almost time

It's almost time to get started again. I've been taking time off after the rush and stress of the last display. I can't say that it was a stressfull event, but there's always a lot that goes into the display, even if everything was set before I went. I just seem to do well with a decompression week after such an event, and this time it was compounded by the dreaded sinus drainage! That's still hanppening, but wearing off. So after a couple of pieces for others, I'll be back to my stuff.

I did pick up glover's needles for the glove project. I don't know that they'll make that much difference but everyone swears by them, so I'll give them a try. I'm thinking tomorrow during the meeting I have to go to I can bring along the gloves and play with them there, while the others talk about the fall event.

Bobbins

I spent the morning of Saturday and Sunday too at the lathe. The heat has finally backed off enough that it isn't sweltering out there! So I figured out how to hook everything up, and even rough cut the first piece the first morning. The second morning, I turned a bobbin all by myself. It's a lot thicker than the original template, but I was going on the safer side. Then I went onto the second one, and was zooming along and three-quarters through the turning the thing snapped. It wasn't even at a particular thin spot. Frustrated, I turned to a pen blank and tried to turn a couple of spools/bobbins for the silks and such. Tried, it snapped too. I don't know if I was trying to go too fast, too slow or if there was a weak spot in the woods and it just happened two times in a row.

The rest of the weekend I have spent on the re-work of my green gown. It the demolition portion of the event, I found there were several areas that the gown just didn't line up from side to side. So there was a goodly amount of time spent trimming things up to match as well as the new lines. The slashing on the sleeves came out beautifully, even though it took forever to hand stitch the edges. The black and gold braid was perfect. when I'd realized that I was a little short on the braid I went back for more, and picked up some matching cordage. I was going to edge the lower sleeve slashes, but I'm holding on those for now. I will wear it and decide if I want to go further. I am thinking I might use the cordage for the hair piece... I started the belt/girdle with the beads I'd bought. It looks fantastic, except that I don't have enough beads. However, the most expensive bead is on sale this week, so I'm going to pick those up this week. Now I have to work on the partlet and veil. Did I mention that I'd decided to use an old ivory colored silk skirt for this, so other than the ribbon for the chest band is all out of stash. nice when I don't have to spend a lot for a new outfit!!

Purl is done!!!

Yay, I finished the purl last night and got about half the pearls on. I should be able to wrap up the pearls and spangles tonight. That means I should also be able to remove the gauntlet with lining from the frame tonight.
I'm going to spend a few days concenrtrating on the bobbinlace in the evening and the ruff edging at lunch for the next week. My goal is to play with turning bobbins in the mornings of this long weekend, especially since the weather has finally started to cool. (Funny that 95 is a cold front!) The rest of the weekend is a remake of all old gown that I've only worn one or twice because it just wasn't quite right, even though I love the fabric and the general fit.
Next week is playing with the gloves again and then finishing the lace. I am so ready to move one to something else!!!

Photos from display

Finally!! I have the photos that I took at the display.

The over all display

This is the nearly finished gauntlet glove. There are still things that needs to be touched up hence the reason I didn't sew it together. I couldn't see doing that and having to take it apart. I thought it would be better to let everyone know I knew it wasn't right than letting the image develop that I thought it was right. I thought the red silk pillow was a good contrast with the gauntlet, but it needs to be made into a real pillow.

The spangles and some of the design work patterns as well as one of the boxes with the supplies, purl/bullion, pearls and metal threads.

The second gauntlet, still in progress, with the bobbinlace in the foreground

The pattern pieces for the gloves. I need to thank Harldr for the barter of the leather to make the gloves.

This is the section of the display that has the perfume things. I included some of the raw ingredients, cloves, cinnamon and roses as well as the base scents without the rosewater and the test sample of the leather. This was an interesting part of the display, since I was given the opportunity to let people experience the discovery of the way that the perfumes developed with the addition of the rosewater.

