Next!

Storage room is empty, except for a final swept, most of that stuff is back home in the garage where it belongs, and I can admit that, sigh, I've been obsessing over something new. Like THAT is a surprise to anyone (rolls eyes). Anyway, it's Steampunk!

I've been intrigued for a while, but not seeing anything/anyone local I hadn't really pursued it. Now, I find out that there is a con being held in town and I am so there! It's the first weekend in May, and I'm dragging a friend, or two, along as well as finding out there are others that I know that are going too. I'm trying desperately to put together a couple of outfits for the weekend, without spending money for it.

That is not as hard for me as one might think. I have a red wool gown that was started and I've never finished, something in the fit or flow of it just wasn't right, and there's enough of the fabric left for a bodice, so that's my day dress.

I have some claret colored dyed silk with embroidered flowers (that stayed white after the dying) that I had targeted for a gown after Eleanora de Toledo, and well, two years on still not made up, means that I really didn't want to do that particular outfit, since it's still a pile of fabric that I haven't touched. I can always make the time for a new gown, so this is definitely one I'm okay diverting to a Victorian inspired ball gown.

My plan for the event is to go as a wandering lady artist, with a camera and sketching materials. I know I don't want to go with my standard digital camera, so I'm going to be making a shell for it, with lots of "steampunk" elements on the outside. The overall look will be similar to the Kodak "brownie" camera, that made its debut in Feb. 1900, pretty dare close to my target timeperiod, 1880-90. I have found at least one other camera from 1895 or thereabouts that is very similar as well.

I will also be making a Bandolier with art supplies, that I hope to gussy up a bit.

There's a hat waiting at home to be transformed to something outrageous.

There's an off chance I'll have a selling table, with some wrist ruffs, cuffs with lace that is, but it looks like they are full up on vendors, so we will see on that one.

AND as soon as I pull this one together, I will be going back to that SCA to-do list in the hopes that I can actually finish something before July.

so, yeah, life is fairly normal here

alex

The decluttering continues

I spent the weekend in my storage room, sorting through fabric, miscellaneous sewing supplies, SCA costumes and so on. The room had been a jumble with boxes all over the place, and I only had a minimum clue where anything was. I went through all the boxes, pulling out the scraps of cotton and linen to send to a friend who is making paper over the summer, and then sorting all the fabric into boxes of like fabric, so all my wool is together, as is the linen, cotton prints/modern choices and fantasy fabrics.

It made me realize I had lots more useful fabrics than I thought I had, and it was really good to put my hands on these fabrics to see and know them again. I was also very good at culling the bits of fabric that I don't think I'll ever use. I then went through the last of SCA garb that I had still there, to verify that I wanted to keep it and if not, trash it. I'd already done two passes of SCA friends through the boxes until what was left really wasn't useful for anyone.

For all of that, I have five boxes full of fabric, two boxes with sewing supplies and miscellaneous stuff, one box of ground and cover clothes, one and a half boxes of SCA garb left in there, as well as one and a half box worth of "quality" fabric clothing that I will never be able to wear. I think I'll try to go back tomorrow and go through that box again and see if i can reduce it to one box. I suspect that I'll do something like removing synthetic linings from some jackets and pants. I still think I can take those wool pants, slash and layer them for a great Landsknetch look. well, we will see.

for now, I'm going to kick back with a book and relax, knowing that I did a lot of work, and made great progress. I'm hoping that I will soon be able to bring my sewing things home, and let the storage room go, I so don't need this bill...

alex

Artist Cards

I have a number of thank yous that I decided I'd like to do something special for, and a large number of those on my list I think would appreciate some Celtic knotwork and I thought of the artist cards that seem to be coming quite popular. Those would be perfect in size. So last night I picked up several packs of the cards. Two packs are paper, two are canvas, both with different finishes, so I thought this would be the perfect way to check out the different papers and finishes. I was selling old garb last night so I didn't get to actually make art, but I do have funds now to buy more supplies - you don't know how hard it was to walk past the drawing kits with pencils and ... I managed, but it was close. I keep telling myself I have to use the ones I've got first, and I'm going to!
So now I need to work up some ideas of how to decorate these cards, and decide which one gets which media and so much FUN!

