Talk at Tyneside

Last night we presented a ‘Tudor Talk’ at North Shields Library. What a splendid event – more than fifty ladies attended our talk – I am pleased to report that a number of gentlemen were also present.

My Tudor Costume Talk/Lecture was a very interesting, informative, lively and sometimes humorous talk about the design/construction and inspiration for my historical gowns, as well as a brief history of the people who wore them. Integral to the event was a display of four costumes on mannequins with headdresses, fans, underwear and jewellery as well as a personal appearance by King Henry VIII.  Costumes for  Mary Queen of Scots and Anne Boleyn were included.

I also included my fabulous ornate Gold Silk Queen Elizabeth I Costume – it was created with more then 10 metres of pure silk embroidered with gold thread and ruby jewels. It was worn with an Elizabethan headdress, ornate feather fan, pearls and a fabulous jewelled ruff. I thought you may like to view my initial sketch for this costume.

Our talk was very well received and we really enjoyed chatting to the audience after the talk.  I am always happy to discuss my work and let visitors examine my costumes in more detail.

The audience also included my friends – Andrea and Lorraine – lovely ladies I have worked with in the past.  I also had the pleasure of meeting Andrea’s mother and Aunt Mary, they all said they really enjoyed my talk  – it was certainly great to meet them.

I also met a nice lady originally from Washington who is 86 years young – she was accompanied by her two daughters who are interested in costume and sewing.  They promised me they will attend my Period Fashion Show which is to be presented as part of the Washington Heritage Festival on Saturday 21^st September. We look forward to seeing them there.

http://www.sunderlandlive.co.uk/washington-heritage-festival

I would like to thank the lovely staff at the North Shields library for all their help with the show and their great hospitality.  They will be booking my new talk ‘Enter the World of Jane Austen’ – we really look forward to working with them again.