Time to myself

I did a wise thing when planning my vacation in January.  Took the day before and the day of my birthday off.  Which makes me happy because in the middle of the summer being as busy as I have been with work, it is nice to take some time for myself. Which I plan on this being a lovely sewing/ embroidery extravaganza at home. I may just plan it again this way next year as well as plan in some long weekends to disburse out my vacation days.

In the meantime, I have one panel of my embroidered waistcoat full of flowers, spangles to be added

soon. So progress be at slow is being made, photos to come. My research continues more into these garments. I definitely can say no more now about these garments that when I started this project. I had mentioned about not making any more large scale embroidery projects. But with my knowledge that I have now,  might actually change my mind. Though nothing is certain at this point I have a few projects in mind but nothing that needs to be started right away. With the anniversary of my birth soon approaching, been trying to figure out what I want to get for my birthday. I'm not exactly sure at this point but fabric is always on the list.Actually books are also on the list of items that are great for birthday gifts. I acquired two new ones on embroidery that I find really fascinating. Thereby the Glasgow Museum one on 17th-century embroidery, by Rebecca Quinton and another book by the same author in regards to samplers..

My birthday wish is to learn to be more historically authentic with all of my garb. It definitely have crating the historical silhouette but I believe that to really achieve the next level in my historical tailoring, it is now time to work with all period materials, as much as possible. Focusing on more authentic materials, techniques, and finishes in my garb.  So I've been looking for silk at good prices that either I can dye or find ways of using in smaller amounts. I do have some wool that was gifted to me that I have to put to some good use. These are huge yardage amounts maybe 3 to 5 yards but it's definitely something I can use and work with. I know that I will need to stock up on the following: some silk organza, silk taffeta or dupion, and medium and tissue weight of unbleached linen.  I will need to also stock up on buckram, cotton wadding, and some millinery wire to make some hats.

It's not to say that any of the interesting synthetic fabrics that I already have, are not to get used. Though used in projects that are not to be arts and sciences based. When I use the synthetics for garb, there definitely just garb, not arts and sciences related.  I have some synthetics purchased recently that are going to make great Italian gowns for warm weather events and maybe Pennsic in the future.

Finding out more about the portrait that I'm interested in replicating. There is a portrait of Mary the I that has these beautiful coral silk sleeves done with goldwork and a matching fore-part skirt that is just gorgeous. So I have enough silk, I believe to make the four sleeves the skirt and a strip enough to do make a hood too. This is one the projects I want to get a good start on during my birthday break. The only item left that needs to be found in some sort of goldwork needlelace that seems to be on the edges of the fore-sleeves. I also need to get it hold of about 3 to 4 yards worth of black silk velvet.

Have the black silk fabric and the coral silk fabric at this point so I have about half the materials collected. The beautiful embroidery on the collar which house is believed to be copied on wrist cuffs underneath the fore-sleeves would be easy to replicate. So this is the next gown to be made,  unlike the rushed predecessors I think this is going to take most of the year to make.

In the meantime on another crafting front, made a hand strung, hand-knotted freshwater pearl necklace. I'm looking for some nice closures for it and more findings to make a pair of earrings as well. The other pearls I have leftover are going to be made into an awesome looking snood. Looks very regal.Well that's pretty much it for now, little things to keep me amused and out of trouble. Besides working a very busy schedule at work.

Keep Looking Up,

Mairin

So Many Pretties and So Little Time...

 
It is now that wonderful time of year again where I am deciding what I want to make next. I have a custom order pending, I'm waiting to hear some details. Custom orders are always a challenge and joy, I'm very excited to get started.
Included better photos of the embroidery box that I recently completed. The pictures before were a little dark. So cropped these and lightened them up so the detail is more distinct.

