Talented friends

I have many friends with heaps of talents that try to make a living on what they do. And as I find them awesome and wish them success, I'm going to show them off a little. The first is really an old post from my Livejournal, but deserves to be shown here too.

Aurora Walderhaug, is a very talented painter, and she makes the most wonderful 18th century fans. She paints them on silk and paper, she also makes the fan boxes. Other things she makes are minitures and snuff boxes in 18th century style. She's very happy to take comissions. I have one of her fans, a paper one and is saving up to get one in silk. A friend brought her to a fan museum in Paris and was told off by the people working there for her careless handling of an antique. I would say that is very high praise.

An 18th century day in Uppsala

Sunday we spent in the garden of Linné in Uppsala. They have a market there and Gustafs Skål was invited to be beautiful for the enjoyment of the visitor’s. After there was a very good meal to be had in the orangery and also a guided tour of Linné’s town house. It was a very pleasant day, mostly cloudy, but warm. We strolled, had coffee, talked with people, had ice-cream and generally enjoyed ourselves.

Janne worked, though. If I have understood it correctly there is a series of educational movies made about historical events. No dialogue to speak of, but a speaker voice over. They were filming in the garden and Janne had been enrolled to play Gustaf III. All in all a very nice day, apart from the fact that the filming didn’t end when they were supposed to (what a surprise…) so we were much later in leaving than we had planned. As I had to get up at 4.30 the next day, I was not happy with that!

Though most of my clothes are late 18th century, I do have some earlier gowns and its fun to wear them too. The pet-en-l’air has an earlier cut, winged cuffs, no seam at the waist and the pleats in the back are not sewn down. It may not be the most flattering gown on me, and even if it’s an old gown, from 2003, I still love it. To vary it a little I tucked it up into the slits of the black petticoat, an effect I rather liked.

I think I shall be much better in powdering my hair from now on. I’ve always liked it, but while talcum powder looks fine, on me it makes my scalp itch like crazy for days after. Here I have used Ageless Artifice’s hair powder which has starch as main ingredients and my scalp didn’t say a peep. I also think it stays on MUCH better than talcum powder. I suspect that the reason is that it’s not as finally milled and doesn’t disappear into my hair but stays on it. I sprayed with hairspray, brushed on the powder with a large brush and then sprayed very lightly with spray again. I was in my sixth hour of wearing it and you can see that it still looks good.

I love hollyhocks and the colours on these were amazing- almost black!



A boob shot, just for the fun of it.

Lithia Black

Not really smoking, but holding the pipe for her boyfriend.

Annali and her adorable mini-me.

Anckarström, on his way to shoot the king.

The king.

Janne resting his shoulder between shots.

Webpage

Years and years ago I had one, but it was my ex-husband who did it for me, and it has long since gone. I've been thinking of making a new, but I'm a total idiot when it comes to building them. I've been thinking that it might be nice to have some of my more inetresting posts, like teh make-up review, on a more handy location. So I wonder if any of you have any good tips for a computer nincompop. There must be good webpages with tips and tricks out there, but not knowing anything about it, it is hard to determine if the tips are any good.

I would, preferably, just be able to write what I want, put in the pictures and push a button to make it happen... I don't need fancy. And I'm not asking you to do anyting for me, just to point me in a good direction.

Been shopping

Been shopping

My favourite handbag died this summer and looking around I couldn’t find anything I liked. Then I thought that perhaps I could find something more retro on Ebay. I did. Unfortunately I looked around a bit more and have now had a little shopping spree. I’m very pleased to have won this item.

It was sold as a Georgian wig pin, which I doubt- I have never heard of wigs being secured with this method. Rather I think it’s a hat pin and as such I think it is very pretty. Silver, French and dated 1780-1791. I paid £17 and that includes the shipping, so I think I made a good buy.

But what about the bags?

I did indeed find one. Well, I found three… A black patent, that can’t have been used at all.

Brown snake skin, this one and the black one from the 70’s.

And a green one from the 40’s.

Aaaaand 2 ½ yards of a really gorgeous silk.

I’ve paid bargain prices for all of this, so now I’m afraid to go near Ebay again- I may become addicted…

More 18th century make-up

Remember my post on 18th century make-up? Well, now I have played around a bit more with modern make-up. After all, that is what most of us usually use. So, below is not one, but two, yes, I said two, versions of an 18th century make-up.


Face: White mineral foundation from Lucy Minerals.
Cheeks: Glow blush in Hypnotize from Fyrinnae.
Lips: The same blush, mixed with a little lip balm.
Eyebrows: Old, old eyebrow shadow from Colourings, Body Shop.

I always use mineral foundation and many brands have it in white. They offer it so it is possible to lighten a shade, but works well on its own too. I have recently found Lucy Minerals (Thank you Lithia!) and it is the best I have ever tried. Easy to use and not clogging at all. This make-up is very easy to do. I often use a coloured foundation insetad of white, albeit in a lighter shade than my natural skin colour.

Using this make-up as a base I added a few products to make a slightly more extreme version.

Face: White mineral foundation from Lucy Minerals + Twilight Supernatural Face and Body Powders in Sparkle from Aromaleigh.
Cheeks: Gothic Lolita Rouge in Corset, also from Aromaleigh.
Lips: Lip Lustre in Type A from Fyrinnae.
Eyes: Glow blush in Hypnotize.
Eyebrows: Old, old eyebrow shadow from Colourings, Body Shop.
Hair: Powdered with talcum powder on hairspray.

Shiny face was something to strive for and sometimes the 18th century beauty mixed powdered nacre to add to the glow. Msmcknittington tipped me of Aromaleigh’s Twilight powders. I also bought Lustre, which is less glittery than Sparkle. Lustre gives a very nice luminous effect that I liked better than Sparkle, but for a grand party, Sparkle would be fun. unfortunately, Aromaleigh closes shop in a week or so, so soon it will be hard to get.

As you see I have added rouge around my eyes for this make-up. Eye shadow wasn’t used then, but one of the nasty effects of using white make-up with lead in, are red and swollen eyes. It can even be seen on some portraits. So I added the pink as I thought it would give a nice effect of a lady who over-indulges in her white face paint.

I hope you have enjoyed this post. I had great fun doing the make-up!