Comission

Yay! I got comission embroidery! 2 years ago I made 2 tunics for my friend and now he wanted some embroideries done. He picked up 3 different celtic dog images. The blue tunic will get quite elaborate embroideries around neck and the greyish brown one will get border on the hemline with 2 different images repeating (4x square and 4x round). I totally went mad when my customer gave me money and said 'you can choose the colors'. So I spent 3 mindblowing hours trying to deside the colors. ( I ordered the yarn from www.thesilkmill.com) Yup, Im going to make silk embroideries. I love working on with silk. I love the sheen and how soft the embroidery feels.

I'll post pictures when I have something to show. I have not yet got the embroidery floss....

Me? Crocheting? no way!

Yup, I have been lately only crocheting. I have finished 2 scarfs so far. I have started them both months ago, but since my work ended, I have not had time to finish them.

Unfortunately I can not post pictures, as they are going to be presents and both recipients may read this blog x)

I also started to crochet a present for my friend. His birthday is in 3 days, so I am in hurry. Why, oh why I get all ideas only few days beforehand? I am pretty sure I am not the only one, but I am getting annoyed, as I have stressed out too many times. Yup, this aint the 1st time this happens. Last time I got the inspiration 24h before I needed the presents and I was finishing the items middle of night.

To-Do list

- Turn your gray woollen dress more authentic aka cut sleeves, turn backside to the front and open neckline. MAYBE also fix the lacing too, but that's optional

- Cut off (and tidy up) about 15cm from your veil and use the cut of piece to make another wimple.

- Start to embroider late 14th cent bag's another side IF you have had money to buy more silkfloss.

- Continue to sew your 14th cent. wool dress.

- Ponder what kind of decoration to add to your new dress.

- Make late 14th cent. dress from linen. You need authentic clothes (/that are not very hot under scorching sun)  for Grünwald.

- Try to have time to finish your crocheted scarf.

- Play with indigo dye ;)

Shall we guess how much I manage to do. And how many new projects, not included this list, I'll start (and finish)

oh! You are so original aka another embroidery

 

That's another German brick stitch I made. This design is actually done by me. Again the fabric is 24 count evenweave and tread used is silk and wool.  it's 5cm x 13.5cm. I have no idea what to do with it, haha xD Maybe I'll try to sell it...

And more german brick stitch

Yup, I have yet another embroidery to show, haha. You can not stop me...


 

These patches are both 5.5cm squares. Left one is Bargello-design (sorry, cant find the pattern anymore :( ) and the right one is from here.  Both are wool on linen 24 count evenweave. I guess I'll make small lavender-pillows (to put inside linen closet etc) or pincushions. I am definitely trying Bargello again. I'll probably make more modern versiosn, as Bargello aint authentic enough to be used in other medieval society I am involved. You see, Bargello is 17th cent technique and the other society's timeperiod is 1000-1400.

more German Brick stitch...

Do you have problems with adding photos? I have not been able to add pics straight from my HD, and I have to store them 1st into my photobucket album before I can add them into my posts. Really annoying...

This time I'd like to post yet another pic of my embroideries. Last 2 weeks have been really crazy, all I have wanted to to is embroider, embroider and embroider a bit more. I have even skipped World of warcraft to be able to finish my little patches of German Brick Stitch.

so... here's one I made. I have these really odd skeins of random floss and I have been trying to use them as good as I can. In this embroidery I used all the colors from the bluish set of floss. It ended up pretty goodlooking (minus the one single mistake on the left side of the embroidery). Fabric was 24 evenweave and each stitch is 3mm long. Cream outlines are silk, interior is mostly wool, I guess. You see, I have no idea what material this bluish set was, as i came without any tags etc. But I assume they are wool, at least they feel like wool.This is 14cm x 8cm

 

And no, I have no idea what I am going to do with it. I might make a needlebook, but I may do something else too

Viking drawing vol 2

Here is the second viking picture I drawed for one calendar. Made on A4 90mg pergamanata using black ProMarker and Black  MUJI pen (0.38mm, 0.5mm and 0.7mm)

German Brick Stitch : 1/2 of small bag

 

