My nose continues to run, and amazingly, so does my sewing machine.

How about that! When it decides to have a good day it makes a perfectly acceptable straight seam, and today was such a day apparently. I've just stitched together one half of the fabric floor that I'm making for my pavilion. I decided to take the remaining pea-green/yellowish some-part-wool fabric that I made my Laton jacket from and put it to some use. Floor in my pavilion sounds about right. The fabric isn't bulky, not very heavy, and neutral enough as a flooring that I won't expire from horror upon seeing it.

So I sketched out the floor plan on milimetre grid paper, measured my fabric and cut off two triangles from either end of the length which I stitched together and onto the side to make half of an octagonal flooring. The other half will have to be another colour. I don't mind. That will end up a very dark blue. Should spiffy up the place a bit - one hopes.

In other news, I've not yet done a proper update on the sewing progress. In short, my Sture shirt (mark 3) is finished aside from the eyelets needed for the cords that will close sleeves and collar. Six eyelets to go, three cords to make and that shirt is completely, utterly, finished. Hurrah! Oh, almost forgot about the shoulder re-inforcements. It needs those put in place too.

The red petticoat - I've cut out the bodice in the wool and have started by facing the front with a purple lining. I will be closing the wool layer with hooks and eyes over lacing through the interlining layers. It will be sweet.

I've got hooks and eyes now as well, so I will retro fit two pairs on my surcote lining kirtle as the skirt has a tendency to flop open and I have a tendency to scratch my hands up something awful on the pins I end up using.

My Events page is now updated with links, oh so many links!, to photo galleries from Double Wars this year, and a blurb about the event.

Go check it out.

I am once again ensconced in my own home in Aros. I am enjoying a pot of tea (just filled the last mug, will have to make another) and nursing a horrid cold that's got my nose stuffed up, my eyes running and my bronchials trying to expel primeval goo. I blame this state of affairs on my mother's youngest sister, whom I visited last weekend. She did not deny it, rather confirmed that she too had been laid low with a fever at the end of the week.

Still, I'm wearing my comfy wool slippers, my lovely wool wrap-around top and I've got my mug of tea.

The sojourn in the frozen north was not as nice and summery as it was last summer. At least then I could wear my shorts and a short sleeved top to work. This year it was long sleeves, socks and sometimes even a fleece jacket. Of course the summer came on full force yesterday, as I was leaving.

I was not quite as productive as I could have been, but I will have updates on my sewing projects to post about. I've also organized and arranged a few things.

In closing I'd just like to say the following:
You know you are a fabric-o-holic when you return from the ends of the earth with four more metres of linen.

This was helped on when I poured boiling water on my hand this morning at work. It was a not-fun experience and the hand is still pretty sore. The effect of that is that I can't really use my left hand (and I'm left-handed) manipulating cloth and whatnot because it hurts whenever something touches the skin.

I did buy some linen fabric. I washed it last night, and the idea was to cut out a basic t-tunic and sew it up on the machine today. Well, I decided I do not care to cheat myself and my wardrobe to that extent, not when it means pain too.

So, I won't be attending the event as a participant. I will drop by as a tourist to get some fabric and say hello to friends and such, but since I don't have clothes I'll not stay after-hours as was my last-minute-plans on Saturday. I'm fine with that.

In other news, What the fuck happened to summer? I'm freezing.

I put my name down for an event. Only problem is I've got absolutely nothing to wear. And I mean that, literally, I've got absolutely nothing period to wear at all with me up here. What I have is bits of hemp linen, and bits of wool cloth. So, between now and Wednesday I better put those bits together into a shirt and kirtle orelse, err.... I don't even know what else. I might pull a fast one and get cheap ass linen and zoom it together on the machine. Maybe.

Fine hemp measured, cut out, ironed and lightly starched, to help me when sewing it together.

I had way too much fun with my measuring stick, and I got to indulge my inner control freak by pulling threads to cut along.

I was going to make it more of a basic layer, but I don't know if I want to add gores in the sides. I think I'll just go ahead and do side slits, because right now as I've cut out body front and back, sleeves and under arm gussets I've only used half the yardage (started with 3 metres). I might make another chemise or whatever with it. Or, I can save it and use it for veils.

I was bad and stayed up way way too late last night finishing an audio book. That means I've nothing left to listen to while I sew, which kind of sucks.

All seams on the skirt to my red petticoat are sewn together and the seam allowances topstitched to either side. It is quite gratifying how gorgeous that looks. Now, of course, only the tricky bit remains - doing the bodice up properly. It is going to be a pain in the backside whichever way I do it.

I think I'll switch over to cutting out my new shirt instead.

I had my carpenter cut me out a couple of long rods to dimensions I specified. Then I proceeded to make measuring sticks out of them. They're finished, waxed and sealed, and I intend to put one to use making my sture shirt. Oh, yes, I will.

I have put out a contract for miniature versions of same. They will, doubtless, be gorgeous considering whom they're hired out to.

Then again, I'm going to have plenty of time to myself, with access to the shop, for the coming four weeks, I've got plans already. Muahahahaha!

Updated my latest dress diary - the red petticoat. Nothing much, nothing fancy.

I made two laces using fingerloop braiding. One yesterday, another today. I mean to use one for my corset, the other for the petticoat. Still undecided if I want to close the petticoat with hooks and eyes in front or no.

