A month ago a challenge was issued to all of the Kingdom of Artemisia: Get Dressed! Ok, really, it was more like Get Sewing! But the result is a (hopefully) better dressed, more accurate populace, and with a spending cap of $100 (or $200 with a patron) hopefully at least a few dents in some "fabric stashes!" Well a fabric stash I have--I've been buying fabric since I joined the SCA with all the intentions of "some day". Thankfully I was blessed with a Pel-Laurel who took pity on me and whipped up a few things to help cover my nakedness! But the time has come to do some of my own! My first taste of dressing Norse came back at the Coronation of Konrad and Kortland, and I liked it! Enough that eventually I bartered my way into a pair of historically accurate brooches that I was VERY excited to wear.
I was thrilled! Over the moon! But I felt a bit like Anne of Green Gables when she is nearly perfectly happy, but, due to red hair that she just cannot imagine away, she can't make the leap to perfectly happy. That was how I felt due to my shoes! Then I attended the Northern Collegium where (then) Countess Inga the Unfettered taught a class on Norse clothing!!! On the one hand I wanted to dig a hole and hide! I felt like I was a sitting example of all the "almost" possible! BUT, was I upset by this? No! Okay, maybe a little. But as I sat there and watched and listened to Inga's excitement and enthusiasm and the knowledge that she was freely willing to share, I was absolutely inspired! Finally I was going to be able to give in to my utter geekness for authenticity :D :D :D I left that collegium ready to hand sew EVERYTHING, and have nalbinded socks and leather shoes etc., with plenty of grand dreams and plans. Well, here it is nearly 9 months later and what have I done? Not much. I did get a shoe pattern started when I last visited Boise. But one thing I've learned about me is that if I don't have a deadline and a reason for doing something, it doesn't get done.
Enter Mistress Bianca and her First Annual Artemisian Costuming Challenge. Details can be found here:
http://www.coteduciel.org/challenge.html
I liked the idea of doing this from the first time I read about it, but was also absolutely intimidated! As with most things, I was thinking about it but hadn't really followed up until I saw the email that had been sent out as the final call for entrants! I read over the challenge again and was hesitant, but as I considered how I would feel if I didn't even try, I knew I had to go for it. I realize I may not win (although I would like to have a shot at the Novice category) I will still be further ahead of where I am today as far as being dressed for the SCA the way I would like, and I knew I would always feel like I had missed out on the fun and regret not doing it. So I took the plunge and immediately texted Kari to say I was in, and tonight sent in my formal entry info:
My vague plan is:
Layer 1 will be an under dress made from white linen (from my some-day-sewing stash).
Layer 2 will be an apron dress, hopefully of linen.
Layer 3 I want to include a front panel, which could be considered part of the "for formal wear" outer layer, or I may just count it as an extra layer and do a coat/kaftan as my warm outer layer. The front panel might be from a piece woven for that specific purpose, or not. The Kaftan would be from repurposed wool (old army blanket) and possibly combined with material from existing stash.
Layer 4 SHOES!!! Absolutely I am in NEED of period shoes and this is the perfect time to make that happen! So leather shoes are on the list. I may also try and make the beads to go with the apron dress and possibly try my hand at a bit of copper wire woven chain. I may even get wild and crazy and try my hand at a bit of tablet weaving for trim. But shoes for sure.
I will be posting my progress here on the blog for the duration of the competition.
