Well, the ruff is cut out and pressed. I bought fishing line to put at the edge (experts have told me that will avoid the need to starch it). The jacket is mostly cut out. One of the front pieces is in the process of being embroidered. I'm embroidering all the leaves and most of the flowers--many of the flowers show parts of the original fabric through the embroidery. The stems and background will be left as is. This piece is about one-third embroidered right now. I'm working on it during my commute to and from work. The ruff is on hold until I get further along with the jacket.

I'm also working on the alteration of the outfit I bought. The skirt was cartridge pleated. When I cut it off the bodice and took out the pleats, there is more than sufficient fabric to pleat it a different way and have it fit me. The bodice cannot be altered to fit. I bought some blue brushed cotton that is a good color compatible with the beige-gray and maroon of the original outfit. So I'm making a completely new bodice and using strips from the original as trim. I'm using the original shoulder rolls on the new bodice too. The original sleeves are a little narrow, so I will add a strip of the blue cotton to widen them and coordinate with the bodice. And if there is enough of the blue left, I will add a strip of it to the skirt as more trim, to coordinate with the bodice.

The other thing I'm working on is an effigy corset. The front is a golden yellow brocade. Right now, the boning channels are drawn and need to be sewn. Once that is done, I will add double cable tie boning for strength. I'm considering doing hand-sewn eyelets instead of grommets and putting trim on the front, so it will be a decorative corset as well as a functional one. And I LOVE that it is front-lacing!

I finished two of my blank scrolls and submitted them for the Midrealm royalty to give as a gift at Gulf Wars.

Which brings me up to six scrolls done out of my 50.

Well, I forgot to add two classes to my list from Bardic Madness in November, Improvisation Games & Mastering The Art of Performance Style. So that actually made my total 28. Yesterday, I added the following at A&S Education Day II up in Ravenslake:
Court Heraldry
Recycled Wool
Basic Recorder
Medieval Embroidery
Airs & Graces/Mock Court

So now I'm up to 33 classes!!!

Plus I consulted with Calybrid & Nihthauk on my name submission & heraldic device, so I can send them in for approval. Shouldn't be a problem, though I may need to tweak my device a little before I send in the forms.

Well, I added a blackwork class and an A&S 50 information session at Twelfth Night. I sat in on about 25 minutes of Kuji's Intro to Conjuring class, but won't count that in my list since I didn't stay for the whole class. So now I'm to 26 classes.

I'm thinking of dropping a little cash on some inexpensive lucets so I can start teaching a simple lucet class at events. Without more lucets, I can't really do a hands-on class. But I also need to draw up lesson plans, and make some sample cords for display. So I think I'll buy five or six lucets at ReenactorFest or by mail order, once my tax refund arrives soon. I should be able to teach a class then by Carnivale. I'm not counting teaching classes in my list of classes taken--but I do want to start giving back my efforts more in the class area. I have taught one class, on making wire& baby's breath head wreaths, but it only drew two students at last year's Carnivale. So I think I'll table that class for the indefinite future.

Margrett

I finished the scroll for Twelfth Night which I mentioned earlier this month, and also finished another one for the Festival of Maidens court today. I don't have any pictures to post, but will try to start taking pics soon. So that's four done, and nine more blanks in various stages of progress. But they don't count until they're done and handed in!

Margrett

I finished the farthingale, which gets me up to 19 pieces completed. Yay! I also have negotiated the purchase of a used Elizabethan overgown & sleeves, of which I will take delivery in mid-February. But altering that won't count as "new" garb unless I cut new garb out of it instead. I'll know more once I have it my grubby hands.

Margrett

And to address Pennsic, YES, I am planning again to go this summer. My ill relative has passed away, and I'm going to plan ahead better on my finances this year. My current long-term project to plan for Pennsic is to find a way to raise my air mattress off the ground in case the rains are heavy and I have some flooding in my tent. I don't have the woodworking skills to make a wooden bed, so I'm thinking of either a cheap IKEA bed frame or the old tried and true milk crates & plywood. I do have enough woodworking skills to put hinges on smaller pieces of plywood so I can more easily fit the base in my car for the trip. I want to check on the IKEA options though--all depends on the size of the package and its cost.

