At year's end

2014 was very interesting, special, and stressful and I can only hope that 2015 will be interesting and special, but not stressful!

Looking back across 2014, this time last year I didn't even have a finished living room. Now the house is basically finished, with only cosmetic work left to be done as time and money allow, particularly in the garden. All the rooms are fully furnished and the conservatory is clearly everyone's favorite spot. It is full of flowers, greenery, and olive and citrus trees and we eat nearly every meal there. The garden is clearly organized and the addition of many heirloom roses and perennials will add to our enjoyment of it for years to come.

I survived the change in leadership at the University - my 8th President over the last 20 years - and I look forward to working with the new president for a number of years to come.

I made it to nearly all the SCA events I wanted to attend, only missing out on Double Wars, and making it to some I hadn't planned on. Other changes in my SCA life include becoming a member of the Orden des Lindquistringes, becoming a novice archer, stepping down as Seneschal of the College, and stepping up as a Regional Deputy Seneschal. Serving as Aurochs Herald has also been a steep learning curve, but it has been both fun and interesting and I look forward to continuing my service to Drachenwald. Our  household has become a solid group and we added several new members to Linden Manor over the year. From its beginning as a silly idea on the way home from Yule Ball several years ago, to a group with a registered name and badge with real household meetings, it has brought together our SCA family. I'm sure we'll be up to much mischief and mayhem through thick and thin in 2015!

The biggest change in 2014 was becoming a grandmother. Our newest family member is just a darling and I look forward to spending as much time with her as possible. Her parents have agreed that she can go to SCA events with her auntie and I when she's a bit older. Little do they know what we have planned!

As a part of a discussion with Constanza, Catherine Weaver, and a few other household members, 2015 will be a year of working "selfishly." We realized that we all spend most of our crafting and sewing time on things for others and our own kit and wardrobes suffer accordingly. We've pledged to use this year to up our own game historically. It will be interesting to see if I can actually stick to this plan! As a part of it, I want to improve my persona and create a solid wardrobe for "Tamara", which actually reflects her/my life in the Balkans. I will not be participating in any A&S exchanges this year, because I don't need to add the stress into my life from that. I also want to become more physically fit, now that my knee is fully healed. I'll be walking daily and practicing archery as regularly as the weather allows as a part of that goal.

Happy New Year to my family and friends and to anyone who reads this blog! Честита Нова Година!

Kingdom University/Yule Ball fun!

So, I'm home from KU and it was just excellent. I started out my Saturday morning by helping at the Herald's Consultation Table. We had a few takers, but mostly I worked on some pending clients' names and devices with the other heralds.

Later, I took a very well done class on beginning illumination with Lady Katherine of Great Chesterford and sat in on a C&I round table led by Mistress Genevieve, Mistress Oriane, and Lady Arianhwy Wen. It was a "terrible" thing to do, because I made the "mistake" of asking what should be in  a basic illumination kit. That led to a shopping list and a trip to Cornellison's in London after the event. This led to a large bag of goodies to get home. I'm now in the process of setting up a little scribal corner under my skylight! I also took a class on Homage and Fealty with Lady Lyonet de Covenham. Very interesting stuff and well presented!

Feast was lovely and we had nearly the entire household present. We added the Lady Þora Sumarliđadottir to our number and pre-admitted the baby bump belonging to Elyenora de Alesleye and Richard of Quintone. The poor mite may wind up with the SCA surname Monsterberg! Two other folk are currently under consideration, based on getting to know them better and checking on their other commitments. Raglan is going to be SO FUN this year!

After knee surgery, I don't dance, so I skipped the Ball, but the games area was lively, as was the company. Master Robert made it an evening that will never be forgotten by many!

Photos to follow after unpacking and laundry!

So proud of my kids!

So, the weekend just past was the Coronet Tournament for Insulae Draconis. During the various courts, both my daughter and my son-in-law received awards. Both of them were entered into the Orden des Lindquistringes, the Kingdom level service order. Now we are all order members! Here's its description:

This award was established to honor a former member of the Principality/Protectorate, Fahrquar Finley Fahrquarson (John Lindquist). It is now presented to those people who have distinguished themselves by long and extraordinary service to the Kingdom. The badge of the Order is (Fieldless) a ring formed of a wingless dragon in annulo widdershins Or, maintaining in chief with all four legs and mouth a gem gules.

My daughter was also given entry into the Order of the Fox, a Principality award for combat arts.

This Order’s membership have been recognized for their skills in some or all of the fields of heavy combat, fencing, target or combat archery and thrown weapons. As well as recognizing levels of skill, both existing and emerging; it also represents those willing to teach others, thus broadening the roster of participants in that field and those who show courtesy both on and off the field.

