Medieval Reenactment: Have I found my people?

Have I found my people?

Preparation and realities of my first medieval reenactment event

       For quite a few years now I have been looking for an outlet for my crafting, something that just seems to 'fit' things that I'm interested in.  I'd heard of the Society for creative Anachronism but I hadn't actually taken the plunge and attended any of their events or meetings.  A lot of that had to do with my anxiety issues, but also just a general apprehension of joining a group that I knew nobody in.  I'd also been told some rather conflicting information about how some of its members acted, thing like berating people for not wearing 'period garb', which in layman terms essentially means not wearing costume that is something that could realistically be found in the time period you're attempting to dress in.  All these things kept me from going any farther than appreciating their work online. 

       I regret that decision so much now.  I had such a great time at my first event that I wish I could turn back time and tell myself to just do it. 

    For those of you unaware of what the Society for Creative Anachronism is, let me try to explain with my limited knowledge. 

  The group was founded about 50 years ago.  In fact, they are celebrating their 50th anniversary this summer with a huge event.  They are a medieval reenactment group, though 'practical history society' may be more accurate. They focus on recreating the art, skills, and lifestyle in a pre-17th century Europe (though other areas are also accepted from what I hear!).  The idea is to research and attempt to recreate the way of life in several different societies.  You can concentrate on things such as fighting styles, armor, textiles ranging from spinning to weaving, to the intricate goldwork embroidery that was popular in many areas.  There are those who enjoy recreating cooked dishes and cooking techniques, or woodworking skills.  The scope of what one could get into is just amazing, and almost a little overwhelming for someone such as myself who likes to collect all the hobbies =P  

Anywho, it was decided that I could put off going to an event by this group any longer.  I'd run out of excuses.  They were holding an event in my town, so I didn't have to worry about driving anxiety, and I had met a member as part of the Weavers Guild of Miami valley and so I'd know someone there.  

But how to prepare to go?  I could have gone as a 'civilian' since this was a demonstration open to the public, but did I really want to be that lame?  Of course not!  I was going to make my own garb, my own period outfit, and go in style!

But... you've never sewn anything Leslie....

Pfft.  As if that would stop me!

I had to choose a time period for this garb to be in.  It was a difficult choice since I love so many different cultures during the huge time period the SCA covers.  The Tudor era of England is probably my favourite but I knew my sewing skills (or lack of) would not do that era justice.  So what to choose?

VIKING!!!

     These Scandinavian adventurers traveled and impacted much of Europe during their time (roughly 790's to 1066 is known as the Viking Age).  They traded and traveled farther than many in their time, and have a rich cultural and religious history.  Their pantheon provides a wonderful imagery for crafting, which is what I really look for.  Since I've recently discovered that my ancestors could very well descend from Scandinavians I felt it was perfect to research and get into.

   I could write and write about all I learned, but I'll save that for another time.  For now though, I will say that women were pretty awesome in Viking times.  They celebrated a level of freedom that many cultures still have problems applying thousands of years later.  Sadly though, their clothing hasn't survived the passage of time as well as others have.  While there are some fragments, and a lot of speculation, there is no real clear example of typical female Viking clothing.  There are enough remnants, however, to get an idea.  

   The Viking Apron dress seemed to be the most popular option when I was looking up what to make.  Traditionally it consists of a linen underdress, with a linen apron overtop.  They loved to layer back in the day but I wasn't going for super authentic for my first costume so I didn't go with any of the undergarment layers.  There is often two large pendents that are used to clasp together the apron straps, making dressing easier.  Woven tape (or bands) were often used for decoration, and some embroidery though their embroidery generally doubled as functional as well.  

  Below is a lovely example from mizzd, who has a stock photo of her gown.  It features the typical under-tunic, often T-shaped to utilize all of the hand-woven fabric.  The apron is decorated with thin, inkle woven trim, and the typical Viking jewelry with beads.

http://mizzd-stock.deviantart.com/

So, after researching how others have made theirs for several hours/days I finally came up with what I thought would work for my... rotund shape.  I decided to go with cotton fabric because it was the cheapest while still being natural enough fabric that it would breathe in the Ohio summer heat. 

