Adelheid in the SCA

Recently, thanks to the generous nature of Mistress Afra, I had the opportunity to help with a garb project. It is important to note that I enthusiastically asked to help. I mention this because I eventually reached a point in the project that was so frustrating and disappointing that it drove me to tears. Here's the final project, which I feel comfortable sharing because it has already been posted to Facebook with attribution. The process of getting there was full of very high highs and very low lows. The short version: I learned a great deal about reaching out and not working in isolation. When we first spoke about the garb, Afra had been given some details about the style and a reference photo of similar clothing. She handled all of the fitting and sewing, as well as the embellishment around the neckline. My part was to create white appliqué stars on a Tir Righ blue band around the bottom, along with matching cuffs on the same linen. I spent a great deal of time joyfully plannin...

 Again, not strictly an SCA post but a reflection of what I can call "my process". I find that a low stimulation, "self-running" environment makes the difference in my life between having mental/emotional capacity for my arts or not. Service oriented tasks are one thing, like processing heraldic submissions, answering emails, doing little administrative projects for people... these are all easy enough to accomplish, have timelines, and don't require that rested, uncluttered brain. For me at least. Others' experience may vary. I find that a quiet environment promotes my ability to settle into something that might require more problem solving or creativity on a cozy weekend, or an evening after work. In the pursuit of a calm home, here's some of the tasks we've accomplished since January. First is the recycle closet. This isn't really a showstopper in design or anything but has meant that our cupboard is functional as a recycling spot, pantry, and ...