Newsletter - Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group - November 2008

Greetings to Everyone,

Kingdom University is almost upon us and there is a nice selection of Fibre-related classes on offer including Tapestry Weaving and Rigid Heddle Weaving, Costuming, Woven garment edgings and embroidery. I am sure that those attending will learn a lot and those teaching will be equally rewarded. For those not yet aware of the classes, the list is here: http://www.westdragonshire.org/Events/KU2008/KU-classes.htm . For those still undecided whether to teach a class at the First ID University in the Spring, why not use this as an opportunity to see the various ways in which classes can be taught.

News:
If anyone missed the chance to visit the Living History Fair on the first weekend of November remember that there is another one on the weekend after Kingdom University. The Original Re-enactor’s market will take place on the 14th, 15th and 16th November: http://www.reenactorsmarket.co.uk/

The ID MOAS Jahanarabanu Vivana will be running a Tapestry weaving weekend at her home in Newmarket on the 30th Jan – 1st February. This has a 7 student limit, so please contact her as early as possible to book your slot. If you missed the email announcement, please contact her on moas@insulaedraconis.org for more information.

The new Janet Arnold book is finally published and available for purchase. All those interested in 16th century underwear and accessories should find this book of great value.

The Medieval Archaeology Journal have published their back issues on the Archaeology Data service website. The journal was first published in 1957. These scanned copies include papers and articles on subjects such as “Early Anglo-Saxon Gold Braids”, “Horizontal Loom at Novgorod” and the enticing “Haberget: A Medieval Textile Conundrum”. The online journals are free to access for personal and educational use and the portal can be found here http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/

Request for Input:
This is your newsletter and a way of disseminating information. It would be great if people would like to do short book reviews or a paragraph or two on any other fibre-related subject that they would like to write about. Alternatively if you have a snippet of news of interest to the group, or have seen something fantastic in a museum or stately home, please share! Please email me by the 1st of every month.

IDFAIG Advert:
Below is the image going into the Baelfyr to raise the profile of the group. At the moment it just has a generic image as we do not have our own device or anything of that nature. It will start running in the December Baelfyr, so if anyone has any comments or objections, please let me know as soon as possible.



Yours in Fibre Happiness,
Melisende
IDFAIG Group Leader

Newsletter - Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group - October 2008

Greetings to Everyone,

IDFAIG held their first Display at the event of Ffair Rhaglan in early September. As reported by the ID A&S Minister The noble Jahanarabanu Vivana, it was very well attended and also very well received. There were stunning works on display and evidence of the very real talent in ID and in this group. I would like to thank each and every one of you for participating and making it a success. Even members of the public were appreciative of the works. It would be great to see more of this type of display at events as it really helps to inspire people to attempt things for themselves that they otherwise might not even contemplate doing. My list of “things to learn before I die” continues to grow with every display.

Upcoming A&S-heavy Events:
I sense that a large number of you are gearing up to either teach or learn at Kingdom University. This is an event that is hosted in ID only once every 3 years, and not all of us can follow it around the Kingdom, so this is an excellent opportunity to either showcase your knowledge or learn from those who do not often visit our shores. It could also be a chance to ask specific questions that perhaps you have been unable to answer yourself, or learn that elusive final step towards finishing that project, or maybe just gaining in confidence when you realize that you really do know as much as you hoped you did.

And in achieving that confidence, please consider teaching a class at the first ID University next spring. After showing off what you can all do for several months, it will be wonderful to then offer people the chance to learn how to do it. With my tongue firmly in my cheek and my fibre-arts hat firmly on my head, and if the class-list for Kingdom University is the shape of things to come, we can’t let these inky scribal-types outdo us!

IDFAIG Challenge:
From the parliament held at Raglan Castle, it appeared at least from those attending, that the reaction towards the possibility of ID becoming a full principality, was positive. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcome of the vote, I would like to say that this is the perfect time to see if there is any regalia lacking for Insulae Draconis. Whether we forge ahead or remain constant, additional items of regalia, or tokens to give out to the deserving are always welcome and can only enhance ID. I strongly encourage anyone who is looking for a project that would serve their region, to consider doing something of this nature.

