so…

In my seemingly never ending need to build different kinds of tents, I bring you the 15th century Timur Disked Bell.

all four images from “Felt Tents & Pavillions”

Small short center pole tents with huge amounts of arabesque designs elements.

In all the pictures I can find of these tents they all have a short ~1′ tall wall with alternating angled color strips. In the text of the book, the author talks about alternating red/white/blue/white on all of the white tents, with the arabesque predominately  blue. I have tried doing a search for colored versions of these photos, but so far my google-fu has let me down.

This image has the disked bell opened up like a sunshade. I would love to be able to make the tent function in this manner two. The one stumbling block I can see with it is the uber long guide ropes that would be needed to use it in this fashion. I could have a whole series of wall poles so I could decrease the angle…. but that takes away from the lightweight carry on-ness of this tent.

I also like the color contrast from inside to outside. Not sure if this is just an artists touch or indication of  an inner lining. I am taking it as an inner lining, and seeing if I can make a light weight cotton broadcloth lining. I think an inner red or blue lining would be amazing, especially if I add the arabesque to the inside too.

That “Felt Tent and Pavilion” book is amazing. It even has an image of a 15th century tent decoration panel. I believe this is a bit more ambitious than I plan to do, but it give you an idea of how crazy awesome some of those tents actually where.

I have a few other things I have to get to first, but I really would love to have at least the outer done in time for ban Tanist Kate & Tanist Alden’s step up.

Nuts…Yes?

• July 1, 2010 -- Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go (0)
• June 3, 2010 -- Archery & Heavy Defenders 2010 (0)
• April 11, 2010 -- Siege Engine Boules (0)
• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)
• March 30, 2010 -- Break Apart Eric Stands v1.0 (4)
• March 4, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.5 ~ More Cartoons (3)

I had originally decided to make a tabriz loom for the carpet. Its a style that allows you to spool the rug around to the back side of the loom. This allows you to make a carpet just shy of double the front side of the loom. This one seems to be the most common in modern pictures of rug looms. Yet the image above shows a loom that has the warps attached to a set of rollers. This allows for the making of rugs of almost unlimited lengths.

So yesterday while doing a weekly troll of the local Craiglist I found someone selling a Leclerc Tissrat Tapestry loom for a decent price. Tapestry looms come up rarely, and this is one of the nicest I have seen. I made a trip out to the deepest darkest depths of Surrey to check out the loom. It came home with me.

Its big enough to fill a goodly portion of my bedroom. Score.

So I have the loom, now on to deciding on the wool I will need.

I heart the V&A museum. They not only have a fantastic collection… they have taken the time to actually analyse what their carpets where made of in great details, and then added that data to the web entries. I gathered all the carpets they have listings for pre-1600 and made a database to make it easier to decipher.

V&A pre-1600 Carpet material Database

I also found a reference to having colored warp threads on some carpets  that denoted where the flat weave edge should begin. I think I will use this method to not only show where to do the flat weave, but to also show where the borders should run.

** Next task…. Figure out exactly what kind of wool I need to buy for the warp threads. This is the kind of textile stuff I start to get confused with.

• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)
• March 4, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.5 ~ More Cartoons (3)
• February 14, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet v1.4 Cartoon Time (0)
• February 12, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.3 (0)
• July 20, 2009 -- 1st weaving project (2)
• July 2, 2009 -- Loom (5)

Friday night was just a set up night. The Baronial pavilion went up in record time. I think that was due to the motivation of getting out of the rain.

More images after the jump

I am total in awe of the awesome job that was done on the erics. 48 eric poles where made by Lord Adam Fairamay, and the baroness and a few uber awesome peeps worked on the eric banners. 4 sets were made (Black/Pegasus, Red/griffin, White/unicorn, & Yellow/dragon) each set had sections with kingdom, principality & baronial populace badges on the dags. In the background you can see the full range of the campers.  I missed taking photos of the heavy tourney. It was raining enough that I couldn’t get a shot without water on the lens.

HL Ealeen de Seez (Grey Goose) taking on Fiona the Archer as her arcuarius

A good sized turn out for the archery tourney. This was the first tourney I have entered. I did alot better than I thought, but I chalk that up to luck more than skill. The weather did get better for the tourney… enough so I got a good case of tourney chest were I forgot to put on the sunblock….doh.

Favorite part of the tourney was the balloon shoot. Everyone wrote there names on a balloon, and last balloon inflated wins the round. It came down to my apprentice sister Margaret Hamilton of Stirlingshire & myself. I guess people where to busy trying to get rid of the skilled archers to bother with mine. (farthest left orange= Mary, Bottom Blue = Margaret. 

Margaret in the final round. She was shooting period longbow, with period arrows.