Next step

The next project has been born! Or should I say, the first couple of ideas have been bubbling around in my head. There's a painting that I want to do, and another that calls for it's own blog. I have I don't know how many motifs and techniques from the gloves examples that I am interested in doing, but didn't want to do another pair or ten of gauntlet gloves. I do need a needlebook, perfect size for sample motif and techniques, but there are so many... They would make lovely gifts, so I'm picking techniques, drawing up designs and putting together a packet that I can share the project with. Check out the new blog Alexandria's needlebook

The first display is done

The display is over, and yes, it is only the first display. In a month there is another display, so the gloves will be put out for that. Beyond that? Time will tell.

I managed to get the first gauntlet sewn together, with the backing of linen. Didn't get enough bobbin lace finished to put on the gauntlet, and the glove didn't get quite finished. I had machine sewn it, and in the turning it was a pain. In fact, it didn't fully turn, the tips of two fingers were knots. The stitch was stressed and gaps developed. I know that I will have to take the glove apart and resew it, probably by hand.

I also went back to the perfume samples. I went ahead and added the oil to the jasmine mix and tested two more samples. I found that once the oil was put to the leather on top of the rosewater, that the jasmine became my favorite, it pulled together all the scents.

I did take pictures and will post as soon as I dig out the camera. To give you an idea of the layout, I had the unfinished gauntlet in frame on an easel to the left rear, move to the center/right center was a middle level support with the glove pieces. The right rear corner was a stack pedestal with the nearly finished gauntlet, wrist ruff and glove. One the front row of the table started with the bolster pillow with the bobbin lace, next the sewing basket and supplies and the spangles. On the right front I had slipped one of the round lids under the table cloth, creating a slight raised area for the perfume stuff. There were the whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and roses around the cruet with rose water, two jars of perfume oils and perfumed leather samples. I did have my turned bobbins there as well. I did feel like it was a complete display, though I would have rather had at least one completed glove, rather than the cobbled thing I had.

Therefore, my first goal in the next month is to complete that glove/gauntlet. I'd like to finish the second one as well, but won't be devastated if it doesn't come together. To tonight, after spending most of the day sleeping I'm ready to pull out the lace and work on that, so I can get the lace down for the gloves.

A change in the project

Well, it's a change in the deadline, rather than a change in the project. I am just not going to finish the second gauntlet in time for this weekend's display, so I've opted to completely finish one glove/gauntlet, and have the other in progress, maybe "pieces" to show the process. I am spending this afternoon on the documentation, getting that all together, and tonight I'll be playing with bobbins.

Tomorrow I'll do lace and sew the gloves together - which I also made the decision to go ahead and machine sew. I have consider this carefully, and bottom line, since these are intended to be fencing gloves - even if for only select tourneys, then the construction has to be secure. I'm not so sure that my hand sewing is up to that at this point. It will also be a major time saver, since I know that it takes most of one evening to sew one glove together by hand, and that's not taking care to make the stitches small and neat.

I feel a lot less stressed for this choice, so I guess it's the right one.

Now to Work!

Lucky find!

Just a quick note, I went looking about, not digging too deep, and found four spools of the braid I needed. So I don't have to go buy anything!! Savings of money and time!!! Now off to work on the purl because the couching is all done!! Yay!!!

It's crunch time!!!

I have less than a week to the event and a lot is left to be done. I have done a lot of ground work on all the bits and it's going to be a matter of pulling it together. That means that this weekend is going to be some very late nights (if I sleep at all).
last night I did manage to get most of the couching done, and I've been back at it this morning. That's when I ran out of the braid before I finished the ovals around the roses and a few other little spots. I'm going to press on with the purl, and pearls tonight and tomorrow when I go to work for a few hours, I'll stop by Michael's and pick up some more braid (with coupon!) to finish that.
Now that my lunch break is over, I am ready to start on the purl. It's tonight's goal to finish that, and hopefully, it will only be pearls tomorrow.

I also need to get the gloves together and the lace and I haven't been able to get to the bobbins...

I need to get the docs done, and the plan is to work on those at lunch time during the week and everything else in the evenings.

