Buon Giorno! Welcome to Giardino del Gioia, a site dedicated to Italian Renaissance dress, other forms of costuming, medieval and renaissance history, and associated pastimes.

1/12/06

Posted some new pics of the blue gown in the dairy and gallery. Unfortunately forgot to take some pictures of the new Viking garb. I attempted to make some trousers for Sebastiano out of the patterns folks have come up with for the Thorsberg trousers. It was a learning experience but they turned out wearable. I'll try to get those pics up soon.

11/29/05

Wow, its been a long time since I updated this! I finished the 1530s blue gown, now listed under the Diaries section, and will hopefully have some pictures up in the gallery soon. Also a new page under projects for the Knitted Wire Jewelry. In other news I'll be in Washington DC for all of next year (starting in February) as a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow in Marine Policy. Looks to be a good time and a whole new bunch of fabric stores to explore. I'm intending to finish my thesis before then (and have even set up deadlines with my advisor) so it looks like the only sewing that will get done is some Viking stuff to wear for Court.

8/27/05

Congrats to my friend Peza, who is the new Lady of the Mists, soon to be Princess of the Mists. Since her Court will be Viking I'm currently doing some research on Apron dresses and the like. I have some of the accessories done - I'll post my new Chain Knitting as soon as I take pictures. I've also been working on some silk wrapped circlets from the Museum of London's Dress Accessories book to wear with my cotehardie this weekend.

7/27/05

Sadly, no costuming has been done. I'd like to claim that it is because I am working frantically on my thesis, but really it is Netflix. Since we got Netflix last year I have gained 10 pounds and become addicted to TV shows on DVD. I realize that I could sit in front of the TV with some handsewing but somehow I get sucked in and can't do two things (watch and sew) at once. Without Netflix there wouldn't be this problem as we only get one TV channel - PBS. Anyway - because of this and that I really do need to finish my thesis by the end of the year I think I'm going to have to forget about making a bustle dress and maybe even the Tudor for 12th night. Instead I'm planning on making Sebastiano something nifty and late period for 12th night, I really should spend more costuming time on him.

6/5/05

We had a great time at Tahoe. The weather was beautiful and we got to go hiking and to the Renaissance Faire. The doublet dress is mostly finished - check the diary page for updates!

5/25/05

An update to the doublet dress diary. I really think it might actually be finished by the Tahoe Renn Faire 1st weekend in June. Still needs a skirt, sleeves and accessories.

5/12/05

Its been a bit since I updated this page. Just wanted to let you all know why I've been slacking in the costuming department. My sister got married last weekend and I made the chuppah (marriage canopy). It was a 5X5 silk painting with quotes incorporated from all out family and friends. Here is a picture. Anyway, the wedding was really fabulous and St. John was beautiful, even if the chuppah took forever to make. I'm still planning on finishing the doublet gown by the first weekend in June.