Tablet Weaving

Finally got myself organised and got Guye's garters sorted out. I am using tablet weaving to make Master Guye a set of Anglo-Saxon garters, well, they are tablet woven bands wrapped around the legs to keep trousers in place. I've got about a metre done, takes about one hour to do 20cm, so a fair way to go yet. But once I get them out of the way, I can go back to working on my stuff. Not that this project has been stopping me, just my own slackness. I had planned on sewing for several hours a day during my holidays, but I didn't sew a stitch!! But with two big projects on the frame, I have to get motivated and start working on them, or they will never get done in time for grading, either at Festival or some other time later. I really want these two projects out of the way.

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Birthday

Today is my birthday. I had a nice lunch at my favourite Indian restaurant. Then went to work cause the girls wanted to have afternoon tea, a good excuse for cake! Finally found some cachaca for cocktails. Bought some clothes.

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Going AWOL

So as to not worry my thousands (NOT) readers, I will be offline for a few days. I will be travelling. So probably lots of posts when I get back.

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Preparations

Not much happening, getting ready for my trip. Got someone to feed the cats. I am still going to be introuble, but they won't go hungry. Getting warm clothes together. It is going to be cold down south.

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Miami Vice Redux

I went to see Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest today. It was OK, but I didn't like it as much as the first one. But this post isn't about that. When I was at the movies, I saw a sign for an upcoming movie. They are making a Miami Vice movie. For some reason, I found this disquieting. I always loved Miami Vice (I ordered the first season DVD last week). I am a teenager of the 80's. It was the one show that best epitomised the time. But what made it one of my favourite shows was that despite the clothes, the style, the cars, it was one of the few shows that actually looked into some serious issues (how many other shows in the 80's delved into American involvment in Central American politics with an episode that starred G. Gordon Liddy - "Ears, Sandanista Ears!"). It as also that turning point in television when the "good guys" weren't unrealistically flawed, they were damaged and acted as such. Miami Vice and surprising Magnum P.I were the first shows where, after they had been defeated, when the baddies dared the goodies to shoot them, they actually did.

So I don't think this movie is going to be that good, it will just be another cop movie set in Miami, it won't be Miami Vice.

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I'm Becoming A Lush

No sewing last night, I was too busy making Caipirinhas' and Prawn Drops for dinner. I never used to drink at home, now I make these at least once a fortnight!

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Against The Wind

Yet, Freedom! yet thy banner, torn, but flying, streams like the thunderstorm against the wind.

A bit of nostalgia for those of my generation. Channel 7 have, after many years of swearing it will never happen, released the landmark Australian mini-series "Against the Wind" on DVD. Yeah.

I remember watching this on TV when it first came out. I was 8 years old. I loved it then and I love it now. Did I love it because I loved history or did I come to love history because of this show? It was the first of a whole series of mini-series that were produced for Australian television. The first and I would still argue the best. I am on holidays next week and my treat will be watching this series all in one go.

For those interested, it's available at many of the larger DVD sellers such as JB HiFi and HMV. I got my copy online at EzyDVD. HMV also have the CD soundtrack, with one of my all time favourite songs, "Six Ribbons".

If you are interested, Stefan from Sweden has maintained an Against the Wind homepage for many years, why not drop by and say hello. There are few postings in the forums about other places to get the DVD and once people have a chance to watch it again, I'm sure the other discussions will pick up.

Too-ra-lee, too-ra-lie, all I can share
Is only six ribbons to tie back your hair

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Back At Work

I think I got up really early yesterday, because by the time I got up, got dressed, had yummy bacon and eggs for breakfast and helped do some of the cleaning up, I had left Tocal by just after midday.

When I got home I put all my stuff away (it is so nice actually being able to unpack gear when it has a place to go and isn't just chucked on the nearest empty surface, also makes packing for the next event much easier when you don't have to spend hours excavating each room to find things!). Did a bit of house work and then watched a few episodes of Odessy 5, a one season sci-fi series I picked up on DVD.

