Category: Research

A place for ideas for the future, to collect research

Research3 Comments

Book reccs from Mistress Jadi

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I took advantage of the Hafla at RUM to ask Mistress Jadi about places to start researching permaculture notions from the Middle East.  Then promptly wished I wasn’t so tired as to have forgotten my notebook before I asked.  What I do remember is that she kindly told me to look at several books, two by Jared Diamond: Guns, Germs and Steel, and Collapse.  Both of these are at my local library, and I can’t wait to work on them.  Then there’s Daniel J. Boorstin: The Discoverers, and The Creators.  (He’s got a third book, but she didn’t mention it, … Continue reading Book reccs from Mistress Jadi

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Patricia Baines’ “Flax & Linen”

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New book arrived! (I really want her "Linen: Handspinning and Weaving", but it’s out of print.)  This one, though, is a great little book, packed with terrific information.  I’ve already used it to clarify a question I had from "Women’s Work." What is this Egyptian ‘splicing flax fibers end-to-end’ business, as a pre-drafting technique? Baines touches on it just long enough for me to give it a try.  What you do is pull a few fibers with damp fingers, and twist them every few inches.  Then you roll that ribbon into a ball.  (My first attempt I coiled on a … Continue reading Patricia Baines’ “Flax & Linen”

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A&S summary, second quarter 2007

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Researched natural dyesStarted reconstruction of kirtle from Durer’s "Portrait of a Young Furleger with Her Hair Up"Researched anti-fungal medicationsComposed heraldic device for submittalDetermined name for submittalResearched period woodworking devicesConstructed a Germanic Hemd: linen, handsewn, with linen thread, smocked.Experimented with spinning flax into linenAttended Kingdom A&S: took class on storytelling, and taught wool spinningConstructed a leather watchcover with deer leather and sinewConstructed a Scottish Saffron Shirt: linen, handsewn, with linen thread pulled from the fabric,pieced and embroidered according to period descriptionFound sources for looking at digital facsimilies of rare period booksResearched and discussed period dancesParticipated in public demos: demonstrated carding wool, … Continue reading A&S summary, second quarter 2007

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William Morris and natural dyes

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From the Natural Dyes list on Yahoo!Groups: Every so often I actually read the text in books I get mainly for the illustrations — this is one: *William Morris: Decor and Design* by Elizabeth Wilhide (ISBN 0-8109-3623- 2; Abrams, 1991). I hadn’t realized that he used only natural dyes for all of his interior fabrics, rugs, upholstery.. . yards and yards and hundreds of yards of printed cottons and other fabrics made of linen, wool, silk, mohair for upholstery, drapes and curtains, rugs, tapestries.. . Lightfastness was important, and the aniline dyes of the time (late 1800s) were "prone to … Continue reading William Morris and natural dyes

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Trestle Table

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I’ve always liked trestle tables.  I like how you can see how they work, and I like that they can be demountable and the parts moved elsewhere when you need MORE FLOOR.  Or outside, I have grand ideas of having people over to eat in the garden. Here’s the kind I like best, with a shaped leg upright, though not the ornate stretcher, and preferably even more painted than this.  Like Swedish Style.Doesn’t it look like you could just knock that apart, set the top against a wall, hang the legs and stretcher up, at the end of a work … Continue reading Trestle Table

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Anti-fungal stuff

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I offer these recipes in altruism, and will not engage in any further context.  TMI.  It’s all from the Yahoo SCA-Herbalist list. Keeping his feet clean and dry will help. Wearing open toe sandals without socks should help as well as wearing socks  made of natural fibers that breathe as opposed to synthetics. Here’s a recipe for a vinegar foot soak that’s anti-fungal. Soak the feet in vinegar/water solution for 20 minutes. Foot Vinegar 1-pint orgainc apple cider vinegar 1-teaspoon lavender flowers 1-teaspoon oregano Allow it to macerate for 2 weeks. Dilute this with water for the soak.    Also … Continue reading Anti-fungal stuff

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Yoga

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I’m going to add a new category, but this one isn’t for a new interest – but one I’m coming back to. I took up yoga seriously several years ago.  I was trying to figure out how to lead a post-academic, grownup-dancing life.  Yoga was techy/historic enough (just wait until I get to the names) and active enough to interest me. I did a couple of years of weekly classes, and really liked it.  I bought books and videos, the occasional magazine, and really immersed myself, as I have a tendency to do.  However, some of the other parts of … Continue reading Yoga

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Whirligigs and 3-man heys

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I’m going to Kingdom A&S in two weeks, and there’s going to be a ball.  Here’s the list of dances (the ones marked with a * are the ones Mel knows).  I know I’ve done Petit Vriens and Amoroso, and possibly Black Alman – that’s what happens when you say to any man in the room – "teach me this!"  It’ll take me a while to sort out what I’ve done before… Set 1Bransle Charlotte*Rostiboli Gioioso & Piva*Jenny Pluck Pears*Chirintana Set 2If All The World Were PaperPetit VriensBlack Alman*Ballo Del Fiore & Galliard Set 3Bransle De GuerreChestnutAmoroso*Heart’s Ease* Set 4Scotch … Continue reading Whirligigs and 3-man heys