It is here again! Another fresh year for projects. I like posting this list to my journal as I lose track of just what the heck I spend my time on. With no further ado this is what my plans are for 2012 (subject to change with very little notice or as the wind changes).

( Cut because I care )

Scroll for the Atlantian Order of the Pearl (arts)


( Cut to save your bandwidth )

I've not been posting in my LJ but I read it and my friends posts regularly. I've always used LJ as my project notebook but I've not been good about it lately. I've been working on plenty of things I just need to get on the stick and record it here.

On a different note....I am not currently holding any office in the SCA right now! I gave up my last office, Baronial MOAS last month. It is mentally freeing it is. Though I had a system for reporting using the least amount of effort, it was a responsibility of the office. That and going to the business meetings each month. I signed off the officers list and I have set aside the inner workings of the local group for the new up and coming team. :-) I've held an office of some kind in the SCA for so long that it was a different feeling to not be in charge of something.

This is not to say I've cut myself off cold turkey because once a volunteer always a volunteer, but now my volunteerism has changed from long term to short term. No offices but volunteering for specific projects. It's a nice change. Boom! Do the job. Boom! Move on to the next need or not as my schedule allows. Much fun will continue to be had. :-)

TTFN Peeps!

It is here again! Another fresh year for projects. I like posting this list to my journal as I lose track of just what the heck I spend my time on. With no further ado this is what my plans are for 2011 (subject to change with very little notice or as the wind changes).

( Cut because I care )

Ever since I was a child I love the physical feeling after a major clear out is done. I feel an immense sense of relief.The mental pressure of the mess is gone for a while. Now the opportunity of two merchanting events in two weeks has offered me a chance to have this feeling again.

You know, by clearing out our extra SCA related stuff that I was:
a) not using anymore
b) never going to use in the first place
c) had plans for that I've moved away from
d) afraid to let go of "just in case"
e) holding because, hey I "could" use that "someday"
I feel better.

It is now making someone else happy, giving me resources to channel into SCA stuff I'd really like to have, clearing out space so that my hobby area is more attractive to work at, and now I'm down to the SCA things I REALLY like and enjoy.

The subconscious stress of having all these things and materials and not getting any of it done, or used to enhance my vision of the SCA, weighed on me even if I didn't admit it. Big stashes of things are stressful.

Some examples -
I am now down to one 30 gal tub of wool and linen. This is the amount to make new garb in a realistic amount for me and The Knight.
I gave up 4lbs (yes, 4lbs) of wool needlework yarn. How I got that much is beyond me. If I work on a project I buy the specific colors I needed because they never seemed to be in my stash.

No, the person who dies with the most craft supplies does not win, you just piss off the executor of your estate.

The more extraneous things I get rid of, the more inspired I feel, and that is a good thing.

I've been filling my retirement with all sorts of projects now that my mind has been set free to terrorize the countryside....( projects behind the cut. )

I keep getting sidetracked by projects. Last week it was a fighting tunic for Sir Knarlic to wear to Seige of Glengary. This week is a fighting tunic for The Knight to wear to War of the Wings next weekend. I forgot to get photos of Knarlic's tunic but I did grab some quick photos of Eric's -

I'm still here and reading journals in LJ and DW most everyday. I'm still making things but posting to LJ first, mainly out of habit.

Though I post in FB regularly, content is slightly different there but I have no plans to abandon LJ or Dreamwidth at this time. I like this format for posting about my projects. FB is okay but is less ideal for tags etc.

Never fear! I'm here and paying attention. :-)

This entry was originally posted at http://martelvonc.dreamwidth.org/211431.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

I just finished my first weaving project on a rigid heddle loom. I think I kind of like this!

The loom is a Harrisville Easy Weaver. It's not a bad loom but it badly needs some technical adjustments to it. Like it needs apron bars to tie the warp to. The velcro it comes with to hold the warp taught? Not so much. This is an easy fix of a couple of holes drilled to the warp and take up beams to tie the sticks to.
Washing of the fabric needs to happen today but I'm excited!

This scroll is done as the "Bright Leaf" which was the precursor of the "Coral Branch". Lord Bardulf Rauen received it from Logan and Isabel for his excellent portraits of Atlantians that he still does today at no cost to the subject.

This image is from the 13th century book "History of England" by Matthew Paris.

I have the figure holding a branch of golden leaves in his left hand and a camera obscura in his right.

