April 2025: So Hey, A Thing Happened
April Goals:
Garb:
Continue working on the red saya project
Classes:
Prep The Foods That Built Spain class for an in person-session
Working on my orange candies for Coronation also proved a great opportunity to try the rose version of the same candy. I’ve wanted to expand beyond foods a bit into cosmetics or hygienic products since I acquired a copy of Sally Pointer’s The Artifice of Beauty in 2024 at a book sale but haven’t quite gotten around to it yet. Starting off with using roses for candy feels like a great segue into researching rose cultivation and roses in Spain for leading into roses in cosmetics and perfumes as well so that will be a longer term project I’ll be pursuing… at some point in the ill defined future. It’s on the project wishlist. I accidentally let the orange candies go just a little too long to get to the trace I wanted, so no A&S at Coronation for me. The rose candies turned out a decent flavor experiment but I think would be better done with fresh roses. My hunt continues.
Adorable applique is adorable.
The red saya project progressed really nicely, considering I spent most of the month focused on moving. The bodice got completed with some very cute little appliques. I had a few extra of the little flower motifs from cutting the skirt that I added to the neckline. It was the first time I’ve ever tried applique with embroidered patterns and I think it turned out very cute! The skirt also came along really nicely and was largely constructed by the end of the month. The interesting challenge on the skirt was definitely the fact that the pattern is largely toward the bottom of the skirt, so all the adjustments for length have to happen up at the top. Lady Catherine will come very much in handy for this, I believe.
Giving The Foods That Built Spain in person at LEAFS was a fun experiment! While focusing on moving, I completely forgot to sign up to teach at Summer University, which is sad, but I did have a good time with the class, even despite torrential downpour. It turns out I CAN squeeze the lecture portion into an hour, which bodes well for me giving it more regularly. I did also consider that keeping it at a 2 hour class when in person could be fun, so we could spend the first half doing the lecture and the second half having snacks and looking at materials together. I may try this out the next time I have an opportunity to teach it in person.
Also at LEAFS, we had a new addition to the family and I have a new belt sister! As always, I did her apprenticeship contract and I got to do this one with a new pen. I used a horn pen from Samson Historical that I got for Hannukah last year, and it was such a lovely writing experience. The pen picked up ink incredibly well, it was comfortable to write with, and the final document had such a lovely tactile feel from how the pen interacted with the heavier paper. Absolutely will be keeping this in my kit more regularly.
Isobel’s apprenticeship contract.
A thing happened at Coronation though- I received a writ to contemplate elevation to the Order of the Laurel at Storvik Novice! The next couple months will be a lovely whirlwind of making sure the red saya outfit is fit and ready, and it will hereafter be named the Elevation Outfit. I am incredibly honored to be considered for this Order and both look forward to the celebration and to the responsibilities such an honor comes with.
May Goals:
Garb:
Complete the Elevation Outfit saya
Fix the Juana camisa
Complete or get close to completing the Elevation Outfit gonete
Only panic a little
