Let's see who is watching.....

So on my pet project of the "Pelican Hat" I am undecided about whether to do rubies or garnets for the blood drops and what jewel to use for the mother pelican's eye.... what do yall suggest??

Now on to the fun part...

Alright yall, remember that I am ONLY posting these on this blog. So if you are seeing it yer special <smiley face>!

In this photo I've outlined the little chickadees in gold split stitch and finished off all the goldwork on the beak and legs. As you can also tell I've started putting the pearls down on the wool underlay.

This is the fun part in my opinion, it's where the design and beauty all start coming together in a neat little bundle...

Been a little quiet lately....

So i've been a little quiet on things lately. I've got a slew of projects I am working on for people going to Pennsic (the largest SCA event in the US), and other stuff for some of the leather and fetish groups in the area. I have been sneaking in time here and there to continue working on the hat project.

I got the hubby to snap a better picture with his phone than my little craptastic phone does.
Here is where I am at on it. The foundation layer is all couched down with wool yarn which should give a nice stable bed for the pearls to rest on. It looks really nice as it is, but you know I can't rest at just nice.. it has to be f*ckin fabulous b*tches! LOL

Enjoy and i'll post more as I make progress....

In progress... only blog followers are going to see this.

Here is where I am at on this project. I am not going to broadcast this blog for this project so if you read are reading this you get a preview :-) Forgive the quality of the pictures, i'm using my new craptasticly cheap phone and it takes horrible resolution pictures. My smartphone died and I just can't afford a replacement at the moment. You can still get the general idea of where it's at and just think.. after seeing this it will look a zillion times better in person. :-)

And no, I don't plan to wear it because I am not a Pelican in the SCA. It will be a gift for someone I know when they receive their Pelican...

The design on paper.

The design on fabric with a running stitch. Yes I cheated and digitized for my embroidery machine. It's the only shortcut I'm taking on this project since my hands are both always numb.

The start of the gold outline.

Here is the pelican with some of the gold outline couched down. I'm adding this as an additional decorative element. It's typical in Russian pearl embroidery to do this outline in gold but it does not seem to be done on the original hat. I'm Grishka-tizing it for additional fabulousness!

Distraction...

I haven't posted anything lately as I'm sure you have noticed. Rest assured when I finish with this super secret project I am working on there will be a flood of pictures to show. I got really inspired by this photograph and am on a mission to make something fabulous!

I don't have any more information other than what is written on the painting and that it was done by Hans Maler, but for me the painting alone was enough.

Yesterday was a little diappointing...

Here is my sampler of the embroidery I am wanting. I'm most impressed with my split stitch (the outline on the left in red), but my brick stitch (the middle fill stitches in red), and the stem stitch (black outline at center bottom) are going to need work. With no feeling in my hands I am going to have work harder on visual precision more so than the "feel" of the needle on the linen.

A little something im working on...

Here is the pattern... and the linen... on the light table.. what I want you to notice is that if you have a glass top table of any type, get a fluorescent light and put under it an …poof... instant light table. Take note all you patterners, scribes, and embroiderers!

The design

The Fabric and glimpse of flourescent light under glass table.

The combo with the light on.. looks weird don't it...lol

Trasnfer complete! It's that simple!

Progress

Working on some cloaks that are long overdue. Finally got the em-battlements drawn and beginning to cut out. The challenge is holding a fabric pencil and scissors when you have no feeling in your hands.

Concept art for the new cloaks for the Baron and Baroness of Ravens Fort.

Add caption

Close up the embroidered/appliqued Raven.

Cope | V&A Search the Collections

Cope | V&A Search the Collections

Been looking through this database... omg there is a ton of period stuff to oogle on here... there is my geekimania for the day!
~Grishka~

Another week gone by...

     So remember all those projects I was gonna work on that I had mentioned in my last entry? Well, let's just say that I accomplished none of it. Sadly to the bane of this Russian I developed peripheral neuropathy in my legs up to my thighs and in my hands. I still have full use of them but I have no feeling in them. I have much trouble trying to operate my sewing machines or trying to sew by hand.

     Kinda sucks, but I've got a new med that is supposed to help with the pain management from it. I will be working on some machine embroidery since I can do that fairly easily. I will try and post some pics... I know, I know, I keep saying that but I really will take pics and post them this time....

It's early....

     So being new to this blog thing, I can't say that I'm going to put something on here every day. I will make a diligent effort to perhaps do a weekly recap and if I find anything interesting post link, and share pictures of things I'm doing.

     I do a lot of research online about various things in the middle ages. There is much that intrigues me, but i mainly like researching clothing and embroidery the most. As a tailor, if someone approaches me wanting me to make them something new to wear, I like to at least have an idea of what their persona would have worn. Nothing catches me "off-guard" more than someone saying, "I'd like something 13th century Italian" and me standing there wondering... 'what the heck would someone in the 13th century in Italy wear?".

      Of course I will ask them if I have no clue, but I think a lot of the times my research pans out well and I know exactly what they are talking about. It also makes the person feel like I am competent in what they are looking for and ease their mind as to whether or not it will be made like the vision they have in their mind's eye.

     This week I am finishing new cloaks for the Baron and Baroness of Raven's Fort and doing some Kumihimo for a project I am working on (it's a surprise). I will also be setting the embroidery machine going on some Asian panels to frame and hang in my living room and working on quilt square. This may all sound quite ambitious, but I'll do a little here and a little there until I've gotten done what I anticipate for this week.

More to come.....
<<hugz>>
~Grishka~

Getting started...

I just created this blog to perhaps show some insight into the life of a simple Russian tailor. Well ok, maybe not so simple, but when you have Champagne taste and a beer budget what can you expect? From Grishka you can expect total fabulousness... i'll do more later but I wanted to put in this much for an intro post.

This blog will mostly be A&S projects or commissions that I am working on in the SCA. It may not be updated chronically, but I will make as valiant an effort as I can....

<<hugz>>
Grishka