Ursulmas Weekend

It was a laid-back and chilly weekend at the fairgrounds with a few hundred of my closest friends.  Saturday I went solo (no kids) and helped Avelyn set up all the costumes for the static Costumers Display.  She did all of the leg work getting the costumes procured, but I supplied several of them. She was able to gather several costumes from locals in a variety of times and regions, and they brought their pieces on Friday night and early Saturday for us to arrange.  We were mostly successful.

We would have loved to have more dress forms to put the costumes on, but finding available forms is difficult enough...arranging for these things to be picked up or dropped off when people aren't planning to attend or get sick at the last minute--impossible.  The clothes look so much better on a 3-D form than just hanging on a hanger.  That's something to work on for next time.  I would also like us to put together some kind of banner telling them what we are doing--"Clothing Through the Ages"--and some kind of interactive activity for our visitors.  Maybe one of those life-size cut outs with a hole where the face should be...something for the kids...  

We can also open up a corner for others to come and stitch and socialize.  Since we have access to an outlet, we can provide hot drinks to anyone who wants to sit with us, snacks, and a little bit of music when the performance stage is empty.

  

The unusual costumes included this Japanese kit, a Polish dress, and the Turkish kit of mine.  Each outfit was to include a one-page description of the garment, who would have worn it, when it was in style, and where it would have been found.  Several people came by to ooooh and aaaaaah over the Japanese gear--one guy even offering to buy it.  I said that he could leave his information with me and I would see if the maker would be interested in making a commissioned piece (which, it turns out, he is).  He declined, so then I directed him to Gypsy Caravan who sells costume patterns.  

We were located right next to Thorbjorn "Thing-maker", who carves spoons, makes jewelry & tools, collects gems along the riverside, runs a forge, makes his own charcoal...you know, the guy I want to keep close when the world goes to Helena Handbasket.

This is the front of his booth, which won the best  working display in the Ursulwyk area.  Technically, we are also in that area, but we didn't have enough going on to even compete with the spoonmaker and his lovely daughter.

Across from me was Hroswitha, the blind weaver (formerly the blind bookseller).  She had her loom out and worked on it a bit over the weekend.  She also knits and her hubby does some wood carving as well.  He was working on bowls as well as spoons.

Behind her, to the right, was the stage & performance area.  It had scheduled performances for singers, dancers, musicians, and a magic act (Cammie went to enjoy this on Sunday).

Their Magesties held court and gave out awards, scrolls, and other accolades to various members of the populace.

I brought my weaving to have Gypsy Caravan to sell.  I managed to sell two of them.

Behind us was a couple of people making rope  and yarn out of several different materials.  

Sebastian was making rope using some interesting twisting machine, and beside him a young woman was working softer materials, carding, spinning and plying yarn.

There were a number of merchants there, although it seemed there were fewer this year than in previous years.  There probably was--there was a reduced amount of space available in the main hall now that they've installed permanent bleachers--welded into place taking up all that real estate that we used to use for merchants and activities.  I didn't get much time to wander the merchants at the north end of the hall, but I did a quick walk-through.

We were disappointed to not be able to get rid of the ugly banners hanging from the walls.  From what I understood, part of the deal with the grandstand was that these banners would be taken down, but two days before the event, they announced that they weren't going to be able to do it.  Sorry.  They also didn't clean the floors adequately, so there were big puddles of oil here and there.  Gross.  We have started brainstorming ideas for making big banners and flags to hang from the walls to cover up the "Central Welding Supply" sign.

The next day, Cammie came with me to hang out at the event, and she played a great deal in the Children's area.  She made a cardboard shield, a pair of dipped candles, and a game board with game pieces.  

His Lordship Jason ye Silver-tongued sang and told stories at the stage, which Cammie attended.  Jason was my apprentice brother for several years.  He also recently ended the fealty relationship he had with our absentee Mistress.  

We wrapped up at about 4 pm Sunday and came home.  I made a pan of mushroom chicken, rice and green beans.  

Before the weekend...just to take a step back, I quilted up a customer's quilt.  I had some difficulty with  the back of the quilt, and having experienced this, I decided I needed to write a How-To for customers. This is the visual example of why vertical seams running top to bottom are bad.  The seam provides extra bulk and causes puckers and stretching.  If you don't fuss with it a bunch, you can end up with lots of issues on the finished product.

Here's the quilt top...I love the colors!  The golden fall colors are really gorgeous, especially when set with the black sashing, and the batik border fabric is a beautiful compliment. I did a simple stipple over the whole thing.  I have a bunch of quilt tops in line now, but all of them are for charity.  Five are for Quilts of Valor, and the three others for Seattle Children's.  It'll give me a chance to work on some new quilting designs.