Oh, look Thursday

Actually, since I'm off tomorrow, it's like Friday!  Anyway, here's my weekly status update:

Last night was A&S night, though I indulged myself in a modern arts week.  Finally did the weaving in of ends on a vest I made for my husband, and worked some on my Bay of Fundy scarf (the one I swatched earlier this week).  I'm definitely happy with the needle size on that.

So, here's this week's status of projects in progress and "on deck":

Current project list/status (SCA/Historic):

• Medallion for a coronation mantle -- By all reports, and the photos I've seen it was a lovely coronation.  The medallion is blogged here.  I think it's time to make this blog's first "Page" which will host the DONE items. 
• Motifs for coronation cloaks (different coronation) -- The two that are done were blogged about here.  I've started the outlining for the next one.  I do want to get these done sooner rather than later....
• Marshall Hanging -- the very large Bayeux inspired piece that I've been working on (on and

  

  
  

  off) for just about forever.  Deadline, June some time summer 2016. I took this with me on my beach weekend, and got some good work in on the hardest spot, the top of the figure representing my husband.  This has sparked some wondering about just how the Bayeux was done -- on a slate frame that middle is just a couple inches out of easy reach. 

• Hem stitched square -- Now 3 sides are done and the third one started.  Currently my travel piece.  With no deadline, and just for me just for fun, I'm ok with slow progress on this one.

• Additional couching & laid work pieces. The June 2016 deadline is for a very special presentation to the East Kingdom embroidery guild, Keepers of Athena's Thimble.  In addition to the master work of the Marshall Hanging, I need supporting pieces in other forms of laid and couched work.  There will be posts as these are done. Some research and Pinteresting have been done.  One of the pieces has been determined in plan, but won't be presented until February so no posts.  I promise, that's the last "it's secret, no posts until given" item for a while.

Current project list/status (Modern): (oh, look, no progress here.... working on a deadline will do that).

• Knitted vest for Joe.  Knitting is done.  Ends have been woven in.  Tomorrow night I'll block and add the buttons.  He will have it for Rhinebeck! Yay. 

• Skirts for work.  One skirt that had been languishing in my studio has had some work done, and now just needs a hem.  I also have some lovely blue and white fabric waiting to be the next skirt. 

• Bay of Fundy Scarf.  Cast on.  Hated result, swatched (see Tuesday's post), cast on again.  I've done the first repeat of the pattern and I'm much happier.  This will proceed. 
• Knitted Salto fingerless gloves from Craftsy kit using Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend.  I'm so close to done on this one.  It was a lovely kit, which unfortunately didn't have enough of the yarn.  I got another skein and have to wind it off and finish. 
• Studio project. Yes, the studio is in good shape, but I do still have that wall of desk and closets to finish organizing.  I want to sort/organize and inventory embroidery threads, clean out the other crafts materials, get the knitting tools organized and my new computer set up on the desk.  

Thursday again

Today is, once again, Thursday, and yesterday was A&S Night.  There has been some good progress since last week, and my student joined us again.

Last night's lesson was stem stitch and split stitch. I think next week I'm going to have to give her a better piece of fabric for her sampler, as the one she is working on is fighting her tension.  Maybe a better hoop, too.  Until now all my teaching has been "here are materials to get you started on the concept" but this time it's more long term, I think she deserves more long term materials.

I worked a little bit on my hemstitch piece, and the design for the work that will take up most of September was nailed down.

Current project list/status:

• Medallion for a coronation mantle -- THIS IS DONE and will be the subject of an October post (after reveal).  I am overall happy with this piece.  I was tracking time -- just under 40 hours.

• Motifs for a Laurel cloak -- DONE.  All three motifs done and sent on.  This will quite possibly be the subject of Monday's post.

• Motifs for coronation cloaks (different coronation) -- Sizes have been determined, fabric chosen and (I believe) ordered and by the end of this weekend I expect to have the pattern pieces ready.  This will be applique, as the best way to get four rather large motifs done in time -- and since they can be assembled without the final cloaks in hand, then applied at the end.
• Planning for teaching.  Also in October (boy, October's a big month for my work), I'll be teaching German Brick Stitch at a demo.  I need to assemble kits and maybe frame up a piece to be working on.

• Marshall Hanging -- the very large Bayeux inspired piece that I've been working on (on and off) for just about forever.  Deadline, June 2016. I expect there will be an update post shortly. No additional work this week.

• Hem stitched square -- about half way through the third side.  Currently my travel piece. A few more stitches were done last night, but planning communications, teaching and headache intervened -- some work is just too fine to do with a headache :)  With no deadline, and just for me just for fun, I'm ok with slow progress on this one.

• Additional couching & laid work pieces. The June 2016 deadline is for a very special presentation to the East Kingdom embroidery guild, Keepers of Athena's Thimble.  In addition to the master work of the Marshall Hanging, I need supporting pieces in other forms of laid and couched work.  There will be posts as these are done. Some research and Pinteresting have been done.

