shwmae pronounced "shoe-my" Hello, from South Wales hair jewelry for sale at http://www.gardensofwhimsy.etsy.com/ Let us take a peek at the women of the Medieval Castle today. Great Eras Collection, Medieval Barbie, 1995 From the scouring servants to the kitchen to the ladies in waiting, to the master hall, the castle couldn't have been run properly without women. Duh! (Of course, a properly run castle also needed men!) card from Rubber Stamp Avenue's Gallery, using RSA stamps I will be adding more cards from RubberStampAvenue's Card Gallery. I love her stamps! You can see most of her catalog here: http://www.rubberstampave.com/index.html If you love pirates, mermaids, knights, oh, just every category... she has it! Visit, order, and say Karen from Brighton sent you! http://www.rubberstampave.com/ I like this one because it looks to me like the 'princess' is just enjoying a nice day outside, and there are these knights on horses rushing around, but she doesn't seem alarmed at all. They're just silly knights you know. That's what they do! Donegal Castle Keep, restored, Ireland Liana has made some wonderful paper doll costumes that fit with our theme: She has stopped creating her wonderful paper doll costumes. I am very sad. You can see her extensive old blogs here: http://www.joechip.net/liana/ I think we should all inundate her with requests for more! :0) The traditional view of Maids in the time of Chivalry and Knights is swooning fainting delicate fragile idle. This is, of course, the romanticized view of women because of the Chivalry Code. "The institution of chivalry forms one of the most remarkable features in the history of the Middle Ages." - Horatio Alger I will talk about Chivalry in another blog, as today we devote our time to M'Lady Faire. painting, a scene from King Lear, Shakespeare Princess of the Irish Court, Barbie, 2001 Burresheim Castle, Germany vintage illustration  Portrait of a Woman by Robert Campin c.1420 Here are some paintings from the Medieval Ages that show women doing a bit more than swooning fainting being delicate and fragile and idle. Women as Warriors, c.1430 Spinning Hunting writing Why not take inspiration from some of the paintings above, and draw and color some more outfits for this Lady. Medieval painting, woman milking cow Zarnek Malborku Poland, 13th century fantasy prince and princess to color a Fantasy Lady's costume from Liana: inspired from the movie "Voyage of the Dawn Treader", based on the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis from an article about historical women's accessories www.yesnet.yk.ca I have enjoyed this adventure through Medieval Ages, from the woman's perspective. Oh yes, I still have more castles and knights and Chivalry to come! hand tinted vintage illustration of Romeo and Juliet Not quite the Medieval Ages, but still cool! inkspired http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/ http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/ [email protected]