Well!  It is a new year (It's still January so I can still say that), I'm working on becoming a new me (down two pounds so far) and improving my mundane life in lots of ways (mostly because I'm finishing grad school in December and will be the proud owner of a Master's in Public Policy and Administration), and with the masked ball stewarding behind me, I'm looking at how to organize my life and my art a little bit more.

 I feel like it's time to up my SCA crafting game.  I have been in the SCA for two and a half years, and I have enough basic garb to get me through even multi-day camping events (three bliauts, a Norse apron dress, an Italian renaissance dress, my Slavic dress, and a sideless surcote that really needs a kirtle to go with it), but what I feel my SCA life is missing is accessories.  Because I race through much of my garb-making, I don't own a lot of pieces with embellishments, embroidery, hand-sewing, etc.  I could also really use more purses, belts, fans, etc.  The things that make you look like you live in your garb, rather than like someone putting on a costume.  

This year I want to work on  really settling into my SCA life, and hone in on making lovely art.  To that end, my goal is to complete at least one project per month, whether it's a work in progress (WIP) or something new.  January's finished object (FO) is, of course, my Slavic dress and filet.  Below is a wish list/to do list of what else I've got in the works that could potentially turn into monthly  FOs.

• Keep working with HG Clare and Baroness Oonaugh on the set of Rus garb we are making for Sir Brynjolfr.  I'm doing the trousers, which are due by Celtic Revolt in May.  He is paying us in card woven trim.
• Go back and flat-fell the seams on garments made on my sewing machine with no seam finishing yet (I'm almost done doing this to the dolphins dress, and there are others in line) Update 2/29/16 - dolphins dress is done!
• Continue working on my first weaving project on a floor loom;  Mistress Giliana gave me some lovely wool thread in green and gold (two of my colors) and coached me through the first steps of weaving a small-ish first project, a twill table runner.  So far the warp is all measured and ready, next is tying on! 
• Continue working on a long-term spinning project.  In summer 2014 Aonghus and I helped our laurels (who happen to be married to each other) shear their sheep and angora goats, and the fleece came home with me.  I am hand-processing their Icelandic sheep (an old landrace breed that is very period) with viking combs (to separate the tog/hair/overcoat and thel/down/undercoat, will spin them worsted and woolen respectively for a small weaving project.  
• Acquire a period spindle for the above project, and experiment with some different distaffs.  I'd really like to make my own, but purchasing one to work with in the meantime might be a good plan.  I really want to get comfortable with period spinning tools, so this will help. Update 2/29/16 - done!
• Get cracking on some tablet weaving.  I could use some more belts and would love to make some trim as well.  I have lots of leftover wool sock yarn that would be great for this.
• Make a purse to go with the 14th century purse frame HG Clare gave me as a member of the Queen's Confidence.
• Finish my kirtle pattern (just need to draft the sleeves) and make a kirtle out of the lovely tan wool fabric I got from a friend last summer, with the nice heraldic buttons Don Gomez gave me over a year ago.
• Make a set of SCA camping pajamas for schlepping around camp.  These will be vaguely Norse garb, and since I really don't like long nightgowns the aim is a pair of Thorsberg trousers and a t-tunic that will be warm and comfy to sleep in, but less glaringly modern than my usual flannel PJs and hoodie.  I think I have some stash fabric that will work for this.
• Make myself a new silk banner.  My current one was my first, and it wasn't great to start with, but it's looking less great the older it gets.  
• Make some more under-dresses so that I have plenty for events.  I have some handkerchief linen just waiting to be used.  I want to embellish my under-dresses a bit too, since most of them are pretty plain.  Maybe a trapunto one to go with my bliauts.
• Fix the neckline on my blue bliaut, which is a bit crooked and has been bugging me for ages, and keep doing general repairs and touch-ups on my garb as it gets worn.
• Maybe learn to make my own arrows and give that a shot, to go with my pretty new bow (still haven't gotten to shoot it yet!)

