Finding my Focus

It seems that more has been happening for me in the past 3 years of my A&S journey than had happened in the previous 20 years combined. I have always been passionate, committed and hard working when it came to the arts and sciences. I also always put  research at the center point of all my projects, so looking back I have to wonder what has changed for me? I don't have to look far to find the answer.
One conversation I had changed everything for me. That conversation was the one that helped me find my focus, and once I found out what I should focus on, everything else about my A&S work immediately fell into place and the path I needed to take became very clear to me. The funny thing was, I never knew that not having a focus was the problem that was holding me back.
Many years ago I asked my good friend-and Medieval Aunt-Aurelia to help me find someone to apprentice to in the SCA. I wanted to take my sewing and embroidery to the next level and I felt stuck. I didn't know how to get deeper into research and being self taught I felt I wasn't getting any better on my own anymore. This was before Facebook and I was really discouraged by the Yahoo groups, I hated asking questions on them since there were always some unhelpful people who dominated the group. I was at the time more active in Acre than I was in the SCA and I didn't know many East Kingdom Laurels. Aurelia and I though we should focus on my work on Middle Eastern garb and we were not able to come up with anyone. We decided to let the matter rest and the both of us would keep our eyes and ears open and we knew the right person would eventually be made known to us. At the time my son was just a toddler and then we moved to a new state and I wound up taking a few steps back from medievalism.
About 5 or 6 years ago I really was able to become more active in A&S again and I went to a University event that my Auntie Aurelia was also at. She introduced me to Lady Caterina and told her I was looking for guidance on my A&S work. That day I had attended my very first Athena's thimble meeting and I confessed to her that I had been too nervous to panel the embroidered favor I had made. She made me feel comfortable enough to show it to her and she gave me some very nice feedback and encouraged me to panel it in the future.
After that first meeting our paths crossed often, and the more I talked with Caterina the more I found that we had a very similar approach to A&S and even though she was more skilled and experienced than me, I found it so easy to talk to her about it. I found myself often seeking her advice, and it was her advice that she gave me about 3 years ago that changed everything for me.
We were at a New Years Eve party and we were talking about the first A&S project and my problem with deciding on what to do next. I was unsure if I should work on a garb project or an embroidery project. She suggested I should focus on my fiber arts, She said that was my strongest art and my biggest passion. That statement made so much sense, yet was not something I could have seen myself. I was still thinking about this conversation for days afterwards and suddenly I had a very clear plan in place. I had several A&S project ideas as well as classes that I could teach based on each project. I had always struggled with the fact that I liked to do so many different crafts, but when I looked at it from the perspective as a fiber artist, they didn't seem that different at all. Suddenly spinning, sewing, embroidery and knitting were all just branches of the main focus of fiber.
It was not long before I had decided that my next project would be the period fiber study project, which was really more of a research paper that had some handspun and woven visual aids. I also realized I was so much more confident about my fiber work and it was so much easier to talk about it to other people. Once I realized that fiber study was at the core of what I did it all became so clear.
I knew that I had found the teacher for me, but was I the student for her? She had only recently become a Laurel and I didn't want to push the idea of her taking me on as a student. It took another year of getting to know each other for both of us to realized it was the right thing for both of us to do. I could not be happier with the decision and I feel studying under Padrona Caterina is exactly what I needed to move forward. Together I think we will do some great things.

2nd Annual A&S War Point at Pennsic XLV

 

 

About 1 year ago I returned to the work force (huzzah!!!). Unfortunately I spend 100% of my workday sitting in front of a computer which makes me not want to do that while I am home. Add to that the fact that 7 months ago I went and became the Princess of Acre and that means that while I have been doing lots and lots of crafting, I haven't been blogging about it.

 

I am finally starting to feel like my life is getting into a sort of routine, so I hope to be able to get in the habit of writing again. One of my biggest motivations for this is all of the A&S displays and competitions I have been to over the past year. I really enjoy seeing how others create and enjoy reading about it on their blogs.

