Spring Cleaning

17. May 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Fighting · Tags: , ,

It took me longer than I would care to admit (although I am posting it…) to clean my armour after Gulf Wars but I finally finished cleaning, re-bluing, and waxing everything last weekend.  It still needs to be polished though.  I’m hoping I will be able to get that done tonight or Friday night before Baronial Practice Sunday.

This time I used a new bluing agent.  It was much stronger than the gun blue I was used to using and while it did give a much nicer blue I didn’t account for the stronger reaction when I waxed my armour so I didn’t put enough wax on the pieces to effectively stop the bluing process.  So I had to clean the pieces again Tuesday night.  All that considered though I think it still looks pretty good and I don’t think I will need to strip everything off and clean and blue it again.  We’ll see though.

Finishing Touches

12. July 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Sewing · Tags: , ,

I’ve spent the last several evening putting the final touches on my latest article for Foundations.  I’ve enjoyed expanding my sewing horizons with this project but I am looking forward to finishing up some commission stuff once I get it turned in.  I am on schedule to turn the article in by Friday and the commission stuff should all be done and delivered by the end of the month.  Since I won’t be going to Pennsic I think I’ll spend my August making/finishing 3 new sets of rapier armor (the one I started for myself a couple months ago, one for my sweety, and one as a gift) for Atlantian 30 Year.

Updates-New Job Edition

21. June 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Fighting, Sewing · Tags: , , , , ,

My new position has been keeping me incredibly busy.  It’s just about all I can do to get take out on the way home before stumbling into bed.  But it’s worth it and I’m really enjoying my new job.

Keeping up with my marshalate responsibilities has been taking up most of my copious free time but I’m sure things will be lightening up pretty soon.  I know I still owe you guys pictures of my Venetians (I promise they are coming!) but I’m already moving on to my new doublet.  Practice last week just reaffirmed that I’m really tired of not having my spaulders for C&T and my old fencing doublet is just too old to make adding points to it worth it.  So I really need to finish my new one. :)   Maybe I could finish start the alterations for my other doublet that I mentioned last month (or the new mending I picked up at Sapphire Joust…).  Two new doublets!?!  I don’t think I’d know what to do with myself.

Short and Sweet Update From Under the Weather

04. May 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Events, Fighting, Tutorials · Tags: , , ,

Sorry for being so quiet these past few days.  I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather since Monday but I did want to give you guys an update.

This past weekend Wistric, Letia, and I piled in the car and headed up to St Pyr’s (a small local collegium) in Black Diamond.  It was a small, quiet event and I had an excellent time.  I taught the C&T Marshal 101 class to a larger group than I was expecting and spent the rest of the day enjoying Grettir’s I.33-Liechtenauer Symposium.  I thoroughly enjoyed his class and will be linking to his class notes once he’s had a chance to post them online.

I think the highlight of my day though was Letia’s now infamous creek incident but since I teased her fairly mercilessly on the drive back I will refrain (for now) from teasing her online. :)

Sunday was fighter practice and the baronial meeting.  I did some teaching, worked on some C&T, stayed for the meeting, and all in all had a great time.  We even went out for sushi with friends afterward.

In other news I spent last night working on my upcoming Foundations Revealed article.  So far I’m ahead of schedule but I need to make sure I stay that way. :)   I’m also working on getting my recreating Elizabethan bodies tutorial up on the website by the end of the week.

Practice Log 4/15/2011

15. April 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Fighting · Tags: ,

I know.  I’ve been totally slack about keeping up with these things.  Honestly I haven’t had much to write about practicewise.  If I made it out I was usually late, forgot my contacts, or suffered from some other issue or distraction.  Thankfully though daylight savings time finally switched over a few weeks ago so as soon as I can find where we put the Flip after Gulf Wars I can start taking video at practice again.