I lack a dedicated sewing area, or really any area that can handle large pieces of fabric, so my living room floor became my workbench.  The underdress and apron are deceivingly simple to make if you know how to measure squares and triangles.  I used a traditional t-shape tunic pattern for the underdress in this lovely grape colour.  It was the closest to a natural dyed purple I could find, which is important in making SCA garb.  You want it to be as authentic looking as possible.

Once the pieces were cut the assembly began.  This sewing machine has never seen more than a few military patches getting sewn to a uniform for my ex-husband.  I had to download the manual from the internet just to remember how to use it =P  It went super quick after that though!

Sewing gores was.... an adventure.  By the time I got to the apron it was far easier, but that first one was kind of a pain.  I ended up shaping the top of the dress a bit to be more flattering, bringing in the sides to match one of my favourite shirts and how it fit.  Worked like a charm.  It wasn't exact and any seamstress would wag their finger at me and scold, but it flares and fits perfectly right under my bewbs, which was what I wanted.  The hem was a bitch to figure out.  I made my gores FAR too large.  I think it's, like, 9ft around at the bottom, lol.  

Sewing the apron seemed to be easier, with how I designed it.  I had originally picked a design someone else had already come up with, but my fabric was far too narrow for that.  I ended up having to re-design it to match the fabric, which meant my assembly was easier this way.  I consider it a win!

I've never embroidered before in my life.  So of course I thought it would be a good idea to EMBROIDERY OVER EVERY SEAM OF THE APRON.  Because I'm crazy like that.  I think it was a nice touch, though at a distance it doesn't look like it's really there.  That's fine with me though, live and learn eh?

  I decided to take it one step farther and make an embroidered border for the top of the apron.  Again, I've never done anything like this so it was hours of research just to figure out what and how to do it.  I love doing it though, so no complaints here.  This is mostly satin and split stitch on the green fabric of the apron (the lighting is crummy) Sadly this wasn't done in time for the event, but the beauty of it is, I can finish and attach it any time, or use it for another project.  Either way I've decided I really love to do this so I suspect much of my future work will be heavily embroidered.

All done!  Yes, it and I are roughly the size of a fridge, what of it?  Just kidding though.  I embroidered the collar and arm trim of the underdress as well, using new stitches I'd eyed while researching.  The silver brooches are not quality ones, but they're definitely creative.  I took two small tin tiles from Michael's and pounded them into slight domed shapes (with the help of my father and his tools), and attached a pin backing to each.  They don't hold the straps to the apron the way it's traditionally done, but it looks the part which is all I needed.  The beads are lovely, and actually a gift from my friend Ellen Ottosen (Ottosan? I'm not sure the spelling) who is the one to introduce me to the SCA officially.  

And this was the day of.  I need to figure something out for my glasses in the future, I dislike that they aren't period appropriate.  At the same time, I like being able to see and refuse to wear contacts, so I'm not quite sure what I'll do.  The whole dress was super comfortable but it was so terribly hot that day!  I ended up getting a pretty awesome sunburn and some sun poisoning to go with it.  You can see my pink face here already, despite spending most of my time in the shade sitting at my spinning wheel.

Final Thoughts

  Goodness, this has turned out quite a bit longer than I originally intended!  I wanted to share the process though, and was silly enough to not do blog posts as I went. 

  The event itself was relaxed and fascinating.  The fighting (which I'm not necessarily interested in personally) looked like a lot of fun, though I worried for their health in all of that armor!  There were some lovely outfits throughout, and I vow to take my camera next event.  We had people weaving, spinning, doing bobbin lace, doing traditional dances (which I missed, but that's okay), and even had a blacksmith set up working!  I had stationed myself in the Arts and Sciences tent with my spinning wheel and a few of us spun for demonstration purposes.  I didn't get to try the axe or spear throwing, but I really want to next time.  The only thing missing was the archery that i was interested in, and it was simply due to there not being a safe place to do it. 

