For the masked ball this year, I decided to finish the green silk/linen blend bliaut I had started back in 2016 for the 2017 ball (original post here), as the theme for the year was Wear Your Heraldry.  In the 12th century, the only way that people really wore their own heraldry was on a mantle, which I doubt I would get much use out of during a ball, but which I will certainly make someday.  However, this dress is slightly fancier than the rest of my garb and features my colors. 

I never did make a ceinture or add bicep bands on this dress, but I'd still like to do so in the future.  I even bought a couple sets of pearls to sew on, which somehow were forgotten in the push to finish.

​I also experimented with set-in sleeves on this bliaut rather than my usual square construction, and it was a bit of a challenge.  Let's just say it's a good thing my arms are smaller than when I first made the dress, or it wouldn't have worked out.  The other challenge is that I let my darling husband help me pin and cut the hem, and it wound up uneven, so therefore shorter than I'd planned.  I was able to use some scrap bits of the silk to make a facing inside the skirt so I was only losing a little bit of length, maybe 1/4" instead of the inch or so I'd lose with my typical double rolled hem, but needless to say I didn't have any train for train wrecks.  Next time I'll try this great tutorial for hemming without help.

Sadly, the only photo I have is a selfie I took in the car before the event, so I will have to do a photo shoot if and when I wear this dress again. 

​I also made a mask using the bear from my device as the theme, and made a little circlet with garlic flowers made from pearl beads for it to wear.  Again, the only picture is a selfie I nabbed during the evening with my friend Bug, who also wore a bear mask.

​The challenge is that this dress is not breastfeeding friendly, and I'm still nursing at this point, but for this evening formal kid-free event it worked well.  This was also my first full night away from Freya, who my sister had to basically pry from my arms and hide for me to consider an evening without her.  Motherhood is weird.

The event was very nice.  I chose the dances for the ball and worked with the musicians to secure live music for all of it.  My friend Viscountess Morgan ran the dance practice and we shared the brief instructions before the dancing in the evening.  There was a bardic competition, a heraldic mask competition, and a lot of nice nibbles and drinks.  I also donated a period spinning lesson with all supplies (including distaff) provided, which was purchased by my friend Mistress Gilliana.  We'll have fun with that, I'm sure.

Our autumn baronial event this year focused on welcoming newcomers.  We did a demo at a ren faire a few weeks prior to the event and handed out invites to anyone interested in trying the SCA.  We had beginner-level classes on topics including garb making, courtly graces, etc. with a dance class by yours truly featuring dances coming up at the January masked ball.  There was a pot luck lunch and some fun socializing too.  Below are some pictures, including more photos of the red dress I made.  See the captions for more info.

Well!  This event was one of those ones that I looked forward to and planned to attend as my first post-baby event, and first "date" with my husband.  My mom was going to come for a weekend visit (she lives about 3 hours away) to see the baby and watch her for a few hours so we could go enjoy.  Then, the week before, Freya (aged 2.5 months at that point) came down with the flu after a busy religious service where a lot of people held and kissed and snuggled her (stupid me for even bringing her there!).  It was so scary.  She was too little even to take baby tylenol.  Her breathing got so bad they xrayed her lungs because they suspected pneumonia.  It was awful.  Then, a few days later my husband and I (a few days after that) caught it from her, despite both having had our flu shots.  This was the week before the event.  My mom decided, prudently, not to come down and catch it from us, so we lost our babysitter. 

My husband was the bardic champion last year and needed to be there to run the competition for the new one, and I am head of the dance guild and was supposed to be there to teach dance.  Hubby felt well enough to go (though he probably should have stayed home), but Freya was still miserable and I was feverish and achy and not fit for anything.  Thank goodness, Baron Aelwynn of Loch Salann volunteered to teach the dancing (I had already arranged music, chose the dance program, and wrote up instructions of all the dances), so I thought I was off the hook.  The event ran from 1pm to midnight, and it was about 5 pm that I got a text saying my presence was "strongly encouraged" and hinting that hubby might be receiving an award. 

I was annoyed, and torn, and it was Freya's bedtime, and I felt obligated, and had no one to watch the baby, so I put some garb on myself and dragged both of us (her in the mundane outfit she already had on) to the event.  I think if anyone realized how sick we were they never would have pushed us to attend, and when I walked into the beautiful site with a screaming baby the then Queen (a nurse in her mundane life) saw us she said "You didn't have to come if you're sick."  I groaned inwardly, comforted the baby, and found a place to sit until court.  Freya got hungry (as she often does, and did, especially as a rather small baby), so I threw a blanket over my shoulder and started nursing her (Roman garb is great for that!).  It was at that moment that we *both* got called up to the thrones.  I looked down at the happily nursing and dozing sick baby, got up, and approached the thrones with her still on the breast.  The king was somewhat taken aback, the queen was entertained, and they were happy for us to stay standing, which was probably the only option given a still healing c-section and an actively breastfeeding baby.