 I believe from what I can gather it's going to be in accessorizing late period gowns with a possible hat order depending on the customer. Which is always a good challenge to match up existing outfits to find proper accessories to give it that period finished look . So far my idea is to hand strand and knot a long freshwater pearl necklace on silk. I have some fantastic silk cord at home that will work great for this project. I also have some gold over silver ear wires that I will be able to use for dropped pearl earrings. I have to locate the proper size and weight freshwater pearl drops for the planned earrings. These two accessories are very commonly seen in anything from an Italian late period through some Spanish late period and English late period clothing. So these two items are very much something that you could transition through multiple gowns if need be. For the different time periods I play with within 100 year span I find it these transition pretty well from time period to time period.

I still have one late Italian gown that I want to make that is white silk with coral edging.  I have a  late Tudor in red velvet with brocade sleeves and inset skirt with foresleeves that are decorated. These two are gowns that I still have on my mind, that I want to make. Which I'm going to include the following pictures as inspiration from portraits. So these are pending projects but there's no deadline on when to get these gowns done. I have some red velvet but it is a  polyester nature. And it would behave for the well, it is the perfect shade to the red velvet in the portrait. Unfortunately it is not the content that I would be needing to make a arts and sciences based project. The other pieces I have for the foreskirt and the foresleeves is a similar pattern but not extact. But it would be a viable option to Pearl and finish them in a period method with lining them properly. I have some fantastic coral velvet that I would love to use for the coral and white and Italian gown. The portrait itself does look more like a silk fabric, in Italy silk was popular considering the climate. So I'm trying to find a viable trim that will simulate the white with pink embroidery we see on the gown. Trying to find a white silk that will suit the composition of the portrait. So I do want to hold off till I can find the right silk with undertones for this project. I do not normally make white gowns but this is one that I have admired for some time.

So on the garb plans for this year, projects waiting in the eaves.  I believe that these 2 gowns will occupy most of this year sewing time. Right now I am focusing on finishing my embroidered jacket.  I have decided to take out the coral wool stitched edging that I've been putting in for some months. Using matching teal thread in very fine small stitches around the teal trim. I am not able to take off the blue edging on outer edges of the jacket otherwise it will not fit properly. This occurred because of a improper patterning and sizing issue when I had created the project. Though at this point I know that when is complete it will look fantastic. I will be able to wear it over myself teal gown and it will match beautifully.  The silk downs that I bought off of eBay have proven their worth time time again. They are consistent with their fit in sizing, they work great as an under kirtle, since they're fully lined and boned, for Italian or English gowns.

Everything has a learning curve and I've learned very much of the past few months especially from a Ice Dragon on the areas I need to improve upon. So I'm trying to take this time to carefully choose the projects I want to do next. And see how close I can get to a proper historically accurate project. And I believe that working from portraits is really going to help me try to get that finished look. I do get quite a few compliments that I have stepped out from a portrait with my gown as is, but I want to make my silhouette more historical accurate and impactful if I can. 

Living the dream,

Mairin

Reworking with Coincidence

Originally planning to attend War Practice, though a pre-scheduled work business trip has gotten in the way. I received some fantastic feedback with my work last year. This year I will have to send some of my items with friends for the Arts and Sciences display. I wanted to teach as well at this event, though that is foiled with the work trip, maybe next year.

Since I will be going away for work in May, been formulating a way to bring my polychrome embroidered waistcoat with me, so I can work on it with downtime in the evenings. Been working on it every evening right now, taking out machine stitching and replacing it with woolen embroidery stitches all the way around all the pattern pieces. It is looking much better and much more organized. I didn't realize when I had bought the trim for the jacket that it matches one of my Elizabethan gowns perfectly! So I am going to wear this dress underneath my jacket and I really believe that it's going to just accent each other beautifully. Showing the photos to see how extremely close the color match shows. Even with the lights and darks of the silk fabrics playing on each other these were never intended to go together, though it's fantastic that they do!

With the Ice Dragon feedback I know the areas of improvement and am reworking techniques and methods now so the projects will be better examples of my work. I am disappointed I will not be there to field questions. Though it's important to share my work with others, I use all the trial and error with my many projects as a learning lesson. For me it's easier to learn from creating, I sometimes make my best discoveries about textiles and fiber arts.

