Definitely worth it!

Wow! That's all I can say about Avatar and James Cameron. I was ready to be impressed, but not blown away! I'd skip another sewing evening to see it again in a heartbeat.

Another "no sew" evening

I am probably the only person in town who hasn't seen Avatar. Tonight's the last night of its run here, so off I go in a few minutes. I think that is a good reason to pass on sewing for one more evening!

Survivor!

Well, I've made it through another freshman orientation week and most of the first week of classes. That, plus seeing my last visiting family member to the airport (The empty house is very sad!) really took a chunk out of my free time (Basically, I had none!). I finally got some sewing time in last night and made good progress on hand-finishing the seams on the wool trews I'm making. Photos over the weekend, hopefully!

A contributer on the A&S50 list posted this link to some excellent Polish illuminations, including a selection of Cyrillic ones. It makes me want to do some painting, but the sewing must come first!

Oh, dear!

I was given three oop Teresa Wentzler patterns today and I really like them. But I REALLY don't need any more new projects. What's a girl to do? Maybe I'll just start the little one... It's a needlebook. How long could that take?

Wow, she's quick!

Nope, not me. Lady Racaire. The Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild is sponsoring a new project. I said I would be happy to participate just an hour or so ago in a quick e-mail. Since then, she's put the whole sign-up sheet online and a bunch of us down as volunteers. Pretty impressive!

Yum!

It was wonderful to come home today to homemade baked macaroni and cheese and banana bread. I am so spoiled! Off to sew now....

Evidence

Despite having to work all day today in Sofia, I managed to get some sewing in. Here's trouser proof! They need hems, finished seams, and a waist, but it's a start.

Trews? Pants? Trousers?

Logan's black wool trousers are cut out and about to be sewn. I'm using the same layout (but different sizing, of course!) that I used for Guy's linen trews. Hope these work out as well as the first pair!

Red

No, not the color of my unmentionables, a la Facebook, but rather the color of the really nice wool we just found to trim my heraldic cloak. We also bought several meters of another nice wool in a coffee color and a cotton-linen blend (plain ecru) for shirts. It was lovely to go walking today in the 54 F weather when the rest of Europe is freezing. After we shopped, we had a coffee, then headed home. Now I'm off to sew!!

More ideas

Well, I did stay home yesterday, but spent the day in bed, so no progress on any projects. I did spend some time thinking about what I'm going to do with some of my spiffy Christmas gifts. I received some excellent natural/medieval dyestuffs, including rhubarb root, logwood, and cochineal. I also now have seeds for a number of dye plants, so I really hope my house hunt is successful soon! As soon as I feel a bit better, I want to try to do some dying. I have a load of undyed embroidery silk and would love to start with that. Once it is dyed, I can use it with my other gifts, which are garnet, peridot, and citrine beads. I do so want a Byzantine court outfit!

Still sick, more planning

Well, the cough was bad enough today to have my boss send me home. Actually, it was more like "Ah, no. Go home. I do not want this!" So I spent some time on the couch planning an heraldic cloak. I've got the cream and green wool and just need some red for the trim. Given that it is snowing like mad in England now, I can't imagine I won't need a heavy cloak for Coronet and my blue wool cloak is in the US. If I wind up staying home tomorrow, maybe I'll get Mom to cut out the pattern for me.

Cough, cough, snow. Ugh!

Today was just rotten. I have a hacking cough, there was a foot of fresh snow, and there was no heat at work for two hours. Argh! At least there is a History Channel show on "Death and the Church in the Middle Ages" playing now to amuse me.

Planning for 2010

I made reasonable progress in 2009 on my SCA A&S 50 persona challenge. I went to more events, did loads of research, made better garb, and got my arms registered. I may eventually get my name beyond a holding name, but that's another story.

This year I'd really like to get more involved locally, which means we need to move forward on getting the group formalized. We've got a name, tentative arms, and enough people. Now we just need to get on a regular schedule of monthly evemts and workshops!

I'd also like to attend more Kingdom events. I'll be helping with the Insulae Draconis Principality Coronet Tourney next month. If at all possible, I'd like to also attend Ffair Rhaglan IV, Midsummer Coronation, and Winchester Pilgrimage V. I'd go to more than that, but money and work preclude it. Darn!!

I like to think I also learned from this year's experiences, especially in the underestimation of time needed to make garb to my satisfaction. (Three landsknecht outfits in six weeks WILL make you crazed - I promise). Which means I'd better get more done tonight on that Viking outfit....

Progress

Well, Logan's shirt is cut out and I've done the shoulder seams. It's a good start! I also stitched the guild badge onto my scrip. I think it needs something around it to make the edge look finished, so I'm going to do a round braid in green, gold, and black in the next few days, then couch it on.











I've also got a rotten cold. Guess it's my body saying "No! Don't go back to work yet!" Too bad I can't stay home, but the start of the semester is my busiest time of year.

The end of the holiday is in sight...

Unfortunately, the kids have now all headed home (or at least to the airport) and I have only one last day of holiday to look forward to.

I've volunteered to make a set of basic Viking clothing for Logan in time for the ID Coronet Tourney in February, so I think I'll start cutting out tomorrow. I'm pleased to be making this set of clothing, since it will be for his first event and I want him to have a good time so he'll keep attending. Looking through the stash showed I had plenty of white linen for a shirt and some dark red linen for a tunic. I've also got a dark grey wool that will do for trousers and perhaps a half-circle cloak, since it will be cold at the event. That should keep me busy for a while!

Chestita Nova Godina!

Happy New Year to everyone! I have great hopes for 2010, based on all of the omens yesterday - a full moon, a lunar eclipse, and a blue moon - all on New Year's Eve! Here's a picture of the partial eclipse, such as it was. My camera is not able to take good nightime photos, alas.













Today has gone well too, despite the surfeit of food and drink last evening. I finished my first version of the badge for the Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild. I'm not entirely happy with it, because the needle could be stitched more smoothly, but it will do for now. I plan to put it on my scrip to show my guild membership.