Switch!

In anticipation of Crossroads in Time (may the fates be beneficent), I've switched the workshop from Steampunk to 1340.

I'm currently working on a second-quarter fourteenth century wardrobe based on the Luttrell Psalter and Romance of Alexander. This twenty-five year span is interesting to me not just because it seems quintessentially Medieval - in terms of clothing, it represents a shift from the earlier rectangular construction to forms that become increasingly more fitted; as far as cookery goes, it marks a notable milestone in recording the foodways of Medieval kitchens and medicine. One of the very earliest English manuscripts, Doctrina faciendi diversa cibaria, dates from 1325 and is the basis for Ancient Cookery (1381) and Forme of Curye (1390).  [1] From across the Channel, we have Le Viandier de Tallievent, with content dating from 1300, and then Le Ménagier de Paris (1390's).

The plan is to create a mix-and-match collection - what I call the 'Medieval Professional Wardrobe' - of kirtles, gowns and accessories which will carry me through a week-long event with a bit of minimal laundering. Fortunately, laundry is a historically-accurate activity.

Interesting, Inspiring, Provocative... or just plain Cool

I've added a gadget to the right margin of blogs that I find interesting; ones that focus on historical re-creation and re-enactment. Interestingly, they're largely European.

Enjoy.

Battle-less

So, I didn't go to Battlemoor. And you know what? I'm pretty happy that I stayed home.

Viking dress - the hangerock, specifically

Just when I had some confidence about what is and is not an "authentic" hangerock...

I have found two European sources that suggest that the two-part, split-front hangerock is re-enactor quality. I have to admit that the arrangement is fetching and goes a long way toward explaining that trim-only-between-the-broaches thing.

Spindle whorls

I am developing plans to make spindle whorls. My first ones are Viking-era style, per

http://www.stringpage.com/viking/spindles.html

These are soapstone, which is easy to get and to work, and mark them as typically Viking-era.

I'm starting with 1.5" whorls, and the next set will be smaller. The slabs are 9mm thick which seem to be on the lighter weight of stone whorls. Since these are soapstone, they will be discoid in shape. Stone whorls were probably made on-site in the homesteads and there is some indication that they were made of recycled soapstone cooking pots.

I'm using hand tools on these, to keep them from looking manufactured. Saws, drills, sandpaper, etc. (Yes, I know that sandpaper is modern.)

The spindles are going to be oak, which is easy to get at the hardware store; the widest thickness is 8mm.

More pictures later. 

Next? Pewter. And ceramic. 14th century. 

Authenticism under the Big Tent

Companie Golden Lyon members have long struggled with the affliction of high purpose; we are all the sort of people who are driven. In short, we're geeks. We geek at parties over details discovered in a fifteenth-century painting, over discoveries in Menagier, we reminisce fondly about an almost otherwordly feast that happened on a long-ago September night. We are excited by what we're learning and making and doing.

The real fun happens when like-minded folks join us. We often refer to that feast night because we all experienced that "medieval moment", when we dined in the candlelight, conversed about our purpose, and spent a few hours just being part of our setting - the tents, the tablewares, the food. Like a play, the setting of a period encampment absorbs the people into the milieu; the feeling of reality transcends the show.

Three Stags, 2005

We hope that our joy - our entertainment - inspires others. More people to have fun with! The resistance to our approach is frankly rather baffling, but then again, we've got these high ideals. Striving is valuable; intellectualism is laudable, good enough is seldom good enough.

To us, mediocrity is failure and success is beating our own personal best.

It's unapologetically elitist, I suppose. And this paints a bright red plastic target on our backsides, because in our society (the greater Western one, not the SCA), success is frequently resented. Certainly non-ethical success should have no expectation of respect, but for those who work hard, study hard, and strive, surely there is value? Not so fast, Cupcake.

Battlemoor stuffs to do:

• Tunics for Evan - 6 days... don't think I have enough fabric for that many tunics. 
• Smocks for Evan - there are 2 cut out; not enough linen for 6. 
• Hood for Evan 

Seems like a trip to DF is in order... flatfolds don't fail me now. 

• Finish red linen kirtle
• Alterations on blue wool GFD
• Alterations on purple linen GFD??

• Sunshade - finish
• North Star - repair
• Silk Banners

Projects to take with me:

• Shoes
• linen kerchiefs/veils - 36" square, 24"x 64" rectangle
• spinning

This weekend is all-sewing-all-the-time.