This week I've been working on a sooper sekrit project. It was a Pearl Medallion for Lady Yseulte Trevelyn, Barony of Bright Hills, who was made a member of the Order today at Storvic Novice Tourney. The medallion is 2 1/8' in diameter and backed with white glove leather.

It is a German beadwork technique of the 13 & 14th Century in the V&A museum in London and the Halberstadt Museum in Germany. The squares are of images of saints and the items at these two museums are believed to be related from a larger extant item. Beadwork in tiny pearls and glass seed beads was very popular. The original images can be found here -

http://medievalbeads.com/content/view/19/55/

http://medievalbeads.com/content/view/45/29/

and here in THL Elspeth Grizel of Dunfort, Midrealm, CW, APFx2, CDH Flicker Album -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/verybigjen/collections/72157594588174008/

http://old.medievalbeads.com/docs/items/beaded-beegees.shtml

http://old.medievalbeads.com/notes/VA_visit_notes50.pdf

I finished, as far as I could go, the AoA scroll for Mari of Varakai, my former apprentice sister. She still needs to pass heraldry and I poked her about that but I'm going to send it off to her anyway. Sorry about the image but my scanner bed is not quite big enough and it distorts the image.

The documentation is:
Biblia Pauperum, 1395-1400, Den Haag, British Library, London, Folio 4 recto- Jacob leaves home and goes abroad at his mother's behest, who fears for his life. (genesis 27, 41-45)
(Codest illustres: the world's most famous illuminated manuscripts, 400-1600, pg 250, 2001, Ingo F. Walther)

I've been inspired to start working on illumination again. It's something I dabbled in years (okay, decades) ago and I still collect art books like a fiend. Believe it or not it is an extension of my medieval embroidery. The art is similar and the designs cross over through the different disciplines. I'm just using different materials.

Because I'm out of practice and cannot possibly be a "combat scribe" at this time, I'm picking up backlog scrolls, this way I can work at a slower pace and take my time. Calligraphy is my weak suit. I may have to cultivate a working relationship with someone who has better skills than I have.

I've been posting progress images over on FaceBook as this is something that fascinates me - how something is made. I love to read about the work of other artists and how they work. If you are of a mind to do this I would love to follow your work!

To record here in my craft journal is the scroll I recently completed but some of you have already seen -

I haven't posted projects in a while and really should. SO many things fell by the wayside as I wound down from being Baroness. Right now I've been shooting archery regularly and having a grand time of it.

My latest project has been to clear out my craft work area so that I can get back to work. Some new Pennsic garb needs to be made. Not because I need it but just because I would like a few new things to wear. Fabric is purchased, I just need to do the sewing.

I've also started working on my calligraphy and illumination again after some 20+ years. There is so much cool art work out there that I am itching to make and channeling the work into scrolls gives me an outlet for it. The resources and knowledge has increased drastically over the years and I am having a great deal of fun searching subject ideas. My main outlet will be back log scrolls for my barony and pick up some for Kingdom. These two should keep me going for quite some time. :-)

I have so many things on my to do list that I can't imagine being bored anytime soon. Ah the life of a craft monkey!

Here is where they were as of Tuesday night -


Here is where they are as of last night -


This weekend the appliques will have all the raw edges finished with sartouche braid.

Tonight I finally put on my big Laurel panties and started to attach the applique's that make up the Bright Hills device on the new baronial cloaks. I was scared to death to commit them as they will be permanent. There will be no going back.

Our design is a traditional half circle cope.

The pieces are attached in a secure but non-medieval manner using a fantastic fusion material I purchased by the yard at Jo-Ann's. They look very nice right now. I want to purchase sartouche braid in silver if I can find it. I have the gold for the laurel wreath but I'd like to outline the white bits in silver.

The roundels for the baronial awards and Spike are out being embroidered as we speak. I'm hoping to have some of them attached by Investiture. If not that's okay. We will be working on these cloaks for quite sometime as there is a lot of embroidery and bead work that still needs to be done.

So far all of the materials have been donated to the project even though the barony has approved expenditures for the cloak. I'll submit receipts for the pearls and beads when the time comes.

