Okay, here we go!
You get this picture because otherwise, the next one
becomes the preview photo for this post.
A little bit about me:
I'm Ciosa di Tommaso (chew that "C", it's Cho-suh 👄 ), and my persona is a 1400s Florentine courtesan.
For now.
I'm 34, and I'm married to a non-SCAdian; he and I powerlift together -
There's no looking sweet and coquettish when you're picking up 200 lbs.
- and then our interests diverge, so you'll probably never see mention of him again on this blog. He's like Bigfoot. Maybe he exists, maybe you've seen him, but a lot of people don't really believe you.
He said "no" to photos. Here's Idris Elba instead.
I've been playing in the SCA off and on for about six years. I joined initially only because it was one more opportunity to shoot archery, and then left for a while to pursue a degree in Art History. I came back when I realized I could incorporate my education into my SCA experience, and since then I've been lurking, trying to learn as much as I can, and meet as many people as I can - especially those with similar interests.
I've managed to register my name, develop a persona, achieve an AOA, submit a device, and begin pursuit of a specialization. A blog seemed like the next step in documenting my processes, projects, and growth.
I thought about starting this post with a picture of me, buried underneath all of the projects I'm currently trying to complete; however, I realized the weight might actually kill me. It wasn't worth the joke's payoff.
Instead, I'll start with the long-term projects:
How is it only halfway done???
This is my third German Brick Stitch pattern; all three that I've done have been taken from Master Wymarc's
page. This particular piece has so far taken me a year. I work on it when I have no other projects going; my persona isn't German and I have no real intention of getting too deep into embroidery (she said, fully aware of Murphy's Law applications to crafting and art), I just really enjoy the repetition of brick stitch.
~Fuzzy~
Then there's this. This is my future (and thus far only) A&S submission: I'm processing, spinning, dying, and tablet weaving Finn and Icelandic sheep wool. In an effort to save money on the project, I actually made my own Viking combs based on a semi-blurry photo a friend showed me of the extant tools:
Also useful for slasher movies.
They work pretty well.
I'm always working on tablet weaving projects, and the last two I've completed have been a belt for a friend and garters for some members of the Known World Courtesans:
I'm so sick of weaving deer, you guys.
And finally, because I'm in that Pre-Pennsic panic stage where, two weeks before I leave for War, I realized I have NO lightweight garb, I spent a few hours making a non-descript-but-passably-Italian gown.
It's VeNOtian.
This was constructed from spit, prayers, the wrong interfacing, and the silk of a second-hand sari. It has channels sewn in so I can ladder-lace it, and no sleeves because I ran out of materials. But it'll be too hot for sleeves, so that's fine. Right?
Right.
My upcoming projects (that is, those that I'll begin AFTER Pennsic) include garters for my Barony (to be given as awards for Order of the Garland), and favors for their Highnesses Ragnarr and Lynette. I also offered to work on making scroll covers, and bought more evenweave because a whitework project looked fun.
That's all I've got for you guys for now; I'll attempt to do things like "finish projects" and "update this blog", so keep checking back for more later!
<3
Ciosa di Tommaso
