Freeform Friday: a visit to Downton

Warning: this post may have you craving scones and high tea. You may have a compulsion to dress for dinner. However, for the rare few who have NOT watched PBS's Downton Abbey, there may be a few small spoilers. Beware. 

This is how the day began: tea with the Aunties. My friend Angela had made me an honorary aunt to her daughters Jordan and Ellie ( my students of 10 years...).  It was a sumptuous spread, only missing the Devon clotted cream*, sadly. 

Winterthur - HF Dupont's home from his birth in 1880 to his death in 1969. 

We headed off to Winterthur, historical house/museum in Wilmington DE. This house was the duPont family estate, founded in 1837 and made public by H.F. duPont in the 1950's. Tours are available of the house, still furnished in the duPont's style, and the museum hosts a large collection of decorative arts, dating from 1640-1860. The garden's  are also a showpiece, and seasonal tours are a must. 

Winterthur is currently hosting an exhibit of the costumes from PBS's Downton Abbey. The exhibit drew parallels between the two countries/lifestyles/families very well. A lovely thoughtful synthesis of history and pop culture. 

But really - its all about the dresses... I was excited to see things up close, and reading some of the details - so impressive. The costume department had 7 weeks to create all the fashions for a season. In many cases a dress was inspired by a piece of period accurate lace/beading/fabric and replicated to match from there. (So while this post isn't "art jewelry" per se - its personal adornment, bead embroidery, and so much inspiration!) Without further ado... 

Cora's dress - hard to imaging wearing it - it was SO ethereal. Amazing beaded front panel. 

Cora again. This long velvet duster was a dark olive and truly the thing I coveted most in the entire exhibit.  The center panel on the skirt is off center because they only had so much antique beaded motif to work with, so they designed it in regardless. 

Wearing this to dinner? I can see the need for a Lady's maid to do touch ups and mend loose beads. 

Just beadwork. Because it was so stunning. The black/white/silver piece on the left made me gasp out loud. No exaggeration. The top right dress was worn by Cousin Rose - flapper style sheet covered in bugle beads. The bottom purple number was worm by Matthew's mother if I remember correctly. 

Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess. Need I say more? 

Mary and Matthew's  attire from the fateful night - of their proposal. So bittersweet.  This dress was oddly unembellished, just multicolored seed beads at the ruffles edges and a pendant piece stitched on as a focal in the front.

Edith. Poor Edith. Details from her wedding gown. 

Sibyl, ever the fashion forward sister stunned the room when she appeared in this for dinner. It was pants! Harem pants of silk... but this embroidered bodice was more stunning to me. 

Lady Sibyl again - an embroidered velvet number styled after Parisian trends  of the 20's. 

If you are near Wilmington DE between now and January - I highly recommend this exhibit. It was a lovely fan moment to see the costumes yet it successfully transported me back in time. There were pieces on display from the employees as well, but as I was focused on embellishments... "Service" was accurately represented, in all their contrast. 

My mother taught my sisters and me to embroider in different decorative stitches when we were quite young. Its a skill we have all retained to varying degrees. That combined with my new love of seed beads... hmm. Ideas are brewing. I'll let them steep a while... ( puns intended)

*Cream tea:  The Devonshire (or Devon) method is to split the scone in two, cover each half with clotted cream, and then add strawberry jam on top. Traditionally it is important that the scones be warm (ideally, freshly baked), and that clotted (rather than whipped) cream and strawberry jam, rather than any other variety, are used. Butter is generally not included, and the tea should be served with milk.

Whatever your plans for the "weekend" - have a good one!
Jenny

*Cream tea: There are regional variations as to how a cream tea should preferably be eaten. The Devonshire (or Devon) method is to split the scone in two, cover each half with clotted cream, and then add strawberry jam on top. Traditionally it is important that the scones be warm (ideally, freshly baked), and that clotted (rather than whipped) cream and strawberry jam, rather than any other variety, are used. Butter is generally not included, and the tea should be served with milk.

Freeform Friday: Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos in Old Town San Diego. Ofrenda altar, paper mache calavera, ceramic Muertos figurine, papel picado. (Images - Jenny Davies-Reazor)

I have always been drawn to the Dia de Los Muertos. I have lived in a city where it is celebrated exuberantly; I have taught it as an art/culture project. At this time of year, I set up altars in my home to remember the loved ones that are no longer with me... I think acknowledging death is healthy - as this holiday strives to recognize death as a part of life - to be respected, honored, but not avoided or made taboo. In Mexico and many other locations near and far, families gather. Graves are weeded and decorated. Altars arranged with photos and favorite foods of the departed. And through stories, jokes, symbols and memories - the departed are with the living once again. 

Sugar skulls are an iconic item created, decorated, gifted, and offered at this time of year. Traditionally covered in colorful patterns of icing, colored foils, and even rhinestones - they can get extremely elaborate! Skulls, or calaveras such as these pictured here were my inspiration this week. 

Sugar skulls. 

The original sculpting...

The first batch I created was in porcelain... and I have impressed designs and patterns into the clay. Loops are also embedded for stringing, etc. I have not applied the clear glaze and fired them for the second glaze firing yet...

The second batch (shown below) is polymer. I wanted to build patterns up - which I can do with porcelain of course... but I wanted to stick things in! That inherent difference between the clays has piqued my renewed interest in polymer of late.

Floral and impressed designs

A plethora of pretties. Glass beads and gems embedded in polymer. 

I regret to say there is no completed reveal as of yet. Dia de los Muertos isn't until November 1st! I have a little time. But if you feel the need to shop for sugar skull inspired pretties - let me tempt your palette with these sweet offerings from fellow artist/jewelers/component makers: 

Shopping for sugar skulls: Gaea beads, Joan Miller porcelain, Green Girl Studios, Earthenwood Studio. 

I hope you have enjoyed this festive, colorful post. Were you familiar with the Day of the Dead? Enjoy the season as leaves turn and the air feels crisp... and I leave you with one more stunning beauty...

Ceramic "Catrina" Calavera. Image: Linda Landig

These dazzling detailed sculptures depict a female skeleton known as "Catrina" named after the famous zinc etching by Jose Posada in 1910.

"La Calavera Catrina" print by Jose Posada.