Friends

A piece made as a tribute to good friend and a wonderfully enchanting artist! And next to all that she create amazing artwork that doesn't need an introduction. Anyone that knows her name, knows that it is synonymous for grand anthromorphic and fantasy art!

Goldenwolf's pendant features a fine silver head, and carries two sapphire eyes of 2mm each. The piece comes with an adjustable dark blue satin cord, that'll match nicely with that gorgeous golden hair of hers

It will be coming with a personal surprise, but I won't post that until it has arrived

Hope you like it Christy

We had a very quiet Thanksgiving - which was a blessing. Given the levels of stress B has been under from work and the fact that his side of the family is very prone to "drama" we needed a stress-free 'holiday.'

I am thankful for being able to reconnect with a dear friend who I've missed during the years where I lost touch with him.

I am thankful for my friends and family.

I am thankful for having a chance to make a difference in so many different people's lives (hopefully for the better). ;)

I am thankful for a loving and indulgent husband who cares for my happiness.

I am thankful for laughter, purring cats and happy dogs.

Current Mood: content

A tattoo design, commissioned to fit either wrist of ankle.

The father of the commissioner had a knotwork dragon tattoo on his chest. After he fell ill with cancer, him and his wife decided that they would get unwound dragon tattoos when his journey was over. Sadly, he passed away in December 2008.

His daughter wanted a commission as a tribute and remembrance piece. She already had a peacock tattoo, and the animal meant a great deal to her. She wanted a tattoo with the two creatures intertwined.

I suggested an unwound dragon design, to signify that his journey was indeed over and that he is free. She liked that idea and so I set out to play.

The end result, a very tightly designed tattoo, in traditional styling. But where you can clearly see the dragons head should be following the pattern, and laying itself down to the design like the peacock, you can see the creature raise it's head and starting up with an almighty roar.

'Saoirse' written at the bottom, which is Gaelic for 'Freedom'

Things are being resolved privately, and therefor all things surrounding this matter will be kept between the two of us.

I do wish to thank everyone for their support and wishes of healing to us, it is a very tough situation on us both

I know, I haven't posted much of substance in ages... there's a lot going on but not a lot for public consumption I'm afraid. Busy as heck - mostly in good ways.. Speaking of -

On Etsy - Black Friday through Cyber Monday there are huge SALES! Handmade stuff by lots of cool folks at (for the most part) excellent prices. I get to include myself in this bunch! I'm not knocking the price of my items down (they are inexpensive enough) but I AM doing Free Shipping on all Red, Green, or Winter-themed scarves (not the veils though). I don't have tons and tons up, but there are a few things and I need to sell a few more in order to stock even more!

www.etsy.com/shop/selkieB


There is another issue here... My son lost the $250 gig he *needed* so he can go to New Orleans with the school Orchestra and Band - know why? Because the school Orchestra Concert is the same night as the *required* Dress Rehearsal for the gig. *DOH!* We haven't got enough money to cover the whole trip and he's really really upset, needs more gigs really BADLY. So this money, paltry as it is, is going for restock and putting money towards that trip. He needs gigs too - so if you are in the Twin Cities and know ANYONE who would need or want an awesome young French horn player for any holiday stuff... even just caroling in a hallway at a party - please leave me a note?? I think his rates would be quite reasonable. Thank you... things here are rather tighter than they ought... and it could get worse, but see the first sentence....

Current Mood: worried

Well today was the busiest I have seen it at work for a long time, well with out some sort of special sale or event that we had going on. We had about $2,000 in sales around noon, so we might have a good end of season here if this keeps up.
Other then that I only wanted to kill one customer today, because he did not want to pay shipping for an item, that we would have to ship out to him I told him if we send it out we have to charge shipping to him because we get charged, at the store we use the US Post office for our shipping, we charge that rate. But this guy did not want to pay for it as "we don't get charged for shipping by the vendors" .....yeah right.... oh well so he has to come and pick it up when it gets in, and I'm sure that he will complain about that too.

Well that was to day.