Court happens despite the weather’s renewed attempts to dash the day.

Mikhail Kurganovic gives Anika Styfe her grey goose token…. 2 years late, but still appreciated.

Morweena the event steward & Ruby  thanking everyone for coming, and handing out gifts for the instructors for teaching over the last two days.

Brynmor Raven being handed his baroness’s champion scroll.

Cyneric Bearson handing out the traditional 20lb dead weight….(Axe) to the Sergeant who does the best in the defenders tourney. This year it went to Caemgen mac Garbith.

The winner of the Heavy defenders tourney was Arminius Scorpius. Last years defender had to resign when he stepped up to the mantle of Prince of Tir Righ. Arminius was made defender by baron griffin in Prince Ians place, but he won the right this year to the title of defender.

David of Tiriane stepping down as Archery Defender.

And Fiona the Archer steps up to take his place.

Despite the horrid weather, I enjoyed the event…. especially the fire pit on Saturday night.

• July 26, 2010 -- 15th Century Timur Disked Bell Tent. (0)
• July 1, 2010 -- Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go (0)
• April 11, 2010 -- Siege Engine Boules (0)
• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)
• March 30, 2010 -- Break Apart Eric Stands v1.0 (4)
• March 4, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.5 ~ More Cartoons (3)

May Gamers (also known by some as May Bardic) took place yesterday. It was a smallish affair, but also kind of awesome. It was one of those events where just about everyone ended up doing all sort of stuff.

I ran my first games tourney as Lions Gate games marshal. I decided on making a format that encouraged volume of play over skill. I called it a Gluttony Tournament where the goal was to play as much and as many of the games provided. The games I included where 9 man morris, Tablut (tafl variation), shut the box, Pall MAll, and three kinds of boules (Siege, Carpet & Jeu de boules).

I had three different ways to win in the tournament

1. Righteous Indignation over a loss, (Malie over a bad stroke during a pall mall game… mallet flying, arms waving, bellowing disbelief… simply priceless)

2. Obessed over a single game, Ylas over carpet boules (looked like Lucien was going to take the title til Ylas did a last minute marathon).

3. Glutton, most sets played of all 5 games, Agnes Cresewyke did 3 full sets and was partially done two more sets.

The winners all are getting game boards I will be making customized to their persona’s time, place, and preference.

The new Bardic Champion is James Wolfden.

32 pictures after the jump (not in any particular order… Drag and drop is having issues today)

Elinore hanging out at the Games List table. Siege Boules, Jeu de Boules, & Pall Mall waiting to be played.

The siege weapons tested out with rubber chickens (no idea why…)

The Bardic competitors being sworn in (John Mail, Aelana de Cordova, Dianora, Malie Rennick, James Wolfden)

Aelana’s single entry was a story with a picture book to go along with the story.

Game Board competition. People were supplied with materials and encouraged to make their own boards. Dr. Carus made a 3 man morris board out of a pie, and girl guide cookies. Awesome lol.

Baron Griffin, Malie, and Lucien loitering around gate.

Dirty Mary being a jack ass as per normal

Hanging out at the lists table. Wearing the new nausea inducing games marshal tabard. Need to place crossed pall mall mallets on the front. and games boards on the back.

Agnes, and Mariko deciding to play a non games tourney game gluckhaus. This reminds me I need to make gluckhaus boards for the barony as we have none.

What’s an event with out a marriage proposal.  Big old woot for Kevin and Leigh.

Agnes and James playing Pall Mall

Roaming Jeu de Boules game with the MacAndrew clan

James and Agnes having a go at Siege Boules

Lucien & Ylas were hard core into carpet boules.

Baroness Caitrin ran a children’s game tourney. Here she’s trying out the hunker down game.

More Game Board art.

James, Bryn, Lilly, & Viscountess Bernadette trying out the pall mall pitch.

Baroness Caitrin inflicting math upon the children with Shut the box

The game board tourney judging table. I love the purple & white board. Reminds me of turnips.

The games list. We had 38 people playing games  that registered.

Picnic out back.

I stepped down as Baroness Caitrin’s personal champion of science (A job I feel I did quite pourly… damn self involved mary)

The new baronial officers being sworn in .

There was a best dinner spread contests too. Agnes and her minions did a late period germanesque table, and the other entry was an early period norse like table. The Baroness ruled they were both equally awesome and gave glass vessels to both entrants.

Three children entered the tourney,all walked away with prizes.

During a lull in court were were treated to a performance from the kingdom bardic champion.

Past bardic defender Kevin thanked the two single bardic entries for stepping up and doing their first ever bardic competition.

Kevin then stepped down as champion and joined the order of the lions fang (Former champions of Lions Gate)

James was then brought forward to become the new Bardic defender.

