The Bertana-English Dictionary

My pavilion has wonkiness. This displeases me.

I found a seam I hadn't finished on the second side panel; got that taken care of, then started pinning the back panel and one of the doors in and realized ... I'd made the back panel ... backwards. Took it out, ripped it, re-did it, attached it and ... realized the door is wrong. Check the other door ... it's wrong, too. Sewing bias to bias instead of straight edge to bias. End up using door as it is, with a reinforcing strip of straight grain worked in there.

So I still have one major seam to go and then mudflaps, hardware, et cetera. I'm sore from hunching over the machine, and tired as hell.

I did get to have a couple fun breaks; W came over to work on projects for the Pennsic gift baskets, and I helped with that for a bit, and then Aurora and I made dinner—enchiladas again, only this time I sauteed onions, garlic, peppers (from Aurora's garden!) and spinach to add to the cheese enchiladas for me and the chicken enchiladas for her. It was very yummy. She made us desert of lemon pudding with strawberries, bananas and mangos layered in.

Yeah, I'm spoiled.

I know this weekend I had mentioned the possibility of coming down to Tucson for S&B night, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen-- I wasn't thinking about the fact that Deille's shower/BBQ thingie is on Saturday! The girls are going shopping for supplies for said BBQ on Thursday evening after work, so that's where I will be.

I am thinking ... August. Definitely sometime in August. I just realized how much work I have ahead of me if I want to have my pavilion done by the weekend before Highland War. AIEEEE.

I think Isis is getting used to me; she spent far less time freaking out today than she did yesterday. I love Alpine, he spent half the day grooming her. He's such a Mama Hen, it's really cute.

The way this pavilion is constructed, it's sort of a modified french bell. Each side is rounded, and is made of four triangular panels. The front and back are straight, and each will have doors. I still have some of Pem's seams to rip; some of them are good, but some are wonky, plus he used black thread and I want to use white, so it won't stand out so much.

So yesterday and today, I sewed together two sets of three panels each. The first set is done as far as it can be for now, all together, the seams flat-felled. The second set is all together, but I still have to finish the one seam.

I took the part that Pem had sewn (a front portion with one panel to either side, plus a door mostly sewn in) with me down to Brymstonne's sewing night after leaving Aurora's this evening, and got to socialize with everyone while getting almost all of the seams done. Tomorrow evening, I have a doctor appointment, then I'll come home, pop in a movie and rip the rest of the seams. Tuesday and Wednesday, I will definitely be at Aurora's right after work. Thursday is iffy, as I have another appointment. Then I probably won't be there again until Sunday.

A bunch of the Brymstonne kids are going up to Rennaisance in the Pines at the end of the month; Selina, the MoAS for Brymstonne, is acting as a "lady in waiting" for the girl playing the Queen for the Renn Faire, and I was asked to come along and do that, too. Only thing is, I'd have to borrow Aurora's Elizabethan again, and I kind of don't want to. And I kind of don't want to take the time away from the pavilion; after getting it sewn (including putting in all the loops for stakes and the doors), I have to make the necessary hardware (I'm thinking of making the center pole break down into three pieces, that way I will be able to easily fit it into any type of vehicle), and I want to make sure I have it ready to go in time for Highlands.

Oy.


Just think, after I get all this done, I get to start on furniture. Maybe I'll be in Period Encampment for the 2007 Estrella War.

Speaking of which, don't let me forget to get in touch with Mingo this week. I need to cut a new lid for my wooden chest, as I sort of snapped the lid for mine in half. (Oops. Mark that down under "things not to hit when in an awful, terrible, very bad, no good mood.")

Sitting just inside my door, there is now a great, big box full of canvas. I had to haul it up in two trips; I couldn't actually lift the box entire. The canvas is already cut out. This week, I'll talk to Aurora to see if she's still willing to help me with the construction part.

Someday, I'll have a pavilion!

Last night, Ivan taught me, Jerusha and Tati how to make penannular brooches! I'd been meaning to ask him how to do it for a long time now, and when we ended up at their house after dinner last night, I jumped on the chance.

Here's two that we made last night—the one on the left is the one Ivan made to show me how, and the one on the right is the one I made:

I spent yesterday evening at Bannthegn Aurora's home, working on my turnshoes. It's been so long since I touched them that I felt like I needed some guidance to get them finished, and she very generously agreed to help me out. It was a really nice evening; I love being able to sit and chat and work on projects with someone, they go so much faster! She is getting ready for GWW and was finishing up tankard straps and pouches. We ordered pizza for dinner and just generally had a nice time.

The shoes *would* be done, but Aurora suggested a decorative binding around the top and she had at hand the perfect shade of bright golden yellow in a very soft leather, so that's what I have to finish. The binding is attached, I just have to roll it over and stitch it down on the inside.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the progress; I forgot to recharge the batteries on my camera. (Note to self: recharge both sets before this weekend!)

Imagine it: my shoes will be done, about a year and a half after taking the class. Egad. Of course, hanging out with Aurora made me want to work on other stuff, too; she is such an inspiration. I want to make a pair of low boots out of slightly heavier leather, and a pair of court slippers in bright colors with decorative stitching. I say this now ... but we all know that I am full of good intentions, and probably already halfway down that road where good intentions lead.

However, I do have some nifty pictures of tablet-weaving! Ivan was kind enough to help me get started and walk me through the basics while I was in Tir Ysgthir over September 11/12, and I have been semi-diligently weaving away.

( Pictures behind the cut )

The overcoat for my Mid-East Feast outfit is completed, but I don't have pictures of the finished product yet. That'll wait until the entire outfit is done.

But I have pictures of the progress I've made on the 'wrap' dress that I'll be wearing underneath it!

( Read more... )

I still have to finish the hem, and the neckline (that part is almost finished.)