So that I remember for the baronial records:
Materials-
Mistress Anne of Hatfield - heavy black linen (main body of cloak)
Mistress Martelle von Charlottenburg - white linen, gold linen, aida fabric & for roundels, gold sartouche braid,
Barony of Bright Hills - embroidery floss, fushion material,

Embroiderers -
Lady Taira no Aikiyo - 1-Silver Scroll, 1-Augean Stable
Lady Michelle England - 4-Spike (populace badge of Atlantia)
Mistress Martelle von Charlottenburg - 2-Heart of the Oak,
M'Lady Rebecca of Green Lion Bay - 4-Job, 4-Shell & Crescent
Lady Wynne ferch Rhodri ap Hwyell 4-Silberberg

To be updated as we go....

This entry was originally posted at http://martelvonc.dreamwidth.org/211038.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

As we all do when we return from a major event like Pennsic, our minds turn to how we could make it better for ourselves next time. ( cut for brevity, you can thank me later )

I don't make resolutions. Most are of the unrealistic sort. I'd rather just make a list and try to plow through it. So I am going to repost my "to do" list at the top of my journal and strike them out as I get them done.

Projects Planned for 2010: ( cut because I care )

The end of 2010. It is almost upon us.

2010 has been a pretty good year for me. I worked on projects. Got some finished and some not so much, but none that were disasters. I've had fun in my strange little SCA hobby. I've met many good people, and had many belly laughs with them.

Now a big change comes for me in 2011. I hope I will navigate it well. I will be stepping down as Baroness of Bright Hills February 12th. This has consumed my life and weekends for 4 years. I almost forget what it's like to be *me* and not *Bright Hills*.
Am I still here?
Will my personality come out again?
Will people remember the *old* me?
Will they still like the *old* me?

Oh, I have friends and activities that I enjoy and will not lose. Arts & Sciences, Archery, embroidery, weaving, knitting, nalbinding, sewing, candle-making, siege crew, maybe getting a sword & board authorization, and hopefully brewing of my own hard cider.

My current plan is to acquire a new personal day shade to which I can retire at events. Yes, I suspect I will always be welcome under the baronial pavilion but I think I need to step away for a little bit to find myself again. To give more of myself to my apprentices. To find out what direction they want to go in. Am I still relevant to them?

The friends I have made these past years will always be welcome under my shade, to have a seat, to laugh and to partake of a little hospitality. I hope they know they can always depend on me and call on me if they have need.

I've been fortunate to see the beginning of a new baronial canton. I hope I have left them with enthusiasm and a sense of belonging to their own group. They are good people and I look forward to helping them on their journey to becoming a full canton.

Most of all I hope I am able to stay out of the way and be graceful in my retirement as landed baronage of Bright Hills. I will no longer be a representative of the Crown. I will need to embrace my set aside role as being a peer of Atlantia now.

So many thoughts...so much time ahead!

Hi dee ho readers!

I have in fact been reading here everyday even if I do not post in my own journal. I just love to read about other folks projects.

But what have "I" been doing? quite a bit actually...

*Working on a knit cap for a Christmas gift, almost done, maybe tonight.
*STILL working on the baby sweater which I hope to have completed this weekend.
*Still working on my nalbinded socks, but one is DONE and I am working on the cuff of the second. I will have warm feet at events yet!
*dipped 25 pairs of candles for an ETSY order.
*cleared out most of my 2010 filing in preparation for taxes. (Ok this is not strictly a craft project but it did NEED to be done)
*Sewed the buttons on to a Laurel hood with only the button holes to complete.
*Cut out a 14th century gown that I hope to complete for my stepping down in Feb.
*started work on the new baronial heraldic cloaks also to be completed for investiture in Feb.

Oh yea, and if the KMoAS is okay with it, I will be taking over the office of MoAS for Bright Hills when I step down as baroness, like that night, at court. What?!?! Our current MoAS needs to step down and I've done this office before and as EVERYBODY knows it's best for everyone if I am kept busy.

Just remember - a bored Martelle is the devils playground.

I now have a pseudo girl cave, heavy on the cave part.

After we cleared out the rubbish, and moved all the appropriate stuff in to the shed, I moved my craft stuff/sewing into the back room where the light is much better, but it is the laundry/work area. I still need to make some decisions about how things are arraigned but I now have a decent work space. It's not glamorous but it is very functional and easy to sweep.

Today I put away sundry stuff and am going to finish an insulated curtain panel I purchased for the bed room. We have one regular window and one very small window. This job is to take one 84" long panel, cut it in half and it will cover this small window nicely.