Perfumes...

Requesting information from a couple of sources, I was overwhelmed with information from various people. A tidbit here, a load of books there, a new receipt for perfuming gloves! It is wonderful. I have to go through the herbals and such that I've been loaned to see what I can gleam, but for this afternoon, I must embroider!
On that score the foliate circles of the gauntlets are coming out much better, and quicker, so that's good. I am inclined to work on the purl around the seahorses before I do much else, since those were the ones I held back on, and they are perhaps the most time consuming of all the sections, so I want to get them done and out of the way ASAP!

so off to work now. Will post pictures of the finished gauntlet (well, minus a few pearls and spangles that is) as soon as I find my camera.

Gloves and their perfumes

I finished the glove pattern. It took more than I thought to finish, modifying the body of the glove and the thumb again, as well as figuring out the fourchettes.

It feels a little bulky at this point, and it wasn't easy to turn either. I'm thinking at this point that I will try an overlay stitching pattern, so I won't have to turn the glove when finished.

I also located a local source for the clove oil, GNC carries it for about 7 dollars. So all the ingredients of the perfume are located. I'm planning to purchase the perfumes come payday - well this one or the next. The perfume people suggest that a fragrance should be mixed and left sit at least 48 hours, or more if you want it to be stronger. I'm not sure two weeks is enough if I wait, and if what I want isn't local? I did confirm the price and source on the net, so they might not actually have it in the store. That's the dilemma at this point.

If you haven't guessed, I've decided that I am going to work with the three scents, the Oriental Musk, Arabian Rose and essential oil of cloves. I have to figure out exactly how they should go together, equal amounts or more or less of the parts. I know this isn't exactly the way it would have been done, but with my limited knowledge, skills and sources, it's what I'm going with. For this one, I will develop the doc's more, displaying I understand the process, even if I don't take it all the way to completion.

well, I'm off to look up what ever I might have in period cookbooks for perfuming gloves, before I settle to embroidery for the evening....

to pefume, or not...

In reading more about the gloves of the period, I keep coming across the reference to perfumed gloves, so I'm inclined to perfume my gloves. The question is, do I want to make my own perfume, or purchase something?

I'm the first to admit I am not a perfume person, strong perfumes are a problem for me. SO do I want to spend the money on the supplies for something I'll use this once, or purchase something already made that will work?

I do have a recipe for perfuming gloves from period, or near period anyway. It calls for several ingredients that I'm not sure that I can get, and whether I will even like the result. I've done a bit of reading on the net regarding perfumes. There was a lead to fragrances/oils that are available in the soap making section of Michaels/Hobby Lobby. Those fragrance/oils are available at about 3-4 dollars each. I checked at Sun Harvest next door because I had purchased clove oil years ago there. Clove oil was one of the oils I needed and IIRC it was expensive, but I needed to confirm. They didn't have any of the oils there, but they did have a line of perfumes /oils that my granddaughter and I had to check out. I was particularly interested in one, called "Oriental Musk". It wasn't bad, but not exactly what I needed. I added a trace of "Arabian Rose" and there was a perfume that I think would evoke the right sense, well, maybe, I need a touch of cinnamon or cloves, but otherwise, I think that mix is about right. So, do I purchase the 8 dollar a bottle scents (needing two bottles, for a total of 16 dollars) and an additional 4 dollars for the spice oils. That's another twenty dollars to add to the project. Which, I don't really need, but really, the double the cost on two of the scents isn't that bad. I need to see if I can check out the rose scents in the soap department, maybe I can use just the one scent from Sun Harvest. I have been pretty frugal on this case, compared to other years, so I don't feel too bad on the extra spendature. I am also hoping that HL has their 40% coupon this weekend, so I can get some of the scents for a lot less, so the scent from Sun Harvest won't add up too much.

well, now that the sinus headache is mostly worn down, though not gone, I think I'll embroider, maybe play with the glove pattern. I just have the fourchettes left on those, so maybe that's where I'll play tonight and embroider tomorrow while waiting on a sewing session with friends...

