Pennsic Gift Basket Napkins

Another friend asked if I would assist with the Pennsic Gift Baskets for this year by embroidering two napkins for one of the visiting royal's baskets. She sent me the arms and two napkins and asked if I'd stitch onto these. These are the arms of TRM of the Mid Realm.

I used cotton DMC thread for durability in washing and color retention (i soaked the threads before using to prevent bleeding onto the white napkin). 

I am very pleased with how they turned out and I hope they were happy with them. I unfortunately didnt get to see them given.

Laurel "Doby Sock" Alms Purse

Many months ago, a friend approached me about making her a sock pouch to present to her apprentice for her elevation ceremony. She originally wanted it knit with her arms woven into it but, being not terribly proficient in color changing in knitting yet, I asked if it could be embroidered and she agreed. She explained that the recipient is a huge Harry Potter fan and that by presenting her with a "sock" at the start of the elevation, she would release her as her apprentice to become a laurel. I LOVED THIS IDEA!!  After inquiring about her persona, I decided to make a sock version of an alms (aumonieres) purse. Alms purses have been found through the years in several coutries: Spain, France, England to name a few.  They vary in shapes, styles and materials made in. 

Some examples:

This alms purse from the 13th century is knit. Currently it is located in Spain. 

 

 

 

Chaplain of a Countess of Bar and its hinged armature Paris, Cluny Museum

 

 

French Alms Purse 1340s

It was from these images and a few others that I took my inspiration to create her purse.

Materials used:

Silk dupioni fabric (blue, antique gold)
Silk sewing thread
Splendor Silk 12 strand twisted embroidery thread
Sulky Embroidery stabilizer
Gold Pallions
Lucet Corder

I obtained an image of her arms from my friend and transferred it to the stabilizer and then used that to outline the design and added the peerage symbol of a Laurel wreath.

Then i placed it over the ground fabric of the antique gold silk. Now while in most of the alms purses the ground fabric was covered with embroidery because it was usually a linen, I did not cover the entire purse in embroidery because I loved the glow of the silk.

Using two strands of silk, I embroidered her arms and the wreath using split stitch, stem stitch and some satin stitch. Outlining the crane and ermine were done with one strand of black silk thread.

Once finished I removed the stabilizer and cut out the shape of the sock. The entirety of it was hand sewn. I added the pallions in sets of three around the wreath/shield on the one side. I had considered putting some on the opposite side of the purse but for practicality purposes, it would rub against the clothing and I feared it would cause them to catch and pull off so I chose not to for that reason.

When it was together, I made the eyelets using an awl (Yes, Jaji, that same deadly awl) and did buttonhole stitches to bind the edging.

The draw strings, hanging cord and edge cording trim are all lucet braided from more silk splendor thread.  Netflix was my biggest friend during all this, LOL!

I was very pleased with how it turned out. I wish I could have seen the recipients face when she was given it but I have been told she liked it very much.

One of these days I'll have to get around to making an alms purse for myself.  HA!!!
#cobblerschildrenhavenoshoes

DING!!!

So, for the past few weeks I have been working on a peerage cloak for a friend of mine who was given her writ at Birka in January. Last night at East Kingdom 50 Year, she was elevated to the Order of the Laurel and I can safely post the finished pictures of the finished cloak now.  I am so very pleased with how it came out. Sadly, the heat from the day forced me to leave early and I was unable to present the cloak myself and see her face when she saw it.  I found this picture of her wearing it online this morning.

Materials:

• Cloak is constructed of navy blue wool and golden linen
• All embroidery was done by hand in split stitch, blanket stitch, stem stitch and satin stitch with Splendor Silk embroidery threads on linen and then hand appliqued onto the cloak. 
• There is tablet woven trim that was made by a friend of hers in her shire. 
• 90% of the cloak was hand sewn except for the joining seam of lining to outer wool fabric. 
• She chose the design and style to span her two persona's. 

Mistress Christina Jenevra de Carvalhal

Order of the Silver Crescent

Order of the Maunche

Her device

East Kingdom Tiger

Full shot of embroidered laurel wreath trim down front of cloak. 48" long

Still here...

Just a quick post to say I am still here and am still working on projects.  Currently I am knitting on two pair of socks (one for an auction I offered a pair in), working on a cloak for a peerage elevation, a silk banner (slow going cause the silk is being difficult) and am plotting many other projects as well. Another blackwork coif, goblet cover, embroidered bag in german brick stitch, etc.

End of school year and work has me crazy and exhausted that a lot of times i fall asleep on the sofa at 8pm. Don't worry..ill post pics soon. thanks for sticking around.

Scanning.....Scanning......Scanning...

