The War Wagon!

We bought a small trailer to make camping events a little easier. Actually, it'll make things a LOT easier.

Here it is packed up and ready to go to North Oaken War Maneuvers (last month). You can see it's packed to the top with our Ger. But, honestly, I didn't pack it very well. I'm sure I can shoehorn in a lot more stuff.

It's going to make Pennsic packing a breeze. And the best part is that it folds up, so it will fit in the garage along with both cars. After hauling it once, we love it. Now all it needs is a coat of paint on the wood.

Harbor Freight Folding Utility Trailer.

Genius

A comic featuring, honest-to-God, the Tsar Cannon! (found via Subnormality web comic).

Historic Enterprises

Just bought two pairs of these from Historic Enterprises:


They were $16.95 each, which is a little more than I wanted to pay; but ever since I bought my period shoes at the last Pennsic (and found out that leg wraps are period for my persona) I've been jonesing for leg wraps. They will be a great addition to my garb.

Little by little I'm upgrading my appearance. In fact, from the ankle down, I rock!

Tandy Leather

Open Saturdays, 9-4.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/

Rivets

Just ordered more rivets online (05/11, order #010943). I'll need them to add some sparkle to my body armor and, eventually, my new arm/elbow armor.

R.J. Leahy Co.
www.rjleahy.com

Garb to be

Once the armor is done (or done enough for now) I want to make a linen shirt for Pennsic. Some links for on-line sellers of linen:

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/

http://www.denverfabrics.com/ ("Up to 5 swatches (3x4") for 1 cent each, each additional swatch $1 each." WTF? )

http://www.fabrics-store.com/

I priced linen at JoAnn Fabrics and it was around $14/yard. The sites above list linen for half that price. Can it really be that much cheaper to buy online?

Future footware

Footware project for down the road:


Image here: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=343055

These shoes might just pass as low turnshoes. Especially when wore with leg wraps (assuming the the costume shown here is accurate). I just wish they weren't in black. Wait a minute...


Image here: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=343081

Cool! And they're Doc's! Also, the rounded toe is closer to what I've seen in period shoes (closer than the slip-ons above, at least). Seems like it wouldn't be that hard to remove the bungee cord and replace it with leather cord. Or maybe a leather band with latchet closure. The fabric heel is a little obnoxious, but if I could make leg wraps in the same color, they might not be noticeable. I bet those things would be comfortable as hell to walk around Pennsic in.

Links

Rus Male Costume (http://users.bigpond.net.au/quarfwa/miklagard/Costume/Rus/Trader/Rus_description.htm)

Detailed information (including citations) concerning a single costume researched and made by Austrian Peter Beatson (p.beatson@unsw.edu.au) This link really motivated me... the main photo has no visible anachronisms (at least that I can see, I've only just started my real research, though) and I want to look like that guy! I also want the helmet next to him, but that's a different topic.

Sofya la Rus' Medieval Russian Life (http://www.strangelove.net/~kieser/Russia/)

Great source of detailed information about the culture, the history and the garb of Russia (the last is especially important to me, because I want to look good RIGHT NOW and I don't want to wait!) I haven't even begun to tackle the information here, but I have poured over the patterns. Master Mordok (Rus clothes whore and good friend) has told me on many occasions that Russian clothing is simple in that it's all straight lines. But I never really bought into the "you can do eet!" mindset before, even after making a fighting kaftan of my own (with a lot of help from Mordok). But now I'm looking at the patterns with a more motivated eye, and y'know what? I think I can do it.

Rus helm front piece (http://www.dospex.com/foto/sudak2005/p115.jpg)

That's St. Michael, and it is full-on awesome. Buy this for me, please?

Electrolytic Etching of Brass (http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/electroetch.shtml)

I have it in my head that I can do this... even though I am in no way handy or technically adept, and this project involves electricity and the potential to hurt or main me. But, it really seems like once all the fiddly bits are figured out, that I could make some pretty awesome brass work for my helm and other armor. Also see the page for an alternative method of making the needed print-outs.