Way too go James!

• September 27, 2009 -- Tir Righ Fall Coronet Tourney 2009 (0)
• August 30, 2009 -- Tir Righ Summer Investiture 2009 (2)
• July 20, 2009 -- 1st weaving project (2)
• July 5, 2009 -- Turned Thread Spools & Drop Spindle (0)
• March 23, 2009 -- February Woodworking Display (0)
• November 17, 2008 -- X-Chair v1.0 Small Prototype (0)

I have an evil plan to run a siege engine boules/ golf tourneys at up coming events. Since I have only so many weekends off before camping season starts, I needed to get on with it.

I cut up one 2×2 board into (2) 20″ lengths, (6) 8″ lengths, and one 11″ section of 2×3. Two of the 8″ sections had 45′ angles cut off them. These will be used to help support the uprights.

The 2×3 piece of wood then has notches drawn on, by plunking a 2×2 piece in the corners. Once traced, I then used a carpenters square to straighten the lines out a bit.

The notches were cut out on a band saw

The 20″ lengths were marked 3/4″ in from both ends, and 1/2″ from the sides. I then drilled pilot holes, and countersunk them so we can cover the screws later on.

Assembly starts with the bottom base screwed together.

I then place the uprights on the base, and took the angled supports to figure out were I wanted the uprights to sit. I then took a pencil and marked the uprights position.

I drilled two more holes through the base on each side (pilot holes, and countersunk)

The uprights then were fastened with more screwage.

Before I started playing with the supports, I decided to attach the strike plate to the uprights. This way I could rest the onager uprights flat on the bench.

At this stage I place the supports in place, and since clamping angled piece a can be difficult, I used painters tape to hold the upright in the right place. Lots of tape is good! (forgot to take a picture… my bad.

Angle pilot holes and countersinks at 90′ to the supports.

I marked the tension rope hole approx 1″ back from the uprights. I think I should have gone a bit farther back as the strike arm now angles back slightly. I am not sure, but I think you want the strike arm to have a slight forward angle optimally.

Since this cheap nasty 2×2 is made of super soft hemlock (I think) I am using metal washers to protect the sides. I also drilled to smaller holes either side of the rope holes. This will keep the pressure rod in place.

Everything I need but the tension rope. 2 washers, 2 pins, 2 pressure rods (allen keys). I also have hammered in a nail atop of a 12″ wooden dowel. Just need to cut off the end.

The first one is almost done. The rope is small 1/8th braided stuff.

The final step is glueing in some dowel plugs to cover up the screw heads.

The first two are done. I only need two for siege engine boules, but a few more if I run a golf tourney later on.

• July 26, 2010 -- 15th Century Timur Disked Bell Tent. (0)
• July 1, 2010 -- Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go (0)
• June 3, 2010 -- Archery & Heavy Defenders 2010 (0)
• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)
• March 30, 2010 -- Break Apart Eric Stands v1.0 (4)
• March 4, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.5 ~ More Cartoons (3)

I turned a bunch of the eric stand tops and then painted them with red oxide mixed with linseed oil.

The final cartoon is coming along. I took all the things that were wrong with the first draft and used it to work out the kinks on this version. My hands are in severe trauma over all the coloring this weekend.

• March 4, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.5 ~ More Cartoons (3)
• July 1, 2010 -- Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go (0)
• March 30, 2010 -- Break Apart Eric Stands v1.0 (4)
• February 14, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet v1.4 Cartoon Time (0)
• February 12, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.3 (0)
• July 9, 2009 -- Wool Combs (0)

Bought a 2×6x8′ spruce  board from the local lumberstore. I cut it down to two 33″ lengths, and two 15″ lengths.

The 33″ lengths were then ripped down to 1.5×1.5 billets.

The two 15″ sections were then ripped into two 2.25″x15″ boards.

These four sections will become the eric stand feet (2 sets)

I then marked out the width of the lap joint in the center of the feet.

Double checking the width of the dado against the feet width.

Lap joints now  cut out of top and bottom feet.

I was going for a foot some what like this candle stand. easy to do, but adds a little class than leaving it blunt cut ends. Yes its out of period, but so are so many things in the society….sigh.

To make sure the feet look the same I made a template out of scrap kicking around the shop. Its a little more elongated than the candle stand, but I want the feet to be wider for stability.

Upside down picture of the stand with the pattern traced out.

Cutting out the pattern on the bandsaw.

Double checking how it looks.

Drilled a 1″ hole through both the feet.

Pieces then glued together

Then clamped tight.

Moving on to the poles, I marked the center points on the ends.

and slapped it on the lathe. The billet was then turned down to a 1.5″ dowel, with 1.25″ on either end turned down to 1″.