If anyone is looking for me, that's where I'll be, looking at various design books for inspiration and playing with various medias.
alex

The sketch a day project

At the beginning of the year I was already heading toward the changes I've referred to recently. One of those things was to do a sketch a day. It doesn't have to be big or fancy, just something to get going.... I think I did three or four sketches (hangs head in shame). Some days I'm busy, some tired and others, just not focused and with no clue what to draw. (although I should be able to include a few of those shields into the sketch category, shouldn't I? There was some 56 of those things).

Then Sunday night I found a book called "Drawing Labs" by Carla Sonheim. There are lots of simple and complex ideas to help you get started drawing. I knew it was exactly what I needed, because even before I'd even read through it, I was plotting how I can use it, adjust some of her ideas to my world and just getting excited. Tomorrow I hope to have something to post as I kick off my homework for this book and get back on track with the sketch a day.
alex

Event banners

This is the first of the two banners that I painted for our Spring event. I was hostess for the German pavilion, and along with some snacks I also provided some decorations.

This banner has the arms of the cities/regions under the Holy Roman Empire as of 1604, from a hand-painted woodcut.

This second banner was also from a late 16th century hand painted woodcut (I could be wrong, it might be simply a painted image, no wood cuts involved). I didn't get all the tassels finished for it, there should be another dozen or so across the top, but I just ran out of time, since I was also doing the food and other assorted decorations, like paper flags and pendants.

I had a lot of fun with both of these banners, with the first taking a lot of time, from the planning, to prepping to the actual painting, and the only really bad part of the whole process that I hated was that I was working in my garage, and it got cold. Our main furnace died this year and we haven't replaced it yet. Living in South Texas we experience a few days of extreme cold, but not a lot. This year has been milder than most even, and since the new furnace is expensive, I haven't been rushing to get it replaced. Therefore, my space heater for the garage workshop was in the house and I was outside on my own. I'm also thinking next time I have such a project to complete when we go through a cold spell, I'm going tent off a section of the garage rather than trying to heat the whole place so I can have heat where I am, and not all the shelves and stuff!

I've been kind of thinking what else I can paint, I have that urge, though I am also trying to remind myself I have to finish the to-list first.

Changes are coming

There have been a couple of things that are pressing in on me, encouraging change. I think one of the first things to happen is there will be less SCA in my life. I was headed that way anyway I think, but I
am beginning to see my new focus. Of course, for the next year it may not seem that way. My major goal for this year is just to finish everything on the to-do lists. I have some big plans for my life and they can't start until I finish the old. So that list of projects I've previously
posted, it's still on, I just am trying to get more focused on it so I can
finish it. I've finished my gloves and made significant progress on the knife handles.
After this weekend I may be doing more cleaning, organizing the supplies, costumes and so on, so I don't have as much stuff to store, that I'm not using, and I can move in the small space that I do have. It really seems silly to have a storage room, just to store supplies I'm not using. I also need to rediscover what I do have. The last time I went looking for something I have several quality pieces of fabric that I didn't remember having. I'm sure between the purchase of said fabric and now I've made at least one gown of the same fabric, that I purchased new fabric for.
That was a purchase I didn't need to make.
This weekend is our spring event, and I have a few projects that will display for the first time. After the event I'll post pictures of those projects.
One is complete, the other still needs a few more bits added to it. All in all, I've been pleased with what I've gotten done for this event, not nearly as stressed, even though it's Thursday and I still have things to do, but most of those things really couldn't be done until now anyway.
Alex

New to-do list for the year

Here’s the list of things that I intend to work on (when I’m not working on Haunt stuff). These are all projects that I’ve started, planned and even have the supplies on hand. It’s more of the finishing things rather than starting something new. It’s hard, but I know I need to do it. Okay, there are two new projects, the papers on the gargoyles and the Memento Mori, but those ties into the Haunt so I’m allowing them. There are a couple of items which are intended for our spring event. I figure I should be using those for the Steppes Artisan display in August as well.

