Cheese or Font the game

Took Galen in today to check his weight. He has been loosing weight for no good reason. We had hoped he had gained some. He has been eating like crazy (for him) for a month now. Unfortunately, we were wrong. He's lost almost another pound since June, when he appeared to be leveling off. X-rays and blood work are done and off to the specialists to check. The first look isn't the greatest. There seems to be white spidery "fuzz" showing up on his lungs. The vet thinks it could be one of three things, sever asthma, a fungal infection, or cancer.

In any case, there are more tests in his future. For now we wait for the lab work to be done, think good thoughts, and pamper the cat LOTS.

If you have ever wondered why "they" don't do something about x work to change it. Having an idea doesn't help anyone if you don't share it. While I understand it is cathartic to complain about how wrong they are, here's a news flash for you.

We are "they". You are "they". Get off your but and be the change you want.

Yes, you will come into resistance. Yes, you may get shot down. It's not easy, it's not meant to be.

Measure twice, cut once works with sausage casings.

If you haven't read Rose's post Juan's words and you are in the West, please do. Whether or not you are privy to any of the current kerfluffles it is something to chew on.

If you have, read it again. Mull it over.

I also add my voice in saying that I own my own emotional reactions, public or private, that may have fanned these flames. I'm sorry to have added to the load, beloved Kingdom of the West.

The details are unimportant, my issues are between me and with those who I have them, or those that have issues with me. Adding them here would only further stoke the fire.

Galen caught the strap to my thumb-drive that was plugged into the computer and managed to break the drive itself.

He is fine, in hiding.

Woke up this morning and my mildly sore throat has been joined a stuffed nose. Emailed instructor I'm not making it into class today. After having pneumonia, I am extra careful about these things. The little buggers already know how to get in and community college and Muni are great incubators. This is really no more than a slight case of the sniffles, and I'd like to keep it that way. I may do the same for tomorrow.

So I'm following my own advice and having a long nap, then maybe a cookie.

About once a year or so Oak Knoll Press has a book I'd love to drool on, this time it's a new facsimile is out. I'm sure a few friends would be interested.

The Peaceable and Prosperous Regiment of Blessed Queene Elisabeth: A Facsimile from Holinshed's Chronicles (1587).

here's the description:

Holinshed's Chronicles contains one of the few accounts of Elizabeth's reign written during her lifetime. A contemporary history, it was subjected to censorship by the Privy Council. This facsimile edition, a compilation based on this portion of the Chronicles in copies in the Huntington's collection as well as the British Library and Cambridge University Library, documents the censorship and demonstrates that it occurred in three stages.

The Chronicles, a scrupulously produced monument to Elizabeth, is also a rich source for the study of printing practices. The base text chosen by the editors, an unusual copy in the Huntington Library, contains the largest sample of proofmarkings that survive from the sixteenth century. The proofmarkings are examined in light of contemporary printing-house practices and in relation to other copies of the work in libraries around the world. Distributed for the Huntington Library.


As always, this tome comes with a hefty price tag ($325). Come on Lottery!

In light of this huge out crying of "stop speculating" ( a few words of understanding for the speculators. )

I expect that we will see all of the stages of grief throughout this drama. If you thought there was too much already in the West, I'd suggest a six month or year hiatus. The best thing we can do for each other is to try to understand that we will not all be on the same page at the same time, and give each other a little compassion. Yes, the sanction only happened to one individual, but it affects us all. No matter what side of the fence you are sitting.

The Great Rabbit of Ankara (a cross-posted blog)...

There was recent discussion about the use of angora rabbit fur for felting hats in pre-1600 Europe. Well, I've been interested in felting for some time and have done a few hats from the creation of the felt from cleaned wool up and, as many of you can tell from my arms, I am also somewhat of a rabbit buff. The idea of felting fur from my own rabbits had occurred to me as a fabulous idea.

I remember being bitterly disappointed when I could find no trustworthy documentation of the use of angora rabbits (for the record, angora is the only type of rabbit fur that would be collected from the rabbit without killing it) in the felting process in period Europe. After the discussion, I thought I'd have another look to see if there was anything more out there that I had not seen before.

