinkspired.com



Tomie dePaola, St. Patrick's Day countdown and a little Irish cheer

Good morning! Welcome to my Saint Patrick's Day Countdown, Day 2!



vintage clip

"Saint Patrick's Day is an enchanted time -

a day to begin transforming winter's dreams

into summer's magic!"

 - Adrenne Cook

I love the art that Tomie dePaola does. His  children's books are numerous and all just wonderful. He has earned awards many times. This book is just perfect for our Irish Theme:

Go to http://www.amazon.com/ and put into the search box at the top: Tomie dePaola

You will see many of the books he has published available.

Here are a few more titles of his with Irish Themes:

Here is another Irish Story, illustrated by a different artist:

http://www.amazon.com/Brigids-Cloak-Bryce-Milligan/dp/0802852971/ref=pd_sim_b_13 

Today the sun is struggling to shine through a sky of high white cloud cover. A bit of blue is playing hide and seek here and there, trying to find cracks to shine through.  The wind is blowing, making things a tad colder....

Time for some Irish Cheer!!!!

Grasshopper Coffee

6 ounces coffee

1 ounce creme de menthe

1 ounce white creme de cacao

1 tsp. brown sugar

1 scoop chocolate ice cream or whipping cream

> Add liqueurs and sugar to coffee. Top with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.  Sip and enjoy!

recipe from Colorado Cache Cookbook, 10th Anniversary Edition

My favorite however, is probably this:

  * 1 mug coffee, 10 - 12 oz.

- I enjoy using the coffee singles from Maxwell House or Folgers that make just one cup.

  * A blurb of Baileys Irish Cream.

> Taste, and add another blurb of Baileys if needed!

Cathair Dhuin Iascaigh Fortress of the Dun Abounding in Fish, Ireland

"If one could only teach the English how to talk,

and the Irish how to listen,

society here would be quite civilized."

- Oscar Wilde

 I forgot to mention that the Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe I gave you previously is from Better Homes & Gardens recipes. They have tons of recipes available online:

 http://www.bhg.com/recipes

"The mills of God grind slowly but they grind finely."

- Irish Proverb

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

Irish History and Blessings, St. Patrick and a Kirigami dye project

Welcome!

Today is Day 9 in our 10 day countdown to St. Patrick's Day.

"May the Lord keep you in His hand

And never close His fist too tight."

- Irish blessing

Here's a leprechaun and a Celtic knot for you to color, or use it as a beading pattern, or applique quilting, or....

Dover Publications

Irish History

Paragon Publishing, 2002

"Saint Patrick's mission to Ireland appears to have lasted abut 30 years and its impact was immense.  AD432 is the date traditionally given for the start of his mission. It is probable that there was a small number of Christians in the country before this time, as Ireland had considerable trading links with both Roman Britain and continental Europe."

sheet music art, courtesy Indiana museum of vintage song sheets

Let's do a fun sweatshirt project!

A one-of-a-kind kirigami sweatshirt
You will need:
   * a washed sweatshirt, with NO FABRIC SOFTENER
   * a few 'trial' t-shirts, washed, with NO FABRIC SOFTENER
   * various spray bottles
   * kirigami pattern(s) of choice, cut out of scratch paper

tip: Pick one with bolder lines rather than one with a lacy design to start.

   * a cardboard insert to go inside your sweatshirt
   * waxed paper and scotch tape
   * fabric dye in a liquid form

tip: Try fabric paint that has been watered down a bit.

   * clean rags, paper towels, etc.
   * plastic craft gloves, if desired
   * various colors of puff paint or dimensional paint

Let's get started!
> Place newspapers on table surface and floor to cover.

> Place a trial t-shirt on papers, with front facing you.

> Cover cardboard insert with wax paper. You can tape the wax paper on, with the tape on the 'back' side. This will prevent bleed-through onto the back of your shirt. Insert inside t-shirt, wax side up, smoothing out any wrinkles.

> Mix up fabric dye to a consistency that will spray well from the spray bottles. Pour into spray bottle(s). Remember, you aren't filling the bottles, just mix enough for this project.

> Place your kirigami pattern on top. Tape in place with rolled up scotch tape, so no tape is showing from front.

tip: NOT the time to use double stick tape!

> Practice your spray inside your spray box, or an area that is well covered with newspapers. Try to make an even spray from the top, so the spray doesn't continually  go under the kirigami pattern.
> Start spraying your t-shirt, concentrating on the blank spots left open from the kirigami pattern, and the edges. If you want to use more than one color of fabric dye, keep the first color at a mist and not too heavy. Repeat with second color, making sure that all edges have dye on them.
    Tricky Part:  Lifting off the pattern -
> If you have 'pooled' fabric dye on your kirigami pattern, you can dab to absorb with a paper towel, without smearing the design on the t-shirt. Now, loosen the rolled up scotch tape, and lift to remove pattern.
Worst thing? Some extra, creative dribbles of fabric dye splat on your t-shirt design. Simply make these part of your design.
> Follow the fabric dye's information on how to set. Some want you to press with an iron. Some want you to wash & dry a certain way. Let fabric air dry first, then remove the cardboard insert if you have to go and set it. Otherwise, leave the insert in place so the dimensional paint doesn't bleed through.
> Finish with dimensional paint to accent. Add dots, short lines, etc. Let thoroughly dry before handling.
> Repeat with your sweatshirt. Go ahead and do some more 'trial' t-shirts too!

tip: I would definitely wash my just painted shirts all by themselves, or maybe with dog towels, or something that I wouldn't care if it got new colors on it!
This is a project that even your grumpy teenagers that don't like anything you suggest - will like! Adapt the kirigami pattern for something 'lightning' shaped and get your guys to join in!

Great project idea for boys/girls clubs, girl's pajama parties, Basement Babes, etc. as long as everyone wears "paint clothes" and socks. Put the shoes far, far away, unless you are including them in your dye project!

An example of a 'bold' design of kirigami, made into a greeting card by me.

To use as a pattern for the dyed sweatshirt, I would not add colored paper behind parts of the design (purple and pink).



"May your day be filled with blessings

Like the sun that lights the sky,

And may you always have the courage

To spread your wings and fly!"

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com