Welcome to Scarabs and Silk, the intriguing world of Ancient Egyptian civilization, where the rich tapestry of fashion, art and daily life unfolds in intricate detail. My name is Anela, though in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), I am known as Talia bint al-Athir, a Pelican and Court Baroness formerly of the Kingdom of Caid and now residing in the Kingdom of An Tir.

My journey into the pages of history is deeply personal, shaped by my unique blend of interests and experiences. As a second-generation member of the SCA, my passion for historical research was kindled early on, and it has been fueled by my academic studies in psychology and sociology, and my own indigenous cultural upbringings. As a forensic psychologist, holding a PsyD, I tread into the fascinating corridors of the human mind. My pursuits however reach far beyond that realm. As a devoted Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner, I delve into a wide array of cultural arts such as the graceful movements of Hula, the harmonies of Hawaiian music, and the exquisite details of “hulu”, or feather work. My goal in these practices and all similar pursuits is to educate and sensitize people to the depth and beauty of various cultures.

Life has led me down a path where the intersection of clothing, sociology, women’s studies, fashion archaeology, and the psychology behind fashion meet. My gaze has traversed a rich array of cultures, as vast as Hawaiian, Seljuk, Ottoman, and Persian – not to exclude my brief studies and ventures in Minoan, Mongolian, and various other cultural attires.

Although my fingers once danced upon fabrics, stitching tales of times long gone, they’ve since been stilled by the challenge of Systemic Sclerosis/Scleroderma, a rare autoimmune ailment I was diagnosed with five years ago. The disease presented me with both visible and invisible challenges, particularly affecting my fine motor skills. This unforeseen twist in my Arts and Sciences journey shifted my primary focus from sewing to deep-drive research, but my passion burns as brightly as ever.

Now, I invite you to embark on a mesmerizing odyssey through the sands of time to the heart of Ancient Egypt, the primary muse for this blog. From my earliest memories, Egypt has enchanted me, pulling me toward its captivating history, its art, its jewelry, and above all, its fashion. This allure of the mysterious civilization was further heightened by the loving connection to Egypt through my wonderful husband and his family, natives to Cairo, and their support of my passion in their culture.

While my research stretches over two decades, I hesitated to share these gems, aware of the immense breadth of Ancient Egyptian history. However, the inspiration I gleaned from a small number of friends and fellow SCA members exploring Egyptian personas prompted this endeavor. This blog aims to be your compass, steering you through the labyrinthine world of Ancient Egyptian clothing, accessories, and cosmetics. Here, you’ll discover patterns, tutorials, and a wealth of information on the mesmerizing era, its daily life, and sociological facets. Navigating through millions of books and articles on Ancient Egyptian clothing and textiles can be daunting. Thus, I dedicate this blog to sharing my endeavors in recreating historically accurate, or at least probable, ancient Egyptian clothing, garb suitable for the SCA while accommodating modern sensibilities, accompanying accoutrement, and whatever else may suit my fancy while hopefully sparking your interest as well.

Join me as we unwrap the mysteries of Ancient Egypt together, one tale at a time, bringing life to the colors, textures and nuances of a world that continues to fascinate and inspire. Whether you’re a scholar of Egyptology like me or simply curious about a time long past, I welcome you to this exciting journey into the wonders of Ancient Egypt.