Sorcha Fhionn

Documentation Made EASY

2009-11-10T19:35:56Z

I have been approached by many people asking about the documentation for Arts & Sciences competitions. One does not need to do a 10-20 page thesis (think of the time a Judge would need to read through them). You can write up a nice 2-3 page document that will cover everything needed. I hope the following information will be helpful to those who do enter future competitions.
Documentation shall consist of, but shall not be limited to, answering the following questions:

What extant item inspired your piece?

Where is this piece currently located?

What culture is the extant item from?

How was your inspiration piece used in period?

What century is the extant piece from?

What are the materials used in the extant piece?

What materials did you use, and if they differ from the extant materials, why?

Where did you find the designs for your piece?

What stitches and colors were used in the extant piece?

What stitches and colors did you use in your piece?

Remember to include a Bibliography/Resource section at the end of your
documentation.

a photo of the original piece is also a good idea.

Questions 9 & 10 are mostly for embroidery pieces, but you can adapt them for other topics (metals used, wood used, dyes, etc.). If you answer these questions, you will have a nice documentation with all the needed information. You can either 1) write out these questions and supply the answers, or 2) write them in a paragraph form; which ever way is easier for you. Permission granted from Katherine de Langelei, WK Needle Guild Minister to use questions (#1 thru #10) from the West Kingdom Needle Guildâ€™s Broider Program.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime at
pjbarnes1@yahoo.com or ans@cynagua.org

Sorcha Fhionn inghean ui/Ruairc
Cynagua Arts & Sciences Minister

Relaxing

2009-11-07T17:43:41Z

Today Josephus day tripped to Cynagua/Mists War (as he is RMIC) and I stayed home. Since I was up at 6AM I figured that I would work on my web site. I posted the two paternosters I made to my Projects page on my web site. Now I will relax on the couch and start back to work on the two haversacks that I need to finish. I can always work on the other Or Nue sample piece in between; not to mention two scrolls that I need to finish painting.

Of the 15 projects needed by January, I am now down to 13...LOL. Yes, they will all be completed and ready for delivery at that time. Have I ever mentioned that I love to keep busy??

Haversack-Ducal promissory

~~paternoster-Colorado~~

~~paternoster-Sir Gemini~~

finish Byzantine tunic trim

commission – pillow cover

commission – smocked apron

haversack – finish device

service project 1

service project 2

goldwork butterfly

aprons – smocked & blackwork

Or Nué – leaf & ~~chalice~~

2 scrolls – AOA & LOM

Two commissions completed

2009-11-07T05:48:33Z

Today I worked on two paternoster commissions (to take a slight break from my embroidery projects).

The first one was commissioned by my son's friend after he saw a photo of my skull paternoster. He wanted a 5 decade paternoster using bone skulls as gauds and red beads for the aves. He wanted to use his wedding band (his wife died and he wanted it as a momento) as the connector and a sterling silver crucifix.

The red beads are all garnet colored, but photo looks different.

My second commission was from Sir Gemini at Cynagua Coronet after he saw my skull paternoster. I offered to give him mine, but he wanted just a 4 decade loop using all skulls. I fingerlooped black silk thread (all 12 strands) for the cording and then made a black silk tassel for it. The aves are bone skulls and the gauds are date wood skulls.

(The skulls go with his device as there is no lower jaw bone on the skulls.)

Vampyre Kisses

2009-11-05T00:18:57Z

Most everyone knows that I do not drink alcohol (at least not in the past 10 plus years). But I do enjoy tasting concoctions that others make (plus, I do make cordials). (I just need to remember NOT to take my meds if I drink!) At Fall Coronet Lady Yrsa made a most delicious treat “Vampyre Kiss Jello Shots”. Now mind you, these were in tiny 2-3 oz. cups and did contain alcohol, but just the two that I sampled made my head a bit woozy later on. Talk about “sneaking up on you”. These would make a lovely treat for any occasion, alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions.

Happy Birthday!!

2009-11-04T05:12:37Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY racaire1

Or Nue update

2009-11-04T01:07:17Z

Okay, I finally finished my Or Nue class project (taught by Mistress Teleri at IKINS). I took out all of the first attemp I made due to a bad wave in my gold threads. Thistime I was able to complete it without any majot errors. IMHO, it is still not perfect, but this is my first Or Nue project.