This week I made it out to not one but two practices.  I know that’s not a big deal for some folks but I’ve only rarely done more than one practice in a week even if that week also included Baronial Practice.  I was a little worried I wouldn’t have the energy for two practices back to back (Wednesday and Thursday) but once I got going I realized that wasn’t going to be a concern.  Today I’m only a little tired.  It’s a good, satisfied tired so I think I’ll keep this up.  Plus the light patina I acquired over January and February are now mostly gone so that’s kind of gratifying to see.  Sadly though I still can’t see in the dark so I’m probably going to have to make 8pm-ish my personal cut off unless there is space to fight directly under the lights.

More later.  Tonight I have some more work to do on my upcoming Foundations Revealed article and there are some software updates for the site that I’ve been putting off that I need to take care of.

A Waist Band!

23. March 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Fashion, Sewing · Tags: , , , ,

Last night I finished cartridge pleating my venetians onto the waist band.  The original ones were gathered but I decided to try cartridge pleating in the hopes that it would help replicate the awesome puffiness seen in the De Ghyen venetians.

Once the waist band was attached I tried them on to double check the fit and the leg length to see if I needed to shorten them at all.  Everything looks good so far and I think once I hem them up a 1/2 inch they will be perfect.

I had briefly considered taking a picture of them while I had them on last night but since they were unflatteringly only safety pinned on I couldn’t bring myself to do it.  The buttons and hemming should go very quickly though so I should have some new pictures soon.

So it looks like I really might have new pants for Coronation next weekend.  Next up is a new doublet although I’m not sure if I will be able to finish that in time.  I’d really like to but we’ll just have to see.

New Venetians

21. March 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: Fashion, Sewing · Tags: , , , , ,

Since I posted a tutorial on incorporating pockets into venetians and trunkhose yesterday I thought I would post a bit today about the pants the tutorial is based on.

I had posted recently that the first project of my great wardrobe overhaul was going to be new rapier armor.  Since I wanted to base it off of depictions of suits worn by soldiers in De Ghyen’s The Exercise of Armes I spent several hours pouring over my copy of the treatise.  While there were several examples of men wearing trunkhose, most appeared to be wearing venetians so I decided to start with a pair of those first.  Most of the venetians depicted appeared to have legs that were gathered or pleated into a leg band but a few appeared to be made with a fitted knee similar to the ones depicted in Janet Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion.  Since I’ve always like those pants but never made a pair for myself I thought this would be a great opportunity to finally have my own pair.

I decided to make my venetians out of a burgundy wool flannel which I purchased from B. Black and Sons several years ago.  The are lined with linen and the pocket bags are also made of linen.  Since many of the venetians depicted in The Exercise of Armes and the ones I was basing mine on from Patterns of Fashion also had contrasting trim on the sides I decided to trim mine with pink linen bias tape that I made myself of a remnant I had left over from a previous project.  Pictures of the pants currently in progress can be found in my gallery.

Adding a Pocket to Your Trunkhose or Ventians

20. March 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Fashion, Sewing, Tutorials · Tags: , , , , , ,
Pocket

A pocket in my new venetians.

One of the things that has always attracted me to late 16th Century menswear is their pockets.  There are several examples of trunkhose and a pair of venetians depicted in Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion that include pockets.  Until recently though I’d always been a little unsure of adding them to my own trunkhose.  Even though I thought they were awesome I had always been afraid that if I tried to add them into my own pants that I’d mess them up and end up with big ugly holes instead of ultra cool pockets.

When I decided recently to redo my wardrobe starting with new rapier armor I decided I need to defeat my fear of making pockets.  My new rapier armor would contain the pockets I had always envied in the extant examples.

I started with a pair of venetians patterned after those in Patterns of Fashion.  I still need to attach the waist band and hem the legs but I have successfully completed the pockets so I thought I would include a tutorial on the process.

Adding a Pocket to Your Trunkhose or Ventians

This tutorial is based the Venetians depicted on p. 86 and p. 87 of Janet Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion.  That pattern was drafted up from the original and a muslin made to ensure a proper fit.

Marking the pocket slit.

