Remy's Vigil Book - The Embroidering Part 4

The center of the book cover! While I was working my way through all the goldwork on the main piece, I was also traveling around with this centerpiece. I did not take nearly as many progress shots of this, but it was pretty straightforward.

I started with silk backed with linen (you can see the basting stitches in the lower left corner of the pictures). Because this is white fabric, I could actually put the design directly on the fabric! I sketched the heraldry with a normal pencil, knowing that I would cover all the lines. I then used __________ silk thread in split stitches and filled everything in. The only part that was any more complicated than that was the wolf - in order to stop it from being a blog, I did a bit of silk shading. It's still mostly split stitches, but there are a few stitches that are "whatever fit and moved in the correct direction".

Once the silk portion was done I couched silver passing thread around all the shapes. I didn't want it to be the only non sparkling part of the book cover! This was easy enough to do for the straight lines, but the wolf and fleur-de-lis were rather more difficult. I used tweezers to make particularly sharp bends in the thread where it was needed. I also used a slightly less thick passing thread for those areas.

When the embroidery was done it was time to applique this piece onto the main piece. Pinning it in place didn't work very well - it was very thick - so it ended up slightly lopsided. I used white and blue thread to do the couching, so it wouldn't show. I then couched a looped wire around the outside of the shield. This was to finish covering the couching, as well as to even out the slightly off center shield. I specifically used the looped wire because it called to mind the thread used for the oval of the original piece.

You can also see the many spangles that were added to the piece now. I followed the basic positions of the original piece, but primarily used them in particularly open places in the design. I attached the spangles by used a piece of check purl as a bead to hold them on, which is how they were done on the original piece. Some of the areas around the shield ended up somewhat open, but not in a shape that would easily accept a spangle. In those places I used just a piece of the check purl to fill out the design.

A critique that I've heard of my previous goldwork pieces is that they aren't quite encrusted enough with metal to be properly period. This is a very valid comment - the goldwork that I'm trying to recreate goes far above and beyond what might be considered "tasteful" in our time. Generally I didn't go far enough in the past due to time constraints. This time I was bound and determined not to have any large open spaces! The last two bits of work I had to do before covering the book were also to fulfill that goal.

The space under the swords had been taunting me for some time. I didn't know what I wanted to do, but it certainly needed to be filled. I ended up with a basic design and some spangles there, which turned out fine, but it taught me that the parchment paper I use to transfer my design does more than give me lines to follow. It also keeps the passing thread up above the pile of the velvet, making the lines stand out much more. Now that I know that I'll try to avoid last minute line additions to future projects.

The other item I added was a border. The original piece almost completely filled the cover of the book, and had a border that was actually around the edge of the book cover. In this case the book was slightly larger than the design area, so I decided to put the border closer to the rest of the design and leave the very edge of the cover undecorated.

And now we're essentially done, but it still needs to be put on the actual book!

Device Pin Project Part 8

It's been awhile since I finished some of these. I completed two more right before Pennsic, and they had been sitting around for mooonths. I keep getting distracted by things, I guess.

I've finally started in on our good friends the Calivers.

Per pale purpure and vert, on a lozenge argent a rose proper.

Argent, a chevron between three fleurs-de-lys and on a chief azure a wolf passant argent

These were the first two that I did on linen instead of a thicker cotton. I did it because it's what I had to hand when I started them, but I think I'll stick to the cotton - or at least use heavier linen. These were a bit of a pain, and I don't think they look as nice on the pin. And it's certainly harder to hide little thread bits behind the thinner fabric.

Also, that wolf is on my hit list along with certain horses and greyhounds now.

Device Pin Project Part 7

In which there are rust problems and horse problems.

Azure, three roundels Or each charged with a triskelion of spirals azure.

Here we have the rust problems. This was made at Gulf Wars, where it was quite humid. Both pins I worked on there got rust spots on them. It adds character, right?

Purpure, a unicorn rampant tail towed argent crined and gorged with a collar and chain Or, a bordure gyronny of eight vert and argent.

Horse problems part one. The tail and the chains and the border!

Quarterly gules and argent, a stag and a horse combatant sable.

Horse problems part two, compounded by stag problems. These two are lucky I like them.

And in case you've forgotten the size of these...

Donovan's Bling Box

Today we get a medium that isn't likely to show up on this blog very often, since polymer clay is not exactly what you would call "period".

I'm sure if they had it they would have used it.

