What did Non-Fashionable Ladies do?

I don't mean the poor relations or the governess. I meant a lady of means who doesn't follow the Season as slavishly as she should. In that case, what she do in her space time. How is hte day organized after she wakes up? At what time would she wake up? Country time of 5 o'clock, or reasonable town time of 9 o'clock?

Thanks to everyone who knows something about thisl
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:55 am Post subject:

I think all you need to do is read any Jane Austen book. Her characters are not generally members of the ton.

But in general, women of means might engage in charitable works, visit art galleries and museums, go to lectures, belong to debating societies, etc. Not to mention the ususal at-home activities of needlework and other crafts, like penwork or netting or porcelain painting, etc. I have a couple of good books on Georgian crafts. I'm betting most ladies had some sort of craft or other hobby that took up some of their time. And reading, of course. I would guess that they would not keep country hours when in London, but would rise at 8:00 or 9:00.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:12 am Post subject:

Thanks a whole bunch. I was having a difficult time coming with something for the sister of my heroine to do, whilst well, the romance was unfolding. Thanks, I'll give P&P another close read.
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:18 pm Post subject:

I was trying to find something for my current heroine as well. I was going to consider porcelain painting, but that seemed a bit complex to deal with (with having to fire pieces, etc) and I was thinking perhaps that she would be into quilling. I want it to be something artistic that she could sell. Would that be allowed or would that be looked down on (a gentle-bred lady selling her crafts, I mean)? I wanted her to kind of do it on the side so she would have some of her own money that no one knew about.
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Live up to your potential instead of imitating someone else's. ~ Martha Burgess

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject:

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject:

That's what I thought. A "lady" would have no need to support herself... unless she has an ulterior motive, which, of course, my heroine does. Smile

I was going to have her be very good at a certain artform, whether it was painting or quilling or whatever and have her sell them to build up a nice chunk of change without her family knowing. Perhaps have her cart the stuff off to a middleman and sell under an assumed name or something.
For the porcelain painting, how did they fire the pieces? Did they own their own kilns or send them out to be fired? What other craft/arts could a lady do that would bring in a good amount of money if she was talented?
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Live up to your potential instead of imitating someone else's. ~ Martha Burgess

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:00 pm Post subject:

I don't know how marketable crafts were or where she'd sell them. But with fiction, you can always figure out a way to make it work!

As for painting porcelain, she would not mold and fire it herself. She would buy plain unpainted (but glazed) white pieces and paint over the glaze in enamels. That's what they did at the porcealin factories, too. Everything was hand-painted back then, some of it still is.

Other crafts a lady might engage in (with links to examples on various websites):
Penwork - This technique, almost exclusively done by amateurs, was used on pieces as small as tea caddies and as large as bookcases. The item was jappaned in black (a sort of faux lacquer) then the main decoration painted in white japan. Your lady would have bought such a piece, then filled in the details of the "white" areas with black Indian ink using a very fine, very sharp quill.

Rolled paper - This technique was mostly used on small objects like tea caddies or sewing boxes. The items were decorated using tiny rolls of paper that created a sort of filagree effect. BTW, this craft was also practiced by French prisoners of war held in English prisons during the Napoleonic wars. The Bennet girls were seen rolling paper for such a project in the A&E version of Pride & Prejudice.

Silkwork pictures - Painted pictures on silk could be bought and then embroidered. The faces and hands of the figures were generally left painted, eg not embroidered, as were things like clouds or distance landscapes, etc. I have several of these and they're very charming.

Knitted and netted purses - see those on my website.
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all that, Candice. That's lots to choose from. I will have to decide what direction to go with this and choose the proper artform for her to do. The penwork almost sounds like a reverse form of scrimshaw. As for the rolled paper....that's what I meant when I said quilling. Is that not the same thing?
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Live up to your potential instead of imitating someone else's. ~ Martha Burgess

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject:

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject:

What an excellent discusion here, Lady V and Candice. I've learned a lot from this and my mind is whirring on sowing seeds for the next WIP in the current one. Thank you!
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:31 am Post subject:

Funny you should say that, Keira. The thought to have my heroine do this came when Candice mentioned porcelain painting above and my heroine stepped out of my brain, grabbed me by the nose and said "I wanna do that!" and began stamping her feet. LOL It seems like such a delicate, graceful and rare artform that it could make her stand out in the story. I have never seen it mentioned in any other book I've read, so the idea of being semi-original had its perks. Very Happy

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Live up to your potential instead of imitating someone else's. ~ Martha Burgess

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:57 am Post subject:

Hey, all the best, Lady V. Editors are always on the lookout for "something new" I've been told. So looks like you may have found yours.
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:28 am Post subject:

Did you know that they use fondant and quill on cakes?? Yes, and it's very pretty. I'm not really into that style though. I know they also use quilling in scrapbooking and cardmaking. Which is another hobby I take up when I am not cake decorating.

I like the idea of your heroine being of the creative sort, I can totally identify with that. Good luck!
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~~*Diana*~~

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