Bloodtree Festival

We went down to the Central Coast for the Bloodtree Festival. We had a pretty good turn out from the Barony, and as usual, as soon as we arrived, people were asking us when the first fighting demo would be on. The crowd for the first one was so large I couldn't get close enough for photos.

You can see images of the day in my Flickr Bloodtree Festival set. Some pictures of me in my full outfit.

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Sewing

I decided to make a couple of hats for the Bloodtree Festival. I made them out of wool, rather than using buckram and linen as well. That way if it rains, they won't get wrecked. I had planned to make some cloaks to sell at Bloodtree, but I ran out of time. I am going to make some for Festival next year and anything I don't sell at Festival, I can sell at Bloodtree. I did get one cloak basically done, but with no embroidery. I will work on that for next year.

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Rain Day

It's been raining non-stop for the last three days, and not that wussy drizzle rain either, it's been bucketing down, which made for a very wet ANZAC Day.

I worked on my brown coat. It took longer than I expected. I always underestimate the time these things take. Got the stripes on the sleeves done. Got the sleeves in. Then sewed the lining in, and then handsewed the last bit of sleeve lining in. So, all that needs to be done now to get it to the wearable stage is to do the hem. Then to get it totally finished, some trim around the front opening, the pocket slits and the fur hooks. I am hoping to get that done by the weekend.

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We Will Remember Them

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest We Forget

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Stripy Sleeve

Brown Fitted Gown Sleeve, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

I am making another fitted gown based on the drawing of A Group of Englishwomen from 1570 and also like the images from Canterbury in the Civitates Orbis Terrarum.

Boy, I didn't realise how uneven my stripes were...too late now!

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Fair and More Sewing

I weakened and decided to have another look at the fair on Sunday before gathering. What a mistake! I've seen school fetes with more stalls and things of interest. Total, total rip off. Never again. The sad thing is there were heaps of people their, so if someone did decide to do a proper job of it, there would be an audience. I just hope this guy hasn't wrecked it for everyone else.

On a more positive note, I finally got around to starting to put the stripes on the sleeves of my brown coat. It is basically the same style as the green one, but with long sleeves, decorated with diagonal stripes. I won't be using boning in the sleeves of this one. I think this will be my sunday garb - keep it in the car and use it when it gets cold!! If I make a matching hat, I could be in garb with very little effort. I got one sleeve done, but ran out of black wool trim. So I am going to have to make some more. I love when I get craft cross over - time to break out the quilting rotary cutter.

Cleo, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

I came home this afternoon and couldn't find Cleo. After a little searching, I found her snuggled up in my green coat, underneath some tracing paper. She looked very comfy.

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Green Coat Finished

I finally got around to fixing the green coat. It only took five minutes on the overlocker to trim the collar to the right shape. I spent the rest of the night sewing the trim back on. I love wool. Even though the collar had been narrowed, the trim still fit, I didn't have to cut it or make any major changes, just sewed it back on. I am now declaring this item of clothing officially finished, with nothing more ever to be done to it!!

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Minor Score

I went over town to check out the "medieval fair" that was being advertised. I got to the car park and decided I wasn't going to pay $20 to get in. I couldn't see more than a couple of stalls. I figured I must've been their too early. So I decided to go into town and check out the big Salvation Army op-shop. I managed to find one good score in the doily basket. Four semi large placemats. They were made out of a nice pale green low count linen. Perfect for an upcoming project on Elizabethan slips. I will have to do some unpicking of the half finished embroidery, but there is about $40 worth of linen there, so well worth the time. Found one blanket. Probably OK for a cloak.

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Wanted - Marriage of Minds Sampler

This entry is really a wanted ad. I really like the Marriage of Minds Sampler by The Drawn Thread. Only problem is I only really want to do the top bit of the design, with the grass, people, trees and houses. So I don't want to pay $35 for the pattern. So if anyone has the chart and are finished with it and would like to sell it, or swap for any of the very large number of wonderfule embroidery, sewing and craft magazines or threads we have here in Australia drop me an email. But be warned, I'm in Australia so it will have to be posted internationally.

I haven't done a swap for supplies or finished things for absolutely ages. I am missing it!!

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Klosterstitch at 54hrs

Klosterstitch at 54hrs, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Klosterstitch at 54 hrs. Started on the first quatrefoil and added blue.

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Klosterstitch at 50hrs

Klosterstitch at 54hrs, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Klosterstitch at about 50 hrs. Finished off the red. I haven't filled in the white of the flowers. Next colour will be the yellow of the quatrefoil.

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Klosterstitch at 47hrs

Klosterstitch at 50hrs, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is the klosterstitch at about 47 hrs - I've started on the red section.