I recently had found out that there was some new literature, not known about on the polychrome embroidered jackets. It was in a series of individual subject booklets called the complete anachronist, published through the SCA. I had gone through the long list of topics, there happens to be many a useful topic. I inherited a handful of these from a friend, and was able to complete my Elizabethan  embroidered gloves using one of these little booklets. Now I have one for the my current in progress project.  Now I have ordered and received these on various types of embroidery woodworking and other Medieval topics.

So for now figuring out what events I can make an appearance and get my work reworked for arts and science displays in the future. So busy also working on more late period embroidery styles and reading up on better tudor fit and plans to make period patterned linen bodies and woolen kirtle.

Plotting away,

Maureen

Ice Dragon 2014

Entered the Ice Dragon Pentathlon this year in singles entrant; my polychrome embroidered Elizabethan waistcoat in heraldic display, needlework, and post 1400 clothing. I also my suite if ruffs in accessories and medieval rope knight game in toys.

After doing so well in the novice level competition in 2013. I figured that it would be interesting to see the level that I could do this year, as a singles entrant. Felt that I would be in the middle of the pack of folks that decided to enter the Pentathlon. Which was a good start I thought, comparing scores last year I would have been third place in singles if I had tried that level in 2013.

I was riding with friends but had to leave early before the end of court. Before I left, received Prince's choice for the rope toy puppets. Later found out I was runner up for the Pent, which is second over all, and captured Toy category. Very pleased with the results for a first shot as a singles entrant!

This really motivates me not only to continue to at least enter one thing in every Ice Dragon A and S

competition. It also gives me the motivation to fine tune my projects and make sure that they are the best that they can be from now forward. Checking to make sure that the quality of the materials, the application of period methods, and period techniques are executed to higher standards.  Am interested in seeing where my standings sit in the point rankings. They will not be posted at least for another few weeks until then, my curiosity definitely is peaked.

My Teacher, Her Grace Mistress Illish ODonovan is pleased with my performance, that is the most I was concerned was disappointing her. I want to bring honor and glory to the household in word action and deed. Constant improvement and progression is the goal. I don't know what a great ice dragon pent performance, what this means for the future but it's certainly positive. With winning Novice Pent and Baroness Choice last year along with this years attaining runner up on Singles Pent this year and capturing Prince's Choice.  That means something I should hope, it's not easy and a real struggle to get it just right.

Now on to getting exact replicas, in materials technique and execution if all possible. In the meantime much more work on the embroidered polychrome waistcoat. Knowing my luck will take another 2.5 years to complete ;-) It was the real entry of talk amongst many a gentle, I met during Ice Dragon. Standard gentles can't believe how elegant and pretty it's turning out, there are lots of details for improvement but when it's done will be a stunner. I am hoping I can get it complete to wear by War Practice.

Well back to work and catching up on household chores. The hubby and cats missed me tremendously.  I have much more work to do but looking forward to a healthy challenge.

Excited for the Future,

Mairin

Crafting Storms

      Not that I am powering powerful have to craft up some amazing weather. Even though we've had

some wonderful snow to make it a very festive December. In Central Pennsylvania we got about a good 6 to 8 inches worth of the white stuff have enough to shovel. Heavy enough for me to only get a part of a days work in over the weekend. Was a little worried considering it was my on-call weekend the case I was going to have to run out to customers.  Luckily with all of everything else going on no calls really came in.  More snow is supposed to be coming in tonight. I know that it's going to be a real challenge to get all of my stops completed before the holidays. I do have a majority of my work to do this week, praying the weather holds.

In the meantime I have been crafting like a mad woman. At this point I am in the process of making a blackworked pouch with beading on it. It is in the same pattern as my black worked chatelaine from previous post. It is all drafted from the same piece of fabric with black embroidery, believe it or not was a short skirt. And unfortunately did not fit me so I found better uses for the fabric. I didn't find very many black embroidered type of cotton fabric,  it's was a great find.