Mari Alexander's Knighting

2009-11-02T20:00:45Z

I just uploaded photos of Mari's Knighting on my FlickR site...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sorchafhionn/sets/72157622593884033/

Last minute

2009-10-30T08:00:03Z

Van packed, embroidery tote packed, everything is all ready to go. Time to hit the shower and get to bed. Then in morning we head out to Cynagua Coronet.

Talk about fate.....

2009-10-29T19:10:35Z

When we went to Collegium last weekend, we had to cross the Sacramento Bay Bridge; coming and going. On the way home, we heard odd noises as we crossed the bridge, Josphus commented he did not like the sounds, whereas I took it as just the wind blowing through the support cables.

Josephus just informed me that a section of the Sacramento Bay Bridge collapsed Tuesday! Approximately the same area we heard the strange noises. I am just glad that no one was seriously hurt.
Bay Bridge Collapse

Bone needle, wool & Or Nué

2009-10-29T07:18:33Z

At October Crown I bought 2 bone needles for embroidery; I figured I would use them when stitching on wool. Stupid me, I never realized that they would break so easily, or not so easily. I was doing a simple chain stitch on a wool project and broke the tip off one of the needles. I was showing it to Josephus, and POP, off came another piece of the needle; so now I have a shorter needle than I started with. I almost tossed this in the trash, but thought “Hey! I can sand the tip to a point and I can still use this needle.”

At Collegium, I took an IKINS class on Or Nué. I actually got ¾ of it completed (the piece is a 1 ¼” X 1 ¼” square), but the gold diapered threads drooped on the sides and I ended up with a very bad wave on the upper part of the chalice. Normally, when I screw up this badly, I just trash the piece; then I either “forget” about learning the technique, or I rip it out and start over. If you have ever done Or Nué, you know the stitches are tiny and it is very tedious work to rip out the stitches. Well, I spent 2 hours ripping out the threads (very, very carefully); I did not damage the design, did not cut the linen and only lost about 4” of gold metal thread. I was pleased with myself. Now I do plan on redoing this piece and completing it soon.
Here is the photo before I ripped it all out....

Unexpected visitor

2009-10-27T14:23:43Z

I got up early this morning (6AM hubby already left for work) and started coffee (auto timer was set for 6:30). Went to the bathroom, washed face, combed hair, and looked at puffy reflection, grumbled to self. Went into kitchen and poured myself a cup of the first inch of coffee, the super strong beginning coffee.

Sitting at computer, one dog curled by my feet, one on a blanket covered crate, one still in her crate, no noise in house, all quiet and peaceful. Then I heard it; a wooden click like a door closing softly. Dogs were still sleeping, no alerts, and no movement. Still, that unexpected sound bothered me. I slowly reached over and pulled a knitting needle from my knitting tote under the sewing table. I was just starting to, quietly, get up from my chair when I heard “Hello.” It was W, seems he forgot his train pass and had to come home to get it.

That man is worse than a cat when it comes to walking. He walks as silently as a cat and can cross a room without making a sound.

Web design incompetence

2009-10-26T18:33:59Z

Some people who design web sites irritate me to no end! I learned to design web pages over 15 years ago and have spent 3 years taking Web Design classes (have even taught a few classes). Yes, there are way too many different styles of page layouts that one can use, but it does not take a genius to know that if you use a large graphic image for your background and you need to use the bottom scroll bar to move the page right & left, that your image is TOO WIDE!

Changing the width of an image in your coding will correct this problem. This is a very easy thing to do. Plus, if you are using a table (or div feature) to contain text/images, CENTER the codes. This will automatically center the main content table on any screen. There is really NO NEED to have to scroll left & right when visiting a web site.

IKINS at Collegium

2009-10-26T01:39:18Z

Saturday I attended an IKINS class on Or Nué taught by Teleri of Gwynedd (from Caid) and learned a few new tips on working with gold threads. I really enjoyed the class and hope to finish my small chalice within the next few weeks. (I say “weeks” due to the fact that I still have some commissioned pieces that I need to complete, and hopefully, have them done for delivery at 12th Night).

