The Needles Excellency

31 March 2005

Still Recovering from Festival

I am still in the process of recovering from Festival. The dust on everything is amazing, but still less than last year. Got a chance to have a look at the various goodies I got. I was good and only bought two books, "Dress in Anglo-Saxon England" and "The Well Dress'd Peasent". Also spent way too much on gemstone beads. But how can you go past a long string of pearls for $10?

I have a few images online at: Festival 2005

And finally, here is a photo of me merchanting on Market Day.

# posted by Laren @ 9:48 AM 0 Comments

30 March 2005

Back From Festival

I am back from Festival. I spent the week before sewing. I managed to get a very plain, ropa coat finished. And also, after much putting off, got my dark olive middle class gown finished. Pictures will be forth coming. So we should be back to regular posts now, once the unpacking and washing is done.

# posted by Laren @ 1:07 PM 0 Comments

16 March 2005

Anglo-Saxon Ring LOG Pouch Embroidery Done

I got the natural thread I was missing and the very nice person was able to resend the article that I needed for the documentation. I finished the stars last night, they took about an hour (I was watching Law and Order). So total embroidery time is about 4 hours. So now it's just a matter of getting them sewn up. I might do that this weekend, I feel like doing some scrapbooking tonight!

# posted by Laren @ 9:22 AM 0 Comments

15 March 2005

Extant Elizabethan Embroidery

Women's Coif and Forehead Cloth, 16th C (coif detail, forehead cloth detail)
Men's Gloves, early 17th C
Men's Nightcap, early 17th C
Polychrome Sleeves, early 17th C (detail)
Women's Polychrome Jacket, early 17th C

Also, last night, I finished my Elizabethan arched brim hat. Damn thing still doesn't fit. I know I have a big head, but this is ridiculous!! The trim looks great, but I had to mangulate the lining to get it to fit. Hopefully no one will see it. Just got to sew on the pheasent feather and it done (as opposed to its now wearable).

# posted by Laren @ 11:15 AM 0 Comments

14 March 2005

Net Access Problems

Today was a bit of a nightmare at work. Got there at 8am to find net access down. Now, not a big problem for most people but when you work in online teaching, it's a problem. Found out it was all net access, not our online teaching environment (no difference in practical terms, people couldn't use it, but important cause it meant the teaching environment was stable). We eventually got access back at about 1pm, which meant an afternoon of catchup and damage control.

On the positive side of things, I won an auction on ebay for 5 metres of black wool-wool/blend. I am now thinking that instead of using the good wool and trim of a surcoat to take to Festival, I might make a more simple one out of this wool (if it arrives in time). That will have two benefits, I can test out the pattern and secondly, if it get dirty etc it won't be a big issue.

# posted by Laren @ 10:10 PM 0 Comments

13 March 2005

Sewing and Braids

I managed to get a bit of work done on the blackwork shirt today. I also had to get a bit organised as some of the people at my Barony meeting wanted me to bring some of my braids to sell. I managed to sell a few dollars worth, which I am sort of happy about as I want to save most of them for Festival. I have decided to merchant there on the Saturday market day. Hopefully, I will sell a few things. Which I will then probably spend of the profits on buying stuff from other people!!

I also managed to wash my black wool today for my surcoat. I also picked up some very drapy black linen at Spotlight to use for the lining. I bought some navy blue flannel to use as interlining, but I am wondering if I really need that?

# posted by Laren @ 11:07 AM 0 Comments

12 March 2005

Craft and Party

An early start to get to the Maitland Craft-A-Fair this morning. It's a pretty big show so lots of people. No rain this year, so thankfully no rotting straw smell. The show was OK, not as good as previous years. But I did find out that there is another sewing shop at Maitland and not only sewing stuff, they also sell Sizzix stuff! Yeah!

I bought some photo corner punches, a set of Sizzlets dies and some toffee nut things. They are so yummy, especially when they are warm. No sewing stuff as such. There seems to be more finished products rather than materials to do it yourself this year.

Tonight we went to Adam's brothers place for a BBQ. I was in the mood for BBQ so I had a pretty good time. I was driving so Adam was able to have a few beers. Got home at about 11pm.

# posted by Laren @ 11:19 PM 0 Comments

06 March 2005

Deliverance Revisited

You could practically hear the banjo's in the background on the way to the engagement party. No, it really wasn't that bad. It only took about an hour and abit to get there but it really was a small place, maybe 12 houses, a RFS station and a hall. It wasn't a bad night, no drinking for me, as I was designated driver. We had plans for a big night, as we thought the hotel was over the road from the hall, but we were misinformed. We stayed to help clear up. Unfortunatly, that meant having to sit through a couple of minor domestics. Some people really shouldn't drink. I had to be careful driving back, everyone warned me to watch out for the kangaroos. But we didn't see any.

We went to Adam's aunts for breakfast when we go up today. Hung around for a little while and then headed home. I was exhausted. But I had to do more housework and then get ready for the class I said I would teach today at Sunday meeting on how to make tunics. Our big national event is coming up and there were a few new people who are thinking of coming and who have no clothes! It went OK, had three new people there.

Got home by 5.30 and was very unmotivated to do anything. Made tea and one of Adam's friends was going to come around with a DVD of Aliens vs Preditor. Unfortunatly, she didn't get there until 10.30 so we didn't get to bed to midnight. The movie was better than I'd heard.

# posted by Laren @ 11:58 PM 0 Comments

05 March 2005

Engagement Party

We are off to an engagement party tonight. It is out in the boondocks. So I won't be back until tomorrow. Not got much done today, just housework. No sewing. Having a hard time deciding on what to enter in the competition at Festival. I was going to enter the LOG pouch, but I don't think it's really that good.

# posted by Laren @ 10:51 AM 0 Comments

03 March 2005

Another LOG Pouch Underway

I finally got around the getting another LOG pouch underway. This one is done using 2 ply handspun wool yarn and a bone needle. I am buying some more hand dyed wool, this will be dyed using natural dyes as well. So far I've done about 1.5 hrs on it. The needle is a bit big for what I am doing, but it does work and it's surprisingly easy to work with. I wish they'd given more time for the competition. Oh yes, I am entering this in a competition at Festival. I just wish I had more time to work on a bigger (and better project). But 4 weeks really isn't enough time.

# posted by Laren @ 1:02 PM 0 Comments

01 March 2005

Cats and Frogs

I got home a bit early yesterday and decided it would be good to give the vet a call. We'd gotten out cat vacinnation update card a while ago and had been putting it off. So I decided to act. Rang the vet and was able to get an appointment for that evening. When we put the cats in the car you'd think they were being tortured. Cleo was OK until Pharaoh started meowing and then she started. Talk about noise, no way could it be described as cute. This continued at the vets but once they'd had the needle, they both calmed down!! Talk about drama queens. Fine when we got home.

The frogs for my Persian outfit (you know, the one I wore on SATURDAY) arrived today. I'd really rather they didn't arrive for a few more days, just on principle. They are slightly shinier than I thought they would be, but will still do the job. I will put them on the blue coat I think, as I am happy with the maroon one as it is.

# posted by Laren @ 1:52 PM 0 Comments