Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year 2007 !
We're finally back from our trip to Atlanta and finally back at home, our nest, all by ourselves. After the fun and exciting time with family under our Christmas tree that is a welcome change. Now we have finally the quiet time necessary to play with our Christmas presents, to snuggle up together to watch a new movie and to indulge in some more rich Christmas candy before trying to live up to certain renewed New Years resolutions ... heh.
While I didn't get certain things from my Christmas wishlist that I'd hoped for I found quite a bunch of things under our Christmas tree for me that I obviously silently had longed for and am happy to have been gifted with. Soda Club maker, anybody *G* I had one when still living in Germany and now I have a fance model again. Long live sparkly water ! Hehe :o) And I got a new sewing machine. A modern one this time [*gasp!* I know *L*] - featherlight with a bunch of really neat embroidery stitches even so I can happily fake my blackwork embroidery *G*
Tonight 2006 will be going out with a Bang! It's been a whirlwind of a year and looking back at it I see a riot of emotions attached to it. 2006 wasn't the worst year ever, but it didn't really rank with my favorite ones either. Hopefully, 2007 will bring a bit more peace, a slower pace of life.
Anyhow, here's to 2006 for being less bad than it could have been and here's to 2007 with the best wishes for a -good- new year !
Last minute projects
In a few more days we'll be having my in-laws and my borther-in-law over for Christmas and of course there won't be any real extra time to dabble with projects here and there, having to cook and entertain and check out new toys and gadgets and gizmos and books [there is -always- books under our tree]. So right now I'm using the munchkins' naptime to play with a few things.
I finally managed to get eyelets into the blue woolen kirtle. Yay me :o) Now the only task left is to disguise their metal ugliness with some blue thread so they look like handbound. I just couldn't get the handbound one done properly on my test swatch *sigh* I'm just not a real costumer, y'know. At least the visible seams are hand-finished and I even did okay on the Grand Aisiette sleeves. Next two things on this wardrobe list are two sets of pin-on sleeves and a shirt/chemise/hemd/smock/ whatever you want to call it :o)
The yellow wool dress is almost done [well, still almost done *g*], mainly because so far I've had trouble wrapping my head around the how of handling the fairly heavy skirt to attach it easily to the bodice, pleated and lined. Again, I'm so not a seamstress or maybe I'm having a case of 'seam stress' ...hehehe ....]
I also managed to find ...ahem, oak galls at Oldenfeld's event site ... I kid you not. On Sunday morning I wandered all druid-like into the woods tp pluck the galls from the lower branches of the trees and returned, much to our Queen's and everybody else's amusement I think, with two big cups full of galls. Now we just have to find some time to see how much tannic acid is in those little buggers. Hopefully enough to make some decent ink. That'd be pretty neat :o)
What else ... my 12th Night present for my Squirrel-sister is pretty much done, pictures to follow after our 12th Night celebration of course *G* You never know who's reading this thing. I'm also pretty much done creating my Master's 12th Night present and - again - pictures will follow later.
Alrighty, it's time for dinner. More later ... well, or tomorrow ;o)
Thank you Oldenfeld :o)
I had a great time at Oldenfeld's Yule. As always the atmosphere was joyful and relaxed and the many hours at the event were filled with lots of laughter and chatting and simply hanging out with people you never have enough time to spend with.
Innis and Martine gave me a ride and so I didn't have to brave the most boring ride all by myself. Time flew and in no time we were on site ending up being fed by Mistress Mairi Ceilidh with all kinds of wonderful fingerfoods and the most awesome eggnogg I've ever had. Thick and rich and creamy - Mmmmmm ! I went to bed late - really late - but slept well and was cozy all night despite the very very low temperatures. Tanis had been so sweet to bring a heater for our rustic cabin and while that lead to him toasting and roasting his butt in front of the heater in the morning as the first sight upon opening my eyes [and much cajoling and laughing because of that] it was a very welcome treat.