Margrett

Alright--here is the update to the 50 pieces of garb list. When last I reported, I was at 17 new pieces of garb. Since September, I have added a blue overskirt, that matches the blue linen bodice , for a total of 18.

However, I'm in the middle of altering an outfit to wear for Twelfth Night and completing three new pieces: a farthingale, and sleeves and a forepart to match the blue bodice.

Next on the agenda after that will be a linen ruff, an Elizabethan jacket.

Other items still needed before Pennsic:

4 new outfits (such as the bodice/skirt combos) or simple bodice & overskirt
Kimono & obi
Matching sleeves for new outfits
6 chemises/smocks

This challenge is going more slowly, but it is intended to be the challenge that will go beyond 2008-2009. I did create another scroll for All Souls on Nov 1: http://lincolnscrolls.googlepages.com/November12008065.JPG/November12008065-full.JPG

Those blanks scrolls are not yet completed, but two of them only need black outlining to make the painted design pop, and then I can submit them to my Signet. I'm in the middle of another scroll for Twelfth Night--It is designed & mostly painted. I need to paint one more color on the scroll, then add whitework decoration and black outlining. Then I will need to draw pencil lines and add the lettering to the scroll.

So my total stands at two completed as of today, and nine in various stages of progress.

I have progressed since September. New classes since then appear below, and I will be taking more classes in a week at Twelfth Night. So right now I am up to 24 classes (halfway there--WooHoo!) with more to add after next weekend.

Bardic Arts for Beginners
Fingerloop Braiding
Allemandes & Country Dance
Gesso Shell Gold Gilding
Temari Making
Origami Catapults
Celtic Knotwork

My other two challenges are to make 50 blank scrolls and to take 50 SCA or SCA-applicable classes. Re the scrolls, I have completed one and turned it in (you can view it here: lincolnscrolls.googlepages.com/P7310094.JPG/P7310094-full;init:.JPG ) and I have seven more in progress, all in different styles--they are penciled & inked and ready to paint.

Re the classes, my list currently stands at 17, with the most recent classes taken in mid-August. I hope to take several more this weekend.

Classes include:

Perfumes in History
How to Make Award Scrolls
History of & Playing Bodhran
Renaissance Italian Pastries
Gilding Using Instacoll
Midrealm Sing-a-Long
Glassblowing
Newberry Library trip to examine period calligraphy & illumination, including commentary from experienced scribes
Gyspies, Tramps & Thieves (Elizabethan underworld)
Intro to Courtly Dancing
Fits Like a . . . Costume Fitting Techniques
Historical Bits (demonstration & improvisation with an historical emphasis)
Inkmaking (oak gall ink)
Medieval Penners
Punto in Aria
Heraldic Submission Basics
Viking Whipcording

One of my three A&S 50 Challenges is to make 50 pieces of new garb, as mentioned previously. Current progress, including the two newest pieces of the linen bodice and the biggins, stands at 17:

• six pair of white bloomers from old sheets--soft and comfortable!
• two underskirts--one red/white vertical stripes, one green/white vertical stripes (made from dust ruffles from Goodwill, if you can believe it!)
• two pair of sleeves--one fancy pair with criss-cross woven trim with gold satin insets, lined in navy blue--matches beige diamond pattern outfit, one pair simple herringbone blue-gray wool
• one caul--matches beige diamond pattern outfit
• one black wool overpartlet
• two bodice with attached overskirt combinations: one beige diamond pattern outfit with blue nubby guard & couched spiral fuzzy piping for decoration; one red wool with black piping, black wool strips as trim and a black/red/white woven trim on the bodice
• one simple chemise with gimp collar trim, out of muslin and old sheets
• navy linen unboned bodice, lined in cheap light blue muslin
• linen biggins decorated with blanket stitch in black perle cotton

Well, I had to cancel my trip to my first Pennsic for multiple reasons, including an ill relative and lack of finances. But I hope to try this all again next year. So although packing is now a long way off, the sewing progress will continue over the next year.