 

I have been home from Pennsic XLV a little more than a week and I am still trying to wrap my brain around the wonderful A&S experience I had. Sunday of war week was the Knowne World A&S display. I remember 2 year ago being so frightened of showing my work. I had such a wonderful time that I couldn't wait to do it again. I had originally planned to display my medieval fiber study that I showed for the first time at the Quest A&S champions competition and St Elegius A&S competition. Much to my surprise I was selected by their Majesties f the East to compete on their team for the A&S warpoint!!!They decided this year to choose from the people who had won at A&S competitions and my win at St. Elegius in Dragonship Haven made me eligible. I decided if I was going to be showing the fiber study at the warpoint competition on Thursday, I shouldn't also show it on Sunday. I was left with the dilemma about what I should show on Sunday. I didn't really want to miss out on the display since it is such a great way to interact with other artisans and I have come to feel that it is our responsibility to share our knowledge with the populace just as the cooks share their craft by cooking feasts and the calligraphers share by making scrolls. I never really finished my fleece to frock project. I had become really disheartened after I had realized I didn't have enough fabric to make the dress. Also I had made so many mistakes in the making of the fabric that I felt it was better to just go forward than trying to fix what had already been done. Still I wanted to at least bring closure to the project by making a pair of 14th century hoods out of the fabric I had made. I had 2 weeks, surely I could full the fabric, brush and cut the nap, cut out and hand-sew hoods in that time. No problem!

 

So there I was at the A&S display on Sunday trying to finish sewing the lining to the ONE hood I had cut out. I gave up trying to sew and discuss the project and just talked with the people who visited my display and all the surrounding artisans. I am so happy that this year they put all the East Kingdom fiber people together!! We had a great time swapping info and drooling all over each others projects. As much fun as I was having I was a bit nervous about displaying on Thursday and having to stand there and answer questions. I was nervous about having to deal with some people who might be jealous about having not been asked and might be a bit unkind about my work. I was happy when Mistress Amy came by to ask if I had any questions about Thursday and I told her my concerns. She let me know that the competition was anonymous and they didn't want us to stick around. I was so relieved!!!! So now all I had to worry about was waking up in time to get there at 8am, especially since the Acre party was Wednesday night.

 

It turns out the hard part was not getting up, but going to sleep! I was so excited about the warpoint and we had fantastic bardic going on in camp until 1:45am, even though I had gone to bed at 12:30am I couldn't fall asleep. My loyal husband, Frederick woke up with me at 6:30am and helped me set up my display. We were there at 8am sharp and helped to set up the hall. Since it was going to be anonymous, we each were given a number. I chose 24 (my favorite) and had my choice of tables to set up at. We also were able to pick a hand made cup that was going to be used for the judging beads to be placed in and we got to keep it as a souvenir and thank you for being in the competition.

 

 

 

After I set up I was able to talk briefly with an amazing artisan I had met on Sunday who was telling me all about her research on Teasels and she had actually made a teasel cross that she has used for raising the nap on fiber. She has also made a great wheel and wool combs and she was just amazing!!! I looked around at some of the other displays and tried not to get in anyone's way while they set up. There was some seriously amazing displays there, I could hardly believe that I had been chosen to display alongside these magnificent artists. I had decided not to come back to the hall until the voting was over so that I would not see how many beads I had (or had not) received. To me the biggest honor was to be there in the first place. After everyone had set up we were able to vote. Everyone got 3 beads for which they could vote for their 3 favorite. It was impossible to pick 3 out of all of that, so I went with my 3 favorite research projects and even that was a hard choice.

 

I stuck to my promise to myself and did not return to the hall until 3pm when they wanted us to return and stand by our displays for an hour so that we could talk to anyone who wished to asked questions. By then all the judging had ended and I have many wonderful conversations. I was happy to see that I had also received some really awesome tokens too! The East wound up wining the day by less than 100 points. The King of Aethelmearc and the Queen of the East gave an excellent speech to all of the artisans and it was an excellent way to end such a fabulous experience.

 

I hope you all someday get a chance to participate in it, or at least go and see it when it happens next year. You will be blown away, I guarantee it!