Migraine

Thanks to the AMA for the pic. I have learned somethings about migraines, I will share them when I can see again.

The Middle Ages, housing

There is a wide variety of domiciles at Pennsic, ranging from common dome tents to perminent structures, from truly primitive to outrageously luxurious! Some are rebuilt on site every year, like Casa Bardicci (at least I think that is how it is spelled) and takes 1 1/2 weeks to set up, and some stay all year and are just hauled out by tractor from the storage area. I take a wonderful "A" shaped tent (called a geteld) that I made myself, andd it goes up very easily every year. I rent a modest storage shed so I don't have to drag everything back and forth each year. Some folks fly in and have little more than their clothes, and some have large yurts or trailors that have a skin on top to disguise their modern looks. One group of Romany (gypsies popularly but incorrectly) brings life size wooden horse profiles made from plywood, and then carry them around the site, making clipclopping sounds ala Monty Python! As a whole, we have a somewhat warped sense of humor!

The Middle Ages, Arts and Sciences

More Pennsic! There are some VERY talented people in The Known World. The time period covered is from the fall of Rome to the death of Elizabeth I, or about AD450 to AD1603. The first photo is of a variety of period needlecases, ranging from hollow bones to wrought metal.


The chair is a simple but well executed example of an X legged chair in walnut. I wish now I had taken more pics of this gentleman's work, it was lovely. Then we have a beautiful embroidered piece, in the style of the Bayeau Tapestry (not a tapestry at all, but rather embroidered). The subject is the 19 Kingdoms in today's Society.

The cape that comes next has appliqued shapes on it in wool. Period applique is a little different than ours, using couched threads as outlines around raw edges.

These shoes are the very same pattern as the ones I am making. I have played with them for a year now, and haven't been satisfied with the fit. After speaking to the shoemaker, I have a fresh outlook. Notice the ducktape footform (last) to help fit the shoe! Genious! I have used ducktape for a manikin, why didn't I think of it for my feet?

This is a lovely linenfold carved oaken chest, the joinery is amazing.

Ah, pottery. If I needed another hobby, this would be a top contender. I now own the wonderful lamp in the center position. A little olive oil and a cotton twist or wick, and you have a very safe effective lamp.

This lady's necklace is modeled after the photograph beside it. Metalwork, lampmade beads, all beautifully executed.

This stuff is alot harder than these artists make it look! There is alot of very hard work shown here, and I have barely scratched the surface.

Back from the Middle Ages

What a terrific time I had! The weather ranged from beautiful to not so much, and I ended up buying a new sunshade because of a nasty bout of wind. Straight line and no accompanying rain (whew) but going into town was not on my list of things to do that day. Never the less, I had a great time. I spent alot of time in the performing arts tent, seeing wonderful shows and learning new songs, took classes nearly every day and tryed out new food and (yummy) drinks. I also saw lots of friends I don't get to see during the year, though two of the best were not able to come. I have posted a few pics, the first is of Wolgemut, a high energy really fun band. They play period music (and new stuff too) on period instruments, and speak in a really bad German accent! The next pic is my (new) sunshade where I cook and read and comb wool and everything but sleep and change clothes. Then my tent. I made this several years ago from brushed twill cotton, and it has been very very good. The tent breathes better than any other I have used, goes up easily, keeps out the rain, and has only 10 stakes to be driven in (though more can be used if deemed useful. I am thrilled it turned out so well. The last picture is of Mistress Marion of Heatherdale, another of my favorite bards. She is a fabulous singer, plays several instruments and is just one of the nicest people you will ever meet! I also have photos of some of the many Arts and Sciences projects displayed on Monday. I will post them tomorrow. I am finding it hard to come back to the present. I always do, and will spend the next several days missing Pennsic. Where else can a girl find courtesy, chivelry and honor... okay, in the US Marines, but where else? Sigh, well, back to the real world and all.

Its that time of year again!

It is time to get my camping gear in the car, the gas tank filled, and my funny clothes packed... its time for Pennsic! I may not post again before I leave, but then again I may. Busy time. See you when I get back!

Getting Ready

This has been a busy weekend... only 16 days til Pennsic! So I am finishing up the applique project I started way back in the winter. I haven't put any of the detail on yet, they are actually dogs... a dalmation and a dal-negative, and will have spots and eyes and everything! They are in wool and wool felt, and I think I will like them. I have couched two rounds of pearl cotton around the perimeter... so far. Details will be added in wool thread, and I think it will be mounted on a larger white banner to hang in front of my tent.

The sock is for a friend I will see there, I really love the eyelet ribbing. Oooh, look at all that cathair! The little darlings just love to lay on the chairs in our computer room when we aren't there... and even when we are!