Later

Yesterday I finally finished up the red tailed hawk for the school of falconry. I had some troubles with touch-up paints not gripping and damp in the workshop, but finally it is done. I'm sure it'll get a good place in the falconer's home, as he seemed really pleased with the outcome;

Some people were asking yesterday if we were going to be at this event or that. These are the events we have scheduled for 2010. If you are attending any of these events, please come by and introduce yourself!

Where will Reconstructing History be next?

This weekend was wonderful. Even with lower attendance, we still did better than last year at Holiday Faire. Thanks to the Barony of Steirbach for hosting this wonderful event.

Also, congrats to our Shop Assistant Extraordinaire and Spanish Cook, tattycaton her elevation to the Order of the Pearl. I knew all that marvelous work you do would get noticed someday! Thanks for working your butt off for us. We couldn't have done it without you.

Congrats also to belfebeon her White Scarf. So this is what Regicide gets you?

And congrats too to James Barker (whose LJ name I don't know) on his elevation to the Order of the Laurel. I remember when... ;)

Just something random
Last I read there is no record of a healthy wolf attacking a human in North America, I've always wondered whether the attitude/legends about wolves in Europe is exaggerated because the population was denser and they had more larger-scale wars that probably left bodies for wolves to scavenge.

This was taken the day my dad passed away, it was one month ago to the day...





part of the reason i have been so absent for the last 5 months, lots of trials and tribulations.....

Depending on his motives, rather than "terrorism" shouldn't Maj. Hasan be potentially liable for charges of treason for betraying his country and fellow soldiers in a time of war?

If he could prove that he had a breakdown and just went off the deep end about being deployed soon it might not rise to the level of treason, but with the evidence that he was communicating with a radical cleric...

http://discovermagazine.com/photos/03-the-bizarre-and-brilliant-world-of-knitted-science

As always, click for the larger files :)

Noble steel body braid, with two fine silver (99.9% pure) terminals. One is a black leopard, the other a barn owl. Both are based on Celtic styling and each features two rainbow moonstone eyes.


'The Loving Gaze' is a one of a kind commissioned bracelet, featuring two naturally stylized wolf heads. The body braid is made of noble steel, and the terminals are fine silver (99.9% pure)

One wolf has emerald eyes, the other aqua-marine. Eyes are 3mm each. Heavy patina sets out the detail on these heads.

I was recently tempted to spin more of my summer holiday stash of alpaca - but combined it with some cashmere.
Worked well - I should do this again, I think!
Also, I got a far nicer result carding the alpaca than drumcarding. Takes effort, but worth it..

( pretties under the cut )

As I drove Beth in to work we saw a bumper sticker that said

From christianet:

1. Goth or not?

Yes and no. Way back in the sands of time, when I were a wee gel, there was no such thing as "Goth". There was only Punk. The people wearing black and dyeing their hair black and getting piercings were considered part of the Punk movement. And yes, I was a Punk, although my black was always mixed with neon. =)

2. What got you into greyhound rescue?

Sight hounds! I used to own an Irish Wolfhound (which is like a furry HUGE version of a greyhound) and I just fell in love with sight hounds in general. Their personalities are so cool, and I think they are prettier than any other breed of dog. They're just the sweetest animals in the world. When I found out about greyhound rescue, I thought why buy a sight hound when I can save a life (or, to date, four lives).

3. What has been your most favorite place in the world to visit?

Gion, Kyoto, Japan. You can be in the city center, surrounded by all the sights and sounds of a modern city and turn a corner and be in the 10th century. It is extraordinary. I feel blessed that I was able to go there not as a tourist.
4. Who is your favorite author and why?

P.G. Wodehouse (author of the Jeeves and Bertie books). His comic genius never falters. He can have the same gag in every one of his books, and it still makes me laugh. Also, his use of the language is extraordinary.

Oscar Wilde is up there too. But he sometimes gets morose, and his wit fails him. Wodehouse's doesn't.

If someone told me I had the wit of either, I would be bowled over.