     Besides making a pouch and working on the other blackwork

pieces to go with it. I have also been making stands for my linen ruff and cuffs. These are to help me better iron out my ruffs as well as for display purposes when I take them to competitions. What I did is I took wooden loops, there were letters from a craft store. Sewed a pouch of cotton fabric, inserted the wooden ring, and then stuff it with polyester batting. Proceeded to sew the back closed, glue them to the base piece of wood. And then glue that piece of wood onto the top of the wooden candlestick. I am going to paint the wood a beautiful gold color..

For more interest in not having a plain piece of white cotton fabric on top. I sewed the  heraldic patches on, from my peacocks as well as my heraldic shield to give it a unique look. Looking to see if there's some edging that I can do around the side with other needlework pieces. Though I have to be careful, because there's edges really are going to be used to help hold the ruffs to the stand. So more decision-making to be done though as you can see there has been some major progress

In my crafting moments, I been working on assembling the sleeves to my 16th-century embroidered

jacket. I have the sleeves pretty much completed this point and assembled with the guards on the top and a little bit of the shell beading.  I was planning on using some extra peach pink pearls with the gold spangles. I'm wondering whether not I want to make on the teal edges some very pretty snakes or salamanders out of these pink pearls to give it some extra interest I would only maybe put one or two. I don't plan on doing too much with the real edges. They already have coral stitching to keep them together and I do not want to hide all of that work.

I still have a lot of embroidering on the body of the particular piece. I've been working a lot of pattern

issues with this project. It's been a real challenge to make sure that everything is going to fit right and the gussets are going to lie flat and be the way that it was designed. So if all works out it's going to be one very stunning jacket. unfortunately my documentation on this is firm but I did not follow the period materials as much in making this. So I'm afraid that if I do put it in arts and sciences competition it is not going to score very well. Though I did learn a lot from making this particular project and that might be the only saving grace my documentation. To make more progress that I can post on this soon.

For now I got to get back to what I do best work, 

Maureen

.

;-)Up to No Good ;-)

It's been a while, sorry to be away for so long. Life has been hectic and it's hard to keep up. Yesterday

participated  in the Kingdom of Aethelmearc: arts and sciences competition. I didn't win but I had a wonderful time, a great day of learning, and feedback for my work. Entered my embroidered Italian pocket, Elizabethan embroidered gloves, and my 16th-century marionette puppets. I had documentation for these, displayed my pearled partlet, but the documentation is still pending on this and my ruffs.  Below are listed a link to some pictures taken of me and my display, while I was at the championship. The teal and pink tudor gown really shows up very pretty and these pictures.

I also made a new chatelaine, one to match the blackwork pin cushion and measuring tape. I used the machine blackwork embroidered cotton fabric and attached it to my Tudor Rose cross stitched Sachet. Made a loop added Bee Pin for Elizabethan Costume Bees from Facebook.  I also covered the back to complete the look. So here is the resulting pictures of the completed work, stayed up late to complete this project.

Lady Mairin at Kingdom A&S Championship

Blackwork Chatelaine

I have been inspired to complete on my version of the Pilmoth Embroidered 16th Century Jacket. Have been working on adding cotton batting on the inside to give body to the jacket. I got pearls and glass beads to add the sparkle to the jacket.  I have some other decisions creatively for this project yet, but I have some good options.


I have the sleeves nearly done, lining the gussets, and work on peacocks on body panels. After all panels are embroidered, beaded, and lined then pieces are sewed together. It's going to take many weeks maybe months to get this project complete. The documentation is going to be non-existent since I did this opposite the norm of period embroidered jackets.Though it's going to be awesome to behold if I can get the vision in my head to be reality.

Work is going well, I am salary now. Interesting to see how this will work out for pay.  Still have to take state exam this month, hope to do well. Going to so more studying this week and stay up to date on my schedule. On the hubby front, Justin has a potential for a new job, hope it all works out. Things are looking up guess we will see how it goes.