1. Or Nue Embroidery

2. Maiolica plate #1 and salt, touch upped

3. Maiolica plate #2

4. Maiolica cup with 2 handles

5. Gisela, wood carved doll

6. Anna, pewter cast doll

7. Lion needlebook

8. Second needlebook, with additional needlework/with metal threads

9. Byzantium outfit

10. Enameling formed metal plates, bracelet for Byzantium outfit

11. Silk painting, German heraldic

12. Smocked hemd /Elizabethan shirt with ruffs (lace?)

13. Knife handles

14. Viking needlecase and needles

15. German ensemble extras (German gown as well?)

16. Pitcher bread

17. Other German food?

18. Gargoyle - sample with paper (Was a gargoyle only carved from stone? Could they have been cast, carved, or made from other materials? What was their purpose?)

19. Memento mori -paper (what was this, and how was it displayed in period)

Current projects

I have strung the beads for the brooches, and I have spent this weekend carving and casting the pewter bits that will be going on my Viking treasure necklace. I'll try to do that this week. But it's all coming together nicely. Other than actually sewing the Viking underdress and the apron dress together, that outfit is pretty much wrapped up. The Byzantine outfit is coming along. The garment it's self is ready to be sewned, though I though that getting the clavii and the segmenti (Those roundels on the shoulders) would be easier appliqued if I was working with a flat gown. I'm still working on the embroidery for those pieces as well as some faux enameled pieces for decoration. My excuse for no pictures today is I'm about to gather supplies and go to a friends house to cut out leather for ghillies. They are rather earlier in period than proper for the Viking era I am attempting to portray, but I so don't want to sew leather, buying made shoes at this point is out of the question and there's no one locally that would be available for barter. Now I get to get on that, so maybe I can come home and play with the needlecase I want for decoration. alex

My vacation

The last couple of days were vacation days for me. The weather has been beautiful, and I have been so enjoying it. All I had scheduled was to sleep late and play with projects, none of which has a really pressing deadline. So I've been bouncing around from one to another. I have bits of some new tops for spring sitting on the sewing machine ready to be sewn up, as well as an outfit for the Renn Faire.

Our Spring event this year is a Viking Althing. I haven't done early period since I first joined the SCA 20 years ago (came into the SCA in a "late period group" so I did early, then moved to an "early period group" so I do late - go figure). I decided to go with it this time and did my research on the tunics, apron dress and of course the accessories. The beads are cool and I have a few pieces I intend to cast to complete a treasure necklace. I was very disappointed that the Vikings just didn't seem to care about pearls. I can't spend a day of dressing up without pearls, can I? No, not me, not a firm believer of "a lady can never have too many pearls". Therefore, my court outfit for the day, is Byzantium - they know what to do with pearls!

I am working on these two outfits, for the same event and trying to get as many of the details right as possible. I even took up nalbinding a few months ago to make my own socks. I have however determined that while nalbinding isn't bad, it's just too slow to keep me interested. I have a friend who doesn't seem to have the same issue with nalbinding. She showed me her socks recently completed and my first thought was crotchet. It wasn't until touching that I could disconcern they weren't crotchet, but nalbinding. That's when I felt relief that my thoughts that I could do my socks in crotchet way faster and who would know that I didn't tell? It's not like I'm planning to enter these in an A&S competition or such. And if I'm going to crotchet and not think about the felting possibilities, then this silk-bamboo yarn would do just fine for my socks, right? This yarn is some of the most delicious yarn I've ever touched. I have one sock done and the other has the toe cap done. Later today when my back protests the sewing, I'll finish the sock.

Another project nearly finished is my Byzantium necklace, and the earrings are finished! The earrings were a pair I'd picked up at the flea market a couple of months ago. They have the right shape and feel, and places for dangling bits. The ear wires were of some alloy that my ears burned when wearing. - I have a metal sensitivity that requires pure metal - 14 k gold or better, sterling silver or pure copper- or there will be itchy, painful swelling of the lobes. Some metal alloys like surgical steel or the hypoallergenic I can wear for a few hours before this happens, but this was an immediate reaction. So that part of the original earring had to go to be replaced with 14k gold wires. I had to do some testing to see if I should replace the whole top portion of the earring or just the ear wire. I ended up taking it all off, since a. that was easier and b. it shortened the earring by half an inch. With the dangles I added of pearls and garnets, they still touch my shoulder so this is a better length.

