I've been snowed in for two days. Today, it was sunny, and the roads are clearing nicely. It would be nice to squeeze another snow day out of it, but it was really nice to get out a little today.

I have one skein left to knit on the shawl, and 10 squares left to quilt on the quilt, then the border, and the binding. I'm trying to get at least one of these finished before starting the next round of projects, but I don't think I'm going to make it.

So far, in my quest to catch up on my reading, I've read The Dark is Rising, Yarrow, and The Book of Three from The Prydain Chronicles. The Illuminator, by Brenda Rickman Vantrese and The Holy Grail, by Norma Lorre Goodrich are next.

I'm taking over as A&S (arts and sciences) officer for the Barony. This basically means I'm responsible for coordinating and reporting artsy-crafty-type stuff within the group, and with the Canton. Fun. So, at the end of February, I'm teaching a class on applique, because several people have asked me about it, which is kind of cool, but I'm kind of wondering how they knew to ask me. Anyway, there's a call for artisans to donate two of whatever to the kingdom for largesse. I'm thinking of combining the two, and using scrap fabric to make pouches, decorated with some sort of applique.

The big project coming up is going to be garb, I think. I want to make Neale an early Tudor-style jerkin. I've promised, no codpiece, no tights. I ordered the pattern for the Irish dress. It's the kind you see in the Gaelsong catalog and all the sites that cater to rennies. It's a simplified version of a dress that was found in a bog that's been dated to about the 16th century. I found this website http://www.geocities.ws/Jongloresse/SCA/costume.htm when I was looking for adaptations of the Shinrone dress. I ordered the painstakingly researched pattern, and asked a friend to make it for me, and I don't like it. The skirt is pleated in a weird way, that makes it extremely heavy and awkward, and it just fits oddly. The less-accurate common style is more comfortable and flattering, so that's what I'm going with, but I'm going to add hanging sleeves, and I want to embroider them. The goal is to make nice spiffy new garb for us for Coronation in April. I'm thinking I'll order the material soon, and start on Neale's stuff, and embroidering the sleeves for mine, and strips that I can attach to the bodice, and I'll actually make the bodice closer to time, so I can be sure it will fit properly.

Well, dress is done. Done enough to wear, anyway. I finished the sleeves at the event, but I had them to wear for the afternoon. The skirt needs to be hemmed a bit, and the overdress needs to be hemmed a LOT, but it works. I need to get more rings for lacing to add to the sleeves, because I don't have quite enough to get the sleeves to lay right. It just needs a little tweaking, though. I'm going to make a lightweight gown for summer. If I wear it belted, it may work over a chemise for summer. I definitely want to make the overdress, though, since it was announced today that both the next coronation and crown list are going to be local, and I want something nice to wear.