One end was then cut on the band saw . I cut down into the 1.5″ dowel area just enough to accommodate the size rope I have for the project.

Next I cut a 3″ section off of one of the 33″ long billets . I drilled a 1″ hole in the center.

Double checked it fit  how I wanted it to on the dowel.

Slapped it on the lathe and turned it to knock off the sides and have a small bead that will make the dowel and cap blend together.

Picture of how the top fits together with the rope.

I have to make 6 more just like this one. I will also make one eric stand that has a 1″ dowel the whole length of the stand. This way I can take apart the 7 other stands and have the feet section slide down onto the oddball stand. Then I have to make a bag that will fit all of the stands together in a nice package. Depending on if I am burned out or not, I might make a few more.

I am thinking I might paint them red using lindseed oil and iron oxide. I post again when I am done this project.

• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)
• July 9, 2009 -- Wool Combs (0)
• July 5, 2009 -- Turned Thread Spools & Drop Spindle (0)
• July 4, 2009 -- Pole Lathe Class (4)
• April 2, 2009 -- Turned Bed Frame v1.3 (0)
• March 23, 2009 -- Turned Bed Frame v1.2 (0)

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 to try  filling it with repeating element from the black border section.

Second issue is filling the strange flattened triangle sections that are part of the centers border. Maybe a squidy Cthuhulu like pattern.

The inner portion of the carpet has to be shrunk by 4 knots the whole way around, This is easily done as there is a 2 knot deep border that doesn’t affect any of the complex pattern bits.

This is a computer cut & paste model of what the carpet will look like when done.

I also started doing the math. There will be ~ 132,000 knots in the carpet (not including selvage and start/ end flat weave sections). Each knot using ~ 2″ of wool which works out to 21,933 feet of wool (7311 yd. / 6685 m.)

Still looking for middle eastern / turkish looms in period, and type of wool, and dye stuff.

Fun & Stuff & Things.

• February 12, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.3 (0)
• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)
• February 14, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet v1.4 Cartoon Time (0)
• July 1, 2010 -- Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go (0)
• March 14, 2010 -- Daffodil Carpet Sample (0)
• July 26, 2010 -- 15th Century Timur Disked Bell Tent. (0)

More images of the quick build after the jump.

Used some scrap oak I had kicking about. I have used up a large amount of my cutoff  pile so beggars cant be choosers. I would have preferred a fruit wood (or almost any wood that is close grained).

Marked the center and1″ from each end.  The end winding boards will be drill around 1″ deep so I need to be careful maintaining the right diameter  on the handle to fit the end holes snuggly.

Made a test block so I could make quick checks on fit.

The winding end boards had a 1/2″ hole drilled  1″ deep .

Checked the fit again.

Marked out the cut pattern on one board. I cut out the piece on the band saw as I wanted to get this done quickly.

I then scraped all the tool marks off the piece, and the filed the edges so that all the sharp points were gone.

I used the first piece to transfer the pattern to the other side.

One side is fixed in place with a wood dowel pin. The other side is left unfix so the niddy noddy can be stored flat.

Finished Noddy.

Noddy on its first test run. Not sure I was doing it right. The winding seemed a little awkward so I am sure I was doing it wrong.

The wool skein twisted up and ready for the dye pot.

• June 3, 2009 -- Rasp Handles (0)
• July 26, 2010 -- 15th Century Timur Disked Bell Tent. (0)
• July 1, 2010 -- Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go (0)
• June 3, 2010 -- Archery & Heavy Defenders 2010 (0)
• April 11, 2010 -- Siege Engine Boules (0)
• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)

The way its working out, I suspect the finished carpet will be somewhere around the 2.5ft wide to 4 feet long. The painting has two central panels, but I have chosen to do the single central panel. All the coolness, and half the knotting.

I also did a bit more work on some sample pieces. The grey element on the right represents the color in the painting that I can just barley see. I still am not sure if its dark blue, grey….or a brighter color that has darkened over the last 400 years. I really do not know much about paint color changes in renaissance painting.

A shot of the back side. You can tell on the red & white central pattern that the three warp threads caused problems with stretching out the pattern. The grey thread on this sample is wool, unlike the other colors. It makes for a smother field on the front side. The acrylic wool tend to keep to itself causing an effect that looks a bit more like the ambassadors painting. The final project will be in wool, so I will have to think on whats causing it. Perhaps if I cut the pile down even lower the grid would be more obvious.

• February 12, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.3 (0)
• March 4, 2010 -- Turkish Carpet Project v1.5 ~ More Cartoons (3)
• July 1, 2010 -- Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go (0)
• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)
• March 14, 2010 -- Daffodil Carpet Sample (0)
• September 9, 2009 -- Turkish Garb v1.1 (0)