Here is what I found out in a nutshell:

The earliest reports of Angora rabbits in Europe is the mid 1700's when they were pets of French nobility. To me that indicates they were considered exotic and I find it highly unlikely that the nobility would be keeping "livestock" as pets (until you get to the later 17th century when they started playing "noble farmers" --but that is even farther away from our period of interest).

To make things a bit more confusing there are two critters that share the name "Angora" in period, and indeed today. That is, the rabbit and the goat. The Angora Goat is also known for its wool too. It is commonly referred to as mohair today. Angora the goat has a longer history in Europe than the rabbit- that doesn't surprise me as rabbits are harder to transport than goats--goats being much hardier on the road than rabbits would be and can be moved on their own volition. The goats apparently were even mentioned in the old testament. Still, the earliest I've found even Angora goats in Europe is a pair imported by Charles V about 1554. None of this or other early imports established any sizable herd for mohair production. It was only in 1838, when they were imported to South Africa.

Felt for hats made in Europe are more likely to be made of wool, fur, or beaver. Beaver was the preferred as far back as the 14th century. While I have found the use of rabbit fur in European felting, it is unclear and unlikely that they were using the particular breed that is modernly called "Angora" is what they were using. As we all know, the history of breeds as we know them today is fraught with pitfalls. Most of them were given names in the late seventeenth century and their histories before that time are questionable. Without more conclusive evidence, I would say it was highly unlikely that the fur being used of for hats is "Angora".

If anyone here has come across any compelling evidence, please let me know. I would love to be convinced otherwise on this.

(x-posted to SCA-West and westlaurels)

There has been some grumbling as of late that those artisans not interested in
competition have little outlet for showing off their work. There has also been
some remarks made that people wish that there was a database of Laurels and what
they can do and how to contact them. Well, I have been working with Lady
Veronica da Lugano and others to create a new West Kingdom Artisans Social
Network.

Although this site is new to us, it has been used successfully for some time in
Trimaris (in fact this idea was introduced to me by a Trimaran Peer). It is free
and basically an "out of the box" design that easily fits the bill for both of
the problems recently brought up on SCA-West. The Trimaran group has also "beta
tested" this for us, so I believe it is ready to go at this point.

I see this as a great opportunity for the Kingdom artisans to come together and
learn from one another. For those that live in the outer reaches of our fair
kingdom this could be able to have their own space to show pictures of their
work, and ask questions. For those in what is jokingly called "downtown West"
this could allow people that play in neighboring Provinces, Shires and Baronies
to learn what each other is doing on the social calendar. the populace can check
out what everyone else is doing, including Queens Artisans. Laurels, Apprentices
and interested Artisans can both create their own pages, creating a virtual
museum, and learn from both established and up-and-coming artists. This can be
used as either an adjunct to yahoo groups that already exist or work instead of
them as the particular group's monitor so chooses, so we don't have to re-invent
any light bulbs here.

I am looking for monitors of the individual groups and the calendar (I see no
reason to try to do this all myself) and anyone interested in just participating
or creating their own page within the network. Please check out the site for
yourselves and tell me what you think. It can be found at:

http://west-arts.ning.com/

It is free to join and open for all.

to both ldyanna and mastersantiago

May the year be filled with happy surprises!

As the daughter of an alcoholic, saying "I'm sorry, I was stupid" is an apology. Saying "I'm sorry, I was drunk" is not. It is an excuse in my book, and a lame one at that. Period. (I am not talking about the slightly wobbly drunk, I am talking the black out, "No, I really didn't do that" kind) Whether you have to say it once a week or once a year, maybe you should seek help.

(this brought on by a trip on MUNI this afternoon)

For L-J hive mind

There is a couple of really great and useful items that would further my ability to go to the next step in creating books. They are blind stamping tools (and a gadget that heats them because I worry about heating them over a live flame on the stove-top until I have some experience with doing it properly so I know what to look for). One is a gorgeous laurel wreath, the other just creates straight lines.