  Everywhere I went I was greeted by super nice SCAdians who were thrilled to have a new person interested in their group.  Not once was I made to feel like I'd taken the cheap route with my costume, or made to feel like an outsider not knowing any of the common courtesies and titles.  I asked a lot of questions, and in the end I had a genuinely lovely time despite sweating my arse off in the heat.  While the local group meetings are a bit inconvenient to get to, I now have a few people I can carpool with and that's going to make all the difference.

   If you have any interest in medieval times, this is the group for you.  There is effort required to participate, but in the end it is the kind of look into medieval life that I wish more Renaissance fairs had. I can't wait for my next events, and have the next four or five projects already planned!

Next up, medieval spinning?  We'll see!

Links

http://www.sca.org/

This is the Society for Creative Anachronism homepage.  There is SO much information on here, take a look at the newcomer page for a better idea of what the group is about.

http://www.wgmv.org/

My local weavers guild.  There is a Wool Gathering fiber festival coming up in September that we will be at doing demonstrations of both weaving and spinning.  It's at Young's Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs OH, so come on by and say hello!

http://flaminggryphon.midrealm.org/

This is the West-Central Ohio barony, with links to all of the local area groups.  How the SCA divides their territories can be VERY confusing at first, and I'm still learning, so if you need any help don't hesitate to ask!

The Art of Depression, The Craft of Anxiety

Art by Haniutek

The Art of Depression, The Craft of Anxiety

I have put off writing a new blog post, but the reasoning has nothing to do with lack of topics to write about, or even a short supply of work I could share.  It's time we had a little chat though. I've found for the last several weeks that I have suffered from a different kind of beast, one that I wager many of us have faced, currently face, or will eventually face. 

Depression.

There is a documented and researched correlation between creativity and mood disorders.  Artists, writers, musicians, they all have a far higher chance of suffering from anxiety, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, depression, and more.  They have a higher rate of suicide and substance abuse because of these issues.  We can all list at least five creative geniuses that have changed the world with their art and suffered whilst doing it, and they'd all be different.

Further documented is the effect creating art and crafted items has on the brain.  Without realizing it, those of us that suffer have reached out to what is intrinsically a meditative practice of mindfulness. When we crochet or knit our body and mind go through physical changes.  Our breathing becomes slowed, steady, and passive.  Our body relaxes in a sitting position.  Our mind is forced to think about our hands in relation to the hook or needle, the formation of stitches, and most importantly the simple counting that comes with the craft.  When we paint we are whisked away by the details and colour theory.  When we draw we are mindful of things like perspective, line shaping, and shading values.

Now, I know you're saying to yourself: "But hey, I think about all sorts of things while i craft.  I can watch television, or hold conversations. I'm not thinking about all of that stuff."
You would be incorrect.

See, our mind continues to work 'under the surface', continuing the counting and awareness even while you're doing other things. In fact, doing certain activities while crafting has a lot of benefit because of this.  Some studies have suggested that knitting during lectures actually aids in the retention of information and understanding of the material provided.  The theory is that by entering into this mindfulness technique you are able to be more open and aware to what is going on around you.  Your subconscious mind is busy counting simply and moving your hands to create stitches and is no longer able to think about whether you left the oven on, bills, or other worries.  It frees you up to be in that moment, in the lecture, able to really listen.


So what does all this have to do with why I haven't blogged?

The nature of depression can often make simple tasks difficult.  Getting out of bed, making lunch, all these can feel like climbing Mt. Everest with nothing but a varsity jacket and a fork for equipment.  It zaps all of your energy and makes you lose interest in things you love. It also makes you not want to do the things that your rational brain knows will be helpful.  It makes you believe that it's not worth it, or that you're too tired, or that your work is terrible and everyone hates it so what's the point in getting out of bed in the first place, because you're a worthless human being and everyone only pretends to like you.....

See the problem?
Who can function that way?

The answer is, not many.  It's estimated that 6.7% of the American population is suffering clinical depression every year.  14 million Americans having their hopes and dreams zapped from them by this unforgiving disease.  Some may be suffering temporarily, some may find relief from their Faith or support of their family, some will seek professional help.  Some, however, some suffer in silence.  Or worse, they reach out for help and do not receive it.