Keeping Positive,

Maureen

Pocket Paradigm

Embroidered Appliqués

     Well I had a very productive weekend, despite being on call.  I have finished my pocket and I wanted to elaborate more on all of the work that I have done. It's time to get my work on the erect projects completed to be documented.

     I started with a linen base on my pocket which was made with a running stitch. The shape of a pocket traditionally is pear shaped. Mine is shield shaped, compared to the traditional. I wanted to go with something that had a longer top edge so I have an easier time putting a drawstring it though the top to be reinforced better. Though plans changed in the end on the strings. If I was sewing two corners, I wanted to really give it a little extra support in the pattern.

Linen base pocket

     I had made the original linen sometime ago and had not picked it up to do needlework, was going to make blackwork this originally. original in linen sometime ago. After having done some research even despite the pattern being a little bit different for my pocket. I will still wanted to use the linen that I already had. So I went to look and see if there was different types of materials I could use for the outside. And I found the documentation on Italian Soccici.

     Basically there wasn't any English version of these pockets until the 17th century. So the Italians were using a decorated pocket for ladieswear in the 16th century. I was basing my pocket on the extent example still exist, as well as a reference to a Italian fresco that shows a lady laundering items and has one of these pockets while she works.

Assembled Pocket with Embroidered Appliqués 

       After I studied the period examples, I looked at my stock of fabrics and chose the following materials; orange gold silk fabric and coral velvet fabric.  I had embroidery that I made on silk chiffon blend fabric and appliquéd it to the surface of my orange silk. Then I used the same unplied filament silk embroidery thread and made a border of floral accent in orange with a green herringbone stitch, where the velvet met the silk fabric. Then added pearls to the edges blending some into look like buds in the design.

The embroidery pattern is based from the painting of the Marchioness of Northampton; Helena Snakenborg circa 1569. This is the embroidery pattern that you see on her shirt in the painting, I enlarged it to look at the pattern. The  arrangement of the roses depicted is what I used as the basis of my embroidery pattern. It's an unplied filament silk embroidery on silk chiffon backing with fresh water pearl accents then appliquéd to the  pocket.

Added Appliqués and Pearls

       I had every intention of fingerloop braiding the tie strings and accents on this pocket. Unfortunately the unplied filament silk tangled as I was trying to create the fingerloop braiding. So I opted for a handmade version of some two colored twisted trim that you would generally use for edging and other purposes with garb making. I'm not exactly sure the time period in which this was created. I do know that you see similar treatments done for strings on 16th century purses and other accessories. In this case, this treatment worked really well with the silk and allowed it to slide past one another without tangling.

Completed Pocket

       What project would not be complete without pictures. I'm including that various
different photos  showing the progress that I had made despite working the weekend. Now to get the rest of it documented properly on paper  plus get the documentation done for the ruff and cuff suite as well as the gold work and pearled French Partlet.

Well that is it for now, I must get back to the mundane. I will be lining and adding the tie strings to my French partlet.

Until next time,

Mairin

Partlet a la Francais

Francois Clouet drawing 

       I had made this weekend on projects. I finally completed my French renaissance partlet. It has gold and silver cord trim, purchased at Pillaged Village. I hand embroidered some gold and silver work in a lozenge pattern with freshwater pearls at the intersections. It is based on portraits of nobles from the French court from 1520-1560 by the artist Clouet.

      I have yet to write up my documentation on this project and have yet to do the same on my ruffs. It's hard sitting with  hubby since time is limited in the evening to be together. I still have work on details of this project. It needs to be lined which I do still have some linen to line it with. And I also have to attach some ribbon to the corners in order to have ties. I also need to fine jeweled clasps like on the front of this example Clouet drawing above left.

French Partlet Back

Front French Partlet

On ward to pockets now. I have orange gold silk for the top face of the pocket and I have another fabric for the bottom, most likely be cold lozenge fabric which I'm going to use also as an accent fabric for these fancier pockets. I have silk thread to attach everything together and then the inside is lined with the linen. I was also thinking of using my coral colored velvet as another alternative to make a different style of the Italian  pockets.