Anyway, this particular clay project gets the right to be here because it has an SCA basis, and because it's trying REALLY HARD to not look like polymer clay.

Donovan had been complaining about not having a bling box big enough for all of his bling (poor boy). So I decided to make him one! I'd wanted an excuse to make faux stones, and I've covered the tops of wooden boxes before. What could be hard about it?

Well...lots, is the answer. I made it too big (so. much. sanding.), My plan to use liquid clay as "grout" was only mildly successful. But in the end I like how it came out.

Of course now, 3 years later, it's too small for all his bling again.

Device Pin Project Part 6

And now we are caught up! And we're getting caught up on two particularly important devices.

First we have my brother - both real life and cadet. Recently General of the Eastern Rapier Army at Pennsic 44. He's so late on this list because he spent forever hemming and hawing over what he wanted his device to be. Picky artists are picky.

Per chevron Or and sable, three suns and a lion dormant, a bordure counterchanged

 And then we get to my cadet, Liadan. I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot about her on here, as I contemplate how to teach her things, and in turn get inspiration from her.

Per bend purpure and sable, an owl argent maintaining in its dexter talon a sword within a bordure Or

Device Pin Project Part 5

Today we learn that otters are also problematic. Luckily for me, they aren't exactly a common heraldic animal.

Azure, a chevron throughout between three needles bendwise sinister argent.

Per pale purpure and vert, on a chief argent a raven displayed sable.

Per fess Or and vert, in pale a brown otter statant proper and an open book Or.

Device Pin Project Part 4

They just keep coming! In today's batch, we learn to hate ermines, and be thankful for geometric devices.

Vair, on a chief argent three cinquefoils azure.

Paly azure and argent, a dance vert.

Per chevron gules and barry wavy argent and azure

Sable, a pale counter-ermine fimbriated between in chief two lozenges argent.

Sable, three quill pens in pile argent and a bordure rayonny gyronny Or and gules.

Device Pin Project Part 3

This batch of pins are all royal pins. I created them for the Kings and Queens whose reigns I served on. So here we have Duke Edward, Duchess Thyra, Duke Kenric, and Duchess Avelina.

Here I learned that the only thing that's worse than horses are rampant greyhounds. Especially when those greyhounds are combined with a fleur-de-lis border.

Gules, a greyhound rampant to sinister between three mullets of four points argent, a bordure fleury Or.

Gules, a dance between three lozenges argent.

Per chevron argent and gules, three increscents counterchanged.

Per pale Or and sable, in pale three keys fesswise counterchanged

Device Pin Project Part 2

More pins!

Quarterly gules and sable, on a bend sinister argent three fleurs-de-lys gules.

Azure, a hurst of pine trees eradicated Or trunked proper and in chief a decrescent argent.

Gules, on a bend sinister between two crosses fourchy, between the tines of each fork a roundel, argent three glazier’s nails palewise sable.

Per saltire vert and azure, four dragonflies argent.

Argent, a trident sable and a bordure vert semy of lotuses affronty argent.

Forays Into Silk Painting

In February 2014 I attended a local event known as a Medieval Maker's Faire. I took a class there on silk painting and came up with this ...unique... rendition of my device you see here. It's maybe 6-8 inches tall?

And it was lucky that I did so! In August my brother was to get his Order of the Golden Rapier, and he really really wanted a silk scarf for the occasion.

I think the second attempt came out quite a bit better.

Device Pin Project Part 1

When I first decided to get into embroidery I created a small rendition of my device as a quick and easy project.

Purpure, on a pale wavy argent a lizard tergiant vert.

I realized that I enjoy device heraldry, and also that I enjoy embroidery. So an ongoing project began.
There is nothing "period" about this project - I use cotton dmc floss, whatever white cotton fabric I can get my hands on, and fabric button making kits.

But it is a relatively fast gift I can make for my friends and for those who touch my sca life in some way!

Vert, a crequier within a bordure embattled argent.

Per pale sable and vert, on a chief argent a fox passant gules.

Vert, on a bend sinister argent three mushrooms palewise
azure and in canton a coronet Or

Per pale sable and vert, a horse rampant between an arrow and an arrow reversed argent

Azure, a seahorse erect and on a chief invected argent an arrow fesswise gules.

I've already amassed quite a collection of these, so I'll be posting them in vaguely chronological chunks. It's an interesting way to watch my skill progression!
This chunk, by the way, taught me that embroidering tiny horses is a giant pain in the ass.