Hello fellow embroidery fanatics!!!! The following people have demonstrated interest in embroidery and have all been sent out invitation letters to join the epistolary Gentle Person's Embroidery Studio! More details are in the physical letter, but you will have the option to opt-in to this circle if you so choose by responding back to me/Countess Theodora. From there I shall be connecting members (especially those who might not otherwise contact each other) with embroidery centric advice and bits of harmless gossip. How you form friendships or actually embroider from there is up to you all! @Morven Blackwood (Jenn) @Miss Beatrice Ballard (Amanda, she/her) @Amelia Rutherford (Renee) @Sophrona Ramsbury @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) @Cait Rose @Lady Jessamine St. Clair (Meredith) @(Rachel) Hazel Wynnewood @Viscountess Charlotte Hughes @H. Ada Everley Whitman (Carly) @Lady/Marquess Emmeline Petty-Fitzmaurice (Robin)

Hello all! I'll be writing to all of those interested within the next two days (sent out by 03/05/21 ), and will post a members list both in the letter and in this forum when mail is sent. Happy stitching and here's to connections over the floss and goss[ip]!

Hello! Though embroidery specific at the moment, Countess Theo intends to restart through the mail the Gentle Person's Embroidery Studio [named with some irony]. It will be a group that can share stitch patterns, floss opinions, and gossip alike, under the shared guise of the delicate societal arts! Once I am able to send out some letters in the next couple days I can provide you with more details too! I'd love to connect more people, and also to support your own endeavors in the fiber arts @Amelia Rutherford!

Hello Countess Aylssandra Greenthorne of Huntington, it is I Countess Theodora Monroe of Gloucester, and I would love to write to you regarding our mutual interests! Theodora is also fond of Scientific research, gardening, nutrition, providing educational opportunities and support for orphans through her charitable societies. The Guardian House Orphanage and the Felicity Scholarship Fund are programs seeking guidance from individuals such as yourself. We are also soon to be tackling a conundrum regarding a military orphan who has earned a scholarship but refuses higher education. He instead desires it be put towards a military commission. This is cause for much discussion. I shall write to you as soon as possible regarding these commonalities, and your potential membership to these societies!

Hello! I have some very general advice for this sort of thing. Here is a general template below (with an assumption of she/her [change out Lord, Lady, etc.] and that players already understand their own proper titles): Character Name: Title Jane Doe Character Pronouns: she/her How to address you on envelope: Title Jane Doe How to address you in letter: Formal/Traditional: First mention is Title Jane Doe. All later mentions are Lady Doe or Lady or Doe. Informal: First mention is Lady Doe. All later mentions are name or nickname as you see via friendship. How to refer to you in writing: Same as above with formality/informality. And here is a good guide for my character Countess Theodora Monroe precisely: Character Name: Countess Theodora Monroe Character Pronouns: she/her How to address you on envelope: Countess Theodora How to address you in letter: Lady Monrow How to refer to you in writing: Ladh Monroe Characters favorite/preferred color(s) (for trinkets): Lavender and cream!

The real question is, as trade/contact with the Americas was established in 1580, but by non-Europeans... does Ireland still have the potato based staple crop system?

@Duke James Richmond (Greg) Most assuredly! I should be most obliged if you should send me a letter first, and let me know exactly what I can assist you with. I am very open for providing mentorship and advice for my dear Duke, should he need it.

@ Duke James Richmond (Greg) -- I may not be 'local' to Bath, but I do live in Gloucester (about a 10 hour carriage pace ride away). And so may have easily attended the occasional Bath summer with my best friend @Lady Violet Heloise Blankeney-Coventry (Elizabeth) or visited my cousin @Duchess Eudora St. Clair in Bath, if you would like us to have ever met in person. Additionally, I am likely mentoring the good Duchess Eudora into transitioning into a "proper Duchess" and so, if you should like, you can have the same Angel on Shoulder treatment~

Though some of them will be considered too fanciful or too anachronistic for a true Regency experience, I am partial to cheesy historical romance novels! These will not fall under the umbrella of complete accuracy for the real period or our alt-history but they are very enjoyable nonetheless! Julia Quinn, a classic Regency romance author, behind the Bridgertons Suggestion: "The Sum of All Kisses" -My first ever cheesy Regency read, with a thoughtful heroine with relatable flaws and feelings, sister bonding, and a moody mathematician who permanently injured his leg in a duel. Amanda Quick, combines romance with mystery and supernatural elements Suggestion: "I Thee Wed" -An absolute romp between a paid companion and famed author, with arcane potions, dastardly villains, and a crime to solve! Cat Sebastian, the premier LGBT+ Regency romance author! Suggestion: "A Gentleman Never Keeps Score" -A moral man/ex-boxer running a pub? A rakeish con-artist gentleman? Both on a semi-criminal mission to recover and destroy scandalous paintings taken of vulnerable people. Thoughtful depictions of the life of a Black protagonist in the period too. Olivia Waite, rom-columnist for the NYT Book Review, great f/f romances! Suggestion: "The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics" -Intelligent women facing pushback with publishing groundbreaking science, that are also in love, that are also dealing with loss and longing and age differences. Great!

