What-What?! Week of July 7th

I don't know what we've been doing, but I guess we've been busy. xP

Last weekend, we headed out to an SCA arts and sciences event, set up to showcase artists' work and get feedback.  There was an absolute ton of stuff to look at, and a ton of people too, which unfortunately meant that I didn't get as many pictures as I would've liked.

I thought this weaving was very cool -- this lady had a few other pieces that, from even just a short distance, looked like paintings.

This is actually block-printed designs with embroidered edges -- but it looks like reverse applique until you get really close.

Ordinarily when you see this kind of weaving, it's in the thicker gauge that you see in the upper right-hand corner; the thread used for this piece is so much finer.  Very impressive!

I was looking at this person's display, looked down and saw this little strawberry -- I thought it was a delightfully playful detail.

Card weaving, featuring actual cards.

This is a girdle book -- basically a book with a convenient fabric handle.  I'd like to make one of these for my outfit, because I think they're cool.

Chart showing time periods with book making techniques/materials.

A lovely late 15th century (I think) German hat.  For a while, it was fashionable in Germany to have these square or circular flat hats, which (depending on the specific specimen) could be either elegant or comical.

This lady had some very nice geometric needlepoint designs -- I took this picture so I could look up German brickstitch, which I haven't done yet, but will... eventually.

What-What?! Week of June 9th

It lives!

I am still alive -- just been busy and monumentally tired.  The 1st was my birthday, which we spent camping in the mountains East of Granite Falls, at an SCA event.

As part of the SCA event, the husband and I made a giant wild pig pinata.  We made it over the course of about six weeks; we were given a base spine, legs, and head from the last year's pig, but had to build up a rib cage, muscles, etc.  It wound  up being a pretty serious commitment, and honestly took a lot more time than I was expecting.  That said, it turned out okay:

We didn't do too much at the event itself -- mostly we relaxed at either our camp, or our friend's camp.

We were camped out by the river, which was lovely.

Cooking up some mushrooms and bacon, yum!

Can you see the salmonberry they are looking at?

Oz was given this, and was very excited to show it off.

Saffron and I hanging out.

At Saturday court, the husband received his award of arms, in recognition of his involvement in encouraging new members.  The award grants him the right to be styled officially as "Lord", the right to wear a circlet, and elevates his device to an actual coat of arms.  I was very happy to be able to see him get this award -- I've missed the ceremony for every other award he's received (not on purpose!).

Being granted the award by our baron and baroness.

The actual declaration of the award.

All of the kids at the event were called up as well, to be given gifts -- it seems that our new baron and baroness are very interested in encouraging the involvement of families.  Unfortunately, there were so many children that they ran out of gifts before my boys had their turn, so they took the kids names and tracked us down later in the day.  It was very kind of them.

The husband, wearing his new circlet.  I told him to look regal -- did it work?

Us with our pig's head, post-pinata-beating.