Medieval Revelry!

Theme for the month: Medieval.

And there was much rejoicing!

Seriously, there was much rejoicing! When the topic was drawn out of the hat, there was a look of delight on most faces, and a few squeals of delight! But where to start? Such a broad theme.....

There was no choice really. You tell me Medieval, and I immediately think of two things:

1) Black Adder

2) Monty Python and the Holy Grail

And as much as I love Edmund, that is not my favourite series (Prince George wins!), therefore I was left to do an ATC based around a movie that I have loved since.... well, the first time I saw it, which was many, many moons ago!

I found this cute quiz online too: Which Monty Python And The Holy Grail Character Are You?

It turns out, I am 'Sir Galahad the Pure: you may seem a bit naive and innocent on the outside, but trust me, you do have very different things on your mind from time to time!'

As much as I obviously don't buy into quizzes on the internet, ('Who will YOU marry? Surprisingly accurate!' And so on!) I thought this was a cute bit of fun.... and incidentally, a little true! But also of many people I imagine. I liked it best because Michael Palin is by far and away my favourite Python. (In fact, I am off to see him soon talking about his new book about his travels in Brazil - Michael Palin AND Brazil? Night in heaven!)

Moving on.....!

There are so many scenes that I love from this movie, I could talk to you about it all day. I have the complete script, and as much memorabilia as I can get my hands on..... don't judge! Lol..... hmmm. I even decoupaged 

a table once- it was lime formica; not cool at the time, but I'd love it now! I spent ages covering it with Monty Python calendar pictures. It was awesome, if I say so myself. Unfortunately it got irreparably water damaged in a move and had to go to table heaven... 

Once more, I take a round about course to reach my point: it was SOOOOO difficult to choose! 

Of course I had to do something, so I settled on the Migrating Swallow scene.

 

I went to my usual haunts for supplies, and found a fantastic ribbon, the pattern on it was Medieval enough.... how to marry it together? Fabric, Medieval... - Bayeux Tapestry! If you don't know what it is about, then you don't know your history! William the Conqueror? King Harold? Battle of Hastings? 1066? Any of these ring a bell?

Scene from the Bayeux Tapestry

The real tapestry is nearly 70m long... bit big for an ATC ;)

Then I found this awesome app where you can create your own scene 'Bayeux style'... Such fun! 

So, print, stitch, ink, emboss; and there we have it.

Before printing onto cotton.

I also loved the idea of manuscripts, books, history, learning.... so I added a small seal; last used on our wedding invitations, so wax is a bit fragile! 

Keeping with the manuscript theme, an Illuminated book plate label!

And my sweet little Chick made her first cards too! Titled 'Kings, Queens and Knights', she hand cut all of these (pretty good when one is not only a lefty but also has not yet mastered scissor accuracy - especially when one has a production line and has to cut 18 individual replicas! I think she did a great job. She decided on all the elements herself and I only helped by teaching her how to use mediums and processes she hadn't used before - using templates, for example.

The Background is the crown of gold, complete with jewels. She decided to downsize her original design for the shield from a 'Lion Rampant' (difficult to replicate when one wants to hand draw them all!) to an Escutcheon Or with Chevron Inverted in Sanguine. Impressed? I love heraldry :)  (Gold shield, red upside down chevron....)