It's related... sort of...

I've spent the day working on the garage and I am so tired. My arms are sore, headache from the heat, and not tired enough to go to sleep early... The purpose of this clean up is to get the second workbench cleared so I can set up the lathe and turn my bobbins. It was a good thing that I did this, and yeah, I have to go back out there and finish the second half of the garage. I'm hoping it won't take as much effort and I'll be finished early enough to actually try putting something on the lathe.

I have a find today that is good, but unknown how it will be used. Some five years ago I had ordered two blocks of pewter. Honestly, I thought my x had used it, and that the bits that he'd left on the workbench had been it. So it was really cool to find that whole five pound block still in the bubblewrap. I'll do something with it in the future. Just don't know what yet.
sigh, for tonight, though I think I'll just pull out the embroidery and see what I can do before I tire myself out enough to sleep.

I HAVE LEATHER

I offered up sewing services in exchange for some leather and a friend came through! I not only have some basic tan leather in hand, I also have some faux suede stuff for the practice gloves. There's a bit of concern that the leather may be too heavy, but the piece is fairly supple, so maybe I can do this. I was already planning to cheat with the punching of sewing holes by running the leather through the sewing machine without thread. This leather makes that mandatory, or I'd never be able to get through the sewing of it. We had a laugh over the whole from beginning to end of the project, that it wasn't really a good project unless I was involved with the insemination of the sheep, raised it, butchered, and tanned the leather for the gloves - points must be taken off! I'm willing to go to extremes to do this right, but I think I have to draw the line. Both Haraldr and Czina both offered up red leather that is much thinner and would be better, but urgh! I have to have tan, white or buff leather. Of course, I could attempt a dye job, but I don't think I can get lighter on this leather. And it looks right with the gauntlets.

well, time to go finish that first gauntlet- at least the purl work!!!

Progress!!!! YAY!!!!

Almost finished with the first gauntlet!!!

I've just a little bit of the purl left to do, a few pearls and that last foliate circle and I will have completed the first gauntlet. The goldwork has been more work than I thought it would be, but well worth it. the mix of silver and gold is great too, so it's not too gaudy, glitchy, over the top ... I know, I know, it's Elizabethan and should be over the top, but hopefully, this will make the statement. Well, I think it does, and will do so better once the spangles power the ground that has white spaces.

I'm already making plans for that interlining. My last source on gloves came in, indicating that canvas was used to support the embroidery and if that wasn't enough cardboard was used. I'm thinking of making some buckram rather than cardboard because I don't think it's that heavy and at the same time, I think it will need something!

Spangles

I made my first set of spangles! After figuring out that I needed to work on a hard surface with a hard(metal) hammer, I was able to punch out about fifty of them in less than an hour all together. I'm guessing I'll need about a hundred per gauntlet, SO tomorrow afternoon, I'll be back to work on those. I will need to figure out how to sand the edges, some are sharp, evidence the slashed figure tip on my left hand. After punch I was able to use an awl to punch the center, I suspect I'll need to use a beading needle to sew them on, but otherwise, they came out well!!!

yeah!!!

Bobbins and purl embroidery, oh my!!!

Yesterday was my turning lesson with mom. She had the wood there that she'd ordered for me, and gave me the run down on how to do it, and started the first bobbin, before turning it over to me. It was kewl!! Then we marked up the second half of the first stick and put it to the lathe and I was on my own. I did it too. it was beautiful, right up until I went to cut it off, and the shaft snapped. But I did two nearly identical bobbins!!! Mom also helped out by giving me a couple of her old tools to get started with (goes well with the old lathe that she gave me a few years ago, so, all I have to do is clear out the garage and find a place to work on the lathe and I'm set!!! She also gave me a couple of other things that I could possible turn some hollow things, like boxes for the spangles and such. The biggest challenge after getting up and running will be sharpening the tools. I haven't a bench grinder, so that's on my list, as is a band saw and a drill press.
While I thought I'd come home and set to turning today with a sinus headache I decided I wasn't up to the garage in this heat. So I ran and got replacement needles and set to working on the purl again. I think with just a couple of hours, I may finish the purl on the first gauntlet. I'm thinking of pulling at the brass sheet and playing with making spangles too today. I've had the day mostly to myself, so it's been fun.