Lord Aonghus and I were both awarded with Golden Pillars of Artemisia, the Award of Arms-level service award.  I felt like it was one more moment to check of my list of "odd times to breastfeed your baby," which now also includes leaning over her carseat so she can nurse while the car is moving and while lying on the floor doing yoga.  Anyway, the award was a big honor, and I've since heard from several other ladies who have accepted awards while breastfeeding, but I certainly hadn't ever seen it happen.  Mistress Gilliana made me a beautiful scroll, though I've yet to receive the token (they're all out, apparently).  I admit, Freya and I basically fled home to bed as soon as court was over, and it was quite a while before I got back on my feet again.  When Aonghus finally made it home he informed me I won Lady of Color for Or (favorite gold-colored garb), and he was also given a token to give to Freya as a memento of her first SCA event. Photos, courtesy of my sister Lady Thora, are below.

I actually caught another strain of flu (people tell me it's a year where many have gotten both Influenza A and B) after coming back to work, but thankfully Freya dodged that one.  I have to admit, it was a tough winter at our house. 

Next up: baby garb, photos, and planning for our next event with 100% less plague.

Well, with another event about to take place, it's high time I wrote about Celtic Revolt last month in An Tir.  This is an excellent event, and as always, I had a great time.  We drove to Wealdsmere (Spokane, WA area) on Friday the 26th and got to site in late afternoon with time to set up camp and relax before it got dark.  Our household had a great spot, and it was fun to get everyone together again on the second anniversary of the Cavalry's formation.  The event was an army-style competition, with teams competing for points in a variety of activities.  I really enjoy this setup, because it always seems to get people participating in ways they normally wouldn't.

The event itself was packed with fun activities.  Saturday was hot and sunny, and Duchess Clare and I spent a good chunk of time keeping the lists for rapier, heavy, and youth combat, which mostly kept us in the shade and entertained us.  We also wound up supervising a pack of extremely enthusiastic children who volunteered as water-bearers but spent a lot of time squirting each other, eating the pickles and oranges, and generally being unattended kids.  After the fighting was done, we all took part in the dancing held on the dusty fighting field (pro tip: if you offer war points for dancing, especially double war points, EVERYONE will show up.  There must have been at least 50 of us!).  A great photographer came to the event to take photos (Adventure Bound Media, check them out!), and you can see one below with me, my husband, Master Gomez, and a bunch of our friends getting ready to dance.

The evening was full of socializing and a welcome break from the heat.  I admit to turning in fairly early each night of this event.  Once it gets dark and chilly and people are drunk (and you can't be one of them) I tend to get bored.  I'd rather be in bed with a flashlight and a book, or just catching up on sleep since I'm terrible at sleeping in, especially camping, especially at an event full of unattended feral children (look, don't get me wrong, I like kids.  What I don't like is parents who aren't responsible about their kids.  The SCA is clear.  Under 12 years old, they need to be within sight and sound of a parent AT ALL TIMES.  This isn't daycare).  I am still trying to forget finding a tick in our bed that night, but it was the only one I saw all weekend, and neither of us got bitten, thank goodness.

Sunday was cooler, and I enjoyed helping run the populace choice Arts & Sciences competition and watching the war scenarios and various melees.  There was also a fair bit of napping and crafty time, as usual, and then a nice household dinner to round out the day.  Our group also enjoyed attending the medieval pub trivia competition that evening, along with Viking prom and medieval celebrity dress-up contest.  My excellent husband, who stepped down as Wealdsmere's bardic champion at court that evening and was enjoying his freedom, wound up being named their new Baronial Arts & Sciences champion, which was no surprise to me.  His Norse mead and Oseburg backpack recreation were very well received.  He sweetly bestowed his prizes on me, a new ceramic cup (I have lost my favorite somewhere this event season and have been using an old one with a chip in it all summer) and a lovely necklace.  What a guy. 

Our household team also tied for winning the war competition overall, and split the booty with the Ship's Crew folks who were the other main contenders.  There was a lot of good loot in there, but I just took candy for my share. ;)

We packed up and hit the road home by 11 Monday morning, and came home, as usual after events, sunburnt, dirty, exhausted, and full of stories.

Gomez, moi, and my husband (all facing camera) ready to dance.  Photo: Adventure Bound Media

Waiting for dinner!  Photo: Nicole Scofield

Well, another week, another project.  I don't really feel like I've made a whole lot of progress with anything.  I have had some health challenges (yet again) both physically and mentally, but I still have lots to share.

