Pennsic Mayor Hood

A commission piece I was recently asked to create. The mayor of this past Pennsic asked me to create a hood with the Pennsic Mayor coat of arms on it. I made a viking hood with the arms embroidered than appliqued onto the front. Its a nice open weave linen for hot pennsic weather.

Split stitch and stem stitch done in DMC cotton threads

Kyle was kind enough to model for me.

Dagmar wearing the gifted hood.

A Pennsic We Will Go...at least my projects do!

It was a busy few weeks leading up to Pennsic.  I was making items to be delivered to people there. I had a request for four Queen's Order of Courtesy roses for gloves by his Majesty.  I embroidered them using stranded silk on linen fabric. They are pictured below:

Her highness requested a stouter surcoat for herself to wear while she did combat archery in the battles.  I created one based off the shape of one of the Prince surcoat that is in the regalia.  It is constructed of linen with appliqued roses and the crown on both front and back. I used a modern iron on adhesive to adhere it to the linen and then used a blanket stitch on the edges to embellish it and aid in fraying prevention

Here are a couple pictures of her Highness Matilde wearing it into battle.

Another project that went to war as a surprise for their Highness's of the East were two pilgrim bags for their retainers to carry their daily necessary items in.  They are constructed of navy blue wool and embroidered with a variation of their arms on the flaps. 

I also sent two linen viking hoods with embroidered edges to a friend, but I neglected to get pictures of them before they were packed. At 1am, my mind wasn't function on all cylinders, LOL. 

While I am sad I was unable to attend war this year due to real life issues I was glad to have sent a little things to different people and make them happy.

I think Ill work on a couple of modern cross stitches for a relative and maybe knit a pair of socks or two...for now.

Three! Three Projects Done! AH! AH! AH!

I love to art, but today shall be about recuperation. Achy wrists, sore fingers joints and tender finger pads are the reason. I came about these pains doing what I love and I will do it all again too.Yesterday, by end of day I had completed three projects off my list: two embroidered, one knit.

A few weeks ago I was asked to embellish two white fighting tunics for the Prince and Princess of the Mists, Antonii and Helga (http://mists.westkingdom.org/). The tunic was provided for me. I appliqued the Principality of the Mists arms on the center of the chest and then did seam embellishments.

Double herringbone stitch in green and blue with white accent

Shot of tunic from above

Hem seam treatments

whole tunic (thank you hubby)

Close up of the appliqued & embroidered arms

I am very pleased with how they came out. Id like to have put the roses on the Princess's arms but time constraints didn't allow it. It is my hope they will be added, perhaps via fabric paint, later. I handed them off at 7:45 to a friend who was delivering them for me yesterday.  *WHEW*

Edit: Two pictures of the Prince and Princess wearing the tunics (Photo by Samantha Raven):

On Facebook, I am part of several knitting themed pages. Some sell gloriously dyed indie yarns (someday I must learn how to do this for myself) as well as link patterns and ideas and offer help.  One page decided to do a Secret Santa type gift exchange.  The recipient I was assigned liked the color yellow so I found a cowl pattern I liked and made that up for her. (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/afrato).  Here is a picture of it knitted up and my friend modeling it for me.

The fiber is a merino wool and nylon. It was actually sock yarn but I adored the feel and weight so I bought it for this project. I am mailing it to the recipient tomorrow. I really hope she likes it.

Last night as well, I cast on some lovely green hand spun sparkly yarn a friend made me and I am making a dragon wing cowl with it. I think it is perfect for this project. (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-wing-cowl). Ill post pictures when its complete.

Well, time to make coffee and start the day. Today will entail more knitting, Thanksgiving menu shopping and watching some movies. Oh, and Ibuprofen...lots of ibuprofen.  Ciao!

Still Alive and Embroidering!

I may be working at a slower pace because of current life events and stresses, but i am still embroidering.  My most recent completed project is East Kingdom Champion Baldrics for the Arts and Sciences.  I volunteered for this project sometime ago and earlier this summer I received the supplies and requirements for it.  Today, i completed them and mailed them to the project manager (tehehehe) and now I can post pictures.

Materials used were linen, cotton embroidery floss and fusible webbing.
Styles of embroidery executed were applique, blanket stitch, back stitch, satin stitch, split stitch and stem stitch.

I really enjoyed the project and am very pleased with how they came out. They will be lined and have a decorative edge put on by the head of the project. When they are completed Ill post a picture.

And now, onto the next project!!

Pelican Embroidery

A friend was elevated to the Order of the Pelican yesterday. Now that it has been given, I can post the images of the embroidery.  I was asked to embroider the medallion for her coat and was given a drawing to go off of.  I am told it was adapted it from a painting inspired by "Conference of the Birds" by Mantiq-ut-Tayr.  

I embroidered using silk threads on the ground fabric of teal silk dupioni. I was very pleased with how it turned out. 
When I have a picture of the recipient wearing it, I will post that as well.

Edit:  This is a picture of "Conference of the Birds" where the design inspiration came from for her Pelican cloak and medallion.

Yep, Another Book.

So, after a marathon 12 hour run of awesome movies snuggled up with my guy on the sofa, I finished all the embroidery on another book cover.  This cover is a commission book for a friend being elevated to the Order of the Laurel in Aethelmearc.   I am very happy with the cover as I think it is my best work yet.

My inspiration for this cover came from the Queen Katherine Parr's copy of Vellutello's of Petrarch's works, which is housed in the British Library (1544).  Though the recipient of this book has a much earlier persona, the aspects of this cover fit more appropriately for the books intended use, which is his vigil book.  Below is the original image of Katherine Parr's copy.

The materials I used for this project are as follows:

Red Silk Dupioni
Splendor silk thread
Japan gold blending filament

 I incorporated his device into the front cover in place of Queen Katherine's arms. On the back cover, I put the es carbuncle of Aethelmearc and a flying bee as another knod to the recipient.  The recipient asked that the phrase "Follow Your Bliss" be on the cover so I added it in the ribbon.  When embroidering the coronet (as he is a Court Baron), I added gold blending filament to the silk thread to add a little shine. I am very pleased with how it came out.

Getting ready to draw out the design

A close up of the pieces for tracing

Tracing the images onto the embroidery transfer medium

All traced

Adding the Sulky to the fabric and framing it up for embroidery

Image with the silks I used

Completed Embroidery

I had a lot of fun doing this project and I am so very thrilled with how it turned out.  I am making the book for it now. I will be using the same binding technique that I used in creating the book for the last embroidered book I created. (pic images here of the book construction I used then and will use now). Book construction images

I will be using a commercial brand of parchment paper for this book as it look more historical than the white linen paper I have used in the past. I found it when making the last book I created and it looks fabulous and fits this bookmakers tight budget. :D

Images with commercial parchment paper

When the book is all together I will upload more pictures and post.

And it is finally finished!

This morning, I put the final stitching into the the knotwork tunic for my consort.  I cannot believe it has taken me so long to do it, nearly two years. I am thrilled with how it came out and I look forward to seeing him wear it.

At the collar, I stitched a double herringbone stitch in the matching colors to the hem trim. Then did a running stitch in blue to hem the neckline.  (which the full length shot it had not been done yet)

I am very pleased with how it came out. My guy asked when I was starting his. After a poignant look, I said "Not for a little while dearest".

And now...onto the next project!