After all that gut spilling, I need something on the light side. I got another couple of deep thought blogs left, but it’s Friday, and I just can’t be that serious.

Sara’s and Stephanie’s questions go hand-in-hand, so I will run with that, at the risk cutting the length of time I can milk this material.

After about, um, 19 or 20 or so years in the SCA, I decided several years back that it was actually time to pick a persona and show a little bit of coherence.  This was precipitated by Radu winning Crown tournament and the sudden realization that I had better start taking this shit seriously.

In the past, I had become quite proficient, even expert, at making Italian Renaissance clothing.  It’s what I got the OVO for. The red and gold dress that Sara referred to was a vestige of that time.  Kane used to call it my knock-me-down-and-F—-me dress.  It actually survived Katrina because I gave it to Finna who was actually thin enough to wear it.  This postpartum bod was NOT going to squeeze into that sucker.  I love that dress.

However, I was on the downside of the SCA clothing trajectory – it is often said that you start out early period because it’s easy, progress to late period because it’s flashy, and then back to early period because, well, it’s easy.  But on the downside of the trajectory, you do early period right.

Well, I kind of stuck halfway.  I am not really early period – 10th-11th century – but it’s a far cry from Italian Ren.  Culturally, I am Hebridean, which was a thorough mix of Norse and Irish cultures.  The Hebridies was where they found the casting blocks that had both a Christian cross and a Thor’s hammer – a real equal-opportunity culture.  So, there is no inherent dichotomy to the fact that I have an Irish name and dress Norse. 

 Radu is a 10th-11th century Magyar – they are a nomadic horse-culture that settled Hungary.  He is a bit harder to outfit because his clothing is basically caftans, coats and pants, and it is hard to cut them large enough for his frame to keep him from looking like he is wearing a sheet.

Since we are starting from scratch, we have the opportunity to really do it right – which means lots of handstitching.  So the projects on the table right now are:

Norse hangarocks and underdresses and a new coat for me – we have YARDS of linen and wool in the sewing closet.

New coats and pants for Radu, and a new wool overcoat for winter.  I also need to put his new Knight’s belt together.  We bought over $300 in Magyar metal fittings.

A new Rus gambeson for me.  And a dress squire’s belt.

Some calligraphy for TRM’s – just general scrolls.

Glass bead making – I am making Norse beads for myself.

And, in the planning stages – new Silk banners.

 And, yes, as soon as I get my shit together (we have been concentrating on home improvements over the last few months), I am going to have workshops for anyone to come over and work on this stuff with me.

There should be PLENTY of opportunities!