The Good, the Bad, and the continuing saga

Had a blast doing the medieval thing at Maker Faire. Since the EGA booth had enough people working it, I opted to do the medieval booth. Maker Faire is the largest DIY event and stuff from steampunk to teslas happen along with everything fiber or electric or fire or.... Our booth was a mix of demos of arts, fighting, and display. I had my fiber arts and jewelry out. I brought stitching, knitting, weaving, and spinning. Since they had enough spinners I spent most of my time hem stitching a napkin while talking to people. Found I couldn't weave and talk (grumble need to take out that section...). Will fought and talked armor to lots of kids and dads.

I had been trying for quite a while to meet up with a guy who does fiber arts stuff and learn naalbinding from him. Others have tried to teach me, but it never looked right. I knew that he could make me see the path. Fortunately one of the booths had fabulous wool for sale - wool that felts. The joins are done with spit felting. 15 minutes later - I am a confirmed addict of naalbinding -- and I really understand it!

On May 27th Will fell on the inside front steps while loading the car for Erinwood. ER said left knee not broken - here is a splint - here are crutches - here are meds and see Ortho on June 2. June 2 see Ortho doc, 5 minutes in he is calling the on call doc to schedule Will for surgery, same day -- he ripped his Quadracept Tendon from his knee. They take the tendon above the knee and sew it to the tendon below the knee through the knee cap (drill holes). 6 weeks in a do not move knee brace from mid thigh to ankle. They kept him in overnight for pain issues and then sent him home with drugs. The leg is weight bearing and the ice maker is getting a work out (me too running up and down the stairs). Fortunately not much keeps the Will down for long, but.... He can't drive since the knee needs to be straight and he can't sit in either front seat. He sits in the back seat with his leg up on the seat.

We leave in 2 weeks for a 3 week road trip - Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. I am visiting 7 of my EGA chapters with a couple stops for family and friends. I get to drive. The last week is our West An Tir War in Gold Beach Oregon. No war for the Will but I am in charge of Arts and Sciences. We have a great class line up! We have motel reservations since if we take it, I have be able to carry it. It will be a long 3 weeks, but fortunately Will and I do well together. Pickwick will have his personal house/cat sitter while we are gone.

One of the key events at the War is the First EVER Medieval Sock Wars! Knitting is medieval so why not! Besides lets make it fun!!!!! The contestants have from Friday 9am until Sunday around 3 pm to get 1 sock done in worsted weight yarn - knitted or naalbinded. The minimum length is 16". We are using a plausibly period pattern or contestants can do their own. There are 3 categories for competition - 1st done or most done if no one completes, judges choice, and most inches per kingdom. Brown Sheep, Yarnia and Lion Brand have all donated supplies to help get the idea off the ground. I am tickled that other large inter-kingdom events have opted to run with the idea.

Embroidery - Costuming - Embroidery Coming full Circle

I started doing embroidery when I was in grade school. Mostly crewel pictures and follow the lines on table cloths. My Mom did needlepoint and that was the next step. I branched into doing some minor embroidery in high school. I also started doing costuming in high school/joined the SCA. Played in the SCA, Dickens and other such through college and did some limited costuming. Returned to SCA, etc a few years later (post graduate school) and did more sophisticated costuming. But something was missing. The decoration on the garb was not "right". Commercial trims and such just did not work.

In the late 1990's, I began learning more about embroidery and doing it on garb. In 1999 I taught my first class - a blackwork band. 10+ years later I am circling back to doing embroidery on garb. Truly integrating it.

Since we are off in a month or so to a 5 day war and I am in charge of A&S, I want comfy clothes. I will primarily be running around in Vikings or Cotehardies. I need a coif for each. The Viking coif is relatively plain, but it will get a bit of decorative herringbone stitch to hold the hem down. The other is a St Brigit's cap. It too will get a bit of herringbone and a very simple needlelace edging. Nothing is really stand out decoration, but rather completion of the whole item.

In truth, this is where I was heading. The knowledge and ability to "finish" my garb in a way that is "right".

