Pennsic University has post the link for a service that volunteers for A&S Point can sign up prior to War for a shift. 

I look forward to working a shift or two this year and checking out how the University at Pennsic runs.

http://vols.pt/hHaabC

In addition to that link, check out the link for Pennsic U's list of classes if you have not done so already.  There is so much to see and learn! 

http://thing.pennsicuniversity.org/

Yes, I cannot wait!  Only 50 days away (and 10 left to register), and SO much to do, but I still cannot help but be hyper over it all!

And because I am feeling nostalgic at this moment, I am adding some older Pennsic pics below.  ;-)

There will be many changes this Pennsic. Some of them are wonderful - new bridge coming in, new filtered water for parts of the campground (with that being expanded in future years), new Great Hall, larger produce market and the addition of a mini hardware store.

Some of the changes are not as good - losing a day (though I more than understand why, and even agree), Troll closing Mon-Thurs from midnight to 6am (only one or two people showed up during those hours last year on any given day, so yeah, it definitely makes sense even if a few are put out), new camping locations for those people that will have to move for the Great Hall (I would be sad to move too, but again, I understand), shuffling of days/times for other activities...

And yes, this plethora of changes is really fraying some tempers. And with these shortened tempers, I have more than once heard a forlorn cry of "The Dream is Dying."

I beg to differ. The "Dream" is Pennsic. And Pennsic is more than the hours for Troll, it's more than what block you live on (though most of us are very wed to that piece of property that is home away from home), it's more than worrying about changes that you absolutely cannot control.

That Dream is what we all make it. Is that not worth a bit of personal sacrifice and willingness to change? Is that not worth sending a thoughtful letter to the staff rather than spouting about dying dreams on a public forum?

Personally, I believe the Dream lives on as long as someone follows their Kingdom to the battlefield to cheer on their fighters. It lives as the pageantry of Opening Ceremonies or Royal Court. It is the teaching and classes and sharing our arts with others. It is courtesy when we acknowledge someone else as mi'lord or mi'lady. It is drumming deep into the night and dancing around the fire till dawn. It is those magical moments when you see Pennsic through a newcomers eyes. THAT is how I see the Dream. And I really believe that if we all foster those things and work to preserve the culture we have created and work to make Pennsic, in it's entirety (flaws and all) a better place, then no, the Dream will not die.

Sometimes I have too many things going on at once.  The good thing about that is that it usually keeps me from getting bored with any one of them before it is all finished.

I am still working on this piece of cloth.  I have learned a lot during this process and there are many things I will do differently the next time I weave something this fine.

One of the things I have learned is to repair broken threads.  You can see here a new warp that I pinned to the fabric to weave back in.  There is a weight hanging from the other end off the back beam.

And here is a nearly-finished tunic for my BF.   The color does not read true in the photo.  It is cobalt linen with marigold and dark red handwoven (not by me) wool fabric used to trim the cuffs and neck.  Next to the applied trim is a row of osenstitch that is worked in a deep madder crewel wool from Renaissance Dyeing. 

I am more than pleased with this garment and only have to finish the hem for it to be complete.  I was inspired by some of the positively lovely garb I saw some of the European re-enactors wearing in online albums.

And finally, here is my baby flax!  This was actually taken a bit over a week ago, but it is definitely growing and I am quite pleased so far with what is actually coming up. 

Hopefully I will get some more photos of it soon (in between preparing the pasture for a picnic and packing for Pennsic)! 

(Re-post of Official news) At the Pennsic Staff Meeting this past weekend, the Mayor asked for dissemination to the Kingdoms of some key preparation information. Of particular emphasis was the need for everyone to read the Pennsic 42 Rules and stay abreast of information being posted on the website www.pennsicwar.org . A number of changes are in effect this year and some may be of major importance to some of you. There is an email sign up portal on the home page for announcements and updates. @Pennsic is the Official Pennsic War Twitter Feed. The Pennsic War is the official Facebook page. Please contact the appropriate Staff Member with any advance questions or concerns.
Some information of note:
• The Pennsic Facebook and Twitter Feed webpages are public access from the web and information will be posted by senior staff up to and during war. Every effort will be made to ensure that what is disseminated is reflected on the Pennsic website.
• The Barn as prior known will now be an expansion of the Camp Store with Pennsic Produce relocated there, a restaurant and a mini-Lowes Home Improvement outlet. The New Barn is located in N-01 and all Barn Activities will be held there. Pictures are posted on the Pennsic Facebook page.
• Troll will be closed from Midnight until 6AM Monday through Thursday and no coins will be accepted. Please review the Pennsic Registration page for details, rules and required items for admittance.
• Volunteers are needed for all departments – contact the Department Head if you have any advance questions. Of special need is set-up and close-out help!
• Volunteers working a shift of service will be allowed to recharge cell phones and the like at that location while working or will receive a ticket to do so elsewhere if power is not available.
• Technical Services is in need of assistance pre and post war with set-up and take-down of the infrastructure. If you are able-bodied and can commit to working for this purpose – please contact the Deputy Mayor for Technical Services ASAP.
• The site will close at NOON on Saturday, August 3rd. All camps must be packed out and their land clean, empty and restored. Any group that leaves a site unsatisfactory will be cited and loose seniority on their block for next year.

