michaelsbagley

This link will take you a photo of my more "fun" justacorps...

I'd strongly recommend Kass's Justacorps pattern as well. I am currently working on my second one... My first was meant to be more for "fun" wear... The one I am working on now is being targetted for some serious early colonial use (1670s to 1680s) at a "judged" event (I forget the proper term for this.. Judged isn't it., but my brain isn't fully working today). Either way, it is one of the easier Reconstructing History patterns, as long as you don't have trouble with curved armscyes (something I struggled with the first time or two I did it, but have since gotten much better at). Edit: - And then my coffee kicked in and I remember... "juried" event was the term I was looking for...

That's funny... Both Jessica and myself have been fighting off a mild cold since Friday night as well... And we didn't even meet most of you until Saturday!

Mad Dogge, Sorry to hear about your luck... Hope everything works out for ya. But it was good to meet you this past weekend, and I really like chattign with you about fencing and sword fighting techniques. Lookign forward to crossing blades with you some day. And thanks again for letting me fondle your fishtail... The kiss of the green fairy was much appreciated as well. And thanks again Capt. Sterling for your hosplitality and for the bottle of rum! It was fabulous to finally meet you and the rest of the Archangels. Can't wait to see more pics....

It was wonderful to meet you, your sis, and sis's hubby as well! As well as the rest of the Archangels! A friendlier crewe one could not expect or meet anywhere! I imagine there will be plenty more pictures surfacing over the next few days as people get settled, recovered, and egt the time to organize their thoughts and digital photos... I can't wait to see more. I'm suprised at how many people Jessica and I missed taking photos of...

Had a great time at RF4! It was freaking awesome to meet so many folks from the pub there (The Archangel Crewe) as well as others I know from other forums and time frames... Anyway, I've sorted through the pics, and uploaded any that I thought were decent to my Flickr account... Jessica and My photos from RF4

That is a really cool idea... Taking the idea a baby step forward... If such a setup partially exists or is created, would we be able to get our hands on the footage? Just thinking for next years video. It could be a good additional source for whomever decides to take on that noble task next year.

A quick happy birthday wish from me too as I hurry to pack up and hit the road to see you and the others in person to repeat the wish face to face. Safe travels Captain Sterling! And many happy returns!

I'm really sorry to hear that your not going to make it Lady B! Please do take care of yourself and get feeling better. I am sure that our paths will cross eventually, and probably sooner rather than later.

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes! Especially you Pogue, very nice of you to not hold my Canuckistanian heritage against me! Jill, I didn't know you were from the great white north. Glad to see there are more fellow country men, I mean women here. Looking forward to meet you too this coming weekend Cheeky. And a very happy birthday wish to Sterling two days early as well, (or am I missing a reference with the two days early thing?)

Thanks BlackJohn, But after spending a weekend back in Canada with some old friends pounding back the Canadian Ale and 30 year old Canadian Rye Whiskey, I'm not so sure I could take even the thought of Rum. But the song, food, and women would be most appreciated...

In period woad and indigo were used for blue dyes.... Indigo was imported from the Indian Ocean, so Woad was the cheaper and more common of the two.... Unfortunately woad isn't as potent or intense as indigo... Both created navy blue colours, but a lot of woad was needed to create a colour as dark as using a lesser amount of indigo. Using a lesser amount of woad would get you a faded navy blue (light bleached blue jeans). For yellows, weld was used... As well as some others, like Broom (the plant not the thing you sweep the floor with)... Greens could be made using a mix of weld and woad, or weld and indigo... Or through other means as well... Sometimes a blend of substances, and sometimes a single substance... I don't know much about period green dyes... I think that covers about the extent of my period dyeing knowledge... Other than to say that metals of the pot (or added to the dye bath) could affect the intensity of the colour, or even change the colour sometimes, as well as the acidity or alkalinity of the dye bath could affect the intensity or tone of colour as well.

Damn, I found a link to madder dying on some Rev-War web site a few weeks back.... The web site cited sources that were well within the GAoP, and had a period recipe for "British Red" using madder... I posted a link to the web site on another forum and didn't save it for myself... I would try and look it up, but that chat board has since been closed down.... I'll try and take another look for it and post it if I find it, but I am not feeling very hopeful about it...

She seeks him here She seeks him there BriarRose seeks him everywhere Is he in Heaven or Is he in Hell That damned elusive Pimpernel But it is not just a dashing hero but a red flower: And also the root for the word "Pimp": Etymology: 17c: possibly related to French pimpant well-dressed or smart, from French pimper to dress smartly. I've not read or seen the Scarlet Pimpernel yet, but being familiar with the story, I have always questioned if any correlation to Alexandre Dumas' "Le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge" exists..... The story of Le Chevalier is a story of a red dressed hero trying to save Marie Antoinette from the revolutionaries during the French Revolution. From reading the plot synopsis of the Scarlet Pimpernal, the two stories are very similar, the main difference being the Dumas story stars a French hero, and the Pimpernel is an Englishman, the other main difference is the Pimpernel tries and successfully rescues petty French nobility, and Le Chevalier unsuccessfully tries to rescue Marie Antoinette.

Oh, pictures... Please!!! After all, it's not a good "brag" without the visuals....

Thanks for the tip Capt. Pogue, but Darkwood (as far as i know) only make fencing weapons or sharps. IF they DO make "spar"ing swords, I would be VERY interested.... Their web site is blocked from my work network, and it's been while since I checked their site, maybe it is time a had another gander....

