My crossroads

Since I finished Alyvia's hood, and a lot of the enchantment in the encampment items already, I'm at a crossroads for what to do next.
I need some embroidery or handwork to have something to do during down times. Part of me knows I should finish the stupid stinking red blackworked drawers but every time I think about it I just get discouraged :(

The Lyvy hood!

Lyvy and the Sjkald hood

Once I convinced her to leave it on,
she didn't want to take it off!

Back heart stitched in yellow twisted silk, with
Viking runes that say
"Be warned, my daddy carries a big stick"

I mentioned earlier in my blog about Maysun challenge numero uno being "atop your head" any type of head covering you could have worn in period.. I had originally planned to make Lyvy an early period hood or gugel but decided to go with a Sjkold hood instead.
The deadline for the challenge was May 31st, and I finished the very next day late in the evening but still hadn't gotten around to posting any pictures so I present..
The Lyvy Sjkold hood!!

Front side with 3 knotted heart pattern

I started with 2 yards of scarlet 100% wool flannel, which ended up being more of a raspberry color after several washings. Its embroidered with silk twisted floss, with 4 knotted hearts on the front section, and a large knotted heart on the back section with viking runes that say "Be warned, my daddy carries a big sword" inscribed in the heart. It has been Whipstitched at all of the seams to mimic the extent piece and has a blanket stitch around both the head opening and all along the bottom.

The only changes I made were the following:

• I did not include a drawstring at the face level. I cut the center section pretty specific so there isn't much room for the hood to flop around anyways so I didn't see a need.
• I graded the neck opening about 1/2 to make it easier to get on and off, without destroying the fabric at her chin level.
• I cut the cox comb section on a slope and whipstitched it together rather than just whipstitch from the inside and leave the excess fabric in the hood. Made it easier to get the excess fabric out. 
• I added a tassel at the top of the hood, and might add a bell, just because I felt like it and its for my toddler. 

Close up of the front embroidery

Close up of the back embroidery

An AoA scroll

Sometimes its good being a friend.of the king and the royal scribe because I can pick and choose what scrolls I want to do and I can suggest awards directly to him.
Of COURSE I wanted to make Vons AoA scroll. He's Viking and I stole this template offline.. Viola!

Somewhere to rest my head..

Okay so this is a bit old but I still wanted to get it up.

Junes challenge ala Maysun was an encampment improvement, and one of the things I've been begging to add to our camping experience has been a bed. Hell I've been asking for a rope bed since I was was camping pregnant and Lyvy will be 2 this December!!
After begging, whining, pleading and general internet searching for plans and directions, I figured it would probably just be a HELLA lot easier if I did it myself. Little more research and I determine that a rope bed would be a LOT less lumber to haul and if we did it right wouldn't really have any extra center sag that an air mattress so why not?? Patience was on board and she needed to make a bed for herself and her son.

Patience and Cody getting started

Enter the epic three bed weekend.
We decided to embark on our plans the weekend before Quest.. Yeah. We decide to make camping beds the WEEKEND before our first camping event.. Nuts? Maybe. Determined? Sure are!

The twin for Graham

The full for Patience

Eventually we find the plans that are most what we want to use are Here at GreyDragon and the other set are on a PDF that everyone uses and links to (blogger doesn't really like linking to PDF's or I'm doing it wrong.. either way.. whatev!). We got the single and the full done, and the pieces for my queen cut out that weekend, then dear brother helped me get my bed all together Tuesday.

Verdict? There are some things I'd change, and some I like. My bed is shorter than the first 2 by 2 inches, and Its TOO HIGH for me to get in and out of without a bit of a struggle, no more than being on the floor though. So I think I want to shorten all of my legs by at least an inch, though Ty loves the height. Also, its actually too short for me to store my garb totes under, though problem solved, we decided to get some of the under the bed organizers! They are clear and longer and that will super help with keeping the garb less wrinkly at events. Its not like I can't use the toes we already have in other areas anyways!

My queen bed, compete with
helper brother Cody

See how big?!?!
My floor would be attached though..

Last issue is that its a TAD big for out tent. Before now I would have told you our tent was MASSIVE on the inside, but putting our queen size bed in there really takes up a lot of room, everything ahead of the pole is taken up by bed. We were talking about a new tent/pavilion this winter anyways so maybe this will be the catalyst to getting said bigger dwelling. Seriously part of me is STILL totally wanting the big tent from Bell Tent UK. We'll see if we decide to go that direction (hello rubberized attached flooring!!) or if we build our own. If we buy the big one from bell tent, it has a door on the right hand side that actually is the same size as the our current tent, so its designed that it can be a separate room.. Can you say lyvy tent???