I also got to meet Eowyn (also from Caid), I was glad to finally meet her in person. She has a bubbly personality and is a fun person. I showed her my smocked apron (which she gave me the idea after she did herself one) and she said that I did a good job on it, considering I did it from just internet instruction with her. I did five rows of smocking, but mine went from wide (bottom row) to smaller (nearer the waist band). She commented that that was very period and she thought that I did it “intentionally”. She said I could leave it “as is” or, if I wanted to, I could take it apart and redo the smocking.

Mistress Sabrina was with me as I talked with Mistress Eowyn (as she had shown interest on getting a smocked apron to go with her Germans). Sabrina knows how I feel about giving away shoddy work (and, I will admit, I feel this first attempt at smocking is a tad on the shoddy side). I might keep this apron, as is, for my own personal use, plus it will show my first attempt at smocking (not everyone does perfect work the first time at something new). The best thing to come out of this meeting is that now I have a commission to do a smocked apron, only with smaller honeycombs. YEAAAAAAAAA!!!! More work for me to do, I love it.

Disappointment yet pleasing

2009-10-26T00:15:23Z

Today was Nikki's first dog show in over a year, a little disappointing, but all around fun. She has two more ribbons to add to collection; 1st place and a Reserve (no major win, she lost to an 8-month old bitch). The puppy was cute, all fluffy and a little fur ball; Nikki blew her coat so her fur was laying flat. Nikki looked good, was healthy, and did great in the ring; only her flat coat went against her. Bitches take longer to get Championships since they "blow" their coats after every time they come into season. Nikki was in season a couple months ago.

Chris (Nikki's co-owner) and Jeannine came up just for the show; as they wanted to see how Nikki was doing (they had not seen her in over a year). I thought I had Nikki groomed pretty good, but Chris showed me some tips (and combed MORE dead under coat from Nikki's fur). She explained to me more about a "blown coat" and said that was why Nikki's coat was flat, that I did nothing wrong in my grooming. She treated us all to dinner at a quaint diner called Marie’s Pizza and we all had a pasta dish from the menu. We, also, discussed Nikki's future in the process; when best to let her have a litter (she is 2 yrs 4 mo. now), I would like to get her spayed by age 5 (should I wait until her Championship?), how short should I trim her nails, etc. Jeannine asked how often I trim her nails and I replied, “When I hear them click on the wood floors.” Chris commented “Works for me.” Walter snickered and Jeannine's mouth dropped.

On the drive home, Walter commented that when he heard that Chris was coming “just to see Nikki”, he feared that Chris was going to ask for Nikki back, fearing that Chris felt that I was not showing Nikki enough. I was glad that he did not mention this to me earlier as I would have worried myself. But, I explained to him that I do not think Chris would have done that; since I do take Nikki to the Vet regularly, Nikki is in good health and shape, and that there is nothing in our contract that stated that I “have to show” Nikki or that she “has to get her Championship” by a certain age. Now, do I want to push Nikki at dog shows to get her Championship (which meant attending 2-3 weekend shows per month) or continue showing her when I “can”.

Pre weekend rush

2009-10-23T20:28:39Z

This weekend is consisting of a lot of driving (on hubbies part). Saturday we are going to Collegium (Burlingame) so that I can take one, all day class. We plan on staying for the pot luck dinner; so as to be able to chat with friends. We will be getting home later than planned, but that is okay.

Sunday we head to Dixon for a dog show. Nikki is competing against another bitch, so we shall see how she has developed over this past year of not showing. Plus, her co-owner Chris will be there to see Nikki (she has not seen Nikki in two years).

Then I will have a week to get things ready for Coronet. After Coronet I can work on a few more projects that need to be done, attend two more classes that I will be taking and get ready for another dog show in Stockton.

Silliness

2009-10-23T02:00:24Z

moar funny pictures

Feeling better

2009-10-20T02:57:59Z

I am feeling better tonight, but hubby is getting what I had. For dinner he is trying a steak pita and I am having peperoni pizza, ambrosia salad and cole slaw.

