QPT - first carving attempts

Started carving the panel. 

Did an outline of everything first. 

Then started clearing large areas. 

Next started enhancing lines and layer effects. This has turned out to be quite tricky and I ended up removing too much in some areas and should have been paying closer attention to how the picture looked instead of kind of carving it how I assumed it was, then realizing after that I wasn't quite right. 

Went back and began deepening everything and shaping thugs closer to the picture. 

This was about an hour's worth of carving. Stopping for now 'cause I'm heading over to a friends to talk illumination, and because the bones in my hand are vibrating from all the dremelling. 

QPT Progress - preparing the blanks

My project idea for this Queen's Prize Tourney is to reproduce a small section of the Franks Casket, using cattle bone as my medium. 

This is the little section I would like to do. 

Unfortunately, today as I was cutting out the pieces of bone to make the blanks for carving, disaster struck! 

The bone split in two as I was sawing it into shape!

So, now I have only one narrow section of bone instead of two, which means only half of the above picture will fit on it. 

I've gone ahead and drawn out the left half of the scene on my panel, and will focus my efforts on that. 

If I have the time, I may try to sand down the two broken halves of the second panel and carve it in two pieces, but we'll see. Honestly, trying to get the first half carved may be project enough! 

Making a Belt

Since I have plans to make a sheath for my rattan saex, I'm going to need to hang it from a belt. I've never actually had a red fighting belt, so I decided to make one. However, I'm on a budget and could neither buy a belt blank, nor did I have suitable leather to cut one from. Except, I did have a lot of shorter pieces of a good weight, so I cut a bunch of strips and sewed them together into a length long enough to make a belt!

Berdal Style Brooches - Based on Finds from Ribe - Ealdormere Spring A&S, February 2014

Here is the documentation from my Trillium Exchange project, that I also entered into Spring A&S in February, 2014.

Note: The photos in the embedded pdf below are displayed in low resolution for some reason that I cannot yet correct. Feel free to go here to view and/or download for the full resolution images.

Tarsoly - Based on a find from Jämtland - Ealdormere Queen's Prize Tourney, 2013

I thought I would share my documentation for my entry in Ealdormere's first Queen's Prize Tourney, held in November, 2013.

Note: The photos in the embedded pdf below are displayed in low resolution for some reason that I cannot yet correct. Feel free to go here to view and/or download for the full resolution images.

Turn Shoes - Second Attempt

I ended up folding the tops down and trimming the overlap because the stiffness of the leather made them too uncomfortable as boots 

Shot from the back showing the sole and the cut I had to stitch back together.

From the side, showing the turned seam and side seam.

Turn Shoes - First Attempt

My first turn shoe prototype. Taken from Stepping Through Time (pg. 139, Fig. 9c, from Schleswig) 

This is my prototype before I redo them in all veg-tanned cow leather (this is chrome tanned pig skin I believe.) Had some issues with the pattern, just had to trip the toe a bit, but the slit for the triangular bit of the heel to fit into came out way off, so I had to stitch it back up and reposition. But overall, I'm pretty pleased with it, for my first attempt. It's quite comfortable

 View from the top, with the upper part folded down. Still need to whip stitch the edges.

From the other side.

Here you can see the part I had to stitch closed. I didn't think I could do a very good edge to edge stitch here with the way things were working out so I had to do it like this instead.

And front view. The front of the sole looks a bit wonky, but that's because it's still damp from turning and also because I was utilizing scrap sole leather and the front edge didn't come out as smooth as it will for my 'real' pair.

The left shoe. It is a smidge tighter fitting than the right shoe; the toes didn't fit as easily and the back got a bit wonky again. I rushed this one a bit and my stitching suffered for it. Must be patient!

Had the same problem with the heel on the left foot as the right. Double stitched the heel

Mostly finished prototype turn shoes. All that remains is some trimming and a whip stitch to finish the edge of the fold-over, a pair of insoles, and I call them done! Overall, I am pleased with how they turned out, but I will endeavour to really try to take my time next pair, especially with the second shoe 

A decorative whip stitch around the edge to finish things off. The flash has washed the colour of the embroidery out, but it's more of a orangey gold colour. Very nice complimentary colour.

Close up of my whip stitch. Again, this doesn't give a true representation of the orangey gold colour of the embroidery thread. Definitely adds a nice touch to finish off the edge.