The New Year Cometh

Given the title and nature of my last post the subject of this one was fairly predictable, yes?

My 2017 calendar has been filling up already, as I'm sure yours is too.  Here is what I'm looking forward to participating in/ helping with in the following months:

Jan 7 - Anglespur - Concordia Yule Pot-Luck, shire of Anglespur.  Games, Friends, and Food, in garb.  What more needs to be said?

Feb 4 - at the sign of the Dancing Fox XIX, Shire of Nordenhalle.  Dancing, Friends, Dancing, Feast, and Dancing.  Fun times.  I may be going by myself, as my husband is not that much interested in dancing.  Also, depending on the kids' work schedules, they may need a babysitter.  Who knows, I may have a short dancing partner for the day.

Feb 11 - King and Queen's A&S and Bardic Champions, Barony of Concordia of the Snows.  We get to host this.  Come!  It will be awesome!  I will be volunteering in the A&S room, so look for me there.  No babysitting for me this time.

Mar 11 - Novice Schola & Birthday Feast, Barony of Bergental.  I will finally be teaching my First Class!  It will be on those multi-century, ever pervasive, eyelets.  Photos of paintings and extant garments with them shall be available, examples in my own garments, and hands-on lessons will make up the class time.

Mar 25 - Laurel's Prize Tourney, Barony of Carolingia.  I'm entering this one. *gulp*  There are two challenges that fall within my field of interest: "Making Old Garb New", by Mistress Cassandra Grey of Lochleven, and "Under it All", by Mistress Agatha Wanderer.  Documentation for the latter would be difficult for my late 12th-century persona, but would be an interesting exercise.  While I've been playing for just over five years, I do have an early-made dress that has a lot about it that could be improved upon, including being made a size larger so it fits me.  I'll have to decide which one I'm going to do within the next week and get going on it.

Pennsic may not happen this year for us.  We have a family reunion happening in Hannibal, MO in June which will eat up both funds and vacation time.  If it's the case that we don't go, it will seem to set a pattern of going to Pennsic every other year.

In the next weeks I will have to:
1) Pull together class materials and produce examples of different types of eyelets
2) Make something for the Laurel's challenge.  That may be a dress with eyelets on the sides and embroidered sleeves.
3) It would be really cool to finish my brown dress for the K&Q A&S/Bardic event so as to have something new to wear.

See, this year promises to have lots more to post about on my adventures in sewing and research.

If you're at any of these events, come by and say hi!

~ Marjorie

The Old Year Passeth

The end of an event-filled 2016 is fast approaching and I have a few moments to catch my breath before the new year arrives, with it's share of happenings and Events.  This past year included:

Receiving our AOAs at our first Birka.  Our friend had to find my husband because he hates court and was hibernating elsewhere on site.

Our son's wedding in April, for which I made my dress.  Because he needed help with the arch, I left a day earlier than planned, toting my sewing machine, half-made dress and iron with me.

The birth of our first grandchild, three weeks early.  Which nixed me teaching my first class.  It would have happened the following weekend at Wars of Roses.  Still haven't taught that "First Class".

Pennsic XLV, for which I made a rope bed for us (thanks to John fitz Thomas for all his help, and access to the COG in Troy).  It did what all rope beds do, it S-A-A-G-G-E-D.  I have plans to modify it to a slat bed for next time.

Pennsic also included my first A&S display, which I have previously mentioned here.

Shortly after Pennsic, I took my grandson to his first event, Hunter's Moon, in the Shire of Anglespur.  He had a grand time and charmed all who met him.  I also learned a thing or two about making garb for wee ones which I will share when I have a few more examples finished.

Then life went sideways when my daughter and her family, including cat, moved back home while they were in between apartments. I still haven't recovered and they're still with us.

And here they are!  My husband's red running pant.  I have plans to make the complete Pantalone ensemble in the future, but this is what he wore for the Troy Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day.  I was up until 3:30 am hand-sewing them and somehow still managed to host our son and his wife that day.

That brings us up to Christmas and the main present-receiver of the day.  He's wearing a pair of slippers I crocheted for him based on a photo I saw.

With smiles like that every day, do you wonder why I like my life?

This year I also committed to being our barony's Chronicler and Clerk for two years, which means I get to be my own boss, or my own minion, depending on how you look at it.

Next year is already shaping up to include more sewing and apprenticing than this year has.  Thank you, God!  I'll have more things to blog about.

Wishing you a safe and healthy New Year,

~ Marjorie