Organization today has included separating out projects-in-process into two baskets - SCA and modern. There is a lot of mending included in both baskets.

Most of this "nesting" is in preparation for when I step down from being Bright Hills Baroness on Feb. 12th. When I don't have other responsibilities weighing on my mind I will be able to turn my eye back to my SCA A&S work. I miss devoting endless hours to it. :-) I promised the family I would not be volunteering for anything (much) for a while. Does teaching various A&S classes count? hehehe!

Well, back to the cave. The curtain-less window is calling for clothes!

I made my sleeveless Luttrell Psalter gown for Pennsic. Problem is, I made it too big. I over estimated the size of my bits, and my height. Yes, I did indeed measure my a fore mentioned bits, and measured the fabric. I have no idea what went wrong.

Tonight I took the darn thing apart and took in the shoulders and shortened it. I still like it for a first effort. I will still be able to wear it and enjoy it after I fix it. This means extra work but it is not a disaster.

The next plan is to remake it in linen and in wool. This is once I get the bugs worked out of the pattern. How can something so simple be so hard? Oh yea, I forgot, I'm not a costumer...*face*palm*.

I will freely admit I suck at making a pattern. Give me a pattern and I can sew the heck out of it. But designing my own? Not so much.

In my little world I do have flashes of brilliance - I made the apron for this outfit, "boom" like that. No thought and it came out right the first time. The gown? Truly a labor of love. Heavy on the labor...

Let's start from the beginning, because as most of my projects do, they spring from impetuousness and not from any real planning on my part.

This year at Pennsic I volunteered to help at the Children's Fete. This is a HUGE activity that Atlantia sponsors for the under 12 set. There are activities and games and whack a fighters and bouncy castles etc. It was started by Her Grace Duchess Arielle the Golden who is no longer with us. She passed away last summer from breast cancer.

This year those who are running the Fete asked the volunteers to wear pink in honor of Her Grace.

Ok I can do that but what to make? I have nothing in pink or rose. I was loath to make a "pink" thing and have no where else to wear it. A one trick pony. In my time geeking on the internet I came upon a British Library website that has a facsimile of the Luttrell Psalter.

http://www.bl.uk/collections/treasures/luttrell/luttrell_broadband.htm

In it are ladies wearing Rose colored gowns! Well Dang! I can make that type of gown! (Lets say up front I'm not a costumer.)

While checking out the styles I noticed the aprons the women are wearing. Hmmm I've seen those before. Then it hits me, Griele my apprentice sister made one! And her's is really nice. So after a bit of research, less than $5.00 in materials and 15 hours of time (because I am inefficient and slow) I now have achieved this-


I know about the dots. I hope they wash out, If not, eh. This is a work apron. It was worn in the fields. I'm good with it because it's done and looks like the images.( one more photo here )

I don't have the gown done yet but will post pictures when it is all complete.

I'm into the next section, sleeves! ( cut because it's the right thing to do )

I finished the first section yesterday. Now on to the sleeve increases!

( I'm making clothes! )

As well as the clearing of the project basket has been going, I must stop to work on a gift.

A lady at work will be a grandmother soon. I used to work with her daughter who is having the baby. My stoppage on the OP basket is to knit a couple of baby things for her baby.

First will be a little garter stitch kimono style sweater on page 61 from the book "Simple Knits For Cherished Babies" by Erika Knight, Collins & Brown, 2008. It is knit in one piece and then sewn up the side seams.



I'm knitting the sweater in Spud & Chloe, Fine Sock, superwash 80% wool/20%silk, color #7807, which is a very pale pink. There were many yarn choices and then I thought...hmmmm...superwash. I know I'd appreciate being able to machine wash a sweater rather than hand wash AND have a new baby.

The sweater is supposed to close with ribbons tied in the back. WTF? Dressing a wiggly baby, flipping them over to manipulate ties in the back to close the sweater? Ummmm, no. So I will do as the ladies at the "Knitting Addiction" shop did and close the one side of the sweater with a small button on the inside and pretty button on the outside. With the outside button being big enough to not be a choking hazard and still be stylish.

I was also assured by the ladies at "Knitting Addiction" that I would have enough yarn left over from the two skeins to also knit a pair of matching socks.

When I had babies and others in my family had babies I did not know how to knit. Now I do and I can make these things and die from the cute!