So, while cleaning up my sewing/craft area in the basement, I came across my binder of documentation from projects that predate this blog and were saved on a computer that long ago died and was disposed of. So, I spent a good hour of my evening scanning them in and posting them on google docs.  Posting them here so I can save the links as well as share.

15th c Men's Goldwork hood:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1n-BAgbhgNNJ18rBY7_HZSaikBNfSf8sz

Appliqued Heraldic Banner
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1S225ntfHi4DU8o-ZEiO2n63mAFQ5YgD1

Blackwork Chalice Cover
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CDKxvwkrtcyFZYxfqKY2ke2nhXDmr66C

Blackwork Coif
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Q0ZyDoxMX8AXQEfmqOMmVkTs_t6QGO1h

German Brickwork Pouch
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QaJucOp1O5WMa5mT_V7JmM0biWqkdy_9

Embroidered Men's 14th c Embroidered Hood
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1KqjdRUfzc19GTEcwdo4TYKlyecqob3zM

Gothic era Outfit
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dWpT0ERh3HqhgaA9vEC7l8Zm-Hhg3U0M

Stumpwork Queen's Order of Courtesy Glove
https://drive.google.com/open?id=174vJklgTUjTeYfzx97g40pBrhxpDDg2I


I also taught a class on embroidered book bindings and I've uploaded the handout I made as well.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12rWETEXnwpBBgkmhPR4aLm2lOBZGcW2d/view?usp=sharing

And I have now freed up one square foot of space in my basement. I'm sure that extra space won't last long. LOL!

"I've Got a New Attitude!!!!" (you know you're hearing the song in your head now)

Did you ever have some bad news in your life and it just hits you hard? How about multiple accounts of bad news fairly close together?   Yea, that was me the last couple weeks.  It hit me hard and took the wind out of my sails. I was more than sad for a few weeks. It doesn't matter what the news was (no one died, no one is sick so don't worry there) but what matters is it mattered to me. It brought me to a point where I thought I might quit one of my most favorite hobbies of playing in the SCA.  That's when it occurred to me that somewhere along the line and over the last few years, I'd lost the fun playing in the SCA.  I was always worrying about working on my peerage track and about how accurate my clothing was, how I acted, what I did and said with my teachers that I forgot to do the most important thing - to have fun. I was over committing myself with projects that I never had time to make anything for myself or my family, including new garb for myself because I have lost some weight and my old garb is a bit loose.

I know, I can hear friends reading this saying "No shit, we have been telling you this for a while!", but it doesn't matter how many times friends say it if it doesn't truly sink in. My sadness was bad enough that I sat at my local shire's dancing event and NEVER EVEN DANCED ONCE!! What the f***!!  It was after that event and talking with one or two friends about how I was feeling that it finally caused it to sink in.  I want the fun back. I want the laughs back. I want the joy and inspiration that I use to be overflowing with back...the excitement to buy all the supplies to start a new projects back... So I have decided that I am going to get them back.  I don't know why it took this long for the realization to sink in but it did and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I feel lighter for it.  I have plans for garb with mad amounts of embroidery on them like an apron dress with grapes and ivy encircling the hemline.  A Viking coat for myself with firebirds on it! Embroidered under dresses....accuracy be damned!! Take all the pictures and not feel obligated to do things...but do them because I want to. I'm going to try new things in the SCA too like bardic arts and I have an interest in fencing. Heralding was fun the one or two times I tried it and I didn't barf from nerves so, why not! Maybe even get back into scribal arts (now that Kyle is old enough not to "help").  I probably sound like a raving idiot but  I finally feel like the cup is full again and I want to drink it all up!  

Maybe this doesn't make any sense to you, but trust me..this is all good and I feel fabulous now! I plan to be more focused on my own needs and wants..to put myself first instead of putting everyone else first as I have done for so many years.  That isn't to say I wont do things for others but the balance will sway a bit more towards myself than away from now on. I feel enlightened and good and determined to focus on fun from now on. This is a statement I had to say more for myself than for you but figured if you'd seen me lately and how I have been, you'd now have a sort of explanation. I apologize for how I have been of late. I promise you wont see me that way any more. 

Anyway, we now return you to our regularly scheduled crafting blog...soon to be listing lots of fun stuff!

Socks of Freedom!

Her Majesty came to me some time back asking me to knit a small sock in the East Kingdom's colors.  She wanted to give it to a kingdom officer that was stepping down from his office. His knick name was "Doby". So, how else do you free a Doby?? You give him a sock!!

I give you...the East Kingdom Doby Socks of Freedom!!

They are hand knit with super wash merino wool and nylon. 

"Doby" getting his sock of freedom!

Mercedes receiving her sock of freedom!