It appears Mississippi has decided to jump on the Winter is Cold bandwagon, leaving me in need of a good wool cloak before Christmas Revel ... which is a little over a week from today. Merp.
Never fear, though. I already have some yummy deep red wool yardage and some silver silk (from the remnant bin - Pro Tip: always check the remnant bin when you set foot in any store that sells fabric) for the neckline facing.
The only hiccup in my plan is a stupid backlog of knitting projects. Perhaps I should get off the blog and finish the charity mittens today, so maybe I can get started on the cloak tomorrow before heading off to Thursday afternoon sit-n-spin at the local yarn shop ...
Oh, also, I whipped out a fairly simple loose hood out of some blue Remnant Bin linen before heading to Ork Wars. I'll make a mental note to snap a photo to share after I've finished the cloak.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
News from the College of Heralds
This morning I found a very curious envelope in my mailbox (i.e. something addressed to me from an unfamiliar sender that was neither a bill nor a credit card offer). I could see before I unfolded the enclosed letter that it was Something Important, since it had very bold olde-fashioned script as the heading. It was from the Sardonyx Herald for the Kingdom of Gleann Abhann. My name and device successfully passed the SCA Laurel College of Heralds, with only a minor alteration in the wording for the blazon (alaunt vs. dog).
So now I am officially Mathilde de Metteneye - per chevron vert and argent, five dogwood blossoms argent and a dog couchant sable.
Time to work some heraldry into my accessories, I think.
So now I am officially Mathilde de Metteneye - per chevron vert and argent, five dogwood blossoms argent and a dog couchant sable.
Time to work some heraldry into my accessories, I think.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Art Wars at Harvest Home
Dropping in once more to let the blogosphere know I'm still alive and well. Mundane life has been especially interesting and distracting of late (not "baby" interesting, though). My crafting focus for the next couple of weeks is an alpaca sweater for the Ravellenic Games. Still working on preparing the Big Box-o-Linen for laundry torture.
During the impromptu re-shuffling of mundane life, I had to cancel my plans to attend the Academy of Performing Arts this past weekend. It seems to have been a great success, based on the stories I've heard and pictures I've seen posted via social media, and congratulations are in order for Gleann Abhann's newest Laurel, Mistress Martha Effingham.
Preparations are underway for Kingdom A&S in September, and Art Wars in October. Yesterday I was invited to join Team Viking Tunic for Art Wars. Other team members are tackling the documentation, pattern drafting and ornamentation for the project - my job will be to show up the morning of the event, well rested, and hand-sew like the freakin' wind. Onlookers are encouraged to ask questions during the competition, so I may be able to convince people that HAND SEWING IS NOT HARD.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Kicking around
I'm still alive, despite the continued radio silence.
During the past several weeks I've changed jobs - back to the "casual dining" scene for a few months, until DH can secure a transfer to a more metropolitan area (and a promotion, if things shake out as promised). Not much to report. I've been focusing on knitting - cranking out socks for family members, browsing sweater patterns, generally Killing Time on Ravelry.
What little sewing I have done lately has been mundane, primarily. An alteration on a bridesmaid dress to earn a little cash. Mending DH's slacks that he wears to work (this involved some clever engineering on my part; I am continually amazed at a grown man's utter ignorance about the destructive things he does to his clothes). Occasionally I'll pick up some yardage from the stash and turn a cut edge under so it'll survive the Laundry Torture ... whenever I get around to it.
When I'm not doing any of that, my main concern is staving off heat stroke. Despite what the calendar says, summer lasts six months in Mississippi. After putting up with the screwy climate for seven years, I'm ready to go home to Tennessee, where they still observe all four seasons.
Maybe a little "hangout time with friends" and pub food this weekend will make me a little less crabby ... ?
During the past several weeks I've changed jobs - back to the "casual dining" scene for a few months, until DH can secure a transfer to a more metropolitan area (and a promotion, if things shake out as promised). Not much to report. I've been focusing on knitting - cranking out socks for family members, browsing sweater patterns, generally Killing Time on Ravelry.
What little sewing I have done lately has been mundane, primarily. An alteration on a bridesmaid dress to earn a little cash. Mending DH's slacks that he wears to work (this involved some clever engineering on my part; I am continually amazed at a grown man's utter ignorance about the destructive things he does to his clothes). Occasionally I'll pick up some yardage from the stash and turn a cut edge under so it'll survive the Laundry Torture ... whenever I get around to it.
When I'm not doing any of that, my main concern is staving off heat stroke. Despite what the calendar says, summer lasts six months in Mississippi. After putting up with the screwy climate for seven years, I'm ready to go home to Tennessee, where they still observe all four seasons.
Maybe a little "hangout time with friends" and pub food this weekend will make me a little less crabby ... ?