We as a (American) society have decided that the only way to get through life is to pick yourself up by your bootstraps and 'just do it'.  This is all well and good, until that mentality meets something like depression and anxiety.  These illnesses are clinical, and real.  If I had a penny for all the times I've heard that 'it's all in my head' I'd be able to pay off the ridiculous level of student debt I have. The chemical changes that occur in your body as the result of depression and anxiety are very much real, and not something to be dismissed out of ignorance and lack of education.

I have suffered from depression for over half my life.  I've suffered crippling anxiety for nearly as much time.  In the beginning I hid it from everyone.  I hid it because I didn't think they'd believe me, or that they'd care.  I found other methods, more destructive methods, or coping with my illness.  It wasn't until eight years or so ago that I really made an effort to truly get help.  To give therapy and medication an honest shot.  It was also when I rediscovered my interest in crochet, which I have used as a tool to keep calm and relaxed.

There has been improvement over the years, but I am nowhere near 'cured'.  I am one of those that has such a severe case of both that daily life is often too difficult.  We have not found the effective therapy or medications to alleviate my symptoms, but my team and I keep trying.  I'm thankful to have the support of family nearby, and the medical coverage provided by the state to get the help that I need.

I craft for my sanity.  I create beautiful things because I have to believe they can exist.

We as a society need to get over this fear and stigma surrounding these disorders.  We need to educate ourselves, and recognize the signs that someone may be suffering.  We need to fund those organizations that provide therapeutic services, and make them easily accessible for everyone. We need to quit tearing each other down on social media.

Chibird

Those of you out there who suffer like I do, I want you to know that you are not alone. That you absolutely have value, and that your work does as well. Artists are their own worst critics, and when you combine it with these very legitimate diseases it can become severely overwhelming.  Enough to stop making art. The irony is, creating that art is one of the most therapeutic things we can do. Don't let that gremlin voice in your head talk you out of seeking help, out of wanting to get better. Like the cake, everything it says is a lie.   

So next time you're commenting on facebook, take a moment to ask yourself if this person might be one of the 6.7%.  Next time you want to criticize someone for being lazy, or always negative, recognize that it could have a very real and destructive underlying cause.  Suicide rates are on the rise, and until we make a conscious effort to improve this, we will continue to lose those that we love. 

For more information on depression, and how to help yourself or others who may be suffering, please visit nami.org 

Lupo the Lamb and self worth

The gift that keeps on giving....

 So, I rarely make crochet things for myself.  I get far more pleasure giving them to others than I do overloading my house with yarn created treasures.  I sell them occasionally as well, to fund the continued purchase of supplies but that is a story for another day.

My Nephew recently turned 5 months old. He's become the most adorable little guy and it's hard to imagine how quickly he's growing. His parents have taken to photographing him every month with the Lupo Sheep I made him for when he was born.  Isn't he handsome?!

As an artist/crafter it is absolutely heartwarming to see something

I made still be cherished by those I made it for. Particularly something I nearly kept for myself since I loved it so!  Which brings me to the point of this post.

Lupo here took me two weeks to make, picking the project up off-and-on during that time.  I had to take ibuprofen to actually finish him as my carpal tunnel would not relent and move past the pain into numbness.  To me, the crafter, this is a working piece of love that I gave in hopes that it would mean something to those it was gifted to. Even if this had ended up on my Etsy page I would have still put love and care into making it, knowing it would end up in the arms of a child at some point.

There are those out there that do not understand the amount of work put into these creations however. These people are those that ask for you to make them something they found on facebook without offering anything in return, the half-known friends from 14 years ago that insist on asking for you to make them something despite having a full schedule. The family member that rolls their eyes at Christmas at having been given yet another crafted gift instead of that expensive perfume they asked for.  As artists, we cannot sell ourselves short and give in to this kind of negativity or it will eat us alive.  I read tales of this on every crafting group I'm in.

If you value anything about yourself, value the things you create. A piece of you goes into each creation, and you are better than being the crafting slave of those around you.  As a kind person who loves to please, it's hard to tell people no.  Over the years I have had to learn to find my voice however.  I no longer make things people request on a whim, and I certainly don't do them for anyone that isn't immediate family.  It may appear cold-hearted but it's a defensive measure that has kept me from being taken advantage of.