That is about the best simplification I have ever read on the topic... I too often see things boiled down to two categories (show, and combat), and two categories I really don't feel covers the topic well enough... That said, I am still waiting (and probably will have to wait forever) for North American sword manufacturers to hop onto sword making for the "Spar" classification in the above cited post by Billy Balls. The ONLY maker I know of that is EASILY obtainable here is Paul Chen, which are pretty cheap, and limits ones choices to either the Pratical Viking (a circa 900-1000AD sword), Practical Knightly (a circa 1100-1250AD sowrd), or the Paul Chen Mortuary (circa 1620 to 1650AD), none of which are really "right" for the GAoP. The Paul Chen mortuary comes close, but I would rather spend more on a better made sword, and even more yet on a sword that is well made AND of the correct period.... Armour Class will do it as a custom thing, but their waiting list and shipping time is too long for my tastes. I'm okay with waiting on a sword, but not if my money isn't in the same country, I've been burnt VERY badly on that account before. As a result, I don't deal international any more unless it is an item that is already to ship, and custom sword makers rightfully always want a deposit. There is Starfire (I think that is what they are called), but the fact that they do NOT round their points off doesn't sit well with me and my views on safe "Spar"ing... Starfire also don't make a design I feel is any more "correct" than the Paul Chen Mortuary... So please, if there is a North American sword maker out there looking for a new product line, PLEASE make a GAoP correct sword for "Spar"ing... Or even better a few different designs so we don't wind up with a whole ton of pirates all using the exact same design of sword... EDIT - To clarify a statement I made above, I was NOT burnt by Armour Class, nor has anyone I know ever been burnt by them (outside of waiting periods longer than quoted). I also won't name the sword maker in question that did burn me, as I prefer not to stoop to that sort of nonsense.

Another thought that just came to my mind... Years ago I worked in a decor store. My boss did a lot of weddings as well on the side, one thing I saw him use a fair bit was some form of dried/preserved woody vine-like material (grapevine?). It had a really good balance of flex and strength that I think would do well int hat kind of project. If I recall correctly (it has been over 15 years), the stuff came in many thicknesses, included a thickness that would be perfect for the bars, and other thin and pliant enough to use as the binding to tie the bars together.... So maybe checking your local florist or wedding decor store may provide a useful material as well.

Yeah, it worked for me on the third try... Once I got past the confusion of the RF2 link leading to the RF4 vendor information, I got it to work as well.... But it seems to be fussy, working one minute, and not the next (I tried to sent the link to my other half, and she had trouble with it, then didn't, and then again... etc.)

It looks like thin willow sapling branches to me... You could use a thin bamboo as well, but the bamboo would come out much lighter in colour than what the cage in the photo from the movie. But bamboo does actually take stain rather well, or there are other creative ways of darkening bamboo. Check your local metro area Chinatown for thin bamboo like that (pre-harvested and all). Or I would suggest waiting for the spring thaw to cut willow saplings/branches. I've not heard of them being sold in the way that bamboo is.

Hey Cheeky, I just checked the RF web site for the list of vendors (pre-planning and budgeting for shopping), and while the news section of the main page states that as of Jan. 18th the vendor list was updated, and to click on the "exhibitor" link to see the list... Clicking on the "Exhibitor" link takes me to a page that has a link for the RF2 vendors (which is a dead link). Was the news bit a little preemptive and the update hasn't been uploaded yet? Or has the page been updated and I am just not seeing it? I only ask as you seem to be very involved, and possibly able to bring this issue to light for those responsible. Thanks for any help on that!

I think if I can survive a "Mid Air Collision Over Kansas" (ask me about it some time), I should be able to survive a "Pirate Initiation drink"... Sterling, I do hope that you will join us for the Natal days toast, even if you don't plan on partying. Think of it more as a tasting. We're staying at the Sheraton where the fest is, so if you are planning on retiring for the evening, you could (if you heart desires it), join us for the tasting and then go take your ease after. Hope you gown turns out brilliantly Lady B, right now I'm floundering my way through making my first mantua for my lady. She finished her new chemise last night (okay we still need to fuss with the neckline a little, but otherwise it is done).

If you look at either of the first two pages of the "How to Cock a Hat" thread.. Page 1 - How to cock a hat Page 2 - How to Cock a hat Aminjiria (sp?) and Patrick Hand both go through what they did with their hats from hat blank to finishing, including steaming and shaping. If you look at Page 2, you will see how Patrick used a coffee tin as a makeshift hat block... If there is anything you need to know that isn't covered in that thread, bump that thread up with your questions so all the info can be kept together for the next time someone asks! It only works to all of our advantages! I can't say how many times I have already referred to that thread for myself. Edit - Another source for Hat Blanks is Lady MacSnoods There is also this place, pricier, but they claim to be "fur felt" rather than wool Center Stage Costuming Probably the best price I have seen... Scroll about 2/3s of the way down the screen... Blockade Runner I've not shopped there myself, but I've heard good feedback about them...

Uhm... I had only planned on bringing enough for a toast for the Natal Day folks (myself included)... But since you seem so excited about it, I will try to bring enough for everyone.... No NOT everyone .... Let's say enough so all Pub folks present that I know can sample... If I even have enough squirreled away for that, that is.

No need to apologize Cheeky, we've been together long enough that we might as well be shackled together in unholy matrimony. I have been planning to hunt down the Archangels, just because it will be sooo nice to put voices and actually moving faces behind the posts. But there is some running up and down the time-line that I am planning to do... About 800 years or so of running so it could be a tiring weekend for me. If I recall from my attempted attendance last year, isn't the Natal Day of a prominent member of the Archangel Crewe near to the dates RF4 is running on? I think I had planned to bring a bottle of my best private reserve to share with said person (if they are so inclined), and will make sure that I pack it this year (imagine that, I didn't drink it myself over the course of the last year)...