Amy Mitten and Elizabeth Tudor

Hi everyone,

I know I said that I was MIA for a while but whilst I am still getting myself organised for our BIG trip, a dear blogging friend (Serena) directed me to check out my latest newsletter from Amy Mitten more carefully as she is about to embark on a new series of tutorials for creating some Elizabeth I items - yay! yay! and yay!

So, keep an eye out on Amy Mitten  on January 15!

Okay, have to dash - heaps to do to get ready for Taiwan!

hugs, Kaye

P.S. I have just discovered that I can now drag images straight into the blog draft - how useful is that?  Thank you Mr Blogger!

MIA

.... this post is going to go on this blog and all of my SAL blogs, too.  You may have noticed that I have been MIA for a couple of weeks now and I am so sorry but I cannot see that changing for a while!  I am uberbusy at work setting up a important project before I go away on leave in a week or so.  At the same time, I am uberbusy at home, trying to get organised to go away for our big trip!

Something had to give, and I promise you, it has not been the stitching but it has been the blogging!  I cannot see that changing in the next week and a half before we go, unfortunately!

Where are we going, I hear you ask?  Well, TraderVic and I are off to Taiwan for DS1 and his wife's Taiwanese wedding - why have one wedding in a year when you can have two?  We attend the wedding then we will be travelling around Taiwan for a while then it is off to a lovely resort in Kota Kinabalu in Borneo for the rest and relaxation part of our holiday  and then Singapore - should be a lovely trip if I can get everything organised, that is!

So, you will not see me on any of the blogs, I do not think between now and mid to late January, I shouldn't think.  I will try to read blogs while I am away but not too sure how much blogging of my own I will get done!

If you are a Facebook friend, keep an eye on my feed if you would like to follow our travels.

Merry Christmas to you all, lots of blessings and a Happy New Year,

See you all next year,

lots and lots of hugs, Kaye

Book Review: The Queen's Gambit

Hi fellow Tudorphiles,

Ages since I posted and ages since I actually did any Tudor stitching but life has been crazy busy and just crazy around here lately!  So sorry!

However, I have had time to listen to a great Tudor novel on Audible (when I go for my walk on my way home from work).

It is the first in a trilogy about "forgotten" Tudors.  This first one is about Katherine Parr, Henry Viii's sixth wife.  Here is the publisher's blurb about the novel:

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived: This is the story of the one who survived. 

Widowed for the second time at age thirty-one Katherine Parr falls deeply for the dashing courtier Thomas Seymour and hopes at last to marry for love. Instead, she attracts the amorous attentions of the ailing, egotistical, and dangerously powerful Henry VIII. No one is in a position to refuse a royal proposal so, haunted by the fates of his previous wives—two executions, two annulments, one death in childbirth—Katherine must wed Henry and rely on her wits and the help of her loyal servant Dot to survive the treacherous pitfalls of life as Henry’s queen. Yet as she treads the razor’s edge of court intrigue, she never quite gives up on love.

And here is  a link to a review in The Guardian and to Elizabeth Fremantle's website.

As I said, I actually listened to the novel on Audible, and I enjoyed the narration immensely.  If you are into "talking" books, then I can highly recommend "reading" it in that way.

I intend to download the 2nd and 3rd novels in the trilogy to listen to whilst I am away on our trip.  The second novel is about Lady Jane Grey's two sisters (who survive her execution) and the third is set in Elizabeth II's court, towards the end of her reign.  Both sound really good and are read by the same narrator as the first, whom I really enjoyed listening to.

Anyway, enough from me for now.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, 

hugs, Kaye

Book Review: Root of the Tudor Rose

This was a thoroughly entertaining and great read by Mari Griffith. It's the tragic story of Henry V and his young bride, Catherine de Valois. They truly loved each other and had a son, Henry VI. Finding herself widowed at a young age, Catherine needed to protect her young son from the intrigues and manipulation of those who want to seize power.  I'd give it FIVE STARS.

The case of the disappearing wives.....

Thanks to my dear friend, Ewa, these fantastic mugs from the BBC shop were brought to my attention!

History comes alive with our remarkable Disappearing Wives of Henry VIII Mug. This large mug features images of King Henry and all six of his wives. When you pour in any hot beverage, the poor wives vanish, leaving behind their outlines, names, and the manner in which they departed Henry's company. 3 1/4" diameter, 10oz.

Here is the link:  BBC shop

Hmm! I wonder how much shipping to Australia is - I so want/need/have to have one!   lol!

Have a great day everyone, 

hugs, 

Time for another Tudor Quiz...

.... just click on the link below and don't forget to let us know how you went.... I got 80% right! Yay!

TUDOR QUIZ

Hugs, Kaye

Happy Birthday, Liz

September 7th is the birthday of Queen Elizabeth I.....