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Pantry - Before and After

Pantry - Before and After, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Nothing terribly exciting. But my pantry was getting beyond bad, so I did a clean out. I thought I'd do a before and after (but I did the top shelf before I remembered to take the before shot, so picture it REALLY messy in your mind for the before shot).

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Buttonhole vs Blanket Stitch

Many modern stitchers use the terms buttonhole and blanket stitch interchangeably. But there are important differences between buttonhole stitch and blanket stitch. The best demonstration of the two stitches I've found is at The Heritage Shoppe. This is the type of buttonhole stitch I use. I use this for putting in the eyelets on pouches. These eyelets are put under alot of pressure and friction from the drawstrings and if you use blanket stitch, it tends not to hold up to the wear and tear as well as buttonhole stitch. I've found another stitch diagram for buttonhole stitch, worked in the opposite direction as the one I use, but it probably works just as well.

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Klosterstitch Hanging - 45 Hours

klosterstitch_45hrs, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Not the best photo in the world. I finished the second yellow border and the yellow stems of the corner leaves. So tonight I can start on the red of the second section. Should give the piece a bit of ompf. I'm a bit worried about the bottom edge of the second yellow border. I don't think my pattern is very straight and it might be a bit off. I'll wait and see, nothing I can't work around.

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How To - Couching

I've just posted a new article over on the Flickr Embroidery Blog. It's about the different types of couching and a free peacock pattern.

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Klosterstitch - Tuesday

Klosterstitch - Tuesday, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Managed to get onto the yellow today. Didn't start sewing until 2pm. I spent the morning making biscuits as a thank you for someone who lent me a ladder to clean out my gutters. I didn't do much sewing in the evening as Bubba decided she wanted to use my embroidery as a bed.

Then I finished making the Garlic and Chilli Jam. Although it may turn out to be toffee, as I think I may have cooked it just that little bit too long. I've never made jam before, so I will have to wait and see. Are you supposed to let jam "mature" before you open it? I know you should give relishes a few days, but not sure about jam.

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Visiting

I had a couple of visitors in the morning. Tracey wanted to show me her latest scrapbooking pages. She is doing very well for a beginner. Good sense of colour and layout. Bindy was cute as always.

Then I went to visit Christine for the afternoon, had lunch and got to meet Tillie. She is a very beautiful, if somewhat shy ginger cat. I did manage to get a pat before I left, so that was a bit of a victory.

Got home, did a bit more sewing.

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Klosterstitch - Sunday

Klosterstitch - Sunday, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

Drove back from Gloucester at about lunch time, so I didn't get to do any sewing until late in the day. Only a couple of hours. But nearly got all the pink done. With a bit of luck I might be able to get the yellow done during the rest of the break.

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Yowie Country

I drove up to Gloucester Saturday to visit Dad. It's about 150km away, so a good 1 1/2hrs drive. Not the best roads in the world. I left the car in town, and Dad picked me up to drive out to the house. My car probably would've made it, but there were a couple of spots where it could've gone horribly wrong, better to do it in the 4WD.

The house is looking great. Basically done now. Very cosy. Not exactly living rough, that's for sure. Saw a paddymelon on the front lawn and heaps of different birds. Couldn't get close enough for a good photo though.

Did a bit sewing in the evening.

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Good Friday - Klosterstitch

Klosterstitch - Good Friday, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

I planned to spend Good Friday sewing. I started about 10am and finished about 10.30pm with breaks for lunch and dinner. Got the bottom two flowers done, including the outlines.

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Mamluk Embroidery

The Mamluk dynasties ruled parts of the Middle East, including Egypt, between 1250CE to 1517CE. Many textiles from this period survive, in part due to the climatic conditions of Egypt, dry and hot, which help to preserve the linen, silk and wool which were used to produce the textiles.

Mamluk embroidery utilizes a number of stitches and techniques, but most are based on counted-work techniques including double-running stitch and pattern darning.

Mathilde's Medieval embroidery page has a great gallery of extant examples of Mamluk embroidery as does Lilinah's Mamluk embroidery page.

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Crochet Bag - Crochet Complete

Crochet Bag - Crochet Complete, originally uploaded by Jane Stockton.

This is the crochet on the bag done. I have some nice pale blue organza that I am going to line it with. Then, once the lining is in, I'm going to crochet a handle.

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Sending Me Vogart Covers

I am always trying to improve my collection of Vogart covers, so if you have something I don't have or even have a nicer/better copy of one already in the collection, please feel free to send me a scan. I can cope with moderate to large size files. If in doubt, email me!

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