Ode to the Sharp and Pointy

Only in this case it isn't rapiers. For once. Though I like them too. No, this time, it's needles. A friend of mine showed me the Viking-period needles that a friend had given her, and it's been stuck in my head since then that I want to make some. Have been doing some research, and have decided that while I'm at it, I might as well make pins as well. Seems to be quite simple a process--in concept.

I went down to Vermillion last night to hang out at the milk barn for the weekly SCA meeting, and brought it up with Hagan. So he scrounged around for practice material. First attempt was iron baling wire. He put a point on with the grinder (we cheated on the practice ones), heated the end, flattened it with a hammer. Success so far. Then we attempted to put the hole in the needle head. Not so much success. Even heating it red hot, we still flattened the tip of several nails in the attempt. We're hoping with a copper alloy, aka softer metal, we'll have more sucess. However, I'm thinking that the iron prototype will have a nice, sharp, dainty-yet-tough point for perhaps using as a punch to put the holes in future, smaller needles of copper-alloy. This is actually a really good process for me, because simple as it is, and though I did little more than watch and hold the nail and pound the hammer, I'm learning more about metal working. If I had a torch/forge, I think at this point, I'd probably be able to manage a decent one on my own with time. Anyway, we tried a brass one next, with a much larger still gauge wire (think larger than your typical yarn needle!), and still had no luck with getting a hole in it. We really just need to find a decent punch, I think. Keeping said hypothetical punch centered on the needle head might also be a challenge.

Anyway, I'm having a lot of fun in the experimentation process. Will keep you updated! I'm so excited to be able to make my linen fabric into handsewn, Anglo-Saxon dresses with handmade needles and pins!!! Hopefully before Cecil's Siege in September!!!

Annoyed, Angry, and Antsy

And I can't help but wonder if anyone would really notice if I played hooky today. Or for the rest of the week.

FYI, in case you didn't know this little fact: we don't really do archaeology at archaeology labs. In fact, I'm not sure what we do. But it's too nice outside to be washing artifacts that are just going to be shoved into boxes and never seen again. To be honest, I would just as soon dump them in the flower bed. At least maybe the maintenance guys would be able to see them there.

I want to do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09LQlfMmW7s

and this:

http://warehamforgeblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/working-temperatures-va-bead-furnace.html

and this:

http://www.hjemkomst-center.com/ship/voyage/main.htm

I was going to put up pictures, but links will have to do, because I'm using a stupid Mac.

So yes. That's what I want to do. Interestingly enough, shortly after deciding I wanted to do two of them, I discovered opportunities to actually make it happen. I've only just decided I wanted to do a third of them...let's see what happens. Can you guess which ones are which?

Free Now

I am not in control.
I will not be in control.
I cannot be in control.
God is in control.

So everything is okay.

Up and Down

This roller coaster ride is making me nauseous. How do I get off this thing, anyway?

Peaceful Solitude/Aching Lonely

When the pain goes away, all that is left is emptiness.

I Always Love A Good and Silly Renaissance Faire

I take myself too seriously. I think most people do. My recommended treatment for that...go to the local Renaissance Faire annually.
I would like to believe that I take my historical reenacting fairly seriously, though certainly not as seriously as many, many others of my acquaintance. I like my garb to at least be accurate enough, that anyone who knows better at least won't feel like beating me with a stick. I handsew, I use natural fiber fabric, and attempt to avoid colors that are very unlikely to come from a natural dye. Plastic is bad. You know, things like that. So Ren Faires tend to make me, as an amateur historian, cringe a little bit inside when I see some of the fooferaw that people wear. However, the atmosphere is contagious...everyone is just there for a good time, and light-hearted, mostly-harmless fun.
The Siouxland Renaissance Faire was this weekend, and the local SCA group had a tent there and did various redeeming educational demos for the public, while most of the rest of the fair-goers wandered around in appallingly inaccurate pirate/gypsy/fairy/etc. costumes. I have decided that as long as none of these people attempt to tell me that their costume is historically accurate, I will observe, enjoy, and even participate in the show. (I was on the pirate's side in the ship game. Naturally). And had lots of good fun.
The trick, I've discovered...look at it as an arts show, not as a historical reenactment (because it isn't) and everything will be just fine!

Besides...I got to converse briefly with one of the jousting horses. It's all good.