Hope to post more progress on the pockets as soon as I can. Have so many ideas on design it's hard to narrow it down. This is why I am doing more than one based on portraiture from the period. That will be more explained when I finally write up the research. I need to get these projects done ASAP and sent to a friend. Let's hope when they are done that they get a warm reception.

Back to the Grindstone,

Maureen

AE Academy

Well other than gushing over my Sycamore Scroll, I did alot for AE Academy. I put up my doll castle for display, which barely fits in the backseat of the car. Its magnificents is too much for my little car to contain I suppose ;-)

 Had to get to the Academy site at opening time to get it and the playroom set up. Which took sometime, then trolled in. Though the castle displayed nicely and such, was able to get it back to my front bedroom all by myself at home though, its easier with two people.

A&S Display at Aethelmearc Academy

Managed to get dressed and wondering why my waist is being trudgy in this weather, which is my summertime specialty. I managed to get in my gown and looked most amply put to place, which was  challenge with sweating so much. 

I started the day with my Elizabethan jewelry course attened by 8 lovely persons. The class is inspired by the Cheapside Hoard now displayed at the British Museum in London. Gave a full color handout showing detail of pieces from the archeological at 1015am. I also explainded looking for similar motifs in costume jewerly as in the pictures.  Explained the benefits of mixing matching, price points of replicas vs costume jewels. Shared my entire jewel collection to show my adaptions in late period jewelry. It was very warmly recepted and got lovely compliments about it all day.

Tudor Doll Castle at Aethelmearc Academy

I was so happy folks liked it and was suggested to do a make and take class to make a set of earrings and necklace. Which I am thinking of a English Hood class and the make and take for Fabric Fiber and Fighting for the fall. I will schedule playtime around those courses, depending on my decisions to teach.

 My afternoon course was well attended by 6 and lots of good questions. I had detailed images of the children at play painting done by Brugel. I want to find more on the political significance of  this painting to beef the content more. It just became an image search and discussion on the games shown really. Folks were kind about the class but I know I can do better.  Plan on changing a few things to get things a bit more interesting. Its a good topic and the pics were really good but needs more beef in the reasearch.

Abhainn Ciach Ghlais Shrine 

 



The food was superb as usual, the weather was warm the warcollege broke a new attendence record, you could tell how touched the organzers were with the turnout. I know the organizer of the Academy classes was happy with the wide range of courses for folks to try, which I was happy with the selection as well. Got to attend the heraldic fan class and the Henry VIII valentine course, both excellent! Was able to get handouts on the others I missed due to confict with my teaching, but its all good.  I wished there was A/C in the venue, it would have helped cut some of the humidity.

I was able to get time to shop, though I really didn't need to buy anything. Bought a book on English Royalty, a netted cault to add to an Elizabethan hat, some decorated pins and earrings. I saw my lovely needlecase full of needles, though I didnt need to get those. These items were to be sold and given to the Royalty for their travel expenses. So my $17 goes to a good cause, will show how the hat looks now in a future post. I plan on wearing it to FFF with my black Elizabethan with Erimine puff sleeves, should be epic.

Teal Tudor Gown

 



During court I was called up for thanks with my many efforts and escapades with the shire children in keeping them entertained.Their Royal Highnesses I know appreciate my efforts, wish I had something more organzied for the day but teaching consumed alot of my time. I did oversee some games and provided the playroom, didn't get used but was still there. Though folks told me the effort and space was thought out and that makes a difference. It is very nice to be appreciated {-D

I have a few pictures from AEcademy these were taken by Lady Livia Valenti, thank you for these.
The last one is an Lewisburg Arts but this is typical me, Tudor rose purse and all. This the wonderful Teal Tudor gown. Will be making another unique compliation soon. I thought you would find picture amusing. Speaking of the Tudor Rose purse, I have gotten more complinents over my creative use of craft felt, than any single piece of garb created. On that note time to get back to sewing I am currently in the midst of garb creation, pics forth coming.