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Blip
Not an actual "hey, I made progress" post, just popping in to let you know I'm alive and well. Lots of non-garb stuff has been on the front burner, and a good bit of that non-garb stuff wasn't even fun non-garb stuff. (Some of it was ... Finished a pair of stripey socks!)
Anyway.
Working on getting all my ducks back in one cohesive clump. I don't think linear formation is achievable at this very moment. Hoping the mundane chaos sorts itself out within the next couple of weeks ...
Anyway.
Working on getting all my ducks back in one cohesive clump. I don't think linear formation is achievable at this very moment. Hoping the mundane chaos sorts itself out within the next couple of weeks ...
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Green belt
This weekend Gleann Abhann celebrated the coronation of Their Majesties Uther and Kenna. During court Saturday evening, Mistress Margot du Bois approached the thrones with a request to take a new apprentice. The Crowns gave their consent and the court herald summoned me to join Mistress Margot and give a public answer to her invitation. I accepted, and received a hand-woven green belt as a symbol of our relationship as student and teacher.
For anyone interested in the Arts and Sciences in the SCA, a formal apprenticeship is not necessarily required to become a Laurel. Nor is a peerage guaranteed to all who become apprentices. However, having a relationship with a Laurel has its advantages - access to their library and expertise; guidance and critiques on your research and works-in-progress; motivation to try new things and to produce more and better work; mentoring on the qualities of a Peer; and a voice inside the Laurels' circle to applaud your successes, or a shield to mitigate the blow if you deserve chastisement.
There are two paths to apprenticeship. Sometimes a student will approach a Laurel and requests to become an apprentice. Other times the student's work will attract attention. The latter describes my experience. As it turns out, I've been on the radar for a little while now among the costuming crowd, recognizable by sight, but, for most people, not by name. When Gulf Wars rolled around, I was camping in the same household group as Mistress Margot. She said she'd been keeping up with my sewing and knitting projects and asked if I was interested in an apprenticeship.
YES!!!
I sincerely wish to make my Laurel proud :)
For anyone interested in the Arts and Sciences in the SCA, a formal apprenticeship is not necessarily required to become a Laurel. Nor is a peerage guaranteed to all who become apprentices. However, having a relationship with a Laurel has its advantages - access to their library and expertise; guidance and critiques on your research and works-in-progress; motivation to try new things and to produce more and better work; mentoring on the qualities of a Peer; and a voice inside the Laurels' circle to applaud your successes, or a shield to mitigate the blow if you deserve chastisement.
There are two paths to apprenticeship. Sometimes a student will approach a Laurel and requests to become an apprentice. Other times the student's work will attract attention. The latter describes my experience. As it turns out, I've been on the radar for a little while now among the costuming crowd, recognizable by sight, but, for most people, not by name. When Gulf Wars rolled around, I was camping in the same household group as Mistress Margot. She said she'd been keeping up with my sewing and knitting projects and asked if I was interested in an apprenticeship.
YES!!!
I sincerely wish to make my Laurel proud :)
Friday, March 30, 2012
It's a Spin-off!
I'm moving my knitting research to a companion blog - Mathilde's Medieval Knitting Circle.
That's pretty much it for today. Lots of reading and some laundry to do.
Boo.
That's pretty much it for today. Lots of reading and some laundry to do.
Boo.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
"John and Jane Doe" just won't do!
Meet my lovely new assistants!
Sure, they're not terribly handy when it comes to production, but I have the Musical Sewing Mice and the Knitting Octopus for that. I only require two things of them: 1. approximate the size and shape of a human head (mine, in particular) for blocking and display, and 2. sit very, very still for photographs. So far, they do these things rather well.
But they need names. I've got some ideas already, but I'm still open to suggestions. Please post your ideas in the comments!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Bye-bye, money. Hellooooooooo, fabric!
Today I was pretty bad. But I have some awesome stuff to show for it. And I didn't pay full price for any of the sewing or knitting supplies. Just for the styrofoam heads. (Yes, I have a pair of styrofoam heads now.)
And I bought DH a tiny model USS Enterprise kit. The naval ship, not the spaceship; he has one of those already. So he should be content for a little while.
Step one was to familiarize myself with the sales and coupons for each of the three stores I planned to hit. One was running an uber discount on fabrics, the next on sock yarn and my favorite brand of hand-sewing thread, and the third ... well, nothing that excited me very much, but I knew they carry foam heads and tinkery things for DH, and I had a coupon for one regularly-priced item, so it was worth dropping in for a quick browse.
Step two: write a list. What colors of thread and how many spools? How many yards if I find an awesome fabric for a gown or cloak? And be sure to have a pen handy so you can write yourself notes while in the store, comparing the relative virtues of each bolt of fabric that would look awesome in your stash ... er ... as a garment. Yeah, that last bit ...