Where do I start?  I am still completely wiped from this weekend and more than a bit brain-fogged as well, but it was an amazing in so many ways!

I spent Friday helping load the RV to move over to the event site for Defender's Tourney where my BF and I laid out the smoker and prepared for him to start smoking pork at midnight for the feast.  Yes, he smoked the meat for 16 hours (adding wood as needed every 1.5 hours all night long....)  That pork was DIVINE and so worth it!

I was also official taste tester for Lady Rosamund's Viking Pancakes that night and also spent time playing with her new kitten and chatting with friends.  The next day things got hectic as we started preparation for the other feast dishes.  For the first time, I was responsible for how a couple of dishes actually came out (I have done dessert before for feast, but never a main dish).  There were many compliments of my "Viking Beef Stew" so that made me happy.  Much thanks to my uber awesome household for all the prepwork and their kitchen fantasticness!  I saw little else of the event as I was cooking most of the time.  I missed archery (so sad!), but I guess I can do that another day.  I also missed the chance to really hang out with some of the folks there that I wanted to see.  I hope I can catch up with them at War!

I was also unbelievably honored this weekend on several levels.  I won the title of A&S Defender for Sylvan Glen and get to wear the lovely hood until next year.  My piece submitted was the handwoven wool sample I did a few months ago using my handspun Icelandic weft (I will upload my documentation later).  I am thrilled to be part of the Shire and touched to be given this title!

I was also completely surprised to find out that my duplicitous Matriarch, Household and the BigMan (I should know something is up when he asks me to get his regalia out, lol) had conspired to have my apprenticing ceremony happen at the event where I (muddy and covered with kitchen drippings) was taken as an apprentice by Mistress Mary Isabel of Heatherstone ("Molly"). That she would have me was an honor itself, but that she took the time to come out-of-kingdom to do this when I was surrounded by my Thunder family and my friends from the shire just took the words from me (and that is not an easy thing to do).  I also saw in-person the belt she is weaving me and I was floored over not only the craftsmanship that is going into it, but in the fact that she is taking the time to create such a thing of beauty for me.  Until it is finished, she has given me her own personal belt (in the photo) to wear.  I guess I better behave because everyone will know who to report me to if I step out of line ;-)

As for the rest of the weekend, well, I was too tired for too much else.  I did show my Norwegian friends (who came over for the end of the event) my loom, my weaving, and how to spin and card wool (because they were actually really interested in it).  So I got some more wool separated and had a chance to spin some of the Icelandic thel with my new supported spindle.  The staple on this wool is short, so it is not easy to spin fine, but this lovely tool made the process much easier.

And this photo I have to include for the sheer level of awesome that it represents!  Wadded up in this box is my new green and purple wedge tent!  How amazingly beautiful is that???

Sometimes you just have to Use What You Have.

For some projects, I set out to make something very period, buy the best materials I can get my hands on and away I go with it.  Other projects, however, do not have as much pre-planning or time to collect the appropriate resources.  I am using a piece of my weaving (using my hand-spun weft) as an A&S entry soon and needed to hem the edges.  I have no linen or wool thread in neutral colors (nor any uncolored) and most of the colored thread is actually part of other projects, so I could not justify it for this even if I didn't mind, for example, bright red thread.

Unfortunately, the idea of using regular Gutermann also made me twitch.

I came up with a solution that I like well enough now to later expand upon!  I made my own handsewing thread.

I have Vaxbo linen singles yarn from my weaving experiment in both 8/1 and 12/1.  I had actually used a bit of the 8/1 for sewing some time ago but found that the act of sewing was causing the thread to untwist, lose its strength, and eventually, pull apart. 