Here's a preview photo of the embroidery on my new bliaut.  I realized that this is the first time I have planned to hand embellish a piece of garb.  I am really trying to improve my use of period correct materials, and my new bliaut is a good example.  The fabric is 80% silk 20% linen, and this fabric, to be used for the neck facing, sleeve guards, and ceinture (belt) is a slubby silk.  I realize the slubs and the coarser weave aren't particularly period, but this is a piece I had in my stash, so it fit the bill (and the budget).  The embroidery thread is silk, and I included the box of mints and penny to show that they served as my stencils for the lozenge and circle pattern.  I am using a green woven trim from my stash to go around the neckline, and it will also be used in the guards and ceinture.  

I am using a mystery brocade-ish fabric in a cream color for the maunche (sleeve) linings.  I'm pretty positive it's a polyester/cotton blend, but it looks plausible and again, was something I already had in my stash.  In the interest of time I decided to use my serger to do the construction sewing, and ended up using grosgrain ribbon for the side lacing, so it's not my "perfect" period dress, but it will be some very plausible-looking period court garb.  I would have loved to finish it by the ball on January 28, but things just didn't work out that way, and I ended up spending a good bit of time helping my sister with a cotehardie that came out so nicely, so no matter.  Here's the only picture I caught of it, while she escorted her fiance up to accept an award (Order of the Yggdrasil) from our Baron and Baroness:

Luckily, I have lots of other pretty dresses, and ended up winning Lady of Azure in the Lord and Lady of Color competition with my blue bliaut with pleated skirt.

The ball was very nice.  Great appetizers, fun (but not too long) court, one of the best bardic competitions I've ever seen, a brewing competition, nice dancing with live music, and socializing.

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.

Phew.  I'm at a bit of a loss about what to say when it comes to Raptor War.  My husband and I co-stewarded this event, and it was such a whirlwind that I don't really know where to begin.

The site we had originally chosen was booked sight unseen because there was too much snow on the road to go investigate.  I turned out to be not at all what we needed when we were finally able to get out and see it, and thus began a last minute struggle to find a new location.  We found a new site less than two weeks before the event, thanks to a suggestion from a friend and the site just happening to be free the weekend we needed it (thanks to road construction on the way there).  

The event was themed War Games, and focused on period games and sports.  Our site tokens were gold colored coins from Oriental Trading Company distributed in silk organza bags.  Attendees were encouraged to engage in the very period practice of gambling to amass the greatest fortune possible.  There were classes on the peer-like qualities and translating them into everyday life, period embroidery, and making period shoes.  We had a Laurels' Display event where the attending laurels could show off their arts, our baronial thrown weapons and archery competitions, rapier and heavy fighting, a bardic, a fundraiser dinner, a potluck,, oh, and a baronial investiture.

Attendance was a bit smaller than expected, but I was very proud that every event ran on time, save the childrens' armored combat, which we delayed so that more kids could arrive to participate.  I had time to shoot in the archery championship and participate in the thrown weapons championship.  I was honored to be awarded with the Terpsichore's Moufle award (a barony-level arts and sciences award) by the outgoing Baron and Baroness, and a S.P.U.D. (Service Performed Under Duress) by the incoming Baron and Baroness.  My husband and I were given some lovely largess by both sets of Excellencies as well as by the King and Queen, and honestly, all the notice really blew me away.  We just wanted to have fun, and wanted to run the kind of event we like to go to.

The best reward of all was seeing how much fun everyone had, but there were some other really magical moments.  It was a beautiful site, and really, a pretty good time.  That said, it was a lot to juggle, and with all the craziness. bugs, inevitable injuries, etc. we're still sort of recovering from an overabundance of fun.  Here are a few photos.

Enjoying the lovely scent of freshly broken arrows with Their Majesties and some fellow ladies in waiting  Photo: Illora of the West Lea

My husband and I being honored with the Terpsichore's Mouffle (he got one too!).  The tokens were tied on ribbons, and the knot slipped out of mine and it disappeared somewhere. :(  They were specially bought by friends of ours while at Avacal, so I was really bummed.  Photo: LaJohnna Honey

Our household held their inagural male belly dance competition.  here's my other half cutting a rug around the campfire while I cheer him on.  He won, the stinker. ;)  Just to my right is a couple who rented another part of the site for the day to get married.  He has played in the SCA in the past, and after the wedding they came over to say  hello and join the fun.  I hope they enjoyed the show.  We exchanged info with them and hopefully we'll see them at another event soon.  Photo: Illora of the West Lea

Phew!  I am finally taking some time out to post about the ball two and a half weeks ago.  Anything is better than doing homework right now, apparently. 