Such an acomplished young woman of impeccable upbringing! As you are skilled in embroidery, and I had the unique pleasure of knowing your sister at Oxford for some brief years, I extend an invitation to our Ladies Embroidery Club. Though we cannot meet in person quite yet, you can discuss stitch patterns and later correspond with myself, the Duchess St.Clair, Lady Rutherford, and Miss Wynnewood. (I look forward to writing you! Best of luck in finding romance, frenemies, and enemies alike. Here is a way to introduce you and @(Rachel) Hazel Wynnewood too. Happy hunting!)

Step 1: Read cheesy Regency romance novel Step 2: Talk myself through common interests and issues funny accent and cadence Step 3: PROFIT

This is about what Napoleonic territories (and allies) looked like in 1811, with the exception of Spain being a much more grey area. Note how Britain, Portugal, Russia, and Sweden are standing firm while most of continental Europe has been taken.

Without accounting for conflicts occurring in colonial areas (as they do not exist in this timeline) here is a brief primer of events happening in the Napoleonic wars. No major battles are included, as this is a summary. Pre-1811 - Establishment of Napoleonic France: * Napoléon Bonaparte, "Emperor of France" seized power military dictatorship in France in 1799 effectively ending the widespread French Revolution through out the country. * The last of the French Revolutionary Wars (direct war from major monarchal powers like Britain, Austria, Russia against the Revolutionary basis of new government in attempts to reestablish the French monarchy) wrapped up in March 1802. * After a brief peace until 1803, allied monarchal powers under Britain went heavily to war with Napoleon, who established the powerful land Grande Armée, a huge pan-European fighting force. * However, Britain retained- through grit, industry, and much sacrifice- naval superiority. Many battles were fought, with Napoleon's forces eventually taking the vast majority of continental Europe by 1810, aside from Portugal. * A continuing war on the Iberian penninsula is underway from 1809-onward. Spain has been overthrown and it's monarchy replaced by rule of Napoleon's brother Joseph. * War has continued, essentially unstopped on small scales, from 1803 on. 1811 Onward - "Recent Events": * Napoleonic France and its allies continue to threaten the existence of Britain with constant clashes of Army on European lands with and Navy battles at sea. * Trade with continental Europe is all but stopped with Britain due to naval embargos imposed by both sides, though Britain maintains a large fleet in the Iberian Peninsula, in home waters, and protecting trade routes in the Mediterranean. * Portugal and Spain peoples have established the "first" widespread use of civilian and military guerilla tactics against the French army. * Approximately 1.5 million so far have died in the Napoleonic Wars, either through military battle or through French killing of civilian opposition. * Russia remains unconquered, and an ally to Britain.

And I as well~~~

The year would be 1787, and the good Duchess has kindly agreed we can be Birthday date buddies! @ Duke James Richmond

I love that idea! Tavvi would be very kind to send pressed flowers~

Also I realized this picture served as a great example that the only things I am used to drawing are people, horses, and plants in that order haha~

Hello @Eliseo Isidore Ximénez my apologies for not seeing this response earlier! Lady Theodora would very much like to hear of the tales of the complex situation in Basque, and feels deeply resonant with your need to uphold family title but being drawn away from personal desires/needs. Please write as soon as we are able! And hello to newcomer @Mr. James Hughes MP, a true politician with a good heart towards helping the hungry. That is quite wonderful in a modern man! Please write Countess Theodora Monroe post haste and you shall receive all the information you wish to know about the Society for Nutrition. Membership is welcoming plenty of intelligent patrons who might advance the cause of charity and science for the good of all the hungry bellies in England (and beyond)!

OMG @Duchess Eudora St. Clair that is MY real life birthday that I was planning on using for Theodora's also! Would you mind very greatly if we share? I can also choose another birthday as well if you wish!

Hello @Duchess Eudora St. Clair & @Meredith White I would love to be part of an embroidery club! Also, though your base familial connections appear correct on the tree, you can add dates of birth and death here for greater detail. https://familyecho.com/p=ZNXVB&c=hl14f7er54&f=737169162527464936