Also just received the last glove book (I suspect yesterday but was that a holiday? I don't know, It was just there when I went looking, Maybe the day before? if I'd know that, I wouldn't have been at seaworld then!!) There is some excellent information regarding the gloves, things like a few measurements mentioned, commonalities, some I had noticed, one or two I hadn't and of course, there's the idea of inserting card stock behind the embroidery to hold it up if it weights too much to do so on it's own.

Anyway, I'm back to work in the hot living room, so I don't fall asleep in the nice ac as has been my wont of late.

Back on track with the gloves

After practising some impressive acts of procrastination, I'm back on track with my gloves. I managed an eight hour session yesterday and four earlier today with the embroidery. I finished a bunch of pearls and lots of the purl on the center tabs of the first gauntlet. I'm going for some more time with the embroidery, though I may switch to the other frame and work on the background embroidery.
I also have the first of several books for glove making. It's the mainstream version of glove making, but I believe it's a good starting point. I also took some sample measurements from the gloves in the glove museum. I bumped the images up to match my wrist measurement and went from there. I have some other notes on the design basics of the gloves so later this week I should be able to sit down and plan out the gloves. I have also thought that I should try and make a model of my hand to work the fittings on. So far I'm thinking a frame work of dowel rods with a sand fill that fits into the duct tape double that I will make off of my right hand. Maybe for my display I might try one of those kits for making plaster casts of baby hands. I just can't see working with the plaster casts, the way the stuff flakes, leaves dust behind, not to mention the possibility of accidentally dropping and breaking the thing.
I also have the bobbin drawings to make up the templates for turning later this week with Mom, so things are moving along.

Still procrastinating, but in a good way

For some reason getting the embroidery out of the back of the car and into the office has been difficult for me the last two days. I spent my lunch time reviewing the Jane Bostocke sampler for patterns for the supply bags that will go into the sewing basket. I had pulled the V&A's photo of the sampler and it was too blurry to get any details. It just so happen that I had the photos from the trip on the iPod. I went through the photos and found a couple that I thought would work well. One was particularly intriguing with strapwork that is partially filled in with pearls and black beads. that one is perfect for the pearl bag. In looking at it closer, it has the center diamond filled with goldwork or should I call it laid couch work, over gold and silver threads, since the laid thread is nearly black on one (probably tarnished silver) and the other less so, which indicates it is gilted silver thread. That fits the whole of the rest of the project! I have to find something with a bee for the beeswax, and I think the strawberry patch with spangles through in will complete that set. The scissor case may be came the sheath made of the fine leather (scraps from the gloves) with a bit of embroidery.
It also occurred me that while we're turning lace bobbins, I should do some for the floss and maybe even a needlecase. I don't know, maybe I need two days with the lathe with Mom.
Anyway, lots of things to look at and plan. I did get the embroidery out of the car tonight and right after dinner, I should be able to do something finally.

King's College over

So the event is over, and I think it went well. There wasn't anyone, well, one late comer, to the bobbinlace class. I think that had a lot to do with the timing, first thing in the morning, having a sign-up and all that. Mistress Charla was the late comer and we had a chance to talk about bobbinlace stuff, it was nice. It would have been more fun to make bobbins, but you take what you can. The next two classes, the corset fitting and the rectangular construction ones were packed, beyond the ten person limit that I had set. It was a good thing. the Artist class was also well attended, more than I thought it might be. I had way less material that I needed for an hour presentation. it took a little more than a half hour and we did discuss things a bit as well. It was a good discussion, but yes, I needed more material. and lastly, the peaspod class. That was not packed, but I had five - six people and it went smoothly. We even went to the hall afterwards and I worked with several to help them get the ladder stitch. I didn't think it was a difficult stitch, but apparently, more so than I knew.

