The purpose of Thrums, threads and thoughts for Thora is to give me a space to explore my process of learning history. As I work through new projects or read new-to-me research, I stumble across little details or wonder about the whys and wherefores.
My goal has been to create a personal space that allowed privacy for sleeping that also improved the general ambiance of the crash-space tent within the constraints of my baggage allowance. My persona is medieval Norwegian/Norse, and I wanted to reflect this in my choices.
Read MoreDouble Wars is a week-long SCA camping event held in May in Southern Sweden. This year is the 30th anniversary, and DW holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first Drachenwald event I attended after moving to Europe 21 years ago. I have friendships made at that event that have lasted, and every time I attend, I make new friends.
That first trip was via train, starting in Narvik, up over Kiruna, then down the length of Sweden. This year I’ll fly down to Copenhagen and catch a local train up to Skåne. Flying saves time, but will also create constraints on how much kit I can take. Clothing, of course, but also bedding, eating equipment and all the other little things that will make 10 days in the Modern Middle Ages enjoyable. And I must remember to take plenty of green to support the Flat Side in the Knäckebröd War!
This first phase of planning is great fun, but easy to get carried away by possibilities. So this year is the War on UFOs (UnFinished Objects). As best possible, I will only use materials from my stash and equipment I already own. A preliminary dive has already given me one Herjolfsnes dress that is nearly finished, and another that just needs new sleeves.
To keep me on track, I am using the following constraints:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Rochefoucauld_Grail.jpg
Very enjoyable Saturday spent in Stamsund with the Lofoten Short-Tail Sheep (Korthale sau) group. I am just getting to know the members of this group after meeting several of them at the 6th North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool Conference in September. Several of us were interested in continuing to have local gatherings for sheep/wool enthusiasts, and this weekend was the first.
Read MoreNothing's ever so bad that it's not good for something!
I've been having to devote time to deep-cleaning some of the back storerooms, cracking open boxes that haven’t seen the light of day since, well, FAR too long....
Read MoreToday I tried my hand at making almond milk with medieval-appropriate tools. Here are a few thoughts on the process, while they are fresh in my mind.
Read MoreA package arrived today and I am in fiber geek heaven!
Read MoreI'm going to the 6th North Atlantic Native Sheep And Wool Conference in September 2016!
Read MoreTime flies, and the end of the "Mannen i myra" exhibition at the Tromsø University Museum draws near. I'm excited because I will be one of two guest speakers on the last Sunday, February 14, 2016.
Read MoreThis is a peek at the first spindle-full I’m spinning for the Herjolfsnes challenge hood D10606. Part of the challenge is producing my first spinning for weaving, so decisions are made on the go, allowing for experimentation.
Read MoreHow many times have I wished I had an extra hand when sewing? A hand to hold the far end of a seam or a fixed point to tie the end of a braid? More times than I can count… so I have now made one.
Read MoreAfter much consideration, I have decided to work with hood D10606 (Nörlund 78).
Read MoreI like puzzles. The greatest puzzle I play with is «How could X have been done by Thora?», where X is some little routine task or process we take for granted, like threading needles.
Read MoreAs I re-read "Woven into the Earth" (Østergård) , I am reminded of a question of practicality in conjunction with the use of hoods that has ‘troubled’ me for some time. To the point: Did women wear these hoods and, if so, how did this function in practical terms if these women wore veils?
Read MoreFriday I visited the "Mannen i myra" ("The Man from the Bog") exhibition at the University Museum in Tromsø, a very special experience for me. It is exciting to be a contributor to an exhibition centering around one of the most complete early textile finds here in the Arctic, the Skjoldehamn bog burial.
Read MoreI'd like to share two pictures from my time at Pennsic this summer, a fondly held memory as we now move into the dark half of the year here in the North. Both pictures were taken at roughly 3 AM on one of the gorgeous moonlit nights on the corner of Chei Ping Road and Brewer's.
Read MoreAt the sports store today, and I was mildly surprised at the latest in gear for the discerning ski enthusiast.
Read MoreI have decided to join the Herjolfsnes challenge on FaceBook (‘about’ information below). Many thanks to Elina for the timely initiative!
In some ways I need a new project like a hole in the head… But I have already made 5 items from the finds (2 dresses, 2 hoods and footless hosen), and these finds are a good fit for Thora in terms of timeframe and climate.
Read MoreI hate passwords. I have several at work that have to be changed on a regular basis and have restrictions requiring a combination of several features, such as minimum length, both letters and numbers, and suchlike. A real pain.
Then I had a revelation. Why not make the passwords work for me?
Read MoreThere's a new blog on More Than Cod! The purpose of Thrums, threads and thoughts for Thora is to give me a space to explore my process of learning history. As I work through new projects or read new-to-me research, I stumble across little details or wonder about the whys and wherefores. It will also be a place where I can share ideas on more practical aspects of being a reenactor.
I'd really like to encourage people to comment, make suggestions and ask questions!
Þóra Sumarliðadóttir (Thora when using standard English letters) is a fictional character I use to focus my research and practical handcrafting endeavors, a little like using Storyline method where I am both pupil and teacher accruing factual knowledge and practical experience.
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