So, this is more than 11 things, and clearly most are ongoing and somewhat open-ended, but it feels good to get some thoughts on paper, and I'll come back and share more about these projects as I get to them.  My time is really limited right now, with my dance class one night a week, two nights a week of grad school, one night a week as date night with my hubby.  That leaves me one free week night and my weekends are pretty variable, so I'll do what I can.  There are also three upcoming project days for my household to work on stuff for our encampment/group camping experience, so I'm sure I'll have lots to say about those.

I've also been looking at what events I'll be attending this year.  Obviously work and school are my first priorities, but I'm tentatively planning on the following:

Honor War in An Tir (March)
Coronation in Barony of 1000 Eyes (March)
Crown Tournament right here in Arn Hold (April)
May event TBD in Arn Hold (May)
Celtic Revolt in An Tir (May)
Uprising War in Barony of 1000 Eyes (June)
Raptor War in Arn Hold (July)
Coronation TBD (August)

That gets me through the camping season.  There is also an event in Arn Hold every November, so we'll see about that.  Anyway, I know this is sort of rambling and random (which will not surprise anyone who has met me), but it's good to get things written down so I stay accountable.

This event marked the third in the past year that I have stewarded or co-stewarded.  My friends have staged an intervention and informed me I am grounded from running any more events for at least two years, and I really couldn't argue with that.

That said, I'm really happy with how this event turned out.  2016 marks the 25th year of our Barony's existence, and we celebrated in style!  The drama and stress that I went through leading up to the day was certainly drowned out by the nice time we all had.

The site opened at noon (one of the best parts of an evening event), and we had fun setting up with pretty white and blue decorations, including totally non-period Christmas lights.  In the afternoon the populace enjoyed dance practice, and I even got enough of a break to do a dance or two in between handling various issues.

In the afternoon the King and Queen hosted a meeting to discuss the calendar plans for the kingdom.  This has been an ongoing wrestling match for quite a while now, and I didn't really have any feedback to give, but it was interesting to listen to the discussion.  I think the issues we face are those every kingdom deals with.  We want events to be evenly spaced throughout the year.  We want to make sure kingdom events don't conflict with baronial events.  We want to make sure that, as much as possible, our events won't conflict with events in An Tir, which has events that are within an easy day's drive for many of us.  We want to make sure that events don't conflict with religious observances and other holidays (as much as possible).  We want to make sure that we are not trying to plan events at the times when the weather is most unpleasant.  

Anyway, after the business was done, my husband hosted a mask-making workshop, since this is, after all, a masked ball.  After a dinner break, the evening's festivities began (albeit an hour late) with a march of precedence, including  all present members of our barony.  Considering that my husband is our baronial herald, I had a front seat view of what a complete pain in the ass this process is.  I'm sure in years past, when this was a traditional part of the festivities, it was much easier with a smaller group.  In any case, as fancy and historical as marches of precedence might be, my advice is to NEVER EVER HAVE A MARCH OF PRECEDENCE AT AN EVENT, EVER.

<begin rant>
My reason for saying this is that 1) it makes those of us who are low on the totem pole feel kind of crappy, because 2) It makes some of those who are high on the totem pole get very puffed up and proud.  I realize that status is a part of the medieval period, and a part of the SCA, but this blurs the line between "status of titles achieved" and "these people are better than me."  Unfortunately, sometimes those who have achieved great ranks still act like petty humans and forget that they are peers and examples, and there was some bad blood as we prepared for the march.  These are parts of the SCA we generally avoid, ignore, or simply walk away from.  I try very hard to just maintain the dream, but it's hard when you're the little guy and you feel wronged by those who should behave better.  It feels even worse when it feels like because of your low status, you don't really have the power to change/fix/dispute the bad behavior.  I defaulted to my usual "just don't care that much" attitude, and we got through it, but it was a huge time suck and not worth the stress.
</end rant>

Luckily, the rest of the evening was gorgeous, despite the delays in the schedule.  We had a wonderful catered buffet by a friend of ours, Cynthia, who is new to the SCA but not new to catering at all.  Wow.  This was an exciting event for our household because two of our members received awards of arms.  Congratulations to Lady Thora and Lady Simona.  We chipped in to make sure there were belts and knives for both of them.  The event also had a dessert competition, a Lord and Lady of color competition (vote for your favorite garb in each of the hearaldic colors), our annual bardic championship (won by my awesome husband, who got the whole crowd singing a totally non-period rendition of Corb Lund's "I Wanna be in the Cavalry"), lots of dancing with live music by our musicians' guild.

