Fits and Starts (AKA Creating so much I forget to post!)

So my intention to post once a month has come down to posting what, four times a year?  I need to do better at that.

Kingdom A&S came and went, and with it some of the creations I worked hard to make.

These three items went into the prize basket for my team's contribution.  We ended up winning in the end! From left to right, a blackworked handkerchief, freeform rose and leaves; a sewing basket, with needlebook of our kingdom's device, a biscornu with a pattern from a sword counterweight, and bone notions; and a painted silk triskele fan.

These are what I created to donate.  In our kingdom we have something called the Largesse Derby.  Largesse is anything that is given to another person as a gift, a token, something in appreciation or just because.  Their Majesties are always giving out gifts! The Largesse Derby was created to give them a resource of gifts to give.  Each entry in the Derby is twelve items, and I created seven entries:  necklaces, ram bead tassels, red and black silk fingerloop braids, a combined entry of bobbin lace bookmarks and embroidered handkerchiefs, paternosters (medieval rosaries; note there are two missing, Their Majesties helped themselves to their favorites as is Their right!), painted silk fans of our kingdom device, and biscornus.  I won the Populace Choice Award for the biscornus, and also won an award that was named for me - the Lady Isabel Over The Top Award, for creating six or more single entries.

Here was my entry into the A&S Competition.  You have seen this piece before; well here it is, cleaned up and with my documentation and sources.  I got a score of 17 out of 20, which I'm VERY pleased about, given this was my first Kingdom-level A&S.  This was taken after the competition was over, so you can see all the baubles that people left for me.  (That's largesse, you see?)

This handkerchief was done as a "stunt swap" for the SCA-wide secret swap known as Nobelese Largesse.  I was a replacement for someone who didn't make an item for their swap-mate.  The pattern is a 10th century Mamluk border done in double-running stitches, a single strand of 60/2 red silk on 65 count linen.  The pattern is fully reversible - it looks the same on both sides of the hanky.

Since then, I finished a biscornu and needlebook for Her Majesty Miriel, but unfortunately I did not get a picture of them.  Perhaps next I see her I will ask her to take pictures.  I also helped her with her garb the night before Coronation. (Must remember to take pictures of the things I create!!)

I currently have several things in process:
*An aumoniere (alms-purse) for Nobelese Largesse that must be finished by the end of January
*An embroidered Jorvik cap (Viking peaked cap)
*An embroidered badge for a friend that is being elevated to his fourth peerage in December (taking lots of pics of this!)
*Two embroidered veils
*An embroidered hood (planned but not yet started)
*Embroidery on an Irish leine for my husband
*Blackwork sampler basket cloth
*Blackworked coif

I know that looks like a lot, but some things get worked on constantly, some things I switch out, and some projects are carry-along projects that only get worked on when I have to be in a waiting room or whatever.  Only two have a deadline.

Hopefully I'll have more to show you next month, and hopefully I remember to take more pictures!