Now, I have time to take a breathe and get back to work on the gauntlets. They are calling for classes for the 30th year event. I'm tempted, but I think I should focus on my current project. Same thing with the achievement, I'd love to do it, but I think I should focus, focus focus!!!

One thing that is coming to mind, is the Artisan pavilion. That's the idea I had a while ago, of setting up a pavilion, having artisans to gather together to work, do classes, displays, things like that. I think rather than try to get it going after I have the parts together, I should try talking with some other people to get it started. I figure I need to talk with both artisans and laurels. I figure, with sponsorship of a few laurels, we can really make this work. So it becomes important for me to go to 30th year, even if I'm not presenting or fighting or anything else.

I'm going to crash now, still trying to catch up on rest I missed last week, and tomorrow at lunch I'll be embroidering once again!!

pictures of the gauntlets

I played with the bobbinlace again last night and ignore the embroidery, except for taking a few photos of the recent work.

This is the most complete one. (please ignore the toes, I was having a difficult time finding good lighting that wouldn't wash out the piece. There is a problem with working with white silk...)

The section to the far left is mostly done. There are a few more pearls to be added to the pink flower and the little circle still needs it's goldwork and pearls. once all the rest of it is done, I'll be adding tendrils, and spangles, which I still have to make, but since it's one of the last things to do, that's not a problem, yet.

This is the other gauntlet, with primarily the silkwork done, and just a bit of goldwork started. Those big coiling lines are with Grecian twist, something I inherited from a friend. After this project I am hesitant to use it again. It took forever to work! It's beautiful now that it is done, but it won't be my first choice in the next project.

well, now I am off to work on class stuff. I have my schedule of classes I'm teaching and I am booked every hour except one, sort of a lunch break, except, that's when the other lady is teaching bobbinlace making and I wanted to audit that class. sigh, food or lace?

Remember why you're playing with bobbinlace

This is one of the gloves with the painting pattern all done, ready for embroidery. I have currently completed all the motifs that are anything but "gold" on both gauntlets. I almost have the first two tabs complete on the first gauntlet. The purl takes a lot of time to do...

I still can't get the maiden net pattern, and rather than spend more time on it right now, I'm reminding myself that the reason I'm doing this lace at all is to make a trim for the gloves. I have already mastered a simple braid pattern that is charted from the extant gloves, so I don't need this net at this time. I need to learn to do picots and I think I could start to play with the real thing. Well, it wouldn't hurt to learn how to do a fan or spiders, those look like the lace patterns of the period, so those would be good to know.

Tonight I'll set up a basic training pattern on paper that I can pierce and work with, with fans, spiders, whatever filler I need, and, hopefully, picots. I have clear tape to cover the paper so it will last a while. I did find that both the tool I was hoping would work as a pricker and the cork I'd picked up for a pricking board, worked well for the job. The biggest problem I had there was telling if I'd got all the holes.

Well, off to work on more purl on the gloves. It is slowly coming together and I'm really enjoying it.

bobbinlace!

I was good at the meeting last night and worked on the silver leaves on the second gauntlet, so that work is starting to happen. it wasn't a lot, but every little bit... It was late and I was tired when I got home so I didn't want to pull it out again, so I picked up the bobbinlace stuff. I mean the pillow is right there and, and... next thing I knew it was after midnight and I could barely hold my eyes open! I figured out another ground stitch, one I had already did, though I didn't have a name for it and started on another, being maiden's net? I got the first line of the pattern done, but could tell the next wasn't working so I undid that which was wrong and left it for tonight. I am finding it very easy to pick up, though I still feel like what I've done so far is rather...messy? not as tight as it could be? Still, it's fun. I also now have four sets of bobbins on the cookie pillow. I figure that I should leave all of them on the pillow, just to show how the different weights work and be available for people to try them out. Since it's all practice pieces and nothing I ever expect to keep I don't have a problem if someone wants to do a few twists or whatever.