This ball was the event where I very nearly bit off more than I could chew.  I am co-head of our dance guild, so I brought music/sound system and helped teach dance practice during the afternoon.  I also agreed to co-steward the event since the other steward was rude enough to go and get herself crowned as one of the heirs to our kingdom (darn her!).  And finally, I agreed to run point and organize the ladies in waiting and royal/baronial rooms for the event, and the coffee/tea bar we typically provide.  Somehow I managed it all with lots of help from my very patient husband.  Thankfully there were lots of other ladies to attend on Her Highness and the venue was small enough that we could pretty much keep an eye on her from anywhere since it was one large room.

We arrived around 11 am (in civilian garb) to set up thrones, decorations, etc.  Each of the two rooms for the royals and landed barons/baronesses got a selection of veggies, fruits, hummus and crackers, and water bottles, and accompanying decoration.  The tea/coffee bar was set up and stocked, and I took a bit of time to round up the marvelous group of ladies and figure out who would attend Her Highness during court, etc.   I got into garb and spent most of the afternoon teaching dances to the dozen or so folks who wanted to participate, interspersed with chatting with various people and helping out the heirs.

The event broke for dinner, with off-board seating for some, and my husband and I took the opportunity to go home and get into our fancy clothes for the evening of court and dancing.  He was kind enough to take a picture of me before we left the house, and I snapped a goofy selfie in the car on the way to the event, which shows off my jewelry/accessories a bit more.  Looking back I feel like this still looks rather bare.  I plan to add more embellishment to the sleeves of this dress, and it really needs a girdle too, not to mention a giornea, which really would have been essential for venturing to a ball.

​Photo: Arlen Donald

My husband and I were ambushed at the first court of the evening and inducted into the order of the Windmuhlen Keeper (Windmuhlen being Dutch for windmill).  The Baronial website describes the award thus: "The Windmühlen Keeper is given for outstanding on-going service, to those who consistently demonstrate their willingness to volunteer, and do so tirelessly, graciously, to their utmost capacity, repeatedly, for and on behalf of the Barony of Arn Hold." 

It was a true honor to be given this award, and I felt very moved to be thought of.  I snagged a photo of the awarding from a friend's facebook.  Thanks Cynthia! The beautiful scrolls by our friend and newly-redesigned tokens (the windmill arms are moose antlers that really turn, as our local device has a moose on it) made this even more special.  It's funny, all the awards my husband and I have received so far we have received together.  I don't think anybody is really surprised at this, as he and I really are pretty inseparable.  

Photo: Cynthia Crowell

Above photos: Arlen Donald

We had an insane amount of dancing at the event.  I wore my red leather dance slippers that I got for Scottish Country Dancing, as they seemed to fit my Italian garb very well.  Here's a photo from a dance class.  I didn't wear the black socks or ankle brace to the ball, but didn't think to get a photo, since I was too busy dancing, running around, flirting, drinking wine, standing in court, and generally living the dream.

Above Photo: Patience Hallda

All in all, the evening felt like a fairy tale.  Though I was exhausted and rather hungry, having mostly forgotten lunch and dinner, I had a magical time.  The evening also included a dessert competition, and there were so many delicious entries that I didn't waste away too miserably.  The excellent Lady Tabitha from Hare de Luna was in attendance, and she styled many of the ladies' hair in period styles for the event.  Though the above photo is before her ministrations, I was able to borrow this photo from her page showing my lovely Italian hair taped bun and the period images that inspired it.  It was very comfortable and didn't budge even through the most rowdy of country dances.  Tabitha does marvelous work, and her huge book of style ideas with period documentation is fantastic.  Get this girl a Laurel.

Below image by Tabitha Mounteer

January 25th was our Barony's annual masquerade ball and event.  The day was great fun, with a fun competition from the heavy fighters (helmets required) in which they shot mini marshmallows at one another from tiny catapults to try and knock down each other's walls made of paper cups.  The rapier fighters fought for the assemblage, including two fighters newly certified!  The new Bard of Arn Hold was chosen, and there was a marvelous turn-out for the competition of garb inspired by Disney characters.  I enjoyed Viscountess Morgan's class, So You Want to be a Consort, and she and I collaborated to teach some dances for the ball.  We are hoping to revive the defunct dance guild in our barony at some point soon.  I didn't have time or funds for new garb for this event, but my husband found a suede jacket at a thrift store that worked well for a jerkin.  He has since removed the sleeves and is planning to embellish and alter it slightly to make it more in-period.  You will be able to read all about it at his blog.  Here is a photo of me with my spinning watching the fighters, and one of Aonghus in his new garb.

I am also proud to state that a good friend asked me to be her student at this event, with the eventual aim to become an apprentice!  Though she did say the main reason she asked me was so nobody else would steal me, I hope it's also got something to do with my potential to learn...