I was also ignored for a while by the cats who obviously weren't happy about being left for one night. Boy are they going to be mad when I'm gone for three nights!!

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Mordenvale Baronial Birthday

Had fun at the Baronial Birthday at Tocal. We didn't have as many people as usual, but I still managed not to chat to everyone I wanted to! We had quite a few people come up from Rowany and Polit. Helene, you might need to cut down on the amount of red drink you are giving Hrothgar!! ;-)

The weather during the day was beautful, sunny and no wind. But cool enough for me to wear my nice wool outfit and not be too hot. Didn't do any good selling the various bits and pieces I had, but that is cool, I will just keep them for Spring War and Festival. I didn't get muching sewing done. I was also very lucky and honoured to receive a Baronial award, the Jade Annulet, which is for contributions to Arts and Sciences. Many other deserving members of the group were also given awards.

The one scheduled collegia went off well, very interesting (on Contraception in the Middle Ages) and we had about 10 people participate in that. I didn't watch any of fighting, but it sounded impressive! I only took one photo, which i will put up later.

The feast as usual was very yummy and neverending. You know you are doing well when people groan when you bring out another platter of food!! So after that, an hour or two infront of the fire, it was then off to a real bed, in a room with a heater for a very good nights sleep.

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Blackwork Shirt Back Together

I spent last night sewing my blackwork shirt back together. Only took a couple of hours. I also have to do something about ties, as I cut these off to wash the shirt.

Also, yesterday my very swish linen ruffle collar and cuffs arrived from the USA. Unfortunately, the collar doesn't fit. I somehow order a size too small. But even so, the collar is 14inches on the inside and my neck is 14 inches, yet when I put it on, it's an inch too small. Why is my ruffle collar defying the laws of physics?

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Naughty Cat - Minor Grossness Alert

Last night, I pulled my blackwork shirt apart and washed it. I also hot ironed it dry. This gives nice crisp linen and also stops the black thread from bleeding. When I got up this morning and went to the bathroom, one of the sleeves was on the floor. I thought this was a bad thing. When I picked it up, it was wet and on smelling, discovered that my boy cat had been very bad and weed on it!! So before work, I had to wash and dry it again. Luckily, with the cold weather it didn't have time to dry and there was no bleeding.

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New Tablecarpet Discovered at Hardwick Hall

From Spanier, Samson. "Hardwick puzzle solved.(National Trust News)(Maarten van Heemskerk's table carpet made in 1579 )(Brief article)." Apollo 163.530 (April 2006): 17(1).

A hodgepodge of 305 late-16th-century fragments of needlework at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, has been conserved and reassembled to recreate a seven-metre long table carpet made in 1579 for Bess of Hardwick. Made of coloured silks and metal-thread embroidery on a linen ground, the carpet depicts a field of grapes, cucumbers, animals (left) and insects, surrounded by a narrative border of Tobit, his son Tobias and the archangel Raphael. The reassembly was guided by the discovery that the embroidered designs are based on ten scenes engraved in 1556 by Maarten van Heemskerk.

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No Sewing and Studying

Still not motivated, I had hoped to get another set done for Tocal which is this weekend, but I don't think I will. To be honest, I don't think I am going to sell many anyway. But I will try to get some more done.

I also have to study for the upgrade on my licence. How boring!

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Cleaning

Spent most of yesterday cleaning. Did a big clean on the bathroom and kitchen. I hate doing it but there is a certain sense of satisfaction when it looks nice and clean. Funny thing was, once I'd finished, I watched a bit of telly and "How Clean is Your House?" was on. I really don't know how anyone could let their house get in that state unless you had a physical problem. I'm no clean freak, but the people on that show are beyond comprehension. So I felt very virtuous!

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Dinner and Cocktails

A few of us girls from work went out for cocktails and dinner last night. I only had one cocktail (Mint Julip) as the cocktail menu was very limited and they didn't have my favourite. Dinner was nice, a bit pricey but the food was very good. I just had a few tapas instead of a main, get a better variety that way. Was home by 10.30pm

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