WORK OF INSPIRATION:
As if watching the astonishing works and progress of all of your projects, whether on the blog or in real-life at events, was not enough. I would like to showcase a tapestry weaving project recently finished by Lord Rakonczay Gergely from Aarnimetsa. Even more wonderful is the sequence of photos he has posted illustrating the progress of his project. You can view it here:

http://www.kolumbus.fi/rauno.huikari/verdure.htm

For those who are interested, Lord Rakonczay will be teaching a class on Tapestry Weaving at Kingdom University.


I hope to see many of you this weekend at Viceroy Tournament.

Yours in Service,
Melisende Fitzwalter
IDFAIG Group Leader

Newsletter - Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group - September 2008

Greetings to everyone,

Welcome to the first Newsletter for the Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group.

The IDFAIG held its first meeting at the recent Spring Viceroy Tournament. There was a most encouraging number of people who attended. Not all of you have joined the blog. Please consider doing so and letting us know about the great efforts and beautiful items that you make. Please email me for an invitation to join the blog. Future newsletters will only be sent to members of the blog as it is a convenient way to maintain contact info for group membership.

The first display of work by members of the group will be held at Raglan Fair (11th – 14th September).

I encourage you all to bring a project you are working on, in order to display it. It doesn’t have to be finished, or even close to finished, it also doesn’t matter if it is something that you have displayed elsewhere, there will always be folk who have not yet seen it. The aim of the display is to showcase the work of members of the group and to increase its profile with the idea of broadening the group into a place where people can find support and expertise that will help them develop their own skills.

Please also consider bringing along some small tokens that you can leave next to pieces of work that you admire. We all thrive when encouraged and appreciated and this is a practice that will help foster the Fibre arts and encourage new people who might be nervous of showing their work.


Share your Knowledge:

All of you have got your own area of expertise that you are known and admired for.

I would therefore encourage you to share your knowledge and skill by writing a short article on it. It can be as specific or as broad as you like, the aim is to introduce it to people who might not know about it. It would be wonderful to publish it on the blog and to have a series of articles as a resource that people can refer back to. You could also consider publishing it in the Baelfyr, thereby reaching even more people.

But why stop there? The new event of Insulae Draconis University will be held for the first time next year. What better occasion to show off the multitude of talents of the folk in this region? Enrich this principality by teaching others how to improve their experience within the SCA. This is a historic step in the development of ID and a chance to say “I was there, at the very first one”. Scared of teaching? Never done it before? Do not fear, people will be attending your class because they want to learn. Think of it as a sharing of ideas among equals and a discussion where you demonstrate certain skills. No-one will expect you to be able to answer every question on the subject.

If you do decide to teach a class, please contact the Insulae Draconis MoAS Jahanarabanu Vivana on moas@insulaedraconis.org


IDFAIG Challenge:

Please do not forget the IDFAIG Challenge, to make regalia for the Crown Principality. Banners, tokens, tabards, pouches whatever it may be, please let us know about your work. This is a very noble cause wherein the ID artisans put their skills to the service of our Islands earning glory and honour for themselves and for Insulae Draconis.


In other news:

The new (and final) Janet Arnold book “Patterns of Fashion 4: The cut and construction of linen shirts, smocks, neckwear, headwear and accessories for men and women c. 1540 - 1660” is now available for pre-order from Amazon at a discounted price of £15.00.



Last but not least, please continue to post pictures and information about your projects to the blog: http://idfibreinterestgroup.blogspot.com/ it is most inspiring and encouraging to see the wonderful work you are all creating.

If anyone has any questions about the blog, the group or any of the above subjects, please do not hesitate to contact me on melisende1380@yahoo.co.uk


See you all at Raglan Fair.


Lady Melisende Fitzwalter
IDFAIG Group Leader