If that was true I'd have finished these 8 months ago.

Fingerless mittens...Done! Next OP - a scarf I began in 2005.

( Look Ma, I finally gots glubs! )

Today sees our heroine moving on to the next orphan project.

WHAT? You say? There's more? Ummm, yes, I am ashamed to say. I start all sorts of things and then get side tracked but I am determined to rectify this situation. One project at a time.

This project is from last winter. I was knitting fingerless mittens for myself and The Knight says "Hey, could you knit a pair for me?" and I says "Sure Sweetie. I can knit a pair for you!". I even have on hand this loverly tan, baby alpaca yarn I bought at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. It is so soft! It is so cuddly! The Knight says, "Um ok, whatever you want to make them from is fine with me".

(He secretly thinks I am nuts but loves me anyway.)

Here is where they are today-( here be a half finished project )

I finished yet another OP! The knitted shopping bag is Done! Booyah! The orphan project basket is a little less whiney tonight...

( what the heck is it? )

( It's a shopping bag! )

The shopping bag is on the down hill stretch. Four more rows then bind off and sew in the end!

Yesterday I visited a yarn shop in Manteo, on Roanoke Island, "Fine Yarns at Kimbeeba". The trip was actually to purchase knitting needles for the baby sweater I want to knit next. As you knitters/crafts people know, we cannot just go in an buy what we came for and leave (are you non-craftspeople/knitters NUTS?!). In my perusing of the shop's many goodies I found the button display. My daughter and I found a tube of these chunky beauties made of that nut that is used as an ivory substitute for carving (the name escapes me). It works perfectly for the bottom of the bag that makes up the pouch to fold the bag into when it's not in use.

( Nut Job )

Now I'm down to the last few rows and really, really love this bag. Some things I make just to have the challenge of making the item. Some items, like this one, I actually want to make and own it too.

( Look Ma! Almost done! )

As you may know, your heroine has been clearing out her orphan project basket. This particular bit of knitting was a net shopping bag I started last December, the same week as my rotator cuff injury got to it's worse. Needless to say I could not count stitches straight and it showed. The bag was full of fail. It was delegated to the OP basket.

I got tired of my OP basket whining at me from the sewing area so I have begun to finish these projects. The latest one I have pulled to finish up is this bag. I liked it when I bought it and I still like this project today but I got discouraged.

I've been knitting up a storm on my shopping bag but....I ran out of yarn and guess where the rest of the yarn is. Yes, you guessed correctly, at home. Why is this a problem? I am currently 350 miles away from HOME at the beach. Fortunately I am in the same town as the yarn shop where I purchased this project originally. So I must suffer and go and visit this yarn shop again. Too bad! Oh the horror! hehehe!

Here is my project so far ( here be peektures )

In my efforts to clear out, I am working on orphan projects so they do not whine at me any longer from the basket.

I started to knit a cotton shopping bag last December at Unevent. When combined with serious rotator cuff pain while I was trying to concentrate on stitch count accuracy that weekend, and not understanding how to make this increase, it ended up being full of fail. It ended up being, as I've posted, an "orphan project".

It is a pattern from "Oat Couture, natural knitting", "Stow-Away Shopping Bag" (AC306)

Unfortunately it meant pulling apart the entire work done and starting over, it was that full of fail. Thank goodness cotton yarn is VERY forgiving. I balled up the yarn, put on my big knitter panties and got to work. Ah but I was now at the point to make the first increase. This was a major problem the first time. So I went to the great knitting oracle and found a nice tutorial.

Whoo hoo! After seeing the following You Tube video I finally "get" how to Make 3! This is an important increase stitch for my shopping bag. All will now be right in world!

After all the clearing I have been doing the past weeks I decided to work on all the orphan projects I have accumulated. You know the ones, those poor projects that, by no fault of their own, lost the bloom of the initial thrill, were started, then orphaned to the project basket of shame.

This one was rescued from oblivion because I really do like it. The pattern is "Summer Cotton Bag" by Jeanne Shrader of the "Knitting Addiction" shop in Southern Shores, NC. (but according to the website have now moved down the road.)

http://www.knittingaddiction.com/


The yarn is...well, I've had it started for over a year and cannot remember what the yarn is. *face*palm* but it's knitted with two strands together of 100% cotton, one is cream the other is a pastel yarn with little fuzzy dots along the yarn.

