It started for me when I chanced upon a photograph of a lady dressed in a rather beautiful and elaborate medieval costume. I was struck by the richness of the colors, the intricacy of the embroidery, and the sparkling and delicate jewelry.
What I was looking at was an example of an authentic Tudor costume, and I wanted one!
So, I began my research, imagining that it would be difficult to find such a historically accurate piece of clothing that I could afford. However, the more I researched, the more I uncovered, and slowly began to immerse myself into the world of re-enactment societies and specialist suppliers.
The variety, scope and attention to detail of the clothing and accessories available to those who love to spend their free time partying in or re-enacting the renaissance period was simply amazing to me.
Not only did I discover patters from which I could design and make my own authentic Tudor clothing, but I found that it is relatively inexpensive to simply buy one new - and there is no shortage of choice.
In addition to the costume, I found I could buy or hire historically accurate jewelery, weapons, badges, games, goblets and much, much more.
This, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg. As with any hobby or interest, the more you delve, the more you discover and you become even more enthused and passionate about your subject.
A quick search online will reveal a growing number of hobby sites and societies dedicated to this fascinating pastime.