Regards

Lady Mairin

Pretty in Pink.....Well Light Red

There has been many a long debate amogst the costume community if pink was considered at period color. The term Pink is modern and only goes back to the late 17th Century as a description for a color, we hear of the term rosy or rosa in an early poem to describe the dawn sky by Lucretius as a pink hue.
  It is a name for cutting small slashes to decorate fabric in a pattern known as "pinking" which dates back to the 14th century.  It also date to the plant, garden pinks which is a form of Dianthus, a more wild relative of the modern carnation. Pink was a form of yellow hue in painting and mixed with other ingredients to make the yellow various shades in paint during the 17th Century. So that is the history of the word but what does that mean to us?

Some folks like to use light red as a reference to pink usage in costuming pre-17th Century. Modern reenactors, costumers, seamstresses and tailors will refer to the rose color of the gown, and yet others skip over the color all together. I have known some folks to opt for more coral orange based hues, and yet others to embrace the color in certain shades shown in paintings. Still more debated due to age and light fading the paintings may have shown another hue all together different to the depictions we see know of renaissance paintings. I myself try to keep the shades depicted from the actual paintings and sometimes hunt for hours finding the best resolution photo.

  I collected a few example images of paintings in this mysterious hue, many of these I am interested in making gowns just like the paintings. A few gowns are in progress and others are a figment of my garb making imagination. Enjoy my mini Pink gallery of gowns.

Thanks for looking,

Lady Mairin

Suprise Sycamore

Well War practice was fun and eventful. Had lots to do and little time to get it all in, one whirlwind weekend.Arrived Friday had a small supper and then to run an errand with Duchess Ilish and the girls, and was glad to wear by black Elizebthan gown with Ermine Fur puffled sleeves. It breathed when it was warm and kept me warm as the night drew colder.  Met friends and waited for Duke Duncan, though the girls got tired and we had to make way back to camp.We went back made a snack, brushed teeth and off to bed. The drums went on most of the night, which was soothing. Though the folks did stay up till 3am, which is typical at Pennsic in general. I woke to cold feet, just the way my body works sadly but I was confortable for the most part.

On Saturday I was the first one up at 7am, got dressed and was working my hair. Everyone else woke and starting getting ready for the day. I finished and packed for Arts and Sciences  Playtime, wore my red on white damask Venetian gown. Very pleased how it wore and was confortable all day, looked very period which is always my goal. It was hot and a bit sticky so Italian was the best choice, though its not my specialty.  Arts and Sciences playtime was very good and a great way to advertise about my classes for Academy coming up in June. Lots of advice and new reasearch information learned, wish I hadn't left my documentation on the kitchen table at home. Duchess Ilish worked on cloth buttons and the girls made butter, which was very tasty by the way. It was a fun time for all. Went back and relaxed in camp, made a small lunch and made way to Duchess's class. I opted to look at merchants nearby, I was able to get a gold lozenge fabric for 1.00 bought some trim for two gown for about 25, bought a lucet and book to learn lucet cord making. Ilish had some lovely brocade that she couldn't use for garb and generously gave it to me, which a gown is in the planning stages at this time.

 Later that day I was installed into the Haus WeisserLowe, so I am Duchess Ilish student. My goal is to learn and serve the hausehold in all scadian possible. I will get some pictures from the day if any were taken. I will also take a picture of my medallion. Hopefully I can find someone who took pictures. Its very late period looking, my scroll will come soon. It didn't make it to the event, hope to see it at AE Academy next month.

By a miracle I found a picture before the crown of Aethelmearc recieveing of my compansionship to the Order of the Sycamore Medallion, praise technology and its wonders. Picture is by Isabel Fleuretan, thank you Isabel. I am happy with my hair despite the heat and humidity, that was done by feel and with no mirror. Medivalist to the end I suppose. I just wish I wore Tudor gown instead. Since that is one thing that I was being awared for along with dolls puppets and childrens work. Though you can't win them all and that gown was darn comfortable despite the heat. Red on white brocade a very Aethelmearcian color combo if I must say so myself.

