Falcon Device Banner

My Barony has a series of banners which show the registered devices of the populace. I recently made this device for a friend:

A lot of the devices are made of felt, which works well as the banners get rolled up for transport and storage. I like working with felt because it doesn't fray.

I printed the heraldic device design from the computer and traced the design onto tracing paper. I built up the background colours from the appropriately shaped pieces of felt which were just whip stitched down.

The falcon was cut out from white felt and whipped down. I didn't cut the legs and feet out of felt because the pieces would be too small.

I did split stitch in a thicker cotton around the edge of the red felt and then couched down some gold cord as an accent. I used split and stem stitch to outline and do details on the bird. The eye was a shiny black bead. The legs and feet were worked in split stitch. I used some black thread as a highlight.

 

When the piece was finished, I ironed it from the back and whip stitched on a second piece of white felt for strength.

Noble Pilgrimage - January Update

Image source: http://wpms.freakwebdesign.co.uk/abbothouse/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2014/04/73-pilgern-15.jpg


Time for an update on how the Pilgrimage challenge has been going.

Like everyone, I have a lot of other SCA responsibilities that I had already committed to and which take up a lot of time. These include re-jigging the Cooks' Guild records and website, running classes, local scribal warden, local A&S deputy, and contributing to group projects including making devices for our device banner and working on the Innilgard tablecloth project. Of course I will continue with these projects and they will take priority over my Pilgrimage projects.
I have been playing for quite a long time so I have a lot of the basic equipment sorted. I need to work on the extra details and not being sloppy due to overfamiliarity. I have an illness which impacts on my time, energy and finances, and I can't travel. I will be doing the challenge ''in spirit'' but will be unable to attend the events. This list might seem really easy for regular people but represents a huge challenge for me.

Here is my list of goals for the Pilgrimage:

Prowess:

* Learn a new skill - basic leather work

* Improve my illumination skills - practicing with new designs, painting scroll blanks and developing confidence by "doodling" 















* Develop my sewing skills
- try new ways of bodice construction

Bodice edged with bias and unlined for summer (in progress)




* Develop my embroidery skills
* Enter more A&S competitions
- viking saga poem
- siege warfare research
- recipe redaction
* Try and blog more regularly

Franchise:
* Make badge banner and pole for outside events
- begun
* Make a new hall banner
- begun

* Make a new bottle cover, napkin and cutlery pouch
- cutlery pouch complete
- one napkin complete

* New tourney dress
- begun
* New feast dress
* Make more accessories

new girdle

new necklace

* Work on cutting out slang and mundane talk
* Try harder to speak nobly
* Read ''The Bard's English'' - completed
* Work on moving more gracefully
* Continue with existing projects and commitments - ongoing. Completed a scroll personalisation, illumination on 3 AoA scrolls, embroidered napkin for a friend, WCoB presentation piece, finished a banner device, working on tablecloth project

Piety
* Continue teaching classes
* Continue with regular service projects: device banner, mouse pouches, award cords, Baronial projects, scribe work etc.
* Run an event
* Make Primus Agmen award pouches
* Learn the duties of a Lady in Waiting
* Help people with individual projects
- embroidery project for a friend: design started

Largesse
* Continue teaching garb skills
* Make more effort to chat to newcomers at events and training
* Try harder to make people feel relaxed, welcome and comfortable
* Donate coffee and cake money to charity at least twice a month
- 6 donations recently
* Make largesse items for Gift Box
- made several jewellery items this month

 

Prudence 
* Re-read Knowne World Handbook

* Read The Treasure of the City of Ladies 

*  Re-read A&S Handbook
* Read "At The Court of The Borgia" by Johann Burchard
* Try to learn more about combat
-  watched an introduction to heavy session with one of our talented local fighters

Courtesy
* Work on shyness and awkwardness
* Make an effort to speak to people I don't know/well
* Introduce myself to strangers
* Learn to accept compliments graciously
* Learn to ask for help
* Stop avoiding Peers and Pointy Hats
* Write more recommendations for worthy individuals
- I have written 3 recommendations recently

* Write a resume of SCA achievements to help develop confidence within the game

- I have started to write a list of my achievements and roles in the SCA

Gift Box Largesse Necklace (White and Purple)

I am still working on jewellery for the Gift Box. This late period necklace has white and purple 4mm glass seed beads strung on tiger tail.

This style of necklace can be worn doubled over- under the gown for Tudor and over the top for sixteenth century Italian.




Anne Boleyn by an Artist of the English School
Image Source: http://www.arthistorynews.com/articles/894_Anne_Boleyn_regains_her_head

Pink and White Seed Bead Necklace

I made this necklace as a gift for a little SCA friend for Christmas. I have made her a couple of little Italian style Renaissance dresses, and I thought this style of necklace would look very pretty with her dresses. The beads are glass seed and round beads strung on tiger tail.

Seed bead necklace for Largesse (Blue and White)

Another necklace for the Gift Box. This one has pale blue and frosted white glass seed beads strung on tiger tail.

Seed bead necklace (Green and black)

Another seed bead necklace, this time a gift for a friend. This style is very useful; it is worn doubled up and can be worn with Italian Renaissance and Tudor gowns.

White Caul or Cuffia

I made this small white caul (cuffia) as  a gift for a dear friend. It is a simple circle of fabric gathered into a rectangle of fabric which had been sewed into a circular strip and folded over. I starched the 'circle' part of the caul to give it body. I added small white glass seed beads along the band and also added some wig clips and button hole loops for bobby pins.

This hat was inspired by this image:

Portrait of a Lady by Domenico Ghirlandaio

Image Source: http://www.wikiart.org/en/domenico-ghirlandaio/portrait-of-a-lady

There are many Renaissance Italian portraits that show similar styles of headwear-

Portrait of a Young Woman by Domenico Ghirlandaio

Image Source: http://www.wikiart.org/en/domenico-ghirlandaio/portrait-of-a-young-woman?utm_source=returned&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=referral

Some of these cauls have bands and some do not. From personal experience, I find the cauls with bands easier to pin onto my hair.

Portrait of a Young Woman by Lorenzo Costa

Image Source: http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/wardrobe/ferrara/LorenzoCostaBostonMOFIneArts.jpg

I am tempted to have a go at making something like this caul- I like the beadwork.

Portrait of a Young Woman by Albrecht Durer

Image Source: http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/wardrobe/DurerYoungVenWoman.jpg

Portrait of a Lady by Bernardino Licinio

Image Source: http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/wardrobe/LICINIO1510s.JPG

Portrait of a Lady by Sandro Botticelli
Image Source: http://www.vam.ac.uk/__data/assets/image/0019/223714/2006bc8281_botticelli_lady_tempera_custom_290x478_05610925.jpg




Portrait of a Young Woman by Domenico Ghirlandaio
Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/103864335127722168/



Portrait of a Young Woman by Domenico Ghirlandaio (aka Domenico Tommaso
Bigordi)
Image Source: http://www.copia-di-arte.com/a/ghirlandaio-domenico/bildnisjungefrau.html




Portrait of a Lady of the Sassetti Family by Domenico Ghirlandaio
Image Source: https://www.scholarsresource.com/images/thumbnails/192/m/met3849.jpg