Of the Roman noblewoman Fulvia (wife of Marc Antony), the historian Plutarch wrote, “She was a woman who took no interest in spinning or managing a household, nor could she be content to rule a husband who had no ambition for public life: her desire was to govern those who governed or to command a…
History
Thursday Book Club: Juana La Loca
Halloween is coming, so it’s a good time for spooky jewelry! Yesterday, I gave you bats. Today I give you skulls. My Juana Skull Necklace is now available in sterling silver with white sapphire eyes for $500. Juana Skull Necklace © Wendy Brandes 2007-2008 Want it? Email me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com. The…
Bet You’ve Never Heard Anyone Say This
I’m so excited to read my new book, Women in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium! (What’s Byzantium? Click here for info.)
Thursday Book Club: Southern-Fried Kansas
My last Book Club post took a lot out of me. In fact, Book Club posts always take a lot out of me. When I had drinks with my old friend Dave Kansas recently and was reminded that he majored in history, I realized I could interview him by email for a Book Club post,…
Thursday Book Club: Inspired by Poland
Last week, I told you how my recent trip to Poland inspired me to read Sala’s Gift and The Lost, but I never got around to talking about the books themselves. I’ll rectify that now and, to thank you for your patience, I’ll throw in a number of bonus book suggestions as well. Sala Garncarz…
Thursday Book Club Is a Lesson of 2 Evils
It’s been a while since my last Book Club post. Last month’s visit to Warsaw and Krakow made me (temporarily) set aside my medieval queens in order to read two books about Polish Jews and the Holocaust: Sala’s Gift and The Lost. I had read a lot about the Holocaust in the past in part…
Cleves Ring: Completed
Remember the wax model of my Cleves Ring? Here’s the finished version in silver. These are just photos I took myself, rather than the professional photos that will eventually appear on my website. In the professional photos, you’ll be able to see that the swans have tiny diamond eyes. Front viewCleves Ring© Wendy Brandes 2007-2008…
London, Day 5: Out of Town
Yesterday we took a taxi, two trains, a bus and another taxi (one way) to visit the ruins of Kenilworth Castle. Kenilworth Why was I so determined to get there? Because the castle has many links to the royal ladies in my life. The castle was given to its first owner by Empress Matilda‘s dad,…
Thursday Book Club: Katherine Swynford
Now that I think about it, it makes sense that Henry VIII (also known to Googlers as “Henry teh 8) was addicted to love. It was in his genes! The corpulent lady-killer was a descendant of notorious 14th-century lovers: John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford. John of Gaunt wasn’t called that because he was rexi.He…
Cleves Ring: A Work in Progress
I’ve been working on a swan ring to match my Cleves Necklace. Here is the necklace. Cleves Necklace © Wendy Brandes 2007-2009 Photo by John Muggenborg The Cleves Ring will have two swans facing each other, forming a heart with their necks. All together now: Awwwwww! Here is an unfinished wax model of the ring….