Newsletter - Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group - March 2009

Greetings to Everyone,

I hope that by now everyone is hard at work on their entries for A&S protectors!

I have not had any comments on the wording for the announcement of the A&S competition at Raglan, sponsored by IDFAIG, so I will go ahead and send that to the Baelfyr. It would be nice to announce this at A&S Protectors too.

IDFAIG Matters
In the previous newsletter, I asked for input regarding a possible shortening/changing of the IDFAIG’s name. It has been commented that the Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts interest group is a bit of a mouthful as far as names go. Whilst we still have to retain the ID portion of the name, how would members feel about changing the name to something a little less unwieldy? The ID MoAS has suggested “Academy” as in “ID Fibre Academy”. Do others have any suggestions? Are you happy with it as it is? All proposals happily received and the outcome will be decided by vote on the blog.

Please do have a think and let me know any ideas you may have on the matter.

Member’s progress:
MoAS Jahanarabanu has reported fantastic progress on the new Viceregal cloaks. I was privileged to see the Kumihimo braids being made, and it was hypnotic to watch. The effect on the cloaks really enhances them and this is more fine regalia for ID. So I would ask everyone – what are you making that will enhance our Crown Principality? The challenge is still out there!

Lady Julian ferch Luned has provided some very useful resources on her webpage (www.bluedormouse.co.uk) regarding drop-spinning and her experiments with natural dyes. We look forward to seeing any more updates she may make in the future.

Baroness Siobhan’s Heraldic tapestry is also moving apace and is wonderful to see in the flesh. We look forward to seeing the finished product on display.

I have also heard through the grapevine that many others are also busy at work crafting skillful goodies. I encourage you to report your progress on the IDFAIG blog, so that others might admire and inspired to learn from your work.


Things to Look forward to in the coming months.

- The first ID University will be held at Protectors in the Spring. Don’t miss your chance to teach a class at this historic event. You all have a skill that you can teach others, so that by our combined effort, ID can retain its reputation for fine artisanship in the Fibre Arts.
- MEDATS have published the details of their Spring Meeting scheduled for the 2nd May. The theme will be Henry VIII: The clothing and textiles of a European Renaissance Monarch. For more information, please visit their website: http://www.medats.org.uk/events.php
- For those not already aware of this, The Costume Society aims to encourage access to costume history (not exclusive to the SCA period). They publish an annual Journal and a biannual newsletter for members. They also organize several symposiums and meetings on different topics. For information, their website is: http://www.costumesociety.org.uk/


Yours in Service,

Melisende Fitzwalter
IDFAIG Group Leader

Thank you Siubhan!

I really feel like I was weaving magic this weekend. I made time to do 4 hours of weaving and every moment was magic. Saturday I put on some Jack Johnson, made a cup of tea and went downstairs to get back to this long-term weaving project. I wove for about an hour before Rugy started! I sat at my new bench sang along to the tunes and mindlessly wove along, well partially there was a threading fix, but I hardly even remember that now!

Saturday Siubhan and company met us for Sunday Brunch at our favorite little sleepy cafe, then we came to my house to do a bit more weaving. Three more hours of pleasant much and conversation later I had 4 more inches than I had two days before, which is about 2 diamonds. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but I have a huge sense of accomplishment from this. I am now weaving about an inch an hour, which is lightening speed in my mind! I’m sure this will improve once, I’m done weaving about 90 inches! I was glad that I was self motivated on Saturday, but I spent a lot more time weaving with someone else to keep me company. It's always better to weave, or craft with friends.

I’ve started looking ahead to the final product, so I have plenty of time to make all the finishing decisions. As this will be a rectangular Anglo-Saxon cloak, which needs to be pined to stay held together, I’m thinking of putting leather tabs, with holes punched in them, to put the cloak pin through. The thought of a pin piercing this precious work just makes me cringe!

Namaste,

J:)