A Hobby within a Hobby
I have had a lifelong interest in (and love of) textiles and costuming. As a very young child I tried to recreate costumes from the American Civil War by making a hoopskirt from coat hangers suspended from acrylic yarn to be worn under a nightgown. Less than a year later, I attempted to weave fabric with a shoebox, sewing thread, masking tape and a needle. Neither item was a success, but those failures in no way hindered my my growing costume obsession.
Subsequent years yielded slightly better results during my attempts making at faerie dresses and creating costumes from the Elfquest comic series. Finally, in college, I discovered the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and that launched me onto the path of costuming and research that I still follow.
Over time, my SCA costuming passion has evolved. Initially, it was a matter of producing enough garb to get through a long event like Pennsic. Currently my focus is on creating heavily researched pieces by hand and trying to understand these items in the context of a medieval persons life. This is where one hobby turned into many. Instead of merely Sewing (for costumes) and Dance (as a Middle Eastern Dancer), I now Sew, Dance, Spin, Weave, Embroider and Research everything I possibly can. I am even dabbling in woodwork!
While I still occasionally branch out into other things, my direction today is on Viking Costuming and Culture (as well as accessories, jewelry, cooking and household items) and 16th Century Ottoman Costuming and Culture (as well as Middle Eastern dance - both mundanely and in the context of the SCA).
I started this journal as a way to keep record of my progress and experiments. I also hopes that it serves as an outlet to strike up dialogue with those with similar interests.
Please check out my blog (the "Journey" button above) if you want to know more.
Elf
Álfrún ketta of Akeru Thunder, Order of the Laurel
Shire of Sylvan Glen
Kingdom of Æthelmearc
jennelfculler@yahoo.com
Subsequent years yielded slightly better results during my attempts making at faerie dresses and creating costumes from the Elfquest comic series. Finally, in college, I discovered the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and that launched me onto the path of costuming and research that I still follow.
Over time, my SCA costuming passion has evolved. Initially, it was a matter of producing enough garb to get through a long event like Pennsic. Currently my focus is on creating heavily researched pieces by hand and trying to understand these items in the context of a medieval persons life. This is where one hobby turned into many. Instead of merely Sewing (for costumes) and Dance (as a Middle Eastern Dancer), I now Sew, Dance, Spin, Weave, Embroider and Research everything I possibly can. I am even dabbling in woodwork!
While I still occasionally branch out into other things, my direction today is on Viking Costuming and Culture (as well as accessories, jewelry, cooking and household items) and 16th Century Ottoman Costuming and Culture (as well as Middle Eastern dance - both mundanely and in the context of the SCA).
I started this journal as a way to keep record of my progress and experiments. I also hopes that it serves as an outlet to strike up dialogue with those with similar interests.
Please check out my blog (the "Journey" button above) if you want to know more.
Elf
Álfrún ketta of Akeru Thunder, Order of the Laurel
Shire of Sylvan Glen
Kingdom of Æthelmearc
jennelfculler@yahoo.com