yesterday I came up with some ideas on doing some art for the house, involving the SCA/A&S stuff I've done and am doing. The first is a shadow box type thing with a gilded framed copy of Lotto's painting that was the inspiration for Lucretia, with Lucretia sitting off to the side of it. I don't know that I'll include anything else in, but we will see. I also have to determine if there will a background fabric/paint/texture. The second one I'm thinking about is a reproduction of one of the lacemaker paintings, put into a black velvet frame that is wide enough for a lace border to either be tacked or pinned to. The lace strip will then trail to a pillow at the bottom complete with a pins, pricking and bobbins.

anyway, other than putting together the notes for my classes (they are in two weeks!) that's what's on my plate right now.

ugh, I've spent most of the day going over my references for the life of artists/painters. Lots of fantastic information, but most of it is about the paintings and their subjects, not their lifes and the business. It's now time to take the notes and then putting it together. then I can play with the bobbins or the embroidery, yah!!

I finished the squares for the embroidery class. I have determined I am truly a fiber snob. The day before I was working on them and abandoned them to play with the bobbins. I found working on a simple braid I definitely liked the bobbins with weight. The single wood bead was not on the list. I kept holding them by the tip rather than the tail. Moved on to pony and bone beads. Those were okay, but of the two I'd rather use the bone. Then I went on to the two bead woodens. Those feel a lot like the three's. I think I could put both in the same pattern and not feel a lot of different.

Anyway, back to the embroidery samplers, I went back to them and worked very hard to finish them. I used up all the plastic canvas yarn I had on hand. My hands felt icky the whole time. I wanted to wash my hands. When I ran out of that nasty, I used a bit of the wool from the last project and the thrift store. That was soooo much nicer to work with.

Then I rewarded myself with playing with the bobbins again. I did several tries with various bobbins. I did the cloth stitch and it was very plain, straight forward. Still have the same feeling about the bobbins. Those with weight work much better.

This morning was reading for the artist class, from a book I picked up this weekend. It is Painters of reality. Interesting content, discussing drawing and painting styles of Lombardy style from Leonardo to Caravaggio. It didn't really help for my class which is about the artist's life, workshops, etc. I have to dig that info out so I have something to present.

It's been so long since I've posted, so many distractions. What has happened in the last year...
I didn't finish the boards for the demo, still haven't actually. I keep putting them on my list to do, but I always procrastinate and never finish them in time. I think that I am unsure of what I'm doing, so I am hesitanting.

I did a decent display at Steppes artisan, I'll see if I can post those pictures. There was some good work, good feedback too.

I have my realization that I'm not going to be a laurel, leastwise anytime soon. SO I'm doing art for art's sake. If it's not period, or period materials, that's okay. I am going to have fun doing it.

Last winter I had surgery, so for a while I was out of doing anything particular. That meant when it came time to enter something in Kingdom A&S I didn't, and had a good reason for it. I made another trip to the Houston Fine arts.

I did make plans to do a display of artist supplies and stuff at Steppes this year, then I got distracted. I have decided to go back to fencing, and I need new gear. I still haven't got to the fencing, but I've been working on the gear, and one pair of spectacular gloves for tourneys. I reviewed period examples, designed the gloves and have commenced the embroidery. the silk work is done, but the goldwork is on going. One problem with the gloves was that all of these examples was with bobbinlace. Not needlelace, which I would be quite happy to do, no, it has to be bobbinlace. with all else that I'm doing on these gauntlets, it has to be bobbinlace.

So i've made a couple of pillows (stuffed with straw) and several batches of bobbins(dowel rods and beads) and even done the first piece. I rather like working the bobbinlace so far, but I have lots to learn.

This year's Steppes artisan will be all about these gauntlets, from the embroidery to the lace and since I'm going to that step, I will be also making the gloves too. I just don't know if it will be by hand or not.

I'm going to be trying to get photos up on those too. and all my bobbins and pillows....