I am disappointed I haven't finished spinning the icelandic fleece yet, realistically I can probably plan on starting weaving it this fall or early winter. I plan on spinning lots at Pennsic too, as well as doing some embroidery and stitching some books together. Assuming I get the pages cut and the leather too. I will take knitting too, and some reading to do.

Before I leave I need to make some fruit syrups and sekanjebin, a mint and vinegar syrup. Along with tea, they will keep me hydrated. Though it hasn't been as hot there this year. It is okay with me, in fact if it stayed under 80, I would be very satisfied!

Pretty Yarn

Ooh look at this scrumptious handspun yarn that Kathleen Michelle
over at http://fuzzknitter.blogspot.com (A Bag of Olives) sent me! They are a truly beautiful purpleyblue, the photos do not do them justice! I will be finding just the right pattern to show off the sleek stuff... it has great drape, so it will be something around my neck I am sure. The lovely plum scarf below it is finally finished... except for weaving in that short bit on the bottom (oops). I have started, ripped out, and restarted a lovely shawl for a friend... hopefully it will go faster than this one. I need to finish up the cotton that is on my wheel, so I can move on to the wool that is waiting to be spun. I wish I had more energy to spin and weave and sew and all after work, but I most often just read blogs or at best knit. Sigh. Instant infusion of energy needed... SEND IN THE CHOCOLATE!

I feel great!

It has been a weekend of work, but the kind of work I can't get enough of! I like the results! I morphed a copyright free pic, made it black and white, and then used freehand embroidery to emphasize the shapes, and then painted one pod and stem. Last, I used gel medium to attach a silk transfer to complete the visual triangle. The second piece is a large welting cord purse. I used 12/32" cord, covered with a black and white batik and sewn with red Fun Fur. The glass bauble helps emphasize the black banding. Ah, the third piece! I took Hamish and Katey (my stuffie kitties) in to work, and I have been missing their funny faces, so.... meet Fiona, a little brown bunny. She is made out of a pair of angora slacks a friend gave me. I am still working on a hedgehog! All in all, this has been a great weekend. I need more like this!

A good day

I am almost done with the Colors of Emotion swap pieces now, this is the front of them, and all I have to do is the back, signature and whatever, and get them mailed off. Whew! I enjoy doing these swaps, but the ideas percolate for a while and then the actual creation is a whirl of getting it all down on paper... or fabric, as the case may be. In this case I chose to use the color blue to evoke a feeling of exhilaration, and certainly horses, butterflies, flowers and the skies all make my spirit soar!

The other pic is the best of my day thrifting, though I haven't shown all my goodies. The larger tumbled stones are hematite, one of my favs. The others are gold beads with what looks like garnet and maybe lapis. I still need to do a few small samples for my next class but by next week, I should be able to take need weekend off! Eehah! On to spinning, and embroidery! I don't teach again until the 11th, and then again the 17th and 18th, and then it is Pennsic! Wahoo! Thats even better than Eehah!

Color, color and more color

Well, I haven't blogged much lately, but I have been doing things down in the studio. The blue sashiko quilted purse lies on top of a fulled wool sashiko quilted sample that I think will become a clutch type purse too. You can hardly see the stitching both in the pic and in person, unless you are right up close. It is a subtle varigated silk thread in shades of gold... quite a departure from the traditional blue and white, while still stitched traditionally. I have been working up samples for a painted cloth class I will be teaching in July, and the book uses some of the cloth. It is a work in progress, but it showcases Lutradur as the pages; they have been colored with acrylic paints and the cover has been stamped with JonesTones glue and foiled. The fabric started out in a mottled purple and I added stamps and sponged color to it. I really like it. I will be teaching this weekend, so won't get much time to play with paints. Love teaching though. I gave a talk today to the local EGA chapter, and it went really well. I was asked to do a workshop on the techniques I showed! I am happy!

Too long

Too long since my last post. I have been busy though, with good things. I will photograph more work tomorrow evening, and hopefully post too. The knitting is a wide scarf or narrow shawl for a friend of mine who is incredibly generous, cooking for all and sundry and she is always giving me lovely things. This is a small gift back. I can't buy lots, but I can make her lovely things. It is an easy lace pattern, Old Shale, and the yarn is Domy Heather in a plum shade. Soft and pretty! I am working on samples for classes I teach at work, and this is for a painted fabric class aimed at quilters, primarily. I used Setacolor paints thinned with water and then scrunched and salted. The salt is giving me a tough time coming out though. I am working on a series of landscape pieces, and printing too. I am off to bed after sleeping hardly any last night... the aftermath of a migraine. More tomorrow...