The Lucet
A lucet is a two pronged tool used for making a square braid that is springy. I’ve seen various reports on when they were used, but most seem to agree that they were used during the Elizabethan period, and the versions with the slightly turned out prongs are considered to be Victorian. There’s also evidence ...
Medieval Sphinx – playing with gouache
This is a really quick and dirty painting , playing with some cheap gouache and watercolour paper I hate . I’ve only ever done little bits with gouache as I tend to play with watercolours or acrylics so this felt a little weird. A friend lent me a book on illuminations, it’s glorious http://www.amazon.com/Illuminating-Renaissance-Triumph-Manuscript-Painting/dp/0892367032 I took a ...
SCA Me :) Anglo Saxon
I’m involved in the SCA (a medieval recreation group that is diverse in its interests), and due to illness I haven’t been as involved as I’d like. So this weekend I went to a Newcomer’s event – a really laid back event which introduces new members to the craziness! I’ve changed sizes so none of my old garb fits properly. I made a new chemise (the white t-tunic) and pulled out some old fabric (not period -some synthetic mix, the colour may have been possible with woad) and made a peplos (a Roman piece of garb that carried over to early Anglo Saxon) which is possibly sewn up the side to under the arms and pinned at the shoulders. I’ve got basic circle brooches(below), which are utilitarian, but are probably the safety pins of that era rather than the real pretty ones you want to wear. A rope of glass beads hangs between the pins.
