Site move

Due to limitations in photo space, I have had to move this blog to a new location. Find me at ladyelewys.carpevinumpdx.com

Elewys

Asian Revival

DD#1 has a school math activity that somehow requires a kimono. Apparently, she and her friend are selling Japanese-type goods at a booth and wanted to dress the part. I figured if I was going to make a kimono for her, she could wear it at events, too...so I made it from a very nice linen for the outer robe and plain old unbleached muslin for the under robe.

I think I'll make a heavier version of this for an over-robe, maybe with some sashiko stitching on it for event wear. Evenings are always chilly in An Tir, so extra layers are a requirement.

I had some other ideas for hair decorations, but I don't have any little flowers to put onto strings. I have some beads and some bamboo skewers, and I'm sure I could come up with some string--like some crochet cotton or something. I just need some little flowers. Maybe I'll have to take a trip to Michael's.

Ursulmas and beyond

I entered some 30 Evil Eye beads at Ursulmas 30 for their Arts & Sciences contest. This contest routinely has only three or four entrants, so I wasn't shocked to see the same number of entrants, but was thrilled to find out that I won! One thing that was made clear was that I needed to work on my display. Since this seemed a rather informal contest, I didn't think I needed to build anything elaborate. All the other contestants had done the same kind of "display"; drop item on table with documentation. I also forgot that I needed to specify that "30" was represented by 30 beads. Somehow I forgot to put that in the title of the documentation and it was missed by the judges.

I was gifted a whole arm load of loot--too much, in my opinion, for a simple contest. I may have to gift at least one of the items to someone--maybe someone who inspires me, or someone whose garb would be suitable for these ring cloak pins. My daughter has laid claim to the birdies--she loves birds--and I figured I could make cloaks for both girls with the fabric.

A few days ago, I started working on a new weaving project on the inkle loom. Sadly, a two-shed loom makes for very limited designs, so while I would love to learn (again) how to do card weaving, I'm thinking that I'd rather learn how to weave fabric on a loom--something 18" or 20" wide. I'm doing some passive research on how to build a loom, and may eventually seek out someone to teach a class on building a simple warp-weighted loom and weaving cloth.

Another passion, another journey.

Elewys

January 2011 update

No, I haven't finished the Thistle socks. Nor have I finished the Purple socks.

But I'm working on making some Evil Eye beads and home made sourdough. Yum!

More socks in progress

I've been working on a sock commission for a lady in the Barony. She wanted gold, green and purple...this yellow is called "Dandelion"...I thought it was going to be a bit darker, but it turned out rather like the tumeric yellow I dyed a few months ago. I hope she's OK with it. I have nearly finished one sock and gotten up to the beginning of the motif on the second. She sent me a clip art pic of the thistle, which I blew up and converted into a pattern. The knitting of it has proven to be a bit of a challenge, but I think it's turning out OK. I need her to try it on to see how much more I need to knit in length as well as fit--I need to see if I have to tear it out and start over...I hope not!

I also cast on another pair of socks for myself...just cause I need a pair in every color of the rainbow! I have red, green and blue, as well as blue & white, and that crazy mottled purple-red...and now PURPLE! The color is called "Duchess Heather" (laid on the recently made blue socks for comparison) and is really buttery soft and gorgeous! The great thing is that I have improved my toe box--going back to the 11th c. Egyptian style rather than the slower "swirly-toe" increases I was doing on the blue socks. I've got the spacing and increases down for a sock to fit me (huzzah! A fail-safe pattern!) and other ladies with full-grown heffers (instead of dainty little calves). I also found a new heel turning method that seems to work well and is easier than the slip-wrap-slip-back thing that I was doing. I don't know which is more period...and unless I get my butt over to Europe to actually look closely at these things, I doubt I'll ever know. It's not the same kind of heel as the Egyptian socks, which I suppose I could use...next pair, I guess.

Am I working hard on the A&S 50 for A.S. 50? Not really. I suppose I have a list of things I'd like to try for breadth of learning:

10 garments (with new techniques) in Middle Eastern, Viking, and a cotehardie;

10 foodie things--translating recipes, making and tasting, and maybe make a go-to recipe book for camping;

10 needle-crafty things--socks, embroidery, blackwork, weaving (no needles, but still string-related);

10 articles written on stuff I know;

A few hard-science things (shop class stuff) in woodworking, carving, lampworking, etc. I don't know if I can come up with 10, but it's a possibility. I'd love to build a yurt, a six-board box, and a comfortable camping bed that breaks down quickly and easily.

That's 50. I have a bunch already in process, and a few finished...part of the set-back is money. Isn't it always? I've actually started the yurt, but ran out of funds to buy materials. Six board box...same story.

With that...bed.

Elewys

Garb for Sale

This is the garb that I helped make for Eugenia several years ago. She is selling it for $75 obo. I've had several inquiries, for images...these are they. :)

October catch-up

While I haven't posted in a while, and I haven't finished--or even worked on--many projects for A&S, I have one...a new pair of wool knee socks.

I've been working on several other things outside of the SCA and have been keeping very busy. Never fear--more is coming. I have a goal to finish a couple more projects by 12th night!

Quilting...

Knitting fun modern socks...

Cleaning out a friend's mother's estate...this kinda falls under the "don't ask" category.

Hopefully I'll have some new garments by 12th Night.