Feeling better

2009-10-19T18:21:01Z

Feeling better

YEAH!!! I can see clearly again! Since I was sick over the weekend, my vision has been extremely blurry for most of each day. This was frustrating for me, as I could not do much of anything on the computer, reading was a complete impossibility, and watching TV did not help either. But, today my vision is back so, hopefully, I can get some things done today (but not over do anything yet).

Read more after cut
My Smocked Apron Update
My smocked apron project has had me in a quandary; I am not happy with the final results. Normally I would just throw it away, but since it is linen that option is now moot. I could cut open the waist band, remove the apron, remove the smocking (since I made 1 inch honeycombs this “should” be easy enough to do), and re-smock it. But,
Eowyn wants to see it at IKINS Saturday (Eowyn is the one who gave me the inspiration and courage to try smocking as she made a smocked apron last month) and another friend commented on how she liked it (sight unseen) and that it would go with her German. After I show them the apron, I will more than likely take it apart and redo it; if I give it away as a gift, I would rather it be something that I, myself, would be proud of, not a blotched first attempt.

My Loom dilemma

Well, after a long time frustrating over “what to do with my 8-harness loom” (jokingly called the Monster) and countless attempts at selling it. I now have things under control; I am using it in a barter deal. Since I do not work with wrought iron, I am getting some pieces made for the pavilion and using the Monster as my part of the barter; a win-win situation.

Nikki problem
Yesterday, while I was recuperating on the couch and hubby was watching TV, we heard whining coming from the back yard. Nikki was lying on the back patio licking her front paw and whining in pain. We called her in and she was limping horribly, whining with each painful step. While hubby held her, I gently probed her paw to see if I could find the cause of her pain. I ended up clipping the hair between her pads and around her nails, hoping to get better access to the problem. At first I thought that she might have cut her pad some where or worse yet wrenched a toe nail, but this was not the case. She whined and yipped a little each time I touched her paw, but did not try to bite or snap at me. Finally, I found, yet another, thin, sharp thorn between her pads; where she finds them, I have no idea (the two little ones never find the thorns, just Nikki). After 20 minutes of her licking her paw in her crate, she came out and walked around the living room; no limp!! I am just relieved that it was some thing simple. If she has wrenched a nail, or worse, it might have resulted in her not being able to attend the dog show next week. These next few months is her show season; I so want her to get her Championship!

Needle book dilemma
I tried to work on a small felt needle book while I was recuperating, but had problems galore, yet again. (When I am sick, I should know better than to work on any form of embroidery.) A simple needle book only takes 20 – 30 minutes to complete, but this danged thing took me ALL DAY! And I still did not get it right. I took photos of each main step for a handout that I need by the end of this month (some people are like me and are more “visual” and pics help more than just the typed instructions). I jotted down each step (figured I would do this long hand and transfer it to a computer file later when I was feeling better). Because I forgot to record a couple steps, I ended up making two different needle books (in two different colors, of course), so now the photos would not be “consecutively” in the same color. *grumble, grumble*. I gave up, now I will start on a new one and hope that I get each step in text and in photo (all in the same color needle book). I am not upset because I have more needle books (they make good small gifts for the Queen/Princess gift boxes), I am more upset that I did not/could not get the handout completed in one try.

Missed event

2009-10-17T19:39:54Z

Life doesn’t always go as planned. I had planned on attending Danegeld Tor’s Tourney today, but instead I am home sick, I was up all through the night hugging the ole Porcelain Goddess. This morning I told Josephus not to make coffee and to go alone, that I could not make it. I hate being sick and this time it hit me hard and unexpectedly.

Usually I wake up, get my coffee and get on the computer for a couple hours. I use this time to “let my eyes get into normal focus”; but today was totally different. I had planned on staying in bed, but dogs needed to go out, so after another scene with the PG I got on the computer – I could NOT focus my eyes to see any text!! I went back into the bedroom, figured I would watch TV while I was in bed; my luck, I could not get the TV to work and was not able to bend down to check plugs without getting more dizzy; so I went back into the living room. I was going to work on some embroidery projects, but literally could not see the eye of the needle, let alone the ground threads. So this was a “no go”. Now I needed to change my plans, yet again.

