Presentations

Aylwen Gardiner-Garden is available to visit museums, schools and heritage sites to teach hands-on textile history. All talks last for about 1 hour and she is happy to stay afterwards to chat with audience members and show antique and modern reproduction fashion items in greater detail. Below are some ideas on which Aylwen can present, however she is happy to work in with your ideas for any period between 1450 and 1900.

She often joins her husband, John Gardiner-Garden, who teaches historic dance workshops in schools.

More recently Aylwen and John have been presenting in the US, UK, France, Austria and Germany, and in Canberra at the Canberra Girls Grammar School, Telopea Park Primary School, St Clare's College, Burgmann Anglican School, the ACT Library Service.

Contact Aylwen to discuss fees and dates.

Talks:

Dressing a Medieval/Renaissance Lady
Jane Austen's Wardrobe
Dressing Mr Darcy
Corsets & Crinolines, oh my!

Demonstrations:

How a Gentleman's Top Hat is made
Spinning wool, stinging nettle and flax
Weaving on a table loom
Tablet weaving
Embroidery
How to dye with natural plant dyes
Dyeing with Indigo

1/4-1/2 Day Workshops/Activities

Make a blackwork medieval sweet bag
Sew medieval board games (boys love this one!)
Elizabethan blackwork basics
Outdoor lawn games from the early 1800s
Learn a medieval sword dance (with Aylwen & John Gardiner-Garden)

1-2 Day Workshops/Activities

Make a regency bonnet
Make a regency dress

Requirements:

two large tables for each presentation
a private room to change in (if necessary)
travel expenses at 50c per km to/from Yarralumla (ACT)
suitable accommodation, where necessary, overnight

Recommendations:

I have had the privilege of being at several of Aylwen Gardiner-Garden’s very interesting costuming presentations. Over several years I have seen her present on the Elizabethan, Regency and Victorian eras. In each situation she has been interesting, appropriate and very informative showing an extensive knowledge not only of costuming, but the social context of life in this time. I have always left feeling as if I have learnt a lot from her presentations and am in a position to share some of this with others. Of particular interest was her “Dressing Mr Darcy” presentation on Regency male clothing – a hilarious presentation with a “live” Mr Darcy going from his underclothes to a very fine frock coat, boots and top hat. I highly recommend Aylwen as a presenter.
MG, Canberra

We have a mediaeval faire held over three days at the end of the school year. I once again employed the Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy to present a learning programme to the entire cohort, but I also employed Aylwen to deliver elective workshops to students prior to the final day of dancing and feasting. The discussions with Aylwen relating to the content of the workshops, the materiel requirements and budgeting were thorough, timely and professional. Much prior preparation was undertaken efficiently by Aylwen and the delivery of the workshop to an audience that offered some challenges was all completed with aplomb and excellence. The responses from the students after the workshop were unequivocally positive, and requests were made to repeat the sessions in future. My observation of the workshop only assured me of Aylwen’s skills in delivery and, once again, her extensive understanding.
NB, BAS, Canberra

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