Creative Inspiration!

I finished the Spanish farthingale last night and am about to embark upon the next step in my latest project--the early Tudor ensemble. The "kirtle" which will be worn under the velvet gown. The kirtle will incorporate the brocade that I posted a picture of earlier.

In the midst of all this Tudor research and construction, I have been distracted by steampunk and am feeling the need to create something steampunk-ish. But I am resisting that urge until I have finished the current project.

However! Kelsey and I have been tossing around ideas of steampunk-ing the wedding! (Is that a word?) Sam is agreeable, as long as he does not have to be too "crazily steampunk." :)

Meanwhile I want boots! These are from www.gentlemensemporium.com

And this from etsy.com!

And maybe these pants from clockworkcouture.com

The possibilities are endless! Kaleb wants a top hat--Kelsey too. And goggles! Can't forget the goggles! A steampunk must!

Life is short. We might as well have fun while we are here!

The more events I go to, the more I want to go to!

This past Saturday was the Tourney of Love here in our humble Shire of Endewearde. My son, mundanely known as Kaleb, won his division in youth combat and my fiance won the heavy list fighting portion of the event. My youngest two daughters to date have not attended many SCA events but they went to this one and had a fabulous time.

Once again, I was struck by how much I enjoy the SCA and (most of) the people in it. I have made a list of events that I hope to attend this year, with the next being coronation in April. With that thought in mind I have decided to make a Tudor gown, although I usually play an earlier period. Mostly it is because it is an excuse to buy this brocade fabric which will be paired with a nice red cotton velvet. I also plan on making a corset and Spanish farthingale (like a hoop shirt.)

Perhaps I will post my progress to this blog. This is the most ambitious project I have planned to date. I also am thinking of including some blackwork embroidery on the chemise I will be making to go with this outfit.

Also, I plan to make Sam a Tudor outfit as well for this same event so I will be busy!

But it is appropriately distracting at this time of year. Hopefully it will keep me from getting dragged down by thoughts of Jossilyn...

Unschooling Rocks!

I just watched a video my daughter Kelsey linked to her Facebook page. Filmed by another unschooler, it was made at NBTSC last year. It is awesome. Unschoolers amaze me--yes, even my own. When people talk about how great my teens are and how unlike many other teens they know, I think of the many, many awesome unschooled friends of my kids.

On a completely different note, I am really not liking this time of year. It is that count down period to the anniversary of Jossilyn's death. Starting at Birka--Joss relapsed at Birka--and then the 50 days of watching her die. So the days are up and down. Poor Sam. I should be happy--thrilled to be engaged and getting married to such a wonderful person soon (and I am!!) But this still gets to me. I am still sad that my daughter is dead. I miss her. I miss seeing the person she would be now, the person she would have become. Will that ever go away?

I made my 17 year old son a sheep suit because that is what he wanted for his birthday.

I am in the process of making a new gown for the SCA. It is the first garb that I have made knowing it is not period accurate. What I really wanted was this dress.

And everyone who knows anything about historical fashion, knows this dress is not accurate. But I am making one very similiar anyway, though I suspect I won't do so again.

Normally my persona in the SCA is late 14th century--circa Edward the Black Prince. But I am marrying a guy who is early 12th century Northumbrian. I plan to make a few bliauts, which are arguably similiar to the above mentioned dress. Mostly just because I like making garb. Which is a good thing because Sam wants me to make him some "fancy new stuff" since he has never had anyone to do that for him.

I am keeping a look out for the perfect green fabric to make Jacob a new 15th century Polish Hussar zupon. He has outgrown his old ones.

So a year later my daughter Kelsey tells me I REALLY should write in my blog more. And she is right, I should. But sometimes life gets so busy. And sometimes it is not worth kicking kids off the computer to use it. And sometimes I just forget that it exists. LOL

Kids still unschooling. We are still in the SCA. But there have been big life changes. Kelsey and Jacob have kind of moved to Martha's Vineyard and are staying with their dad. That is very strange for me.

And I am getting married again. That's right, I said married. Me, who swore to never ever get married again.

But Sam is the nicest guy, ever. He likes my kids. He is in the SCA. He loves to dance and is actually a certified ballroom dance teacher. And he thinks I am fantastic! So what is there not to love?

We recently just returned from an SCA event in Manchester, NH. A Market day at Birka. So now we are full of plans to create more garb and accessories. Off to friends House for A & S projects tonight.

(Happy Kelsey? I will try to remember to post more.)