Thursday round up

Last night was A&S night -- and we even had company.  A new-to-SCA, new-to-embroidery (but not to artistic endeavor) teen came over and started her own sampler of stitches. With an excellent artist's eye, her first stitches of some (un-counted) double running, herringbone and cross stitches were neat and close to even. Her herringbone was more even than some of that I have running all up and down tunic seams.

And, of course, she left before I even *thought* to take pictures...

I also got some embroidery done on the third of three motifs I'm working for a Labor Day elevation.

Because of having company/a student, I did not immerse myself in my studio looking for materials to answer a question, but I will work on that -- and maybe even develop a post from it.

All in all, a pretty good A&S night.

Current project list/status:

• Medallion for a coronation mantle -- very close to done, though a more formal post will have to wait until after the coronation in October.  I've been keeping notes, and I think it will be a fun post, if you like a running almost daily report :) This will be my project as soon as the next one is done.

• Motifs for a Laurel cloak -- two of three motifs are done. Deadline of August 29 may not quite be hit -- but they will be in the next person's hands by early next week. Formal post will be after labor day.

• Motifs for coronation cloaks (different coronation) -- this has been assigned and planning has happened.  Currently waiting for materials and specific size information requested.  This is an applique project, and the pieces will be a bit larger than the other items. Again, formal post will be after the coronation, but I plan to draft the post as I work.

• Marshall Hanging -- the very large Bayeux inspired piece that I've been working on (on and off) for just about forever.  Deadline, June 2016. I expect there will be an update post shortly. No additional work this week.

• Hem stitched square -- about half way through the third side.  Currently my travel piece. A few more stitches have been done this week, but I've been concentrating on the ones due soonest. 

• Additional couching & laid work pieces. The June 2016 deadline is for a very special presentation to the East Kingdom embroidery guild, Keepers of Athena's Thimble.  In addition to the master work of the Marshall Hanging, I need supporting pieces in other forms of laid and couched work.  There will be posts as these are done. Some research and Pinteresting have been done.

A&S Status report

Well, yesterday was Wednesday, which in our home means order in and concentrate on A&S.  Except that it was also doctor appointment evening, so A&S was limited to some work on a hem stitched square I've been fiddling around with. Perhaps this evening will be A&S makeup night :)

Here are some progress shots of the hem stitch

The "wrong" side, of the stitch, which is actually the right side of the square

Next one I use a finer thread for the mitered corner, even if not for the working.

The fabric is a piece of linen I had left from making a shift, so it does not have the "even weave" that a piece from a needlework store might have.  It has been a learning experience to count the very fine threads to bundle -- and to learn to adjust the bundle if the threads warrant it.

Current project list/status:

• Medallion for a coronation mantle -- very close to done, though a more formal post will have to wait until after the coronation in October.  I've been keeping notes, and I think it will be a fun post, if you like a running almost daily report :)

• Motifs for a Laurel cloak -- design has been transferred, threads obtained. Deadline, August 29. Formal post will be after labor day.

• Motifs for coronation cloaks (different coronation) -- this has been assigned and planning has happened.  Again, formal post will be after the coronation, but I plan to draft the post as I work.

• Marshall Hanging -- the very large Bayeux inspired piece that I've been working on (on and off) for just about forever.  Deadline, June 2016. I expect there will be an update post shortly.

• Hem stitched square -- about half way through the third side.  Currently my travel piece. 

• Additional couching & laid work pieces. The June 2016 deadline is for a very special presentation to the East Kingdom embroidery guild, Keepers of Athena's Thimble.  In addition to the master work of the Marshall Hanging, I need supporting pieces in other forms of laid and couched work.  There will be posts as these are done. 

That's just the SCA A&S projects.  Some modern stuff (to be discussed on Tuesday posts) will occur as well, including clothing for work, knitting, and maybe even curtains for my husband's re-worked kitchen.  That new studio is going to get a work out. 

New Post day -- Thursday's A&S Report

Some time ago my husband and I decided that Wednesday evenings would be A&S night at our house.  We bring or order in dinner and devote the evening to some form of Arts & Sciences (usually something for SCA, but sometimes it is something more modern).  To "keep me honest" I'm going to try to post on Thursdays a report of my A&S night activity.

And the first week, I get to post semi A&S fail.  My current smaller project is on hold waiting for the last thread to arrive, a second smaller project hasn't arrived yet, and I did not pull out all the apparatus to work on my big piece.  Instead I pulled out the hemstitch piece I was working on before I started the current smaller project.

And promptly realized I had forgotten how to do the stitch, and the book is neatly tucked away behind a pile of items to go to yard sale.

I did spend some time on line doing research (i.e. looking at museum websites) for a number of future projects, so it wasn't a total non-A&S night, but it was not the most productive.

That, however, is what the Thursday posts will be about -- keeping me honest.

Meanwhile, here is a gratuitous shot of some old embroidery I have done. This is the cover of a book that I made.  The book is a sampler of finger loop braids (that's the source of the "fringe" in the one corner).  It is now in the possession of my laurel.