Bead Necklaces

A quick project that I worked on last week was some beading. I made these necklaces out of glass and natural gemstone beads, and they will be given as gifts.

These are strung on tigertail.

Largesse for a friend's event

An online friend is hosting a big event soon and needed some largesse, so I took the opportunity to make some as a surprise and send it along with a friend who was wayfaring.

Royal Largesse

I had a chance to finish off my largesse pile for the upcoming Royal visit,and I am very pleased with it. All glass or gemstone beads stung on tigertail wire.

Busy times

Well, things have been hectic since I  last posted! Health and computer problems certainly haven't helped matters, and I have been busy with study and preparing for my Barony's big anniversary event - which is now less than a week away. I have mainly been desperately trying to get scribal work finished and working on projects for other people. Most of that is done now, so I have less than a week to sort my own garb out. Luckily, the tourney dress that I previously almost finished just needs to be hemmed and have hooks and eyes attached. Hopefully I will find time to finish the court gown that I was experimenting with as part of my Pilgrimage challenge.

I have also been making some largesse items. Here are a couple of necklaces that I made that have small mistakes - so will now end up in my jewellery box.

Noble Pilgrimage - March Update

Image source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/18/68/76/1868768714c3b35664390e1e7d2b6f34.jpg


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

I have been sick again, and there has been lots of plodding along and not much being actually finished (again). With time ticking away, I have been pretty stressed about getting it all done in time. I am trying to work on the way that I am thinking about it all so that I am less stressed. I think I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
I am getting better at being assertive and turning down projects that I can't realistically manage (although I still hate to disappoint people.)


Prowess:

* Learn a new skill - basic leather work
I have been using my cutlery bag, and  I have cut out a bag to hold scrolls in, but have not yet had time to sew it up.


* Improve my illumination skills - practicing with new designs, painting scroll blanks and developing confidence by "doodling" . Another scroll illuminated this month. I have also created an ongoing online challenge for my local group to get people excited about scribal work and allow them to experiment and develop their skills in a no-pressure situation. Also part way through a new, original scroll.


* Develop my sewing skills
Plodding along with bodices, fencing doublets, sleeves and jerkins.I am making a chemise for a friend and copying someone else's work, which expands your skill set.


* Develop my embroidery skills
New chemise project for a friend underway, it involves hand hemming, embroidery and a first attempt at insertion stitch.


* Enter more A&S competitions
No events at the moment with everyone preparing for and leaving for Festival. I have entered quite a few since this challenge started, and I now feel that I have the confidence to make it a regular thing.

* Try and blog more regularly
A little variable at the moment because I prefer to show the finished item and not much is getting finished yet.


Franchise:

* Make badge banner and pole for outside events
- delayed as hot weather was making my silk paint set blotchily, banner is half done.
* Make a new hall banner
- completed this month

* Make a new bottle cover, napkin and cutlery pouch
- cutlery pouch complete
- another napkin complete this month, 1 more underway.


* New tourney dress
- begun
* New feast dress
- skirt panels cut and hanging. Bodice and interlinings cut and ready to sew
* Make more accessories
Several sets of sleeves cut and ready to sew - if I don't run out of time and energy before the project ends. This challenge is taking a lot out of me.

* Work on cutting out slang and mundane talk. Trying hard, but this will be a continual process.
* Try harder to speak nobly. Trying hard, but this will be a continual process.
* Read ''The Bard's English'' - completed
* Work on moving more gracefully, and work on posture
* **Continue with existing projects and commitments - ongoing.  Working on WCoB presentation piece and on tablecloth project, embroidered chemise for a friend, doublet for a friend. Continuing to help with projects and teach. Continuing to administer LCG and organise records.

This month I have been particularly heartened by the work of the two gentles that I have been teaching to sew for the last eighteen months. They are both coming ahead in leaps and bounds and are trying new techniques and patterning with confidence (and looking great in their new garb.)

Piety

* Continue teaching classes ongoing
* Continue with regular service projects: device banner, mouse pouches, award cords, Baronial projects, scribe work etc. (Ongoing)
* Run an event (not sure if I will be able to do this prior to July as the event schedule is very full. May have to hold it later in the year, especially as we have had some events postponed due to hot weather.)
* Make Primus Agmen award pouches
* Learn the duties of a Lady in Waiting
I recently stepped up as Lady in Waiting to my Baroness. What a huge step. )I didn't actually die from terror or fall over in court [YET] so I think that is a very promising start!)
* Help people with individual projects
- embroidery project for a friend: complete
- jerkin for a friend- complete
-fencing doublet - almost done

Largesse

* Continue teaching garb skills - ongoing
* Make more effort to chat to newcomers at events and training. Trying hard. I even attended a demo this month and had to talk to lots of High School students!
* Try harder to make people feel relaxed, welcome and comfortable
Keeping an eye on newcomers and staying in touch electronically so that they know what to bring to events etc. I feel quite proud of myself for this as it is particularly and continually difficult.
* Donate coffee and cake money to charity at least twice a month
- still making regular donations
* Make largesse items for Gift Box
- still making jewelery




Prudence 

* Re-read "Knowne World Handbook"
* Read The Treasure of the City of Ladies - complete. There were some real gems in this book and it gave me a lot to think about. Well worth sticking it out.
*  Re-read A&S Handbook - done
* Read "At The Court of The Borgia" by Johann Burchard - underway
* Try to learn more about combat
- trying to learn more about rapier and heavy by chatting to fighters and paying more at training, reading social media posts and internet information on this area. Ongoing.

I really feel that I have made big improvements in this area this month. All the information is starting to sink in, and I think that it will help me to improve my game.


Courtesy

* Work on shyness and awkwardness - this will be an ongoing consideration, I think.
* Make an effort to speak to people I don't know/well
* Introduce myself to strangers: working on this
* Learn to accept compliments graciously
* Learn to ask for help: I have done this a few times in the last month
* Stop avoiding Peers and Pointy Hats: improving
* Write more recommendations for worthy individuals - ongoing
* Write a resume of SCA achievements to help develop confidence within the game
-  done! This started off  slowly and was difficult, but actually turned out to be a pleasant exercise because I decided to add in dates of events and so the resume has also become a sort of timeline. Working on it has been a nice trip down Memory Lane and has reminded me how much my game has improved over the last fifteen years. I would recommend this exercise!

Although this area is probably going to be an ongoing challenge for me, I really feel that I have made big improvements in this area this month. What I have learned and achieved so far has really made this Pilgrimage worthwhile.

I am starting to see and feel big improvements in all areas, and I can feel that my attitude to the game is changing. I am handling the challenges better as well. My biggest problem is running out of time to finish all the projects that are for other people before our local big event in June 2016.

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

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.

Another Gift Box Necklace

Here is another necklace that I made to be given as Largesse. It is made of ceramic beads and glass beads strung on tiger tail with 4mm seed bead spacers.

Green Necklace for Gift Box

Over the next few months I will be focusing on my Pilgrimage journey. Two aspects of this are Franchise and Largesse. Here is a necklace that I made to be given as Largesse. The beads are natural gemstone and glass seed beads. I am not sure what the long faceted beads are made of.