Sewing thread, however, is not single ply, rather it is a strong plied yarn that can hold up much wear.  My solution for this, was to make my own thread.  I took the 12/1 (the thinner of the two) and plied it more tightly (Z spun, as is the original direction of the yarn's twist) with my spinning wheel onto two bobbins.  I then plied those with the wheel in the opposite (S) direction.  I used a small plastic hank from some camping rope to wind and block it by submerging in hot water and allowing it to dry.

The result is unevenly spun (I was varying my amount of twist as I went so that I could determine how much to use in the future) but the result is still a nice, strong thread for heavy sewing.

I actually am considering ordering the 20/1 Vaxbo linen yarn and making a more fine thread for general purposes.  I also am not confident that the very fine weft in my current weaving project will ply nicely into a thread that I can use to sew the final garment.

I love have always loved the Sheep & Wool festival, but love it even more now that I am involved in spinning and weaving!

We were there for over 4 hours on Saturday.  Walked through all of the vendors, had some yummy lamb sausage and kabobs, saw the sheep dog demo and got to see some of my favorite sheep - Icelandic, Gotland, Shetland and the adorable little Soay!

There is just so much there for the fibre enthusiast, but I have to say that I am glad that knitting does not interest me as the vast amount of lovely yarn there would really cause me to have a meltdown.  As it was, I was able to focus on spinning and weaving items.  Above is the Golding drop spindle that my BF bought for me.  If you have not seen their items before, I highly recommend you click the name and check out the site.  True artisans (make sure you look at the looms and wheels as well, they are breathtaking)!

My bargain of the day was a 7.5 pound cone of lime green rug wool.  Yes, over seven pounds of obnoxious color!  The price was an excellent $21 and I love lime, so really, I could not go home with out it.

While there, we talked for quite a bit to a gentleman who has an Icelandic sheep farm.  He gave us some great info on sheep raising in general and Icelandics in particular.  From his stand we purchased a pound of rich brown roving, a black Icelandic pelt that is so amazingly soft (for in the new Viking tent), and the adorable supported spindle to the left that is shaped like an acorn!  (I love oak trees so this find was a delight). 

In addition to my new Icelandic pelt (to the far left in this photo), my BF purchased the center one this weekend at the festival.  It is a Lincoln Longwool and had lovely shading and you can just dig your fingers into it.  On the right, is the Merino pelt he purchased at the Shenandoah Valley Fibre Fest last fall.

Are you in the Mid-Atlantic area and have not been to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival?  I highly recommend it for next year, it is worth the drive if you are into any type of fibre arts!

I love Stencil Planet!  Today the custom stencil I ordered has finally arrived and I am thrilled.

Usually at Pennsic I use a 16.5X16.5 marquee tent and my BF takes a Saxon Wedge (both tents are from Panther Primitives and both are awesome).  Why two tents?  Well, I have a garb explosion about 2 hours after I am set up and he doesn't like tripping over girl-stuff.  I also tend to have people coming and going from my tent constantly and that interrupts his naps.  The big tent, however, is very hard for me to maintain, and it is essentially just a massive closet (I don't even live in it half the time).  So this year he ordered a second easy-to-set-up wedge (in GREEN AND PURPLE) that will house my copious amount of garb.

Of course, I now have to decorate it!  New rugs have been purchased and I am weaving others.  New (non-Middle Eastern) cooler covers shall be made, new furniture purchased...  It is almost as exciting as making new garb!  We will even eventually add carved wooden cross pieces to the front and back to make the tents more resemble actual Viking tents.

I also plan to paint the poles and decided that some designs stenciled on them would look fantastic.  But guess what?  There are no Viking stencils!  Everything I can find is very clearly Celtic.  (And yes, there is a difference in Celtic and Norse knotwork, and while some designs or motifs cross over, none that I could readily find as stencils would work as I wanted them too.)

So I decided I would cut my own.  The problem, however, was cleaning up a design well enough (and making it symmetrical enough for my tastes).  I am not used to using Adobe Illustrator and realized an hour into the project that I was just not cut out for this type of work.

So I emailed Stencil Planet to check on the cost of a custom piece.  It was surprisingly inexpensive and I got the artist's proof a few days later and the stencil only 2 days after that.  (It is a Borre style ring-chain border, for those who don't recognize it.)

I also, in the past, had purchased one of their house designs and had it enlarged.  My household is Akeru Thunder and they had the exact lions we needed for our banners (photo below).

In all, if you need a stencil definitely check out Stencil Planet!