( Here be the orphan no more! )

Today I have been sorting out all the sundry bags/baskets/boxes etc that my garb & accessories end up in after events. It's everywhere. It's no wonder I can never find anything. I seriously need to put my stuff away when I'm done with it.

Now that everything is matched up I've found I only need to make a few things. If I do, all my outfits will have dedicated parts with no double duty required. This is a good thing when attending Pennsic for a week.

1 under-dress for a viking hangerock.
1 under-dress for a wool tunic gown.
1 new pair of pants for my old Persian.
1 or 2 pairs of men's pants to wear with the 2 men's tunics I have. (good for archery)

I can always use, and are on the list:
Linen chemises (extra clean underwear can make Pennsic heat bearable)
extra pairs of linen hosen (see above reason but for legs)
extra viking caps (see above, above reason but for hair)
A new pilgrim bag (not desperate but it would be nice to have.)
A silk veil since I lost my last one. (only God knows where)

Back to the project station. It ain't makin' itself!

Well sort of.

Technically I have plenty of garb for one week of Pennsic and not have to visit the town laundromat, but I would still like to have something new. I've got plenty of fabric so there is no additional cost involved with this project. The hard part is deciding what to make.

I can always use a new viking outfit and I have some nice wool to make the hangerock. This would also mean restringing some of my beads as I have a few broken strings.

Or....It would be nice to have some boy clothes to shoot archery in. At the least I can always make a couple of spare simple tunics to wear under other things. I wonder if I have enough of a heavy fabric to make a new pilgrim bag?

So I guess I know what I will be doing this holiday weekend - sorting out the fabric bin!

Yesterday I finished a pouch made with the new stitch Mistress Sigrid taught me Friday evening. It makes an entirely different fabric than the first one she taught me which I believe was the Oslo stitch.

This stitch worked up incredibly faster that the socks are going because the stitches are larger. It also makes a thicker fabric. The drawstring is made with a simple 4 bow finger loop braid. The wool is Lambs Pride Worsted.

Here are some photos of the pouch and where I am with the socks -

( More wooly goodness. )

My son has been in the hospital this week for back surgery. Not the first time we've done time at the hospital and it probably won't be the last. I have learned that one should always take something to do while sitting...and waiting, because there is ALWAYS a lot of waiting. Always.

After reading some random knitting site, I saw a free pattern for knitted lace. I'm always a fan of free patterns and after some digging found I had everything on hand to give this a go. Why not? I have no impending need for knitted lace but heck I love a challenge and what better excuse to start a new project than being with the son in the hospital?

free pattern - check
knitting needles, size 00 - check
rubber caps for the double pointed needles - check
old ball of cotton crochet thread - check
Posty notes to mark the rows - check

Due to the fact that I got interrupted in the middle of rows and lost my place about 15 times, I have finally started to show some progress. It's actually quite fun! Knitting lace is a little like magic. The pattern gives no real hint of how it will work until you've done at lease two repeats of the group of rows. Then all of a sudden you look down and you have lace! Pretty cool!

Here are some photos of where I am so far - ( your connection will thank me )

Yesterday I went to the Baltimore Bowmen Traditional Classic. All traditional archery all weekend! Squee!

I've been trying to get to this event for a number of years but there was always something else I had to do this particular weekend. This year I put my foot down and said NO! I'm going!. So I did.

There was so much to do and see, from two woods shoots, to a kids shoot, to an adults pendulum, lollipop shoot (courtesy of the BH archery program since we have a target shed there), vendors, and some of the best pit beef and chicken cooked over live coals I've had in some time. I also got to hang with my archery buds and laugh, and shoot, and have an all over good time.

The best part of my day was one of the main reasons I went to BBTC and that was to purchase a new BOW! I've been happily shooting a 25# recurve I got on Ebay for about 3 years now. I've had plenty of fun with it mind you but I was ready to move up to a big girl bow. After much searching and keeping in mind all the things Seamus, Janyn, and Godai told me, I found a sweet 62" Long Bow that is 31# at 28" from Elk Ridge Archery.

It shoots very nicely and is laminated on the outside with beautiful birds eye maple and has antler, string nocks. I purchased it early and then proceeded to shoot with it the rest of the day. I must say what a difference a decent bow makes. My accuracy noticeably improved even without settling in to the bow. This bow is also lighter that my old bow which is also a plus.

