Mary Ostler

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I was asked how the cartoon was coming. The answer… Slowly!
I will be starting a whole new cartoon soon, as this first one was just to work out some pattern issues. The first problem being the lack of a middle section in the original painting., Thanks to a suggestion from Mistress Agnes, I have decided [...]

Last minute commission came up the other day. I was requested to make a Niddy Noddy. Its a tool used to wind skeins of  yarn. I have made one before, but entirely turned.  The period images that are kicking around show a turned handle (usually with cross bracing) and curved boards that the yarn winds around. Since the person [...]

I have been puzzeling over what the center elelment on the Holbein carpet should be. I think the problem I have had is I have no idea what the size I have to fill is. That means I have to start the cartoon. This may not end up being the final cartoon as I have [...]

Did some more experimenting with the Turkish rug project.
I was having trouble trying to get the same number of knots on the warp compared to the weft. I decided to tie the knot around doubled up warp threads. It worked very well as for the first time I have matching knot counts.

I also tried this [...]

Day of Dance and A&S defender happened this weekend. A smallish, but fun event all told.

Milling masses gather
Lots of images after the jump.

Long, long ago…
When I first joined the SCA, I had wanted to start fighting with all the heavys. I made armour, and went to fight practice…and eventually built my own helm. Its a nasty piece of work as I really had no idea what I was doing. The welding job was pretty bad (Having not [...]

Baroness’ Birthday tourney took place yesterday. It was a smallish event, but still covered all the basics. Rapier, and Heavy fighting, A&S contests, dancing, feasting, drinking, court, and merchant row. I ran a small merchanting booth selling wooden goodes (turned stuff and furniture). Since I spent most of my time merchanting, and hanging out with [...]

Goofing around in the work shop the other day.  I have been thinking about trying to turn a Japanese oval turned Inro. This turned out to be one of the more difficult things I have made. Trying to juggle drill bits of different sizes for different cuts just got confusing after a while.
An Inro is [...]

Tir Righ Fall Coronet Tourney has come and gone. Overall I got to give the event two big thumbs up.  I talked to alot of people about possible machinations for future builds. I love my deviously  inventive and creative friends and acquaintances. <insert evil laugh here>
Many pictures after the link

I am broke beyond all measure this month. I have had to use what I have inside the fabric stash to work on my Turkish garb. Hence the somewhat nasty green/gold sari material shalvar.  Since I will be making nicer ones once I am back in the black, I have used elastic in this pair.
Shalvar

Reversible…yet [...]