I brought with me the new fine hemp cloth. I intend to make a new shirt in the Sture style with it. It's certainly fine enough. Flash-warning though, don't go outside wearing only that shirt - you wouldn't need the water to win the wet t-shirt contest...

She wanted signs to put on some bathrooms ... somewhere. I don't know where. But they were to say "Laddies" and "Lasses" so I did something vaguely medieval-esque, and silly. I don't prented that they are my best work ever, but it was fun doing the penwork in the lettering. Good practice.

So I decided to join the A.S. 50 A&S 50 Challenge. The Society wide challenge to complete fifty arts and science projects by Anno Societatis 50. I read up, for the fifth time, on the official webpage http://artsandsciences50.org/ what the challenge is. Then I read up on a few links, the originator's LJ (albreda) and A&S blog, then I headed on over to the Yahoo group where you sign up officially.

There are three challenges to dive into.

Depth - 50 of one kind of item.
Breadth - 50 different items.
Persona - focused breadth, 50 items for a specific persona/period.

I am thinking my focus will disappear quickly enough that the Depth is a no-go. I am considering either doing two of the Persona challenges: one for my 1410 self, and another for my 1560s (ish) self, or combine the two and just call it the breadth challenge.

I mean, I have until May 1, 2015 to finish the fifty items. Should be doable, considering that when I went back through my archives and listed the things I've done since May last year I'm up to 26 already.

( That list goes: )
Although if I discount similar items (3 & 8; 9 & 15; 13, 22, 23 & 24) I am down to 21 or so.

Argh. Unpicking hand sewn seams may well be my least favourite activity ever.

I came to the lower edge of one side seam when I discovered that I'd pinned the front panel on the wrong way out compared to the back/gore panel. Helvete! is what I said, a number of times, with feeling.

I was only doing the side seam of the skirt in the first place because I was avoiding doing eyelets on the bodice. *sigh*

I guess I'll go back to eyelets, finish that up - there are only twelve on either side this time - then I can try the bodice on and see how it fits. I'm just whipstitching around each eyelet, like eight stitches, so it doesn't really take much time. It's just boring. I'll finish them off nicely once I've got the shell mounted on there.

I can't believe I didn't spot my mistake when I laid the skirt out and pinned it. So annoying.

08.17 Kitchen cabinet carpenter arrives.

I am, right at this very moment, getting my new kitchen cupboard doors and work surfaces. Awesome.

It was even a little bit of a surprise what it looked like because I had apparently forgotten which kind I'd chosen. Sweet. It is going to look rather nice, I think (read hope). I am also hoping for the tile-guy to come in the afternoon today... or tomorrow at the latest.

10.15 Carpenter guy leaves me to do some vaccuuming, and clean up. My new doors and work surface looks good.

10.41 Tile-guy is here. Most excellent. He'll do most of the hard work today, continuing tomorrow with the goo that goes between the tiles and silicon seals.

13.18 Tile-guy has started putting up tiles on the wall - hurray! The horrible "Perstorpsplatta" that was disintegrating into tiny shavings is no more!

Scribal night at my place tomorrow. I spent today working away on my red petticoat. It's chugging along nicely. It'll have pockets because pockets are the absolute bomb on kirtles. I love my pocket on the green English Fitted Gown and only regret I didn't make up a pair of pockets rather than a singleton.

This red petticoat will have pockets! Sweet.

I've also sewn four boning channels in the front of my bodice - leaving one unboned for eyelets. I intend to make it front spiral laced through all layers. I foresee very sore fingers before I'm done with those eyelets. *wince*

( In mundane news ... )

Augh, it's impossible not to! Just look at what my tame carpenter made me:

( piccies! )

The awesomeness level is beyond awesome. I must make cushions! Wool intarsia! Oooooh! Pretty!

A head plagued by a headache. It was horrible earlier today. Then I had plenty of water.

And then I had a liiiiittle bit more water mixed in with a measure of Ardbeg which was a moving in present from my brother.

It was a princely gift. Or princessly. Whichever. It was om-nom-nommy.

I also had a wee nap. Now I'm watching the baby lions at the Norwegian zoo, but I think it's time for me to tuck myself in for the night. Tomorrow I'll be working on my red kirtle. Hopefully get the bodice pattern sorted. I've picked the interlining fabric from my stash now.

I've updated my clothing page! The website, she has an update. Most amazing. I whipped up a quick page on my newest project, the red petticoat.

I had a mission today. Get a microwave oven. No deal.

Just now I went out to my balcony to look at the sky after the enormous thunderclap I heard. Upon turning back around again I stepped on a bumble bee which stung like a mo-fo, and then the skies opened up and poured buckets of water down on us.

Grr! Argh! Gnnngh!

I would like it known that I just made the most awesome potato and leek soup ever in the history of potato and leek soups.

Awesome.

Opeth - mightiest band on the planet - rocks on.

And now for something a bit more on topic: I washed my new yardage today. The cuts of linen and hemp are now drying off the last little bit on my little wire rack thingy. I am planning on pulling out my ironing board and finish the process off. I just thought I'd throw that out there.

I also think I will make the slightly greenish fine hemp into a camicia to wear underneath my Florentine gown. Ayup. We'll see how that goes. I won't be needing all of it anyway.

We'll see if anyone shows up tomorrow for scribal night. I forgot to send out a reminder earlier, probably too late now. *shrug* Ah, well.

Now, to the ironing board.