I need to root out the camera and I'll post photos later.

But once again *squee!!!

My shopping list for this years MDS&W (and yes, I MUST have a list to stick to so I don't bankrupt the family) was to purchase 1)only a little bit of yarn (accomplished) and 2)a drop spindle and some roving so I can attempt to make my own yarn for a nalbinding project.

I was not sure about this foray into spinning and while there were many many beautiful spindles to be had, I ended up getting lucky and picking one up for a song in the auction on Saturday. It's a topish whirl spindle that works nicely. Better to try it out on a more affordable spindle, find out if I like it, then move on to the shiny ones! :-)

After looking at all the vendors and not being too excited about the color choices in roving I found a booth in the main hall for Aboundingful Farms. They raise Icelandic Sheep in Palmyra, PA. Their roving was all natural colored and still smelled of lanolin. I love that smell and am always disappointed when yarn has it all processed out.

So I've been playing with spinning this afternoon. It's not going too badly for someone who has never done any meaningful spinning. I only wish I knew what hand spun Icelandic yarn should look like. Mine is a bit fuzzy. It's not smooth like the commercial yarn I'm used too. Is this a fuzzy wool? It's not unpleasant looking but I just just don't have a reference to know how badly or well I'm doing.

So for now I will continue to work on my tension and spin up the roving I have, then see if I can purchase more as I like the Icelandic colors very much.

I've moved on from "Day of Dance" in Jan., Baronial Birthday in Feb. and KASF in March, on to my latest Sooper Sekrit Projekt.,

It is fully constructed and now the embroidery work begins in ernest. I'm very excited about this project as it is pretty cool. Even I don't own one of these. A definite case of the cobbler going barefoot! LOL! I can't say anything specific just yet but will post pictures when the time comes.

I've wanted to do a project like this for quite sometime and this opportunity gave me the chance. The best part? I was given free reign with only a deadline. Money was no object! MWA-HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Okay maybe money was a little bit of an object but I donated the wool and someone else donated the rest.

So back to work as it ain't makin' itself!

I've been working on my braids and kumihimo lately. Atlantia needed medallion cords and we needed something to do! So the barony has been in braid mode making various and sundry braids that I'm converting into medallion cords with clasps. We've sent off 24 cords so far.

It's a win/win for everyone! Kingdom gets what they need and we get to burn off nervous winter energy! Because as EVERYONE knows a bored Bright Hillian is well...like ME! LOL!!

This has also been an opportunity for us to learn new skills that are useful in our SCA lives. As you can see from my previous post this project has forced me to learn a skill that has illuded me for some number of years. I'm pretty excited!

and that burning smell is my brain working it.

After much frustration I can FINALLY now do simple fingerloop braiding. Now it's only a 4 loop spiral but I can produce a decent braid. With only two moves and no walking of the cords down my fingers it is still a struggle. The breakthrough came with a class I took at the Barony of Lochmere Mid-Winter Revel last month. I was able to learn this simple braid.

Incredulously enough, I can knit, crochet, lucet, embroider, tablet weave, kumihimo all while holding a conversation. Finger loop braid is so hard for me that any distraction to my two move rhythm causes me to get lost. It's a brain/body coordination thing for me. My body is the tool making the braid. All my other crafts use "holders" for the work. I can feel my brain struggling with the pattern, the movements, and getting my body to pull it all together.

For now this is good enough and I am happy!

Actually I am. But I've just been lazy about posting. :-)

This month I have been knitting fingerless mittens. Nothing exciting or complicated. Just a simple rectangle in stockinette, slightly fitted, folded in half, sewn up to the thumb, then down to the thumb to leave a hole for said thumb. Done!

I made a pair for me and had half a ball of yarn left, so I made a second pair and gave them away cause' I only wanted one pair in any particular color of yarn. I am now knitting a pair for The Knight who saw the pairs I had already made and said "make a pair for me?" Fortunately I found a loverly ball of camel/tan baby alpaca that I had on hand (ar ar ar knitting humor)and have been knitting away. Last night I started them and am 2/3 of the way through the first mitten already. He will have soft fuzzy goodness by the weekend.

Due to the size of The Knights hands, being a guy, I may or may not have enough yarn left on the ball to make a second pair. I already know who I will give the 2nd pair to if this is the case. Stay tuned and be surprised!