In the meantime its back to mundane life,

Lady Mairin

William Penn Said It Best

"No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown"- William Penn.

 On that note, I promised to post photos of my enteries once they were in the Novice Pentathalon.  Also mentioned their standing as they did in the Novice category.  I had two enteries that were cross entered into other categories with the appropriate information for the category.

 The Elizbethan Embroidered Gloves were entered in Needlework and Heraldic Display and won both categories. Very pleased these are finished, they were a sampler of sorts for me. I learned so many stitches while working on these that I was afraid the uniformity that is needed in a pair would be over shadowed from one glove to the next. So that was something I had to focus on while making the second glove and trying to keep them to match in stitch technique.Though I think they turned out really nice and they too garnered lots of compliments. I can't wait to accessories them with my Elizabethan gowns, they are just the neatest thing to brighten up the more somber colored Elizabethan gowns in my wardrobe.

 The String Marionettes were entered in Toys and won their category. I garned alot of complements on these. Childrens toys are a subject that takes alot of time to research. There are lots of out of period sources for later string marionette sources but I was looking for the medieval version and beginnging to their orgins to their secular use as a form of entertainement. The research is something I started in 2006 soon after I started in the SCA. These were the cullmination of many years of reasearch.

 The Tablet Woven belt was entered in Fiber Arts and Accessories and placed well amongst the other Novice enteries. This is my first tablet woven project, I recieved alot of very awesome comments on the handmade loom versus a commerically made loom. Which I didn't even think about it, but the looms we made would have been a very period act to make and then weave. So accidentally I did a period method. Which the handmade looms were much cheaper than the inkle looms I had previously thought of purchasing. Also got lots of compliments on my even and fairly distributed weft and warp, which Lady Aibell helped me get started on this so much, I can't thank her enough for getting me started on this weaving. Its a craft I have wanted to learn for a long time and now can make my own woven items to help accessorize my gowns and other accessories. I got to finish what is on my loom yet, though its going to look super nice when done. Been fun to experimnent with technique.

My Score was over 211 points which if placed with the Single Enterants I would have gotten Fourth place, still that is very good. I do have more to learn to get my documentation more finely tuned, though I am very happy with my Novice Pent win. Was totally in shock and didn't know how well I had done till Baronial Court to recieve my awards. I also recieved Baroness's Choice, which was also a total shock, what a wonderful story her Excellency told me about making her choice. I felt very humbled and honored she picked my Marionette Entry.  Thankfully I was in a great gown to go up in court too, in my full spring green Elizabethan floral embroidered gown with whisk collar and ruffs and nice long train, looked very period according my my good friend Lady Jaqueline. Looking period was my goal without looking garrish in the volumous dress and period hair. Both scrolls are framed, the Pent Scroll is in a shadow box with my three dragon medallions that denote my three category victories, thought they needed a place of honor next to the scroll, it is not glued in so it can be removed if needed. Got close up pictures so they can be read, click on them and they will appear bigger if needed.

 Also collected for fellow shire members who left the site for a party, so I was able to deliever good news when I got back to the hotel where we were staying. Its good to be a bearer of good news, it was a great day for our shire. We had a member become part of the Order of the Chivalry, a beautiful ceremony and it was witness by many but felt very intimate. We are so proud of our shire knight, Sir Havoc the Wild, Vivats!!! Thank you to Lady Antoinette de Lorraine for the pictures of my enteries and Lady Jacqueline of my court picture.

I also mentioned shopping in my previous spost, I will get pics of the neat things I bought. A few from folks I found out I know through Etsy, very cool to see their lovely items in person I must say. Will post more pics later on these awesome finds but for now its time to go back to the mundane.
Scadian Dreaming,
Mairin