Clothing Progress and More!

So I have been busy at work making clothing, finishing quilts, and we have been doing a TON of stuff with SCA. And loving every minute. We have had a few medical issues this year and I have gone back to work on a much more part time basis. Still trying to find a good balance there, but getting better.

So I have figured out a great deal with the clothing of late. I mixed and matched patterns to make the dresses and tunics. Joseph has a tunic, Katherine and I have underdresses and apron dresses made. Next is Isabelle and then a better one for Lillian (did her's first and learned a LOT and not extremely happy with it.

This first picture is me working on my dress. After a whole day of cutting and sewing and everything going really smooth... I had an OOPS! I had started sewing a right side to a wrong side... Me and my seam-ripper became friends.

Left picture is me in my dress, almost done. I had to shorten sleeves, and finish up hems.


Using the things I learned between doing Lillian's dress, Joseph's tunic. and my dresses, by the time I got to doing Katherine's it was really getting to be much easier! Here is her's getting ready to be measure (and marked) for straps on apron dress. She loves it!

I still have finish touches to add to our dresses. Going to use some trim that I have weaved... (left) and we are working on some other finishing touches.

Next is dresses for Isabelle and Lillian, another tunic for Robert (that fits him better), pants for Robert and Joseph, and then some more complicated clothing for those of us who are not growing like weeds!

On to my other projects... Embroidery and FINISHED Quilts!

I was asked to do a Celtic knot hand embroidery for a hand-fasting as part of a wedding ceremony a friend was officiating. It took some time, but I really love how it turned out, and so did the bride and groom! They have already made it part of a permanent keepsake. Makes me so happy to know that they are enjoying it, as I truly enjoyed making it for them.

Now some of the quilts I have finished in the past 6 months to year... This one has now SOLD! :) It was a camping theme baby quilt.

This one is still currently available for sale. It is one that I have done for Autism Awareness (which my niece has). It is called Unzip Autism.

This is a quilt that I did for a friend who was wanting a memory quilt. It included a couple of embroidered pieces that I made, t-shirts from events she has participated in, part of her late father's shirt he used has part of his business (I embroidered his information on it), and her daughter's coming home outfit.

This one is a quilt that I did for Joseph. The top part is from a pattern called Jelly Roll Race 2 and went together super quick, like a few hours, including cutting! For the quilting I wanted to do something different and Joseph was all for it. I was practicing my free-motion quilting and each of the 32 rows are at least a little different. The theme of the fabric was a mix of "school" and circus stuff. So I did A, B, C's on some and his name is on others. He loved the musical notes and apples in the fabric so I quilted some of those. I also did train cars and some more traditional loops and zig-zags, and peaks. It was fun to get more creative with this one and try to come up with some different stuff than I usually do!

This is my latest completed quilt. It is for my little Lillian. She LOVES it. It gets taken with us most places right now. The bright colors and flower patterns really fit her personality!







Other things we have been doing...

We have been very busy (happily!) with the local SCA groups (both OKC and Norman areas, as we are right at the boarder between the two). It has been a blast! SCA is the Society for Creative Anachronism (Here is a recent NBC piece on SCA - https://www.facebook.com/NBCNews/videos/vb.155869377766434/989879561032074/?type=2&theater)

We do weekly activities including Archery and Thrown Weapons older kids to Chivalric (heavy fighting). We have been to various other meetings and activities - monthly Populous meetings where we learn what is going on in the area, event planning meetings, Arts and Sciences where we either learn new things or work on our own projects (we have done court dancing, cap making, and I did viking embroidery). We have also done baronial work days with both groups - get signs ready for upcoming events, sewing banners, painting tents and painting tents again.

Court Dancing

Robert's Thrown Ax (YES he does hit target!)

Me helping prep tent by tracing projected design.

Group of us finishing painting and retouching one side of tent

Almost complete painting of second side of a tent. Waiting on more paint to come in.

So what is coming up for us? Well we are definitely continuing with SCA. The values that we hold high and want to make sure that our children are taught are held in high regard within the SCA - honor, integrity, honesty, friendship, family. If the kids are not doing their chores they are not corrected just by us. Others are reinforcing that they have to obey us and do their work! The kids are included in so much that we do.

We will be busy with events coming up this fall and early winter, so day events and some weekend camping stuff. We will have weekly practices still, as well as more work days, and event planning days. I also have a few quilts that are being commissioned by others!!! (I get paid to do what I love doing! YEAH!!!)

But we are adding a BIG project to that list... We are making our own TENT! Yes, you read that right! We are making our own tent! I just ordered 100 yards of water repellent, mildew resistant, flame retardant 100% canvas.

We are also planning on making our own furniture including beds, mattresses, tables, chairs, shelving, chests, and more! Stay tuned and I promise to do better on updating more often so it is not so long all at once...