Breakfast was great and got us all off to a good start. Martine decided to watch Innis fight and so I wandered off to check out the equestrian activities. It's been more than 4 years now that I've been on horseback and while I miss it much I know that right now I just don't have the time to commit to this wonderful hobby. It was fun to watch, though, especially the jousting [but the mounted combat wasn't bad either]. Most of the day I spent eating scrumptious foods [nice pork roast and fried parsnips fur lunch] and chatting. Just before court business I managed to grab a quick and super cold shower [Brrrr] while everybody else seemed to go down for a nap :o) Then it was off to court where Master Octavio's elevation made a lot of people bawl their eyes out. It was beautiful *S* and he loved the scroll so all is good :o)
More later, the munchkins are demanding my attention :o)
Countdown
In less than 2 hours I'll be on my merry way to Oldenfeld's Yule Event. I'm all packed, I have pre-cooked every meal for my men from now until Sunday lunch and the house is clean and neat and tidy. My charge has just been picked up and I guess I'll use the last 30 minutes of the Finndragon's naptime for a quick nap or at least a quiet time-out myself. Chances are good I won't be able to sleep in anyhow with what getting up at 6:45am this past week - my body can easily be scheduled to a certain rhythm and regular wake-up times, especially the early morning ones, usually lead to me not being able to sleep in at all or at least not for a while.
Anyhow, it's going to be fun. I love Oldenfeld events and of course I have to be there when my favorite herald is being elevated to the Order of the Pelican :o) I'm also going to be Signet on duty, so to speak, and that always gives me the Christmas-elf feeling :o)
Well, more when I"m back !
Saving postage
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Grrr ...so first the stocking isn't working here [it obviously does on LJ] and then tblog doesn't want me to remove it. Oh well, guess you won't get to save on postage afterall *G*
OR the Master is right and I have been indded naughty and won't get anything [after getting his early, that is *G*].
Time flies
Especially before Christmas :o)
Why that merry time of the year always manages to sneak up on us is beyond me. You'd think that Father Commerce and his sparkly merry displays of seasonal merchandise afetr summerbreak would be hint anough but nooo ... here we are, 13th of December and less than 2 weeks until the Holy Night we're probably the only ones who haven't been to a shopping mall to indulge in the annual Christmas shopping spree like everybody else with Christmas funds. Maybe next weekend *G*
For the past three days I've been doing what a proper bilingual immigrant of the female variety is known for : babysitting :o)~ Helping an acquaintance out of that misery of holding a job and losing her babysitter I stepped up to the challenge on managing our Finndragon and a 9 month old boy and lo and behold, it works. Much better than anticipated on top of it. There's always been the saying that if there's room for one, there's room for two in my family but I'd have never thought it to be so true. Handling those two boys is surprisingly easier than just entertaining and organizing life with one. No set back on laundry duties or other household chores.
Of coutrse, I might add, I went through excellent training in Finn's boot camp *g*
Scroll-wise I'm all set for this coming weekend. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for cabin space and feast because I decided much too late to forego the daytrip in favor of a whole weekend but hope always dies last.
My new dress on the other hand is still in the making and the chance of getting to wear it this weekend is getting smaller and smaller, even as I write. It's not like I don't have anything to weark, it's just that I'd have liked something new. I'm such a clothes horse in the SCA :o)
Anyhow, I'm off to see what I can do about that dress :o) Laters !
Quick update
Pelican scroll and dress are coming along nicely :o) so are various Christmas presents. And just received a lifesign from my Master.
Yay me 
Are you ....
... www.lost.eu/d48f ?
Sneakpeak of my latest project
It's a little dark and I promise to follow up with a scan but it might give you an idea of what it looks like and its size [or the lack thereof] :o) The illuminated area is approximately 10cm x 15cm or for you Non-metric people 6in x 4in [US]. The inside of each historiated roundel is the size of a US Quarter [which measures 25mm across].
It's coming along nicely and I'm fairly happy with both the gilding and the calligraphy.
