Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.1.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# Opus Elenae

Elen's Work: historical explorations

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://opuselenae.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://opuselenae.com/2276-2/)
- [My Linen Biscornu](https://opuselenae.com/linen-biscornu/) - When I went to Gulf War this year (or as they're calling it now: Gulfnado), I lost my needle book somewhere on the drive. I was terribly upset, considering it held all my reproduction clothing pins, and needles, as well as the brass pins I use for hand sewing. When I got home, I replaced
- [I Reorganized All My Fabric (And Why You Might Want to Do the Same)](https://opuselenae.com/i-reorganized-all-my-fabric-and-why-you-might-want-to-do-the-same/) - There comes a point in every sewist's life when the fabric stash becomes unmanageable. For me, that moment arrived amid what can only be described as a perfect storm of chaos—economic uncertainty, political turmoil, and the sobering realization that my child would soon be a high-schooler (cue existential crisis). When life feels completely out of
- [Changes](https://opuselenae.com/test-blog/) - Soooo…. It’s been a while since I’ve seriously updated this blog. I feel like I’ve been present for several iterations of historical costuming online spaces. Obviously I’m doing the YouTube thing now, and back when blogs were The Thing I had this. And then before that, I had a LiveJournal (anyone remember Dress Diaries? God
- [St Birgitta Interlaced Stitch Tutorial](https://opuselenae.com/st-birgitta-interlaced-stitch-tutorial/) - I published this tutorial over on the Ko-Fi because I said I'd put it up there, but I wanted to make sure I posted it here too, just to make sure it's archived properly. Enjoy! For my supplies I am going to need some fabric, a needle, a bunch of colored embroidery thread, an embroidery
- [A Yuletide Scribal Interlude](https://opuselenae.com/a-yuletide-scribal-interlude/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix takes a step back, mulls some cider, dresses up, and creates an achievement of arms for her partner as a solstice gift. It's been a rough year. Enjoy this calm interlude and wonderful music.
- [Medieval Snow Day](https://opuselenae.com/medieval-snow-day/) - It snowed yesterday! It rarely does this at all in Texas, and almost never this much. I had to take advantage of the situation and get some photos of me in all my wool outerwear.
- [Video: Making an Edwardian Skirt (and Bustle Pad!)](https://opuselenae.com/making-an-edwardian-skirt-and-bustle-pad/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatirix makes (yet another) Edwardian Walking Skirt! Welcome back to the land of sewing. I don't know about you, but the thing I really needed for my witchy, Victoir-edwardian history bounding wardrobe is a basic walking skirt. And since I just happened to have some heavy-weight linen laying around.... Here we
- [Finished Project: Crow Cup Cover](https://opuselenae.com/finished-project-crow-cