Natly Vale

The nine-horned deer is an ancient Lithuanian mythological creature that carries celestial bodies in its antlers. It is said that the deer runs away on the Summer Solstice and returns at Christmas, carrying the newborn Sun in its antlers, and with it new life. I tried to fit as much symbolism as I could into this costume over the past couple of months. The GENERAL look and shape is inspired by traditional Lithuanian costume, with horizontal dominant patterns. The apron depicts the “Song to Lithuania” cut out, used with permission by Lithuanian folk artist Odeta Bražėnienė. It includes notable features such as the Baltic tree of life and grass snakes, a major symbol of the home in Lithuanian pagan religions. In fact, grass snakes were revered as sacred and many families kept them as pets or guardians. The patterns underneath were direct tracings of traditional patterns representing horses, crow’s eyes, crosses, and goat’s feet. Adorning the headdress is amber, known as “Lithuanian gold.” The headdress also contains a traditional crown known as karuna. Typically made from birch bark, it is a crown of triangles sewn together with ribbons running down the back. On the staff, I have made my own sodai, or straw garden, with materials imported straight from Lithuania. These are elaborate geometric patterns made from dried rye grains, woven together with linen twine. Sodai are typically placed in the home, over cribs, or over a wedding- they symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Lithuania was the last country in Europe to be converted to Christianity in 1387 from paganism. I’m hoping my costume will inspire you to do your own research into our lesser known folkloric origins. ***DISCLAIMER: Please understand this is an artists rendition INSPIRED design and not 100% traditional Lithuanian clothing. It is meant to have an element of mythology associated with it. This is MY interpretation of the nine horned deer, as a Lithuanian person. Photos by the fantastic @molkerphoto Please support the Lithuanian artists! Skirt Design: Used with permission LithuaniaArt (ETSY) Sodai: Kit from RagaineBaltik (ETSY) #folklore #lithuania #cosplay References: included under reel

💚Happy Saint Patrick's Day💚 Are you doing anything special? I may be 5% irish (according to 23 and me) but I usually don't do much for it. 🤔 . . . . . . #cottagecore #cottagestyle #fairycore #fairy #mushroom #mushroomhat #fantasy #cosprogress #cosplay #cosplaygirl #cottagecoreaesthetic #fairycosplay #costume #costumemaker #propmaker #foamsmith #costume

Well, excuuuUUUse me, princess. ✌️ . Lighting in collaboration with @elchoengineering EVA Foam : @yayahan @joann_stores Plastazote: @coscom_cosplaysupplies Costume: @natly_cosplay Cosmetics: @nyxcosmetics Photo: @climacam . . . . . #breathofthewild #breathofthewild2 #cosplay #tearsofthekingdom #botw #halloween #halloweencostume #nintendo #nintendoswitch #nintendodirect #cosplay #linkcosplay #linktober #zelda #zeldacosplay #evafoamcosplay #evafoam #foamsmith #YesJOANN

Unless you’re a furry at the Maryland Renaissance Faire, in which case, your money isn’t good there anymore, apparently 😬 . Outfit for @renattheden last night, thank you for asking me to be your photographer for the evening! It was so fun to shoot this style of event! ☺️ Keep an eye out for the photos in the coming days! #renaissancefestival #pirate #muskateers

Happy Bealtaine (Beltane), Jorė, May Day 🌳🌱 Celebrated over at the Sproutwood May Day Faerie Festival with a few wonderful friends! It was so nice to escape the mundane and be a little whimsical ✨🧚 Skirt: @karma.suitsya Chatelaine: @ladyepi Crystal Necklace: @realm.and.reason Belt Bag: @zebopfrederick Tops/Headscarf/Green man necklace: Thrifted #fairyfestival #beltane #elf