I decided to watch Why I Wore Lipstick To My Mastectomy, about a 27 year old woman who gets breast cancer. I cried. Due to my being sick, my vision was STILL blurry, which made the screen blurry as well, but I at least got the jest of it via sound (I could hear okay after all). I figured I would watch it again later, but after making it all through the movie, and crying, I feel I will not put myself thruough this again. No, I did not change the channel as I felt weighted down and it hurt to make the slightest move. This is one of the fears that I have had for decades; getting breast cancer, but she was a survivor, and she had true and loyal family and friends all through her ordeal. I have no one this loyal that I could rely on in a dire situation. Let me win the lottery and I guarentee you that I will have friends coming out of the woodwork.

I have been up for a few hours now, still running to the bathroom here and there. My vision is still blurry; which should have cleared up by now. Typing this in size 22 font is silly, but at least I can read what I type. I am trying to make myself believe that my blurred vision is due to my being sick; that it will clear up soon. My muscles ache like I am being pricked by hundreds of needles all at once. My lower back and hips hurt with the slightest movement (this I will discuss with the doctor next month). I can handle the aches and pains usually, but it is my blurred vision that is a real concern to me; I am hoping this is just due, again, to my being sick. Another five fours and Josephus will be home, hopefully.

Waking up is hard to do

2009-10-15T00:58:38Z

Smocked apron update

2009-10-14T17:51:41Z

I finished my apron with honeycomb smocking at the top, learned this with help from Eowyn (in Caid). It is all sewed by hand. No machine stitching at all. I think it is too narrow at the top, for my preference. If I do another smocked apron, I will remember to make it wider to fit me. But, this was a nice little learning project to work on between my other embroidery projects, sort of taking a break in between projects. Aprons with smocking, pleats, blackwork and aprons in color can be found here http://www.larsdatter.com/aprons.htm

Smocked apron 1

2009-10-12T01:22:21Z

Today I started working on a smocked, linen apron, thanks to the help (and idea) of Eowyna. She made one and it gave me the idea of trying my hand at smocking again (my first attempt, many years ago, was not that great and I said I would never do smocking again).

With no directions for the initial beginning steps, I made a few small, trial pieces, but still had problems. Needless to say, I kept trying and I think I got the technique down pretty well now.

Here is a photo of the smocking closed and the gathering threads removed.

Here is a photo of the smocking open.

All too Quiet

2009-10-11T01:33:34Z

With everyone gone to GWW, emails are to a minimum. Which means it is rather lonely at present with no one to post to.

Linen stash

2009-10-10T19:51:50Z

I have a lot of wool material and some linen (for hubbies tunic), but thought I needed more. So on Thursday I ordered 15 yds of white 100% bleached linen from Dharma Trading Co. at $6.60 per yard. To my surprise, it was delivered Friday!! I could not ask for better shipping time.

I then found more, white linen (stored where it was not suppose to be), so now I have enough white linen for under dresses, coifs and aprons; not to mention any small projects that might need linen lining. I now have linen in twill weave, dress weight and 54 ct., I am still thinking of buying some 28 ct. and 34 ct. linen (but then might be only 1-2 yds each) for my other embroidery projects.

New week

2009-10-06T23:30:50Z

Monday -- was in so much pain from Crown that I relaxed most of the day. I did manage to get laundry done, coolers in from van and emptied, but that was it. My legs and ankles hurt so much that I could not even walk straight or cross my ankles when resting on the couch. Aches and pains of getting old I guess.

Tuesday -- Today I spend at Hobbits. She was helping me with some pewter casting that I was having problems with. Found out that my melting pot runs a LOT hotter than hers, so I do need to keep mine on low when using it. We got 25 of one award cast and now I just need to clean up the edges, buff them up a bit and drill the holes; then they will be ready for delivery to Her Highness Annora.

We found that we can make decent molds using sculpting clay, so next week we will be making individual clay molds for the second award castings (and some in plaster). We figured we can get one or two castings per mold. Not very productive, we know, but at least they will be detailed and cast for delivery. We both plan on buying more rubber mold mix as it works (especially since I learned to keep my melting pot temp down), this way we can make molds to have on hand in the future.

Off to go soak in the tub before hubby gets home.