Here's pic of my finished german brick stitch. It's 22 evencount and made with silk (from Silk Mill) As you can see, plenty of mistakes xD I also ran out of the reddish brown floss and I ordered new skeins... from wrong color. Soooo, I decided to use it after all. I tried to make the transition line as smooth and even as possible, so maybe some people would think it was intentional colorchange xD  
I have started to embroider other side. This piece and the unfinished one are going to be a fancy little bag to accompany my  new late 14th century dress.
(Pattern here @ Medieval Arts and Crafts)

Problems, updates and new settings

It seems blogger does not want to add any pics. I hope this is just momentary problem. I was about to add some new pics from historical jewelry, but I have to postpone such entry.

As few of you might have noticed, I have changed the layout and background of the blog. It's not as scary as it was previously ;) I hope you like new new look as much as I do.

I also changed the settings. Now anyone are able to comment my entries, althou I will moderate them all. I hope all the spammers will stay away for a while.

Oh well, I might report that I AGAIN started new German brick stitch embroidery, ahahhaha  xD We had childrens' weekend at the castle, and I wanted to make embroidery kids can touch. I almost fainted when 10 kids started to caress my finished, silken German brick stitch x) I should not be so scared about it, but I did not want even the tiniest smudge or grease onto the embroidery.

See you later,
Lady Amal

Viking drawing for calendar

i made this drawing for one calendar. remember to click it. From biggger pic you'll see all the details.

Part of the ormanent from carved animal head post (Oseberg, Norway)
Paper: 90mg pergamanata
pens: MUJI black 038, 0.5 and 0.7 mm
size: A4

Historical Jewelry

Lovely miniatures

 Today I decided to  post few pics fro my work. We actually have only few jewelry sets I don't like. I wish I could be as good miniaturepainter some day. I have not done that kind of miniatures at all (like in the picture above), but I might some day. I guess oil paints would be the best for practising. Actually I have not painted with oil in years. Maybe I should give a try ;)


This pearl set is one of my favourites too. I was stupid and I did not take details from these sets and now I can't remember anything at all. This probably was early 19th century set... or late 18th.... maybe I'll take new pics of the sets with correct information included. 

 

Pearls and filigree

German Brick Stitch vol. ?

Once a time (last fall) I was without pc for 2 weeks. I was restless and and I needed something to do. So... what I decided... I started new embroidery xD I have no idea what I am going to use is for, but at least I managed to use my random woolyarn. The fabric is 22 evencount and whole embroidery is about 13cm x 10cm. Desing is this one from Medieval Arts and Crafts. .

There is some color variations, just because I had limite amount of the yarn. I'll probaply make another one soon. I just have to remember to buy new evenweave.

Operation: Learn gilding

Firstly I wanted to post one picture from my work. I work in museum (at least for a while) and this one is from the collections. We have plenty of pretty costumes and accessories from the past. this set is one of my favorites.

And then one SCA-scroll. I have been bit lazy/tired/busy for SCA work lately. Sometimes I should do something for myself, not just for everyone else. This one I made for Elena af Humalasalo. I decided to try gilding finally and I had some problems, as you can see. I tried new kind of style for calligraphy and eventually I had problems to keep the text neat. Plus I made too many mistakes and I tried to cover them with gilding too xD At least I learnt what to do next time. The decoration is from mid 16th century embroiderybook and I decided to use it as Elena is excellent embroiderer.

Joyfull New Year!

I wish you all joyfull new year!

I might turn comments on again...

Annoying spammers

I have turned comment-option off for a While. I have got too many spam-comments lately and it's getting a bit annoying.

I also know I have been bit silent lately. I just have not had time/energy to write anything. Actually I have not even done anything lately. No point of showing works in progress... but I assure you. Soon I'll have something a brag/tell about. I am about to finish my 24 evencount German brick stitch I made for me! Yup, I actually make something for my own use, not just orders from friends. 

here's few modern(ish) diplomas I made for Fantasia-feast. I even managed to practise gilding.
Here are the modern calligraphy and Illumination I made

And here are some playing card/ATC sized ornaments I have been making for few swaps at www.swap-bot.com