1. Mark the pocket slit on your hosen based on your pattern. 

 

 

 

 

Cut open the pocket slit.

2. Cut open the pocket slit. If you have carefully pinned both sides of you pants together to ensure that nothing shifts you may cut both slits at the same time.  However, if you are concerned then just cut one at a time.

 

 

 

The linen for the pocket bag.

3. Cut the linen for the pocket bag.

 

 

 

 

 

Measuring the pocket slit.

4. Measure the pocket slit.

 

 

 

 

Transferring the measurements.

5. Transfer the measurements of the pocket slit to the pocket bag.

 

 

 

 

The pocket slit sewn up.

6. Sew up the pocket bag taking care to leave the opening that will be sewn into the pocket slit.

 

 

 

 

The pocket pinned into the pocket slit before basting.

7. Baste the top of the bag to the edge of the pants and carefully pin the edges of the pocket slit and the bag opening together.

 

 

 

 

The pocket sewn closed.

8. Stitch the edges of the pocket slit and bag together using a whip or blind stitch.  To reinforce the tops and bottoms of the pocket slit use a button hole stitch there.

 

 

 

A finished pocket.

9. Repeat for the other leg and enjoy your new pockets!

 

 

 

 

Ymir 2011

21. February 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Events, Fighting · Tags: , , ,

I had an amazing time at Ymir this year.  I thoroughly enjoyed the fighting, got in some very fun pickups (which is my favorite part of any event), I got to see several very worthy people be inducted into the Peerage, and I got to spend a good deal of time hanging out with my friends.

The fighting was a lot of fun, even if my head wasn’t in the right space.  With the wait while people moved their cars of the field so we could start fighting and a few other things that went on I found it very hard to focus on the fighting.  I still did very well in the speed tourney, making it into the double elim.  I did not do as well in the double elim as I did in the speed tourney but I know the adjustment I need to make.  It was very different than the Ymir tournament that I am used to, but it was no less enjoyable.  The only real drawback for me was that the tourney style that was run didn’t really allow for the personal evaluations I like to be able to do at Ymir so I will need to find another tourney where I can make those evaluations.  All in all though I had a great time.  I did end up missing the tavern brawl melees so I could attend a vigil but I made it back in time to watch the Free Scholar prize and get in some pickups.

One of my favorite parts of the event though was getting to spend some time chatting with people I do not get to see often.  Lately it seems that when I’m at an event I’m always running to the next thing and I never get the chance to really stop and talk to my friends.  It’s a bit disappointing because so many of us seem so spread out and busy now that we only get to see each other in passing at events.  This event though I really tried to take more time to hang out and chat.  I still didn’t get to chat for as long as I would have liked with some but it was still really nice and really enjoyable.  I’m going to make a point of slowing down more at events in the future so I can spend more time chatting with the people I went to the event to see in the first place. :)

The last highlight of the event was finally getting off my bum to talk with Master Eldrid about some heavy armour I’ve been meaning to commission.  We talked about a helm, gauntlets, and some other small things.  I want to get back out on the field with my spear for wars and I’d like to pick up a few more authorizations so I can fight in some Pas.  I’m pretty excited about it.

The only low light of the event was how late it was when I left.  Gaston had been onsite Friday night to guard for Melisent la Ruse’s vigil.  I had decided to daytrip so I could watch the puppies and we had both decided to come home Saturday night so we could have Sunday to put stuff away and recoup.  We took the dayshade down and were packed up by 5:30pm and that was the time I headed up to court.  Baronial Court was ending and I felt rather guilty for not knowing that it had already started.  I usually make it a point to stay for court.  You never know who will be getting an award and everyone deserves to have people there to witness their recognition.  Getting called into court is a very special moment, regardless of the award being given and I think it’s important to be there.  But I digress.  Royal Court was set up once Baronial Court ended and it started not too long thereafter, probably around 6 or 6:30pm.  I enjoyed court and I was happy that I got to stay to see Andreas’s Pelican and Liva join the Order of the Laurel.  Livia was the last piece of business and I left as soon as court was over.  Now I expect Ymir courts to be long.  There’s a lot of people and a lot of business.  But leaving site at 8pm to drive 2 hours home by myself has totally made it on my Murtaugh List*.  I got home and immediately told Gaston we needed to either stay on site next year or get a hotel room.  My vote is for staying on site.  Not only would we be waking up at the event but I would also have all evening to hang out and chat. :)