5. If you had a time machine and could pick one historical event to visit, what would it be and why would you go?

The reading of the Declaration of Independence in Center Square, Easton, PA on 8 July, 1776. Why? Because I want to see the REAL reactions of people to this announcement of treasonous intent. We reenact it every year and portray that the dissenters were few and far between. But I think the reality is that MOST people would have been terrified at the idea that we were going to defy the King of England and try to fight his professional soldiers with our bird guns and pitchforks.

From vairavi:
• Leave me a comment saying "Resistance is Futile."

• I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can satisfy my curiosity

• Update your journal with the answers to the questions

• Include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions

(I reserve the right to stop asking questions whenever I tire of this meme.)


1) What did you do for moneys before you started RH?

From 1989 (college graduation) until 1992, I worked in the financial industry, the earliest parts in the infamous credit markets for a British brokerage firm in WTC1.

After that, I got into graphic design and then into website design. Quit that in October 2005 to do RH full time.

2) If the Cosmic Muffin decreed that RH must close its doors and you had to do something different to pay the bills, what would you do?

I'd sell something. I'd probably open a custom clothing business. Maybe I'd cater to the Horsey Set instead of the Historical Set. I'd try to keep it in the realm of clothing. But if that wasn't in the cards, I'd sell something maybe related to greyhounds or horses. I can't sell just anything. I have to love it.

The one thing I know is that I couldn't go back to work for someone else.

3) How did you & Bob meet?

Long story short: I was chasing his friend and he was chasing my roommate, and we met at a party at his friend's house. As we cried in our beers over how our respective prospects didn't think we were faboo, we realised that each other were. And then I stood on his toes so he coudn't run away. =)

He proposed on our second date.

4) What is your favorite totally-not-related-to-historic-costume-or-reenactment activity?

I guess doing Golden Age of Travel stuff doesn't count, right? It's still kinda "historic costume". =(

And I can't say "dance" because we dress in 1930s and 1940s clothing to do that...

Damn!

Okay, I enjoy horseback riding. My best friend owns a riding stable and I ride her old dressage horse whenever I can. Got a pretty pair of spurs for my birthday last month. =)

5) Is there any single organizational change the SCA could make that would make your enjoyment of it measurably better?

I was going to say, "Tighten up the time period" but I honestly don't think that would help unless the rule about pre-17th century clothing was enforced. I mean, let's face it: the people whose idea of "an attempt" is a crappy tunic over jeans or a jog bra and broomstick skirt aren't going to care if the time period were suddenly 1485-1603. They wouldn't wear anything better anyway.

So I guess I would enjoy the SCA more if people actually obeyed the "attempt at pre-17th century dress" rule. I don't expect everyone to be perfect. But you KNOW there are a lot of people who just don't give enough a damn to try.

(Note: This is not an invitation to discuss the "attempt at pre-17thc dress" rule and I will not be dragged into any arguments over how I'm a big meany who's spoiling your game.)

Remember a year or so ago we were talking about the medieval to Renaissance "transitional" period in clothing and the stuff that could almost be described as "pre-Tudor".

Well, here we go!

First up is the 1490s common woman's kirtle or noblewoman's underdress. The perfect dress for appearing in the Grimany Breviary! Add sleeves, an apron, and an appropriate headcovering and you're ready for a wide variety of European cultures in the transitional period.



Next is the gown is worn over the kirtle by women of property. This is a beautiful, flattering look, elegant in its simplicity.



For the men, we've got the old stand-by: doublet and hosen. The working man's staple, the nobleman's skivvies. Don't leave home without them!



No decent man would be seen without his gown. Even commoners worn something over their doublet and hose. This is the style for the 1490s.



You've read my blog. Now buy the pattern! The Katherine of Aragon ensemble from 1502. Also based on portraits of Juana la Loca and Elizabeth of York. Are you the Queen of Henry VII? Then get this pattern!



Or perhaps you're Henry VII (seventh, not eighth). Here's the gown and jerkin for wear over your doublet and hosen.