My Boston trip

Dear Open Shop fans,

I'm sorry I missed open shop night on 6/14, but I had to go to Boston on business.  So I stayed over an extra day to visit the Higgins armoury museum!

 I took this picture of rowers on the Charles river from my hotel room window, just to prove I was really there.

 At the Higgins I looked at tournament helms...with bar grills!

 And also a nice anime armour.

 This winged spearhead caught my eye.  This is the kind of original that my rattan "glaive" represents.

 Here's another example.

 I'm thinking about making a pot helm or zieschagge for rapier and cut-and-thrust, so I took some pictures of this example.

 Here is a fine specimen of what I would call a brigandine.  Totally unlike what King Rene' calls a brigandine.

 This almain rivet is a great addition to any 16th century armour.  Perfect for cross-over rapier fighters on the armoured field.

This roman medusa medalion would be a great model to use for a repouse' shield boss.

 Slot-rivet articulation in the pauldron.

 A selection of anvils and armouring tools.

 Sabatons

...and an armoured Pug just for Her Majesty.

Leatherworkers+Open shop=FUN!

 The leatherworker's Guild (Local 484) was out in force to hear a preview of my class on 15th cent. hardened leather tournament armour, and provide some comments on the handout.

 James and his father Jim came to start work on an armour plan.

 Maria brought some cordials to sample/share.  I like the raspbery/blueberry!

 Daniel finished up one elbow and started the rest of his cops!

 Ben consulted with Master Jovian.

 Abby was busy with Real Life stuff but we were still glad to have her come by and visit.

 Master Jovian uses the world's most awesome 6-board chest to haul his projects around.

 Nora sewed trim on her under-tunic to get ready for King's College.

 Wyllow allows Maria a rare glimpse of The Linen Stash.

Johanna models a leather eye-patch, tankard, and re-sized boot to prove she was busy at the Guild meeting...or that she is a pirate.  We're not sure which.

 Ben shows his splinted vambrace disguised as a sleeve.

 Toner patiently holds the spool of thread.

 Frosti's new half-gauntlet is fresh out of the oven.

...And I found some time to work on the hinges for my new helm's cheek-plates.

Food!

Open shop on 6/7/2012 started off delicious and just got better from there.

Wyllow made beef rolls and a special Roman juniper pepper sauce with de frutum.  She made two varieties:  with and without mustard.  Deidre also brought a middle-eastern chick-pea dish to share.

I made savory Roman turnips with fish sauce and hing.

Willow also made  African honey apples from another Apicius recipe.

 Gunna made savory toasted cheese (Cheese Goo!) to serve in bread bowls.

 Grain'e made some delicious beer bread.

 Link and Josh worked on knee cops and half gauntlets, while their friend (name forgotten, sorry!) fixed up some old armour pieces.

 Julia consulted with Wyllow on personna development and seems to be headed in a Varangian/Rus/Byzantine direction.  Here are some useful links for would-be Varangians:

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=46922

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandpeter/limb_defences/limb_defences.htm 

 Deidra showed us her new underdress and made progress on her helm.

 Evie and Gunna relaxed after much cheese-gooing.

 Wolf finished lacing his body armour.  Now he just needs straps.

And Abby made progress on her gorget!

6/14/2012 Open shop without me!

Last Thursday I found out just how important I am to a good open shop night...I was out of town and everyone had a great time without me!

 Frosti burnished some leather.

 Julia burnished the edges of her rerebrace while Wolf petted the cat. Someone had to do it!

 Nora was sewing...

 Gunna was patterning..

 Jackie was carding wool...

and Belle moved too fast to see.  Actually Gunna was helping Belle with a dress pattern.

 Artorius helped with other people's projects.

 Link started to dish some knee cops.

And Josh made progress on both half-gauntlets and knee cops.