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!!!