Step three: feel free to talk to yourself and pet the fabrics as you scour every possible hiding spot for a special gem. I confess, I did put a clearance bolt of dark blue silk (that's how the bolt was labeled, anyway) back into the bin. Someday I'll play with silk, but not now. Instead, I snagged some deep red wool (cloak), dark brown wool (loose gown?), a wool/silk blend with an interesting pattern (I have no idea, but look! SHINY!) and linen for lining. Since some of the linen was labeled "flawed" (bit of discoloration), it was already cheaper than regular-priced linen, so when the 50 percent discount was applied, I was one happy shopper. One less bolt of inventory for the store to count.
Step four: fork over the money and revel in your bad-ness. You're stimulating the economy, and also not blowing your money on illicit drugs or movies with sparkly vampires.
That dark brown wool is going to attract every strand of dog hair in the house ...
And I bought DH a tiny model USS Enterprise kit. The naval ship, not the spaceship; he has one of those already. So he should be content for a little while.
Step one was to familiarize myself with the sales and coupons for each of the three stores I planned to hit. One was running an uber discount on fabrics, the next on sock yarn and my favorite brand of hand-sewing thread, and the third ... well, nothing that excited me very much, but I knew they carry foam heads and tinkery things for DH, and I had a coupon for one regularly-priced item, so it was worth dropping in for a quick browse.
Step two: write a list. What colors of thread and how many spools? How many yards if I find an awesome fabric for a gown or cloak? And be sure to have a pen handy so you can write yourself notes while in the store, comparing the relative virtues of each bolt of fabric that would look awesome in your stash ... er ... as a garment. Yeah, that last bit ...
Step three: feel free to talk to yourself and pet the fabrics as you scour every possible hiding spot for a special gem. I confess, I did put a clearance bolt of dark blue silk (that's how the bolt was labeled, anyway) back into the bin. Someday I'll play with silk, but not now. Instead, I snagged some deep red wool (cloak), dark brown wool (loose gown?), a wool/silk blend with an interesting pattern (I have no idea, but look! SHINY!) and linen for lining. Since some of the linen was labeled "flawed" (bit of discoloration), it was already cheaper than regular-priced linen, so when the 50 percent discount was applied, I was one happy shopper. One less bolt of inventory for the store to count.
Step four: fork over the money and revel in your bad-ness. You're stimulating the economy, and also not blowing your money on illicit drugs or movies with sparkly vampires.
That dark brown wool is going to attract every strand of dog hair in the house ...
Shenannigoats
I've been home from War for a few days, and I'm happy to report that I did not get sunburned, nor did I catch War Plague! Huzzah!
AND I will now attest that wearing the right medieval clothing - layers and all - is superior to mundane clothing in terms of comfort and practicality. Case and point: setting up my tent (80 degrees and humid, mid-day) nearly made me overheat. Walking back to camp from the parking area was miserable. Peel off the mundane t-shirt and jeans, though, and slip into a lightweight chemise and kirtle ... made a world of difference. I also did the whole "tuck the front hem of your skirt into your belt/apron so you don't trip over it" thing. Also promotes better air circulation. Day two, I wore the Maciejowski cotte. I made use of the convertible sleeve feature around lunchtime, popping my chemise-covered arms through the outer gown's underarm gaps and tying the outer gown's sleeves behind my shoulder blades.
(Thusly)
I could babble about the whole weekend, but I've received a half-off coupon for linen and linen-blend fabrics, so I'm gonna take a shower, hit the road, and spend until I have buyer's remorse.
Oh, I did do some shopping while at war. Picked up four yards of brick red linen, a yard and a half of gold, three quarters of a yard of blue, a big spool of linen thread and some period-looking thread snips, and a simple penannular brooch so I can finally make myself a proper cloak.
FINALLY ... Stay tuned, because there's exciting news that'll be "official" in the next three to five weeks.
AND I will now attest that wearing the right medieval clothing - layers and all - is superior to mundane clothing in terms of comfort and practicality. Case and point: setting up my tent (80 degrees and humid, mid-day) nearly made me overheat. Walking back to camp from the parking area was miserable. Peel off the mundane t-shirt and jeans, though, and slip into a lightweight chemise and kirtle ... made a world of difference. I also did the whole "tuck the front hem of your skirt into your belt/apron so you don't trip over it" thing. Also promotes better air circulation. Day two, I wore the Maciejowski cotte. I made use of the convertible sleeve feature around lunchtime, popping my chemise-covered arms through the outer gown's underarm gaps and tying the outer gown's sleeves behind my shoulder blades.
(Thusly)
I could babble about the whole weekend, but I've received a half-off coupon for linen and linen-blend fabrics, so I'm gonna take a shower, hit the road, and spend until I have buyer's remorse.
Oh, I did do some shopping while at war. Picked up four yards of brick red linen, a yard and a half of gold, three quarters of a yard of blue, a big spool of linen thread and some period-looking thread snips, and a simple penannular brooch so I can finally make myself a proper cloak.
FINALLY ... Stay tuned, because there's exciting news that'll be "official" in the next three to five weeks.
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