What should I have/do at the Assessment Artisan's Row

Who else is participating, and what will you be demonstrating?

Sprang - The history, origins, construction and use of thread twisting: http://www.regia.org/sprang.html
-Regia Anglorum’s introduction to the history of sprang, with some details on construction.

Phiala’s Sprang page: http://www.stringpage.com/sprang/sprang.html
-Pictures of her works, a handout on making sprang bags, another handout on patterned sprang, and the basics of creating a circular warp for sprang.

Oddny’s Basic Sprang Instructions: http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/donisfuff/sprang1.html
-a basic webpage from the creator of Sprang: A Twisted Little Art
: http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/donisfuff/coptic.html
-with pictures and instructions on creating Coptic patterned (twined) sprang

Sprang: http://housebarra.com/EP/ep07/11sprang.html
-Introduction to Sprang based on Peter Collingwood’s book, focusing on getting started with the technique.

Thora’s Old World Sprang through the Early Middle Ages: A Brief Bibliography: http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/sprangbib.html
-An annotated bibliography on sprang, technique, history, variations of techniques, and extant pieces

Den Blauwen Swaen: http://www.denblauwenswaen.nl/engels.htm
-A reenactor in the Netherlands who has great technique pages on sprang, as well as nalbinding and wool dying. (After following the link to the site in English, click on Techniques from the menu, and the picture next to Sprang for her works and inspirations.) Basic instructions with pictures and video outside of the main site's frames: http://www.denblauwenswaen.nl/public/sites/english/techniques/sprang_how_it_works.htm

Genevieve’s String page: http://genvieve.net/sca/stringarts.html
-Links to two pages of pictures of sprang bags, at the bottom of the page, created based on basic instructions

Collingwood, Peter The Techniques of Sprang: Plaiting on Stretched Threads. Green Editorial; First edition. June 1999.  ISBN-13: 978-1558219670. Copies available on Amazon.com and other booksellers.

Hald, Margrethe. Ancient Danish Textiles from Bogs and Burials: A Comparative Study of Costume and Iron Age Textiles, translated by Jean Olsen. Publications of the National Museum, Archaeological-Historical Series, Vol. XXI. Copenhagen: National Museum of Denmark, 1980.

http://fingerloop.org/ - An online version of the Compleat Anachronist #108 on the subject

http://www.lightlink.com/rhiannon/Fingerloop/flb_intro.html - Errata from CA #108 and more braid instructions from one of the authors.

http://www.stringpage.com/braid/fl/fingerloop.html - Phiala's String Page, instructions on the most basic braid, and diagrams for other braids, as well as a nice set of references.

http://www.bumply.com/Medieval/braiding01.html - A series of pages with more history and uses, in addition to more instructions.

http://fibergeek.com/narrowwork/ - Tablet Weaving and Fingerloop Braiding instructions and links for supplies.

http://takvbowes.et-tu.com/ - Take V Bowes Departed: A 15^th Century Braiding Manual Examined, a website for the recent book with information about the book and Errata.

Had a grand time at KA&SFest last weekend, which was largely due to the fabulous company of  attack_laurel.  While I personally displayed nothing, I took a few pictures of some of the displays, for your enjoyment:


Isobel and I got on the road shortly after 7pm (after I ran Belle through a car wash, since it was desperately needed) and we got to the hotel around 11ish. The room was nice at the Comfort Suites, even if the beds were a bit firm and the pillows insanely soft. We got to sleep nice and late, tumble down stairs for breakfast to bring back to the room, and take our time getting ready. Of my two packed outfits (green viking or red italian) I choose to wear my red (not pink!) Italian. I got to thinking back, and that dress is at least 7-8 years old, if not older. It hasn't gotten much wear lately, and ideally I would have put more fabric in the skirt if I had it, but on the whole, I don't think it looked that bad. And I was comfy all day. Isobel, of course, always looks fabulous, even bleary eyed and just woken up, but especially at the event on Sat. She also took pictures of me at the end of the day, so I've added them to the bottom of my 15th Cent. Middle Class Italian Renaissance Gown handout from 2000.

I talked to a bunch of folks, watched the fashion show (loved azpapillion 15th disrobing, especially the explanation of the hat layers!), delivered a blue mouse to melaniesuzanne , had a few meetings, attended both courts, got roped into some last minute judging, realized at the end of the day that I'd only eaten cookies since breakfast (missing lunch seems a bit of a theme for the event), and not gone to the ladies room all day. It was inspiring to see some of the many varied displays. Almost makes me want to do the Pent next year, except my pity for judges and my inherent laziness will likely stay my hand. But I do like the well-roundedness and further research it inspires. Congrats to belfebe  on winning overall. There were many really good entries, so tough group to compete against. I actually had on my calendar "KAS&Fest- be prepared for more reminders of your artistic failures", which luckily with Jamestown prep isn't entirely true, but serious research hasn't happened by me recently, and in that I feel I am letting my pearl down. Where's that wagon to get back on?

But on the plus side, I did finally sit down and update my webpage with some new articles based on the pictures of projects I've taken recently. So there is a new page on Elizabethan shirt construction, and on my 16th Century Working Woman's Elizabethan outfit, in addition to the new pictures on the Italian page. That makes me feel somewhat productive. I've also updated my Calendar, good through Sept. 15th, with a few unknowns/breaks worked in.

But enough about the arts, onto the drinking. After the wonderful court, and the last minute chats about this and that, we boogied on back to the hotel to change out of costume, and into civies for dinner out. We hedged our best with Eat at Joe's Crab Shack, being so close to water and all. We started off with a couple of drinks at the bar, and moved on to some pretty tasty appetizers and entrees (Isobel's food curse held fast and ruined both her first drink, and her entree twice, and her dessert, whereas the rest of us had lovely drinks and food.) Got to hang out with Drea, Calli and Lynena and chat until way too late, and finally left as some of the last patrons to exit the restaurant. It was a grand time, and we crashed when we got back to our hotel room.

Sunday was a lovely late sleep in, interesting experiment with sausage and syrup in the microwave on styrofoam plates, and a nice relaxing drive home chit-chatting about everything, and singing along to the music. I returned the Angel of Death to her Bob after 1pm, and then scurried home to unpack, tell my Alan all about the weekend, and snuggle watching lots of ROME (heh, On Demand r0x0r) on the big screen in the basement. Random comments about bloody-minded Romans were elicited, as well as the "Oh, I love this line" for Pullo's explanation of who he'd save first if found drowning in a river. So practical that Pullo. Love the clothes, so jazzed for Coronation. But first is Gulf Wars, and I think I need to paint my toes if I plan to wear any Roman and sandals at the war.