The only problem is they are expensive. Altogether they cost close to $600, (the most expensive is the heating gadget) I've been told by professionals to just charge this to someone who requests that decoration, but I hesitate to out-right do that. What do you guys think? Should I just do that, or try to pre-sell six-twelve books with an extra cost of the equipment? So far, I've mostly charged material costs, or just made them as gifts. So how much do you think I should charge?

ETA:
O.K., after some search, there is an Induction hot plate that may do the trick at about $60 (a much better deal) taking the cost of the tools down to $225. Still can't afford to buy it myself, but much more doable.

Found this beauty, I apparently downloaded it in 2006. Don't know where it is from, but I did at least mark it as 1360. Does anyone know where this is from and its context? Are those dags on the front of red and white dress? Curious about the decorations too. Any thoughts?

There are paintings that have puzzled me since I first saw them. I'll admit it, some get lumped into that early assessment of "oh, that has to be allegory". This often happened early in my SCA life, partly because I try to adhere to the rule of three before believing a trend, partly because of ignorance, and yes, just a little laziness thrown in there to boot. Depictions of saints have often been the target of this, there are some that it is obvious that they are painted in the style of the day, others are just as obviously not. Then there are those that seem to be a mix of both. This is one of those that A) not knowing German fashion and B) having told myself that I need to stay to Italian fashion, have puzzled over as curious image.



Saint Ursula
by Hans Holbein the Younger*
c.1523

Well, when we at the Leuchtenburg Castle, at least one piece of a puzzle started to come together. They have an extant example of the coin necklace that she is wearing.




According to the guide, these necklaces were handed down from mother to daughter as a safety net for the next generation. When times were good, the necklace was added to, when times were bad... well they are coins after all. Given this explanation, it could be possible that wedding portraits might not depict them. These were not meant as dowry so one would not necessarily want it shown to the grooms family who could then possibly take claim to the thing. Anyway, this should be taken with a grain of salt and properly researched by someone more interested in German fashion.

ETA: It would also be killer for those who like the big chunky necklace style and tighter fitting clothing.



*O.K. I've always been a fan of the Holbeins, I've always out looking for some of their print work. Their paintings get a lot of press, but their print work is almost an afterthought for those who publish images of their work. Their print work, however gets little attention. It's a shame really, because the work could hold it's own against Durer.

Here's another dress I'd like to make and, hey, 1380's is well into the renaissance as far as Florence is concerned ;). Yes, this isn't Florentine, but the simplicity of line and the lack of tippets makes it aesthetically acceptable for me.



Question for you all. There are no buttons depicted on the under-sleeves, yet, there is no way you can make sleeves that tight without some kind of closure. So, is it cloth buttons that the artist decided not to depict (this is a miniature in a book)? Is it ties? Or are they looser with artistic license taken to tighten the sleeves?

On another note, my sewing machine is finally back, and fixed. It took both a new belt and $65 worth of repair. Still, it's cheeper than buying a new industrial. :)

The SF8 was what all the commotion outside the courthouse was about. Their report exaggerates a bit with the number of protesters (my estimate was about fifty, not "hundreds" and the "packed" courtroom would have been full with potential jurors, not supporters. If I had been called up, it seems that it wouldn't have lasted the day.

(hehe, I just said duty) After decades of not getting called up of duty (hehe, said it again) I'm sitting in the jury waiting room in SF for the second time in two years. The first one, we first found out that the trial would take about a month--then we were told we weren't needed.

Had to walk through a group of protesters to get to the court house, the whitest bunch of Black Panthers that I've ever seen. One was even a natural redhead. Most of them to young to even be alive during the heyday of the movement, let alone remember the real things.

Well, they certainly don't like telling us any more than they feel is absolutely necessary. Lets hope that this duty (hehe) as well as the first.

ETA:

Yeah, I've just been excused. I'm done for a year.

Karl Malden, rest in peace.