The nine-horned deer or Elnias Devyniaragis is an ancient Lithuanian mythological creature that carries celestial bodies in its antlers. It is said that the deer runs away on the Summer Solstice and returns at Christmas, carrying the newborn Sun in its antlers, and with it new life. I tried to fit as much symbolism as I could into this costume over the past couple of months. The general look and shape is inspired by traditional Lithuanian costume, with horizontal dominant patterns. The apron depicts the “Song to Lithuania” cut out, used with permission by Lithuanian folk artist Odeta Bražėnienė. It includes notable features such as the Baltic tree of life and grass snakes, a major symbol of the home in Lithuanian pagan religions. In fact, grass snakes were revered as sacred and many families kept them as pets or guardians. The patterns underneath were direct tracings of traditional patterns representing horses, crow’s eyes, crosses, and goat’s feet. Adorning the headdress is amber, known as “Lithuanian gold.” The headdress also contains a traditional crown known as karuna. Typically made from birch bark, it is a crown of triangles sewn together with ribbons running down the back. On the staff, I have made my own sodai, or straw garden, with materials imported straight from Lithuania. These are elaborate geometric patterns made from dried rye grains, woven together with linen twine. Sodai are typically placed in the home, over cribs, or over a wedding- they symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Lithuania was the last country in Europe to be converted to Christianity in 1387 from paganism. I’m hoping my costume will inspire you to do your own research into our lesser known origins. Please support LithuaniaArt on Etsy for allowing me to use their design on the skirt. As well is RagaineBaltik for the sodai kit. ***DISCLAIMER: Please understand this is an artists rendition INSPIRED design and not 100% traditional Lithuanian clothing. It is meant to have an element of mythology associated with it. This is MY interpretation of the nine horned deer, as a Lithuanian person. 📸 @molkerphoto #folklore #lithuania #cosplay Please see first reel for references

The nine-horned deer is an ancient Lithuanian mythological creature that carries celestial bodies in its antlers. It is said that the deer runs away on the Summer Solstice and returns at Christmas, carrying the newborn Sun in its antlers, and with it new life. I tried to fit as much symbolism as I could into this costume over the past couple of months. The general look and shape is inspired by traditional Lithuanian costume, with horizontal dominant patterns. The apron depicts the “Song to Lithuania” cut out, used with permission by Lithuanian folk artist Odeta Bražėnienė. It includes notable features such as the Baltic tree of life and grass snakes, a major symbol of the home in Lithuanian pagan religions. In fact, grass snakes were revered as sacred and many families kept them as pets or guardians. The patterns underneath were direct tracings of traditional patterns representing horses, crow’s eyes, crosses, and goat’s feet. Adorning the headdress is amber, known as “Lithuanian gold.” The headdress also contains a traditional crown known as karuna. Typically made from birch bark, it is a crown of triangles sewn together with ribbons running down the back. On the staff, I have made my own sodai, or straw garden, with materials imported straight from Lithuania. These are elaborate geometric patterns made from dried rye grains, woven together with linen twine. Sodai are typically placed in the home, over cribs, or over a wedding- they symbolizes fertility and prosperity. Lithuania was the last country in Europe to be converted to Christianity in 1387 from paganism. I’m hoping my costume will inspire you to do your own research into our lesser known folkloric origins. Skirt Cut Out Design, used with permission by @lithuania.art Sodai Kit RagaineBaltik (Etsy) #folklore #lithuania #cosplay References: /en/RL/sodai-straw-garden-making-in-lithuania-01987 /the-rich-symbolism-of-lithuanian-folk-art/?v=05c7c5a71e52 /2011/07/costume-of-vilnius-region-lithuania.html?m=1 https://vstt.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/elnias-devyniaragis-atnesa-nauja-gamtos-cikla/

Fine, I’ll do it myself 💪 10 points to you if you know you originally said this modified quote 👀💅 #chainmail #knight #renaissancefestival

Long, long time ago 🖤 . #darkfantasy #witch #springequinox

Folklore has always been for the girls 🗡️ Photography @climacam #fantasy #ladyofthelake #ethereal

Wishing for spring 💕🍄 Throwing it back today because @_.chaos._.collective._ messaged me & asked if they could write a wiki page & backstory for my OC Mushroom Fairy 🧚 Give it a read if you’ve got a moment- It was very sweet of them 💜 . /wiki/Natly_Vale . Also I still sell the hat tutorial on Etsy if you’re interested! . #mushroomfairy #renaissancefaire #fae

🎲🔥 . Dress/Hat @natlyvale Hair @seanpaul_hair @atomicstylelounge Location @cosmopolitan_lv #vintagestyle #pinup #lasvegas