Year In Review & The Year Ahead - 2016-2017

SCA


What have you done that is new? I became a lady in waiting on a Baronial level.

What was the best moment? This is tough because I can't really think of any "best" moments in the SCA for this year. Maybe the super chillaxed Championship? (Oh yeah, I helped out with breakfast there which was new for me!)

What was the worst moment? Hearing that people had been bitching behind my back about me pulling out of a bid for Midwinter because I was moving house.

Have you held an office this year? Yes, I've been Chronicler and the Anealan Historian (which is a deputy to the Kingdom Historian). I honestly haven't done much with either role and feel slightly bad about it but my mental health takes priority.

Have you run anything this year? Nope, but will be co-stewarding Midsummer next year.

Have you entered anything this year? Nope :\ Again, something to focus on for 2017.

What have you made this year? Preeeeeeetty much nothing. Moving house was priority. I think I mended camicie for Festival, if that counts. Actually, I may have made one at that point. Woo, made something... maybe.

Who inspired me? Mistress Branwen's patience with teaching me how to cook breakfast at Championship, along with everything else she does and offers to help teach with. Lady Ydeneya's workmanship, as always.

What new things would you like to do next year? Actually make things and enter things. Would also like to complete the Italian Renaissance Costuming Challenge.


Everyday


What single achievement are you most proud of? Buying my house. It's a good little house and I get compliments on how it's a great first home.

What did you set out to accomplish this year that you didn't make happen? Taking better care of myself, especially food wise. It took a long time to get used to managing myself and then I made it worse and got dogs which took a long adjustment period. Slowly but surely I shall get there.

What new places did you go in 2016? I went to Sydney, which admittedly I had been to before but I went to different places than previously :-)

What new skills did you learn? Umm... I think I cleaned a toilet for the first time ever this year? Honestly I can't think of much. There are probably some things but they are not significant enough to remember.

What was your favourite book? I can't think of anything in fiction but my fave non-fiction this year has been Level Up Your Life by Steve Kamb. I hope to take the lessons from it into the new year.

What was your favourite electronic game? This year my gaming time has been dominated by RIFT and Prison Architect. Still enjoying both of them.

What was your favourite non-electronic game? Cards Against Humanity brought many laughs to the table this year. Also enjoyed playing Fluxx with just Tids and playing Carcassone with Mom and Tids. Also learned Liar's Dice at Championship which was great.

What was the best moment? Okay, not sure about best but I won a London-Rome tour which I'm hopefully taking next year and that's pretty awesome.

What was the worst moment? Basil getting run over and pretty much wiping my savings for his surgeries/medical care. He's okay now which is the main thing.

If you had to describe 2016 in three words, what would they be? Famous people dying.


Epic Quest


What goals did you complete? I sat with different people at SCA events. It is something I hope to continue doing. Being super shy and anxious sucks.

What goals did you make progress on? Made some progress on my Meat & Wine quests. I accidentally broke a $40 bottle of wine from Uruguay. Began the Codecademy course. Played a few CAH games.

Were any goals removed/changed? I removed two of my courage quests because while they were courageous things I realised they were also things I didn't actually want to do. I think there may be further goal changes next year but unconfirmed at this stage.

What's your plan for next year? Write more. Work on my fitness goals. Complete the code course. Have more fun.


2017


What do you want to see, discover, explore?

Who do you want to spend more time with? Beyond the family and partner I really would like to spend more time cultivating good friendships. It's something I've dropped the ball on this year that I need to pick back up again.

What skills do you want to learn, improve or master? Learn: Brewing & woodworking. Improve: self-care/meal prep/management, embroidery & sewing. I'm not ready to be the master of anything.

Which habits do you want to change, cultivate or get rid of? I want to get rid of my laziness and non-care. Want to cultivate preparedness and flexibility.

What do you want to achieve career-wise? I'd really like to finish writing one novel by the end of 2017. Go through the business printout for R&S. Be a lot more relaxed at my day job.

What is your number one goal for 2017? Improve In All Things.

Wandering Challenge research - Women on a Terrace by Alessandro Allori

As part of my research into the Wardrobe section of my Wandering challenge I came across this painting.



I love paintings like this because it provides those little details into peoples lives. This is a bit out of my time frame (I'm 1550's, this painting was completed in 1589) but I imagine not much probably changed during those years. The Medici coat of arms is featured so I'm guessing them to be Medici women however I'm not sure which. The washing line looks to hold some partlets, ties and housecaps. I think the cap in the top right corner has multiple ties, which I've seen in some portraits. There's even a woman washing her dog. Neat!

The Wandering Wardrobe Challenge

For me this challenge has been shortened to the Wandering Challenge as I'll also be using the challenge to motivate me to improve not just my wardrobe but other aspects of my SCA persona.

Starting with the wardrobe however...
Most of my wardrobe consists of outfits I've inherited or someone has made for me so I will be completely revamping my wardrobe.My persona is that of a 16th century Valencian lady (though I may move her up the Spanish coast a little) who is married to a Florentine nobleman.My inspiration for this challenge is Ghostanza Minerbetti's bridal trousseau which I will be attempting to emulate.I'm aiming for roughly the 1550's with a Florentine based wardrobe as I think Margarita would be trying to fit in with her husband's household.
These posts will be culminated into one large page (The Wandering Challenge tab at the top of my site.)

Interesting facts from the Minerbetti bridal trousseau:

Overgowns:1

Gowns:7

Camicie:17

Aprons:11

Handkerchiefs:52

Headscarves:4

Headdresses:2

House/headcaps:31

A little surprised by only the one overgown, to be honest. Also, the number of camicie, aprons, handkerchiefs and housecaps is astounding but makes complete sense when you start to think about. You'd be washing more of those items to keep the more expensive items cleaner. Wiping hands on handkerchiefs, rather than your clothes. Keeping muck from getting on your clothes by wearing an apron. I should start doing these things with my normal clothes!

I've left off anything that doesn't refer to what fabric it's made of but here is a fabric breakdown of the trousseau:

Silk:1 Overgown2 Gown2 Flounced Gown1 Pair of sleeves1 Housecap1 Hairnet (decorated with swan's-down)7 Camicie1 Headcap1 Pair of Silk Gloves

Wool:2 Dresses (specifically mentioned as dresses, instead of gowns??)2 Pairs of woolen shoes
Velvet:1 Pair of sleeves1 Cap2 Neckband

Linen:8 Camicie10 Aprons14 Housecaps

Cotton:1 Pair of sleeves1 Apron

Taffeta:4 Headcaps1 Cap

So of the 7 gowns/dresses that Ghostanza took with her, 4 were made of silk, 2 of wool and 1 doesn't mention the fabric just that it is a housedress with sleeves and trim of green silk. I will definitely need to invest in more silk and wool.

The Post That Shall Be Posted

Do you know how many times I have started writing something to post here only to abandon it with thoughts of "I'll finish that later"?

Too. Many. Damn. Times.

So, this is getting published. Eventually I hope to publish more frequently and with greater content.
I miss the love affair I used to have with the written word. I want to take it to the next step.

I WANT A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU WORDS! *shakes fist*


I move out into the big wide world of living in my own place this weekend so maybe the loneliness will inspire something.