The necklace was another project. I'd purchased some pieces from Big lots of all places, so they were about a dollar a piece, sizable, solid metal of a silver tone. Sigh, see the silver tone in those earrings? Yeah, neither did I. My first step was to change these from silver to gold tone. I did not get a before picture, didn't think about it until after the first coat of this paint went on. It isn't a solid shiny gold, but it does alright. While doing the gold I realized there were these little cups all over the plaque. I thought about gluing in some garnets or pearls, but I didn't have anything small enough. So I went for the enamel effect and added dabs of enamel paint. I really thought it brought the feel up to something really "wow". Then I started adding the dangles and joining the plaques together. My fingers are still sore from yesterday's efforts and I have three more plaques to attach. I'm going to give my hand a chance to recuperate and sew today, then pick the necklace up in a few days.

So that's where I am today, ready to strap on the back brace, dose up for the coming back pain and go at it at the sewing maching, and there's a basket of handwork, crotchet and so on that I can do later when I can't otherwise move.

Sure do wish this vacation had been longer. Well, in a month I'll be eligible for more vacation days, so maybe I'll take another stay at home and do projects vacations.

Testing

Will be doing a bit of testing today, so if you see a weird message here later today, it's okay, I'm just trying to see if I can get around the censors.

Trying here again

It's been a year since I've posted and that's bad of me. I think being blocked from blogger at work except at lunch time means I have smaller windows to post. That means I have to remember to do it at night and I'm usually either tired and vegging, or deep into a project and not on the computer.

Then last fall I also developed a new passion for Halloween Haunt (see the new blog for the Weyward Sisters Emporium). I am currently attempting to stay to a strict to-do list that involves finishing off all the projects I've started or wanted to do for a while but have put off in order to do the latest A&S thing. I'll try to figure out how to post the to-do list, but I've got it in a table form right now and apparently I can't post those into a blog post.

Well, that's my world right now.

4000 pearls

here's the dress with four thousand pearls, and I have a few left over for that plain gollar...

An event past

The past weekend I enjoyed hosting the German pavilion that our local group hosts every other year in the spring. This event, academy of defense, has four schools, Germans, Italians, English and Spanish, with rapier fighters divided between the groups. It was a lot of fun, including the over the top German gown of black velvet with 4000 pearls. I did some period foods, a few small banners for color. I concluded that we need way more color, and since this was a popular event, I know we'll be doing again. I think what is needed is some large wall hangings with the Holy Roman Empire coat of arms, and something from the "current" empire Maximilian II. I've already the artwork I want to use. I have to decide the media I want to work. I have two years to produce these banners, so I'm thinking right at the moment I should do two oil or acrylic paint of canvas and one silk banner. This would be the one banner that can be mounted on a pole and be ran up and down the field. I need to consider some small flag that can be passed out to the fighters, like Debora does with her cheap flags from England that all their people stand around and wave. These could be done on paper, a small dowel and then be a token that our fighters can take home with them.

On other sides, I've decided to focus on my unfinished projects, like the or nue, and the gloves and the blackwork and the needlebooks and the paintings I want to do... And the artisan's pavilion. That will be my focus and not KA&S or any other special project. That's the plan right now. If I can only hold out from starting something new... I'm not sure I will concern myself with King's College either. I think that perhaps classes regarding something that I've already done would be okay, but I am unsure at the moment.
perhaps I can do one class on the needlebooks, with a sample kit if people want to get started with me. That and participation with the pavilion should take care of my needs to share.
Oh, and I want to work on my Demo display, have a set box or something for that kind of thing. As it is right now, I have a demo the first weekend in March, then the next in April, where I will be doing the candle dipping, something that's been requested. For the demo at the end of April, I'm not sure, it could be the same as the March demo, or something different. I think though I am going to work on the painting demo for that demo. I would like to get that one going, and it is on the list of projects to complete!!!

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!