Now, if I make something to give away it's completely my own decision.  I may ask their advice or desires, but I've dictated the timing and terms.  I am no longer overwhelmed with requests as I once was, and can finally breathe and create as I see fit.  It's amazing what you can do when that pressure is no longer there.  Stand up for yourself!

______________

Now that the lecture is out of the way, if you have ever taken a look at Lalylala's crochet patterns and been unsure about whether or not they were worth purchasing I'm here to tell you that they absolutely are.  They were extremely well written, with picture help where needed.  There are even a youtube video or two to show how to do the legs if you're confused.  They're easily modified, and are an awesome baby shower gift =)   And no, I'm not a spokesperson and no I'm not getting paid, I just believe in sharing things that I love and reviewing them honestly. The link below will take you to their ravelry.com page, be sure to add it to your favourites!

Lupo the Sheep

Spinning away the hours

Spin Like a Viking

How your great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother did it.

I had the immense pleasure of attending a spinning workshop today by the ever whimsical Lois Swales.  She specializes in historical spinning techniques, with emphasis on medieval times.

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Lois Swales

Having started out spinning on a drop spindle but recently acquiring a wheel, I was doubtful that I'd be all that interested in spindle work again.  Boy was I wrong!  The modern drop spindle has nothing on these adjustable whorl sticks that were so popular in our history.  For the life of me I can't understand why the design would have ever changed, though I suppose it's far easier to create a static spindle than trying to fit a spindle stick with whorls.  Either way, I've been sold on the drop spindle again.

Lois is a fascinating character to watch.  The love for her craft is obvious in every second she spends lecturing on its history.  A history that she has painstakingly researched to a level that I could only dream of having the patience for.  Studying illuminated manuscripts, etchings, and archaeological digs she has used trial and error to put together the missing pieces of our spinning history. As she's discovered, there are almost always missing pieces.  Spinning instruments have generally been made out of wooden components, which allows for enough friction to keep the wool from sliding around.  This means, sadly, that even with the best of archaeological finds there may be significant damage to critical parts of these ancient instruments. 

Illuminated Manuscript depicting spindle and distaff use

While many don't generally give thought to ancient crafting techniques, I have always been fascinated with how things used to be done.  It's easy to look at a sock or shirt these days and take it for granted.  We machine make textiles in the blink of an eye, and don't think twice about where the techniques that got us here came from.   The fascinating thing about Lois's work is that it addresses those questions.  Inspection of pieces she has hand woven from handspun yarn show just how skilled these women in ancient times had to be.  I can only dream of being good enough to create woven pieces with my spinning, but these ancestors were tasked with creating every piece of fabric that their household used.  

Today's lecture was not only about spindles but how to use the distaff, which I admit is an object that greatly intimidated me. When I spin I am very hands on with the fiber.  As a beginner I wonder of my technique is normal, but it's working for me right now so I'm sticking with it.  The introduction of the distaff into that equation had me fearing I'd have to relinquish some of that control. I was pleased to discover that wasn't at all true.  Lois had several different variations of staves for us to practice with.  Everything from the hand distaff, to a Roman style, to the large stationary cage ones that sit by a wheel. While the hand distaff was a bit much for my carpal tunnel I found that the Roman style was quite comfortable.  I also enjoyed the belted version that tucks under your arm as it allowed me the greatest control of the fiber.

While I could write MUCH more on this, I will leave the informative stuff to Lois herself, and just say that if you ever have the opportunity to take one of her classes I highly suggest it.  You can learn more about what she does at her blog Missingspindle.blogspot.com, or also find her on youtube where she gives demonstrations of the techniques she went over today.

Check out all of her videos, including the upcoming one, Spin like a Roman!

On a more personal note, i'm excited to have been introduced to some local connections to the Society for Creative Anachronism. Lois had some friends attending her workshop that are local for me and I'm excited to potentially become a part of this group that shares so many of my interests.  I learned that if I leave the house once in a while I might actually enjoy myself.  Who'd have thought?!