Results of playing with wool

About a year ago, there was a "challenge" on Live Journal to offer to make a gift for the first 5 who signed up. Your prize was a gift from someone else on whose journal you made a request . It was a "pass it forward" kind of thing. I made 2 of the Viking Chain weaving bracelets and these 3 pouches as my "gifts".

I am enjoying the Medieval Islamic Knitting. It is rhythmic and fun. The projects are on the small side so you are done quickly. I think that it takes as long for me to make the kumihimo shoulder strap braid and the drawstring braid as it takes for me to knit the bag. There is also the finishing to do of working in all the thread start and stops.

The other 2 pouches are weaving in the round. I have a variety of wooden forms. You lace the form with kitchen string at the top and, if you want to have a flap, at the mid-point. You then do a continuous warp through the string - top of flap to front edge and reversed. You warp as thickly as you want. You then do a continuous circular weaving - over under, using the warp threads to make the weft. Good TV time.

The projects were delivered this spring so I can now unveil them for all to see.

The Buying Power of Crafters and Needleworkers - warning not for the faint of heart

For better or worse our buying patterns affect the commodities offered to us. The companies that provide supplies for those of us that enjoy needlework are very strongly effected by even our small decisions. Why is this? Most of the companies that provide supplies to us are VERY small companies. Did you know that Au Ver Soie is 4 people and they are all of retirement age? Benton & Johnson produces goldwork supplies as an offshoot of another company that produces military braid. Golden Thread is Bill Barnes working part time and his secretary.

Tricia Nguyen of Thistle Threads wrote a very thought provoking post on this topic. I hope you will take the time to read it.

Time Flies...

Sorry -- this is another catch up post.
Doing lots for EGA - region Board meeting, semi annual National Board meeting, visiting chapters, and teaching for my local chapter. We won't talk about the 26 sets of meeting minutes and newsletters to be read monthly or the emails or the rounds of information gathering required for tax time -- even for a not-for-profit. I don't mind it, but it does consume time and energy.

As a balance I decided that I needed some art input. Signed up on Joggles to take Sharon Boggon's Studio Journals a Designer's Workhorse. I have never used a journal before. I keep a "log" in my head about projects. When I have an idea, I make a mental note of it. When I am working on a project I pull the materials and place them in a concentrated area -- across the room from where I usually sit. The materials tell me what goes where and whether I need to change a color or thread or.... I am still not convinced to use a journal, but I can see where it can be a good tool -- and I am all about tools :) The exercises she had us do were interesting bits of self exploration. Some confirmed my feelings about what I like to do/see -- I like it either very busy or stark. One of the exercises - walking with a camera, is something I do a lot. I have pics from all over with buildings, plants, ironwork - anything that makes for an interesting pattern. I usually take a dozen of the pictures for a year and put them up along with our holiday letter each year on our website.

I also signed up for Barbara Suess' Sunflower Temari. It is a set of intermediate kiku designs. I am behind getting started on them. I haven't finished the Echo Star additional balls yet, but I will some day.

I did hand off doing the Region outreach events. Now I just get to go and help or work the booth. Stitches West was fun. Didn't buy much except more roving to spin and yarn to dye. Speaking of Dyeing, I signed up via ANG for a dyeing at home class. So far I have done a couple experiments with English Ivy and Flowering Plum leaves. Many of the suggested projects I have done in prior dyeing experiments or the materials are not available to me. When I'm done I'll put up a web page with the results.

Really enjoyed my foray into ribbonwork. Our local EGA chapter had a member give a lovely program on stitching during Jane Austen's time. Susan Bryant is always a fascinating teacher. We made a needleroll with ribbonwork flourishes. Yes pics when I get it finished.

Of course I have a hard time keeping my fingers out of fibers. I have finished knitting my first hat -- circular needles to 4 needles around with reductions down from 66 to 6. Need to get a photo. I have also knitted a 2nd Islamic bag and finished both, the original and the 2nd one, with hand done cording. I also wove, circular weave, 2 pouches for other gifts. Pics once the final pouch is gifted.

I am sure there has been much more happening, including medieval events, but they will have to wait for the next blog.