Sadly I forgot my camera so there aren’t any pictures.  I guess that makes two low lights.  Next time I’ll make sure I bring it and the Flip.

* Murtaugh List: From How I Met Your Mother.  A Murtaugh List is a list of all the things you are now too old to do.  It is a reference to the Lethal Weapon movies.  In this series Sergeant Roger Murtaugh was Danny Glover’s character and he spends most of the movies running around saying “I’m too old for this sh**!”

How to Tell When a Project Just Needs to be Shelved

18. February 2011 · 4 comments · Categories: Ebooks, Embroidery, Fighting, Goals, Sewing · Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes it happens.  You had this fab idea for a project.  It was exciting and it really got your juices flowing.  But once you got further into it you realized that it wasn’t quite what you had had in mind when you first got started.  It’s just not making you happy any more and you find yourself wondering if it’s better to trudge through and finish it up or shelve it until it does start to make you happy again.

I’ve been feeling that way myself lately.  And I’ve come to the conclusion that sometimes it may just be better to shelve a project rather than to keep working on something that is no longer bringing you the joy it once was.  Sometimes its better to shelve it and free yourself up to take on other projects that will bring you joy.  After all, isn’t the fact that they bring us happiness and some measure of joy and fulfillment the whole reason we do these projects in the first place?  Besides there is nothing that says you can’t come back to that old project at a later date.

So I’ve decided to step back from the projects that haven’t been bringing me joy so that I can focus on the things that are.

What am I putting on hold?

  1. The eBooks. Working on them and selling them through the site just hasn’t been as fun as I thought it would be so I’m shelving the project.  What will I do with the two I already have?  I’m not sure yet but I’m pondering several options.
  2. The Flanders Gown. It was so much more fun when I started it but once the fur went down hill it just wasn’t as inspiring anymore.  Since all it needs are sleeves I will probably finish it but I’ll do something more simple that I had originally planned.
  3. Commissions. I’ve enjoyed working on the commissions I’ve taken but now that my most recent one is done I’ve decided to take some time for myself for a while.  I have about 20 buttons to make and that’s it.  I’m going to finish them in the next couple weeks and then I’m going to focus on some personal projects that have really been calling to me.  The calendar will probably open up again for commissions at some point in the future but for now I’m going to focus on personal projects.

What am I still deciding on?

  1. The Etsy Shop. I just don’t know what to do about it.  On the one hand I’ve enjoyed it and I have some big ideas for changes to it but on the other I’m not sure that the things I want to produce fit in best at Etsy.  Still pondering this one.

What am I going to do more of?

  1. Fight. Fighting has been bringing me a lot of joy lately and I want to free up more time for it.
  2. Sew and Embroider for myself. I have several personal sewing projects that are calling to me.  Plus less free time has meant less time for my embroidered jacket.  I worked on it recently and it reminded me how much I’ve enjoyed this project and really want to free up more time for it.
  3. Enjoy the fresh air and warm sun. This winter was rather stressful but the thing that always made me feel better was going outside and walking around the building.  Now that its starting to warm up being outside is even more pleasurable.  I want to spend more time outside, go to fighter practice in the daylight, move my workouts outdoors, and get in a little diving.  I can’t wait for Spring.
  4. Write. I’ve really enjoyed the FR and YWU articles that I’ve written and I have several ideas for new tutorials and HMA articles that I’ve been neglecting.  I have two more FR articles in the works and I want to get started on at least one of the HMA articles after Ymir.  I might even see about teaching at summer University.
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