I'm so proud of them both!

New duties

I have gladly served the College of Saint John of Rila as seneschal  from its beginning, through incipiency and on to full branch status. It is now time to step down and pass the job on to Lady Sorcha bean mhic Dhomhnaill. This doesn't mean I won't continue to serve the College as herald, though. I will also be stepping up to serve the Kingdom as deputy seneschal for the Southern region (Bulgaria, Spain, UAE, and South Africa) when my warrant is signed. I think some travelling is in the works! How can I serve outside Bulgaria if I don't visit?!

Waiting for Yule Ball and Kingdom University

These two events are combined this year and I can hardly wait! There's a great set of course offerings, the ball will be lovely, since the dancing is being organized by Mistress Margaret de May, and the setting is a period castle.

Buckden Towers is a 12th century fortified manor house located in Cambridgeshire. I'll be flying in to London, and then travelling up to Buckden by train with a party of household members. We must NOT sit in the quiet coach! Just 11 days and I'll be on a plane!

Episode 1 - Secrets of the Castle

I've enjoyed the various BBC history documentary series featuring Ruth Goodman and Peter Ginn, starting with Tales from the Green Valley. This latest installation, Secrets of the Castle, features Guédelon Castle, a modern recreation of a 13th century French Castle.

And even more special about this show is that one of Drachenwald's own SCAdians is one of the costumers!! Look here to see her blog post about it!

Episode one just aired and is, as usual, fascinating. It makes one want to do even more reenacting!

Episode two features sewing a gambeson and building a crossbow.

Episode three has lime render, wall painting, toilets, and tile making.

Episode four has building a water mill, fish supper with pike, wood working, and bread baking

Episode five has Byzantine arches, stone carving, dyeing, and goldwork embroidery. Ruth is not a stellar embroideress. But she is a good pilgrim!

Well, I missed October entirely.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I haven't been around much here. That's not to say I haven't been working on projects, just that my time has been extraordinarily limited by Real Life.

Here's a sample of what I have been able to do though!

Lord Guy now has a lovely red wool livery coat and will be toasty warm for winter events. I do not claim the grand blackwork shirt he has on. That is the work of his wife, Lady Constanza!

I have also been working on a project for the Kingdom's second Arts & Sciences gift exchange. Here's a peek at part of the gift I made.

Winter is Coming!

      I cleared some things out of the garden today, because autumn is here in full force. I have hops in the dehydrator, because I'm planning to try my hand at beer making over the winter. I brought in all the rose hips I could find, because they are full of Vitamin C and are good for winter colds. The quinces are in and waiting to be turned into jelly and paste and the last of the peppers and eggplants should make a nice batch of kyopolou, or eggplant caviar, as it is also known. So it's off to the kitchen!

      Before I started on the garden/kitchen tasks, I finished up two quilted arming coifs for the fighters at the College and two more embroidered badges for the Household. It has been a very productive day!

Not Raglan, but a castle!

Thinking about Raglan, I remembered the TimeTeam special on Dover Castle. I wanted to be able to reference some of it for my own persona use, especially in the use of colors in the 12th century. I need to remind myself that if your eyes aren't bleeding from color, you're not doing it right!

This is in Sofia, Bulgaria, not Dover, England, but it's the same time period.

Kaloyan and Desislava look pretty tame here, but when you see this up close, it's pretty loud.

A Raglan 2014 photo recap, part 1

 

Raglan was, as always wonderful this year. It bucketed down rain during set-up, but my darling children made me sit with friends under their sunshade and stay dry while they did the work We camped next to the archery range for convenience (everyone was shooting this year, even me for a bit!) This was our morning view.

 

It's the back of the castle and the windows were used by the archers to kill plague rats on the slope...

 

I shot a bit with the beginners in Master Pol's Archery 101 class. I enjoyed it enough that I have ordered a bow, which should be on its way here from Ireland in a week or so. Adam is a much better archer, as you can see here:

 

 

 

 

That is his arrow leaving the string in flight!!! Lord Stefan Dahl took both of these archery photos.

 

We took our meals here, in the Irish encampment, which was terrific fun!

 

 

First principality court was lovely. Held in the fountain court, it was full of pomp, but not at all pompous. It was the first of four courts over the ten days of the Fair.

 

 

 

 

There was much gambling on several evenings. Mostly Gluckhaus, but also various card games My stash of escudos is severely depleted!

 

There were classes on silk banner painting for both children and adults. I now have a nice silk pennon with my device!