I should be working on new Persian garb but I am not. Slacker! I did advise someone on Persian garb this month and if she is able to make hers I will live vicariously through her new garb and just wear my old Persian outfit.

The barony is being prepared for the process of polling for my replacement. It's about a 7 month process and the time is quickly sneaking up on us. I step down Feb. of 2011. As I've been telling folks, "I feel a cough coming on and may need to take in the waters at Lourdes"

So there it is the start of 2010. Stay tuned for more foolishness and mayhem.

Same thing we do every year Pinky, Try to do more stuff than we have time for! But God almighty it's fun to try!

My progress on my what did I do list from last year was pretty impressive for me. I got lots of stuff done and I got a lot of satisfaction out of the projects. This did not even begin to list the SCA events I went to and had a ball at. I learned new things and tried new things.

I will once again start an accounting of my activities for 2010 but it will be dated 12/31/2010 so that it rests at the top of my journal. You are welcome to peep in on it if you like as the year progresses to follow my state of insanity and time sink.

And to that end I wish you all happy 2010!
May all your projects get done on time,
may you garner many, many, Oooos and Ah's for your accomplishments,
and may you also learn many cool things that will enhance your historical projects and make you uber interesting at cocktail parties!

After all, I'm the go to girl at work for medieval answers on crossword puzzles! LOL!

I don't make resolutions. Most are of the unrealistic sort. I'd rather just make a list and try to plow through it. So I am going to repost my "to do" list at the top of my journal and strike them out as I get them done.
( cut to save the space )

I finished knitting the pouch and last night I wet it and blocked it a bit. The handle, drawstrings, and tassels need to be made next. I like knowing where the yarn came from. Damp, it still smells like clean sheep. :-) I need to block it better. The bottom is not sewn as uneven as it looks in the photo. It's 8" long and 6" wide.

but I'm not. So there! Pffffft!

I decided to knit a new bag for KASF to put in the display by the Atlantian Knitters Guild, "Keepers of the Clewe".

It is knit in two colors of natural wool, cream and dark brown. This wool came from the sheep of a friend of mine, Sara Ani, who lives in Baltimore and raises sheep on a property in the Greenspring Valley area of Baltimore County. Her producer name is "Blackberry Fields Farm"

I am using a pattern designed by caemfind from a kit of hers. The kit originally came with green and white cotton thread but I decided to try the two color knitting in wool. The purse will be larger as the yarn is larger. I also reversed the dark/light colors in the pattern. I'm knitting on Clover size 3, bamboo, double pointed needles.

This project is coming along much quicker than the first now that I understand how two color knitting works.

Photos will come in a few days when I have enough knitting completed that the darn thing does not curl so much.

Today the most excellent cariola and anne_rose came over and we collaborated, sewed and cut out a muslin mock up, went out for sushi and generally had a fun time. I even completed the repair on one leg of a pair of hosen. We even made time to help Anne Rose with some advice about her upcoming garb project.

I work so much better with company! :-)

You know how sometimes people on your friendslist post about stuff going on in their life, and all of a sudden you think "Wait a minute? Since when were they working THERE? Since when were they dating HIM/HER? Since when???" And then you wonder how you could have missed all that se

It's seemingly pretty standard information, but somehow you feel too ashamed to ask for clarification because it seems like info you should already know? It happens to all of us sometimes.

Please copy the topics below, erase my answers and put yours in their place, and then post it in your journal! Please elaborate on the questions that would benefit from elaboration. One-Word-Answers seldom help anyone out.

1. First Name: Martha or Martelle

2. Age: 50, what are ya gonna do about it!

3. Location: Randallstown, Maryland

4. Occupation:
Clerical Specialist extroidinare, wrangler of Lutheran Preachers, counter of elderly people.

5. Partner: The Knight (Eric)

6. Kids: Aelfwynn (Erica) and Paul (Paul)

7. Brothers/Sisters: two- Sarah, younger and a grandmother, Amanda, younger and a mom.

8. Parents: Marge (still around) and Harry (passed away in 1990).

9. Pets: Cassie, dog.

10. List the 3-5 biggest things going on in your life:

A. Latest round of clearing out the home is successful and I am adoring the extra space to work on hobbies!
B. Coming up on my last year as Baroness of Bright Hills
C. Seeing my archery vastly improve in the past year. I never thought I'd be decent at any sport.
D. Working on my SCA Kit and replacing old, outdated things.