Ah, the handkerchief. Such a useful little scrap of fabric, and so under-used in modern society. Beyond usefulness it has a lot of history during which it was not only an object of utility, but also an object of great beauty. I am working open-work embroidery onto a linen handkerchief at the moment, a favorite … Continue reading Il Fazzoletto
Ah, the lovely dresses one wears when you are enamored of 16th century Florentine attire. Today, like in the 16th century, laundry is an important component of garment wear and care. This weekend I went to a fabulous event in my red brocade gown which has a jeweled bodice and a train. The event was … Continue reading Lissia
Not directly related to garb but certainly relevant to my persona. This weekend I was able to fly two Harris hawks. Falconry is a sport and pastime that was practiced by the nobles of Europe and Florence was no exception. It was definitely all about status. An illegitima such as Fiore di Bardi might not … Continue reading Falconeria
So one of the things I will try to do on the blog is to get more precise on a pattern. Especially when the pattern I am working with is a one I've adapted to my purposes over time such as il colletto (partlet) in the previous post, Modestia. We have many great pattern books … Continue reading Precisione – Il Colletto
It's been a while since I had to build a colletto (literally 'little collar' known as a partlet in English). These were common as an accessory to women's dress and were certainly not limited to Florence or even the 16th century. Perhaps they were little more than decorative frills to further enhance a dress. They … Continue reading Modestia
Perché studiare, perché documentare, perché scrivere d'esso -- perché no? I love Florence. Specifically, the Florence of the mid-16th century. The Florence of the Grand Duke and Duchess, Cosimo di Medici and Elenora di Toledo. The Florence of Giovanni Bardi and the Florentine Camerata. The Florence which would create Opera (L'Euridice, 1601) and give license … Continue reading Il Perché
Guardaroba Fiore 