In true crazy Ursula fashion, I decided a week before the event that I wanted to get on the bandwagon and make some garb, since I was the one who picked the Russian theme (nothing says winter like Russia).  I went with an early-period Slavic theme.  My under-dress is a white linen t-tunic, and my dress is a brown linen t-tunic with relatively fitted sleeves.  The trim is some red and gold silk brocade I was given at Raptor War by Baroness Syeira, about two yards and about 30 inches wide.  After the neck facing and wrist cuffs, I had enough to make a filet (lined with red linen) for temple rings (findings from a bead shop) and pearls, and an 8 inch guard at the bottom of the dress.  Since I was limited on yardage, I couldn't make the guard curved, so I just gently pleated it every six inches or so to make it fit the curve of the skirt.  the bonus is that if I ever decide to remake/retire this dress, the silk should be pretty reusable.  I have a little left over that I plan to make a pouch/pocket out of at some point.  I finished the outfit with a leather belt, since I just couldn't bear to wear a dress with no waist shaping.  With my ample frame it just makes me look fatter (will be working on that for 2016).  For most of the evening I wore my hair wrapped in my silk veil with the filet over the top, but eventually when wearing the headset mic to teach some dancing I knocked the whole assembly off, so I just went with the filet and no veil for the sake of my sanity.  Since the site tokens for the event were temple rings made by Baroness Giliana, I'll be remaking my filet with those attached.

Pics below.  Our fundraiser for the event was a photo booth, so there are some great shots of many of us.

Well, for the first time in quite a while, I went more than a month without attending an SCA event.  I got pretty burnt out after playing so hard this summer, and there has been some ennui and bad attitudes in our Barony that has really made me feel like I need a break.  This event, though, was enough to make me get over myself and get on the road to Gryphon's Lair.  My husband and I carpooled down on Friday night after work with Their Graces Ronan and Clare, and stayed with our friends Dria and Aesgirr, who were going to be stepping up as the new Baron and Baroness the next day, January 9.

I went to this event last year with then Princess Clare, and remember it being a fairly subdued day, with only one impromptu class, and a lot of general hanging out, playing of board and card games, and gossiping when we weren't in court or at the feast.  Aonghus had the lovely idea to contact Her Excellency and ask if she needed any classes, and she gave us an enthusiastic yes, so with about a week of planning Aonghus and I each prepared one.  He taught Beginner Scots Gaelic, which he has taught once before, and I taught a beginner spindle class, which I have taught before as well, but not to an SCA crowd.  These classes both turned out to be very popular, and I was really glad to have an excuse to share my toys and talk about what I really love, which is fiber art.  I also attended Sir Brynjolfr's beginner card weaving class, and somehow four of us ladies managed to wrangle a great deal from him.  We will work together to make him a set of Viking Rus garb in time for Celtic Revolt in late May, and he will make us each tablet/inkle-woven trim in colors of our choice!  I really feel like we are getting a great bargain, and we had a lovely time playing Brynjolfr Barbie, measuring him, and planning what we'll make.  What a patient gentleman.  

In any case, I'll be making him a set of Rus trousers, and I'm looking forward to learning how to do that, and maybe making a set for Aonghus as well if he'll let me.

Here are a few photos of the event.

I didn't get any photos, but I was lucky enough to meet Her Highness of Avacal, who was in town for work and able to attend.  She was really lovely, and I wish I would have gotten to chat with her more.  I'd love to go to another event up that way sometime soon.

Next time I'll do a little post about the last-minute Slavic garb I'm working on and the Russian ball I'm stewarding for which I will wear said garb.