My baby and I
Industrious
So between some Christmas shopping, cooking three meals, entertaining hubby and the Finddragon and stuffing the last bags of Finndragon's Advent calendar I managed to find time to sit down and do things :o) Yay me and my buddy time management *G*
First I sat down with all the golds that I have, real ones and substitutes, and created my gold chart. Oftentimes you hear people saying "This is the bext gold substitute; it looks so much like real gold" or "This is the one I prefer to use if I'm not using the real stuff" etc. but there are so many different gold paints and inks out there in so many different shades that it's nicer if you have them side by side for easy reference and comparison. Scrounging through my artbox I managed to procure 6 different golds : WN Gouache, WN Drawing Ink, WN Calligraphy Ink, Schmincke Gouache, Pebeo Gouache, Savoire Faire Gouache, 23K Monarch Gold Leaf and some Goldleaf that my aunt picked up on a trip to Ceylon and about which I don't know anything. They told her it was real goldleaf but I seriously doubt that. It is -very- shiny even without burnishing and somewhat stiff. I'm thinking composite gold or one with very little actual gold content. However, it's nice with a good rich color.
First things first : Nothing beats the real thing. Compared to the 23K Monarch goldleaf all inks and painst appear flat and dull.
WN Calligraphy Ink : Needs to be shaken up properly and thickens when left standing [can be diluted with water again]; usually needs more than one layer to cover evenly. Nice rich reddish gold with a good shine.
WN Drawing Ink : Needs to be shaken up vigorously. Mica powder tends to clump but after drying it can be burnished into an even shine surface. Dark almost brownish gold. Best used on small areas because it's a pain to get an even cover.
Schmincke Gouache : Nice substitute with all the benefits and conveniences of using a paint cake. Use thick, covers evenly and has a nice rich gold with a good shine. Matches the 23K closely but has a hint more red in it.
Pebeo Gouache : Just as Schmincke Gold Gouache it's a really nice substitute. Even the Rich Gold is paler than real gold leaf and comes with a hint of green instead of red. It's also a bit flatter than the Schmincke Gouache but it's nice to work with, very pliable and good coverage.
Savoir Fair : The color is right between WN Calligraphy ink and Schmincke Gold Gouache and has a really nice sheen. HOWEVER, the paint consistency is pure evil. It is slimy and it's a real pain to achieve and even opaque layer of paint. Maybe I can muck around with it and see if adding some chalk would help with the sliminess ?
Ceylon Gold : Nice color, really really mirror bright even without burnishing, but stiff texture. I doubt it has more than 12K if at all. Looks artificial, for a lack of better descriptive terms.
There. I hope you found this a bit helpful :o) In case you're in Trimaris feel free to grab me at an event and ask me about it. As long as I have my scribal box with me I'll be able to show the chart to you so you can see for yourself. I'll -try- to scan it but my experience is that golds just scan badly.
The other thing I did [and since Gesso needs to dry and there's that whole patience thing] was inking and adding calligraphy to the Pelican scroll I'm working on. I even managed to lay the gesso and since that happened at almost midnight I even let it dry and bedtime delivered me from the temptation to start laying goldleaf too soon *G* It's a neat tiny thing and illumination and text fit into my hand. Think standard postcard size. I took pictures and when Finndragon goes down for his nap I'll try to bump hubby away from the computer to upload them :o)
Happy Birthday Marcaster !
Today the Shire of Marcaster is being recognized as a Barony of the Kingdom of Trimaris.
So here's to you, Barony of Marcaster and all your fine members, for overcoming any and all obstacles, working hard and being a shining example of a group in the SCA.
May you live long and prosper !
Wish I could be there :o)
The deed is done
So the vote of confidence was to scan and post the calligled scrolls I did in this mad calligraphy streak and here they are tucked properly in a sub folder titled "Calligraphy only" and that's all I did : add the calligraphy. Most of the scrolls you see are non-armigerous ones or even honors with a very few AoAs tossed into the mix. In my own regular folder there are a few first attempts at pen flourishings with puzzle piece letters and a couple of simple illuminations so don't be disappointed :o) I haven't had time for the really shiny stuff lately, well, except for Finneadan's Trident on which I'd have loved to have done a better calligraphy job - the perils of a scribe's life.
Link : My album
Next thing on my list is spacing and laying out the calligraphy on my favorite herald's pelican scroll :o)