Elizabeth I, Ermine Portrait by Nicholas Hilliard

Great portrait, isn't it?

hugs, 

Life Size Anne Boleyn Wax Figure

Oh dear - you MUST take a look at this Q & A with Emily Pooley over at On the Tudor Trail. She created a life size figure of Anne Boleyn now on display at Hever Castle.  Here's Anne's face:

Isn't she beautiful?!?!? No wonder Henry fell for Anne. Take a peek at The Tudor Trail . It's amazing!!

Goldwork

I love exploring the history behind things. I got hooked on gold work when taking a seminar from The Royal House of Needlework several years ago.  Here's my second project in the works. It's from an ANG Correspondence Course called "English Heart I":

Goldwork is believed to have originated in China centuries ago.  It spread to Egypt, to Italy and Spain, Western Europe and eventually to North America. Goldwork can even be found in the tombs of the pharaohs.

Gold has historically been a symbol of affluence and high social status. It’s one of the oldest form of English embroidery with records dating before the 10^th century. Goldwork was traditionally created for church vestments and trappings. Because specially trained groups created this embroidery, only the very wealthy could afford to retain the artisans. It was classed as a great art, because of its fine art concept and historical properties.

“Then came Henry the VIII’s reign, which brought an end to this glorious period in English Goldwork Embroidery. With his split from the Catholic Church, the destruction of all things connected with Goldwork Embroidery was the order of the day.

“As with everything Catholic, they were destroyed or melted down for their gold content value. The loss of all these valuable garments the quality of which will never be reproduced again was inestimable."  Information Courtesy of The Golden Hinde

Though Henry VIII destroyed thousands of valuable garments, he didn’t flinch when it came to his own attire. He had his clothing embellished to gold and jewels. Elizabeth I was known for her richly embellished dresses and robes.

Unfortunately, today it’s an uncommon skill, as few embroiderers work this fine art today. I encourage you to go to The Golden Hinde for more information. The website is rich with information about this fabulous form of embroidery. 

“Try it – You might like it!”

House of Tudor Quiz

Oh dear - I seem to be a bit wanting after taking the House of Tudor Quiz. My score was average - 1081/1500.  The countdown clock kind of rattled me a bit, but it was fun. Pop on over and see if you can better my score. It was fun!

Short Story and Book Reviews

I just read "Dear Henry: Confessions of the Queens" by Judith Arnopp. It was an interesting spin and insight into what she thought the queens must have thought in their last days. A short read, but worth the time.

Another book that is very well done by Ms. Arnopp is "A Song of Sixpence".  It's the story of Elizabeth of York and Perkin Warbeck. Told in the first person, I found myself as conflicted as Elizabeth and the choices she was forced to make throughout her life. This is truly a book for any Tudorphile.

Enjoy!

Are you a Tudor Queen or Peasant?

Click on the link below the picture to find out.  Don't forget to leave a comment telling us which one you are!

Take Quiz

Have fun!

P.S.
Ooh, I just took the Quiz.

You now need to address me as Your Grace, the Duchess of Eaglemont! lol!

(One wrong - the one about the portrait of Lady Jane Grey in the National Gallery)

Tudor Tuesdays Blog Button

Hello fellow Tudorphiles,

Please feel free to download our brand new Blog Button - Catherine Parr, stitched by our very own Kim!

If you like you can place  Catherine on your sidebar but don't forget to link back to this blog!

hugs, Kaye

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Tudor Tuesdays SAL is here!

My Swapaway Friend, Kim (Wisdom with Needle and Thread), and I are Tudorphiles (aka, Tudor Crazy Ladies). Anything Tudor strikes our fancy. A few years ago, I started a “Tudor Tuesday” Facebook page so we could share any Tudor stitching-themed pieces with other Tudor-crazed fans.

Well, Kim and I always seem to be on the same wave-length (even though we live 9,517 miles apart). Whilst chatting on Gmail the other day, Kim asked me if I thought a “Tudor Tuesday” blog would be a good idea, as some people LOVE the Tudors, as well, but don’t belong to Facebook. My exact response was

"Hi Kim, We are SSF - I just thought of that about five mins ago!  lol!”

So – we have just launched this new blog called “Tudor Tuesdays”.  It will be for Tudor Fanatics to post about anything Tudor (on any Tuesday of the month). It can be about books, movies, TV shows, stitching, interesting Tudor history factoids….whatever you’d like to share with other Tudorphiles.

So – without any further adieu, let’s play! Please join us! Simply comment here or send either Kim or I a note you’d like to join us and discover more about everything Tudor!

P.S. You know you’re a Tudorphile when your husband and your children refuse to go on an overseas holiday to London with you because they just KNOW that you will drag them to see Hampton Court Palace AGAIN!                                                              OR

You know you're a Tudorphile whenever you mention Henry VIII and you get an 'eye roll' from your daughter and husband. They both sigh and say - in unison - "NOT AGAIN!"