I’m back from Saltare, and had a wonderful time.  (Yes, there’s a pic of me in the 14thc Versatile Gown, it’s coming.)

However, driving home and talking about future garb projects with Melbrigda, I realized how I can put some strategy into the varied stuff that interests me.

Gardens – 16thc Persia, Egypt (date?) and Spain (Alhambra for starters).
Dance –  16thc Europe and Persia.
Textiles – Coptic weaving (1000AD) and 16thc Persia (I think).
Domestic architecture – Roman courtyard houses, Indian brickwork, Egyptian mudwork.  See Persian gardens.
Garb – ALL OF ABOVE CULTURES.

So, clearly, I still need 16thc Persian garb to talk about gardens and dance in, Coptic garb to talk about weaving and linen processing, Dutch Protestant Reformation to dance Western European…and there might be some Spanish stuff for next year.

I am relieved to figure out this strategy, because this collection of clothes starts to solve some practical problems.  I need hot weather garb (German summer kirtle, Coptic, Spanish?); medium garb that I can dress up (Luttrell versatile gown, Herjolfnaes gown, Viking apron); and cold weather fancy garb (Protestant, Persian) for dancing.

Posts on my finished (for now) Versatile coming right up; along with a rant about dancing, all the lovely loot I brought home, and the terrific experience of the party at Master Allan’s house.  Oh, and the Persian garb start.  (I really need to update my category structure, too…)