Right now, I am working on a navy blue linen unboned simple bodice with waist tabs but no shoulder treatment, embellished with lucet cord. I also am wrapping up a new lined linen boggins/coif, with simple blanket stitch embellishment on the edges in black perle cotton thread.

Both of these are to wear at Stronghold where I have agreed to accompany a group of Celts there to demonstrate period crafts & activities, so I must dress more simply. Of course, these items can also be used for Pennsic next summer, so they won't be wasted!

Well, the tan diamond pattern outfit is almost done. All I have to do is sew the skirt to the bodice and hem & trim the guard fabric. I submitted drawings of that outfit and the red wool outfit for costume approval at Bristol Ren Faire, hoping to have these two outfits do double duty for Bristol & Pennsic. The sleeves are done except for a few buttons & loops--they turned out nice! The red wool is next on the agenda, as it will need to be done before Bristol opening weekend in July.

The items for the flemish outfit update are done, though I'd like to add another layer of sewing between the bodice and skirt of the overdress for security's sake.

The bloomers are all done, as are the two camp chair covers. I've cut one chemise out and will sew it soon to see if that pattern version will work well for me. I'm hoping to commission someone to make a simple neck ruff for me, so I don't need to do it myself.

I've started doing new lacing holes on the middle class outfit I bought. The upper class green one can wait until closer to Pennsic, but I hope to use the middle class outfit at Bristol as well. I've cannibalized my old red outfit to incorporate into the embroidered striped red/cream cotton fabric bodice/skirt combo.

My new underskirt is done and I've bought a used linen one from a friend, so I appear to be well set on underskirts now.

I ended up not having to do the 1900-era garb either, because my magician friend didn't need my help at his event this month after all. That actually made my life easier, though I would enjoy myself if I went, and I thrive on deadlines.

So I'm getting there on my sewing list. I'll be doing hand sewing at Bristol in July in front of the patrons, when we're not performing or cooking for the cast. I have sewing nights coming up in June & July at a friend's house, and may be sewing at another friend's house nearby too. Somehow, I always get more done when I leave my own apartment!

Margrett

This is the current version of my Pennsic Packing List, subject (of course) to being diminished by space availability in my vehicle closer to War. If it looks large, remember (A) This is my first Pennsic; (B) I KNOW I won't be able to take everything, so this is the wishlist before reality sinks in; (C) I have this tendency to obsess sometimes; (D) I'm the type of person who likes to be prepared for anything, and to have anything someone might need. This does not include my clothing list.
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 Today's update:

Well, I get to postpone the civil war era garb until after Pennsic, since I'm not needed for the event that requires it. However, the garb still needs to be made because there will be one or more CW events in the fall. I'm planning to get sewing done both this weekend and next weekend.

This is the list of the 50 new pieces of SCA/Ren garb on my list for this year 2008 (both for Pennsic and otherwise)--this gives me a larger wardrobe and also works toward the A&S 50 Challenge, but does not include repairs or re-dos needed on existing garments:

Margrett Norwoode is my SCA persona and my Bristol Renaissance Faire persona. She is an upper middle-class widow in the late 16th century, so she is English and Elizabethan. She is the Housekeeper/Chatelaine for her unmarried cousin's large household in Bristol and is the widow of a printer. She is friendly and outgoing and her garb is pretentious middle class---LOTS of trim and she likes those special touches like hats and pearls. She resides in Vanished Wood in the Middle Kingdom in the SCA and in the Guilde of St. Lawrence at Bristol Renaissance Faire.