As always, Pennsic was wonderful! Relaxing, energizing and inspiring all in one! What more could one ask for in a vacation?
I no longer take a thousand photos during the event, but am going to share those that I did take here. The wonderful A&S Display and the Clanne Preachain Early Period A&S event will get their own post later this week.
I no longer take a thousand photos during the event, but am going to share those that I did take here. The wonderful A&S Display and the Clanne Preachain Early Period A&S event will get their own post later this week.
 My block before set-up. So empty! |  My camp (still in process of adding tents) |  My tent, yes I did make a closet work in a wedge tent with the addition of a center support pole. Allowed me to hang clothes and still have lots of room to move around. |
Food
Because the food this year was off the hook... And I did not even get photos of the Pennsic Beef, the slow smoked pork shoulders, bourbon chicken, BLTs or many of the other wonderful dishes we had!
 Bacon wrapped pork loins cooked over cherry wood |  Beer can chickens (one was actually had wine in the can instead) |  Smoked chicken and corn |
 Lamb chops! |  Lamb and roasted radishes. |  Oxtail stew (this course was served after the lamb) |
 Sausage fest. 9 types of sausage! |  Sausage served (along with grilled brie and fruit) |  Pizzas made from handmade dough, cooked in cast iron over coals with the ingenious use of a coal-starting chimney to cook it from the top. Awesome. |
Market
Pennsic is my favorite place to shop! This year the market yielded wonderful new accessories and items for me to work my own crafts.
 A new bone comb (based on a Viking Dublin find) and temple rings (because I so need an early Slavic outfit). Both are from VikingULike/Feed the Ravens. Thanks so much to Scott and Maggie for all their advice! |  The large cup, plate and bowl I bought from Reannag Teine this summer, but there was a matching small cup at Pennsic so I completed my set. |  Also from Reannag Teine, I got one for myself and one for Xen! |
 Love Pennsic as a place to shop for books! I got this one, one on Icelandic tablet weaving and one on the Viking headcoverings found in Dublin. |  And sometimes there are awesome things you want to buy, but cannot... |  Midnight Madness is the best atmosphere! |
A&S
As I previously mentioned, I will add my photos of the larger displays later, but there were also wonderful classes and new skills to be learned! This opportunity to try out and learn new things is one of my favorite facets of Pennsic.
This year there were more in-camp awesome A&S discussions than ever. Engaging over Viking costume, Ottoman costume, tablet weaving, Mongol/Persian coat styles, hand sewing and Lady Anne of Saffron Walden's awesome flax experiment (which she was kind enough to bring up to share with me and which will rate its own post later). I have amazingly talented friends and I love in-depth discussion and sharing ideas!
This year there were more in-camp awesome A&S discussions than ever. Engaging over Viking costume, Ottoman costume, tablet weaving, Mongol/Persian coat styles, hand sewing and Lady Anne of Saffron Walden's awesome flax experiment (which she was kind enough to bring up to share with me and which will rate its own post later). I have amazingly talented friends and I love in-depth discussion and sharing ideas!
 New skills! I got to experiment with enameling at Artisans Row and I tried wire weaving for the first time at the Clanne Preachain event. |  Galyana working on her enameled piece. |  My beautiful new loom purchased from Egill's Woodstuffs. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Egills-Woodstuffs/200135606693363 I played with some brocading for the first time and then switched to another fiber and puttered with the Icelandic weaving. |
 I did not teach formal classes this year, but did share some handsewing skills in camp by teaching lovely ladies to make hats! |  The Icelandic tablet weaving uses 2 back ground threads, one pattern thread and a vacant hole to great diagonal designs and interesting textural effects. Unfortunately, I bumped the cards and the top left of this pattern got messed up. I will be giving the sampler another try this weekend. |
All the Rest
I have to admit I do not even take many garb photos any more, but here are a few.
 My favorite garment I made this year was this linen apron dress for Galyana, trimmed with cobalt linen and red wool blanket stitch. |  My handwoven dress I made last year. |  Galyana in the first apron dress I ever made and me in a hand sewn wool apron dress. |
For the best parts of War I have no photos at all. No documentation of the joy shared with friends, none of the laughter, no songs by the fire. But it is all well, as I have fond memories of all of those and I am very looking forward to next year!
While coming home from Pennsic is hard, I am glad that someone is happy to see me!
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