New year and new post

Well it is a new year and my New Year's resolution is to post every other week things that I am working on.  I have been very lacked in that respect.  So to catch up I will post some things that I have been doing.  I have attending demos and built a new bread oven as well.  Made more hats and currently working on some hood and clothing.  

Happy New Year Everyone!  

Updating.....

Through the next few days I will be updating my blog. Adding a couple more classes and changing a few others. I am also going to be adding more than just hats and headdresses. But other items of interest as well. Perhaps I should change the tag line a bit......hmmmm

"Headship"...

Earlier today I read through the booklet I got from the Amish store the other day. In the it, it discribes the order of "headship" meaning that man -> Christ-> God. It says that because man is made from the image of God by God, man does not have to cover his head. For women, because they are not made in the image of God but of man, or a part of man, she needs to cover her head. It also makes a small historical reference to clothing; "Both men and women wore tunics and cloaks, but the veiling was distinctive female apparel. All women except those in low condition of life, such as prostitutes and slaves wore veils." The reference here is interesting. Historically from what I have read, women especially of wealth, kept their heads covered. Does this does imply that women were more subservient to men or expected to be because of the church and their station. What about the idea that perhaps more educated women knew that although they were women and felt in "headship" under men and by thus followed the word of the scriptures in the church but also realized that having a headdress was power. The "look at me" factor. The bigger the more power. Could this be why during the later part of the 14Th and 15Th centuries hats became bigger more ridged using wires for support; to be noticed yet keeping with the possible religious views of the church? Again, "Power on her head"

"Power on her head"

The other day I went to a store run by an Amish family. They sell dry goods and cheese, eggs and fabric and sewing items. I also purchase canning supplies there as well. By the counter I found a box full of little leaflets say Free to Take. I was curious so I started looking through them and I found one with the title "The Veiling, a symbol of the Divine Order". I picked it up and asked if it was OK if I take it and they told me yes they are for everyone. As I got to the car I quickly looked through it and notice this...."A veiled woman has power on her head. Power means "privilege, freedom, delegated influence and authority." I find this statement fascinating and really feel that one key to understanding the history of some of the headdress worn in the Middle Ages might be found in the culture of Amish women. Many sects of the Amish religion date back as far as the late 14Th and 15Th century. The booklet is twenty-three pages and look forward to reading it this weekend.

New Articles added

I have added two new articles. The first, a copy of my article as it was published in Dec 2010 in the Known World Handbook, a publication by the Society Creative Anachronism. It was co-written by a friend of mine. The article was slit into two basic parts Women's hats, which she wrote and Men's Hats Through Period which I wrote. The next article is 14Th Century U-shaped Hairpin construction. Because I am not yet finished with my research on this hairpin, I am holding back on posting the entire paper. What I have offered is information on the Hairpin's construction and my recreation of this U-shaped Hairpin currently housed in the Museum of London in England.

Inspiration

A couple of weeks ago I was approached by a woman to show me hear tubular cauls she had recently made. I told her that she wore them quite well and that I liked the fitting. She told me she was inspired to make them because of all the hats I had been wearing recently. I was very touched by her statement. The thought of inspiring someone is amazing!

Teaching this weekend

I will be traveling to Philidelphia this weekend to the Known World Costume Symposium. I am teaching a class on the U-shaped spiral hairpin. I plan some examples of the recreated pin to show and also an example of at 14th Century headdress and a 15th Century headdress using the pins. I will post some picutres once I get back.

U-shaped spiral hairpins

Here are some examples of U-shaped hair pins I have been recreating. The original is currently housed in the Museum of London. I will be giving a lecture on the U-shaped spiral hairpin at the Known World Costume Symposium in October, which will be in Philadelphia. The lecture will be focusing on the current controversy over the date of the hairpin. I will also have headdress examples of how the hairpin may have been used during each time period.

The beginning

I have been thinking for some time now about putting together a website about headdress and costumes and here it finally is. The layout is still not finalized and there is more tweaking to be done but at least it is a start. I am hoping tomorrow to add some pictures and information on different headdress. Enjoy! Ilish