 

The kids (big and little!) had lots of fun with boffer fights.

 

That's enough for today - more tomorrow!

 

 

 





 

Some Raglan projects revealed

For Raglan Fair X, I made several banners as surprise gifts for friends. They are specifically camping banners, made to deal with rain and mud and wind. I am very happy that everyone liked they very much. In fact, they were so well-liked that I now have commissions to make two for some other friends! The best part was that Barun Pol O'Briain was put on vigil for the Order of the Pelican at the Fair and he was able to use his banner in the vigil room as part of his display. It was a happy coincidence!

 

Lady Catherine Weaver of Thamesreach

 

Viscountess Susannah of York

 

Master Pol O'Briain

 

Baroness Caitriona of the Raven

Ten days and counting down.

Three projects finished, two more than half finished. Packing started. Don't know if it will all come together in time, but I'm trying! Pictures after Raglan, because nearly everything is a surprise gift!

Seventeen days

Until Rhaglan Ffaire. Yikes! Many, many projects to complete!

Old enough to vote...

Today is the 21st anniversary of my family's move to Bulgaria. It was intended to be for just a year. We left behind a house, family, friends, and jobs to have an adventure. Heh! Funny how plans and dreams change with time! I'm completely settled here now and I love it - the country, my home, and my job. I'm close enough to my kids to see them whenever I want to take a long weekend and I'm looking forward to becoming a grandmother in October! Life is good!

Excellent Fourth of July/SCA weekend!

         My friends from Kossovo came over for the long weekend and we did all the medieval things, plus a little Independence Day celebrating. We (that's the family, plus folks from the College, and our visitors) started out Friday with a rousing backyard fighter practice, followed by more food than any of us could eat, then more fighting, then fireworks and vodka-spiked watermelon.

Saturday saw us at the Modvs Vivendi medieval fair at the Boyana Church in Sofia (where we saw a fighting demo, visited an encampment setup, and heard several music groups perform).

 

Next was a visit to the National History Museum, then back home and into Blagoevgrad for dinner at the Irish pub.

 

 

And on Sunday, we made a trip to the Rila Monastery. To my surprise, you can now buy a ticket and climb up Hrelyu's Tower! And the ethnographic rooms have all reopened! We had a lovely time and finished up with lunch at my favorite restaurant and mekitzi from the monastery bakery.

Post-Midsummer catching up!

So, here it is, the last day of June and not a single post this month. Yikes! Life has been very, very busy - but in a good way. I've driven to Kossovo with three good friends and attended a colleagues' awesome wedding , done some sightseeing at a monastery and a Roman cemetery, and had some of the best Balkan food ever. I've been to the UK and visited both kids and their respective spouses, had a wonderful time at Midsummer Coronation, and finally got a toile made for Guy's jacket. I've had good SCAdian friends visit here and watched  fighter practice in my back yard for the first time. And I am eagerly anticipating the Fourth of July Weekend, when  the SCA folk will be back and we'll have a cookout and fighter practice and general merriment. Huzzah for Summer!

Here are some Coronation photos that don't do the event or the site justice!

Lots done, but not much sewing

We've had a run on getting things done in the garden, which has kept me out of the house and away from my needles! I'm currently on a six day holiday weekend (May Day and Saint George's Day are holidays and fell on Thursday and Tuesday, so we got the entire time off!) and we're working between the raindrops. The new front sidewalk is finished, a pergola has been installed in the front garden and it looks lovely with the grapevines over it. Now we need a bench to go under it. There are eight new David Austin roses in the central border, along with a new pink clematis to go with the original purple one (which is in full bloom). Half of the front lawn has been cleared and raked, ready to be and seeded with new grass. The other half of the front garden is partially cleared and if the rain lets up, it should be finished tomorrow. There's a new picket fence and gate enclosing the dog yard and there are now four raised beds and they are all painted white. It looks so nice! The peach trees have all been sprayed for leaf curl and are looking good - and they are FULL of little peaches! The apple tree and the quince are absolutely loaded too. It should be a bumper crop, of all goes well.

The only stitching I've done has been to finish a little white linen cap for Gwen. It has round braid ties in her mom's signature purple and white. She likes hats, so it should be a hit, hopefully!

Happy Easter!

It's just past midnight here in Bulgaria and the faithful will be starting home from church soon, carrying lighted candles to bring the light of Christ into their homes for the upcoming year. I'm sorry to miss the service this year, but standing outside in the cold, pouring rain when I'm still on medication for bronchitis seems like a bad idea, so I've stayed home. Instead, I've been cooking up a storm for tomorrow's Easter lunch. The eggs are colored, the coconut cake is baked and frosted, the Easter basket is full, and the ham is prepped. All I need to do tomorrow (or rather, later today!) is bake the ham and the scalloped potatoes, steam the asparagus, and devil the eggs and we'll be good to go. I'll add some photos  after the meal is over now, just to show how silly my cake is this year!



Down-stashing

Down-stashing is a little like down-sizing. I have already achieved SABLE* in both fabric and embroidery materials, so I'm trying to make some room in my work areas by using up what I have on hand ( at least a little!) Back at Christmas, I was able to cut out a pair of apron dresses for Constanza from wool I had on the shelf. They turned out very well and she really enjoys wearing them, so that was a big plus! But I was left with a big piece of the blue wool and a small one of the green. The blue is already queued up for another project over the Easter Holidays, but I needed an idea for the green remnant. Well, I spent this weekend finishing up my idea and it will go in the mail to my adopted granddaughter tomorrow.

Have a look at the apron dress for Gwen Makeblise!

I had all of the materials on hand except some of the beads and those came from the local craft store, It's designed with tucks in the sides, a deep hem, and shoulder straps that can be lengthened, so it should last her several years. It's wool with linen embroidery. The tablet weaving is from Catherine Weaver.


ETA:

And it fits!

*stash acquired beyond life expectancy

Birthday gift for Constanza

Lady Constanza turned thirty this year and one of her good friends, Lady Eleynora, organized several other friends and family members to stitch up a set of embroidered napkins for her. They all have her device in one corner and something important to her in the SCA in another. Mine featured a sheaf of arrows for her prowess at archery and the badge for Linden House, our family household. 

 

 

 

 

I'm not crazy about how the ermine spots turned out, but they are okay. The real question is why both of my children have them in their heraldry.  One, as you can see, has erminois. The other has pean.

 

 





 



A new sewing kit

I've wanted a period-appropriate sewing kit for events and have been slowly collecting the things I needed for one. I found a small willow basket, which I lined with linen. I made pockets around the edges to hold my sewing bits and bobs. Just for fun, I embroidered an edging on the pocket in red silk. Some of the things in this photo won't go to event, especially the purple and yellow needle book, which is made of aida cloth. Eventually I will make a blackwork needleroll to replace it.

 

 

 

Here's a picture of the period snips, beeswax, thread bobbins, awl,

needle case, and blown-glass bottle of straight pins.

 

 

Oh my!

Well, I continue to work on secret projects - hopefully I will be able to post about one of them sometime soon. Another one will have to wait a while, because I went ahead and joined the second Drachenwald Arts & Sciences Exchange. It doesn't end until October, so it will be a long wait. 

I received a wonderful package in today's post.  It held this:

 

 

 

 

Isn't it pretty? I am still gobsmacked that I received this award!

Super Secret Project revealed!

     I was a part of the first Drachenwald Arts and Sciences Exchange, which just ended on January 31.  It was described by the organizers in this way:

The Drachenwald A&S Exchange seeks to encourage creativity and joy in the Arts and Sciences through organized exchanges. The first exchange opened August 11, 2013, and ended January 2014. We encourage all in our great Kingdom to consider participating, from our budding artisans to our honored Laurels.

The sign-up opened in August and originally, it was to be for 15 participants.  Because the demand was high, 18 were allowed to join. Over the course of the next several months, emails flew about personas, interests, tastes, and sizes. It was great fun. I have now both given and received, so I feel free to write about the experience. My recipient was  Dona Victoria Alcon de Castile from Polderslot. She has a late period persona overlapping the Spanish and English courts, so I chose to embroider an English-style redwork coif for her. I had good white linen in my stash, so I only had to buy red silk for the embroidery. I looked at several extant coifs on the V&A Museum website for inspiration, then used information from the Attack Laurel's website for sizing and construction. I selected flowers and animals to embroider based on my recipient's personal preferences, but all were reproductions of period pieces. I did carnations, foxgloves, pea pods, grapes, a butterfly, a parrot, oak leaves, and several other designs. I took them from the examples at the V&A as well as from my reproduction copy of Scholehouse for the Needle. I used stem, chain, and running stitches, depending on the section I was working on. In hindsight, I wish I had made the embroidery a little more dense. It came out looking balanced to the modern eye, but in period it would have been more crowded together. I also wish I had added some spangles, just for the effect. Here are some photos I took before mailing the coif.

 These are photos taken by Victoria after the coif made it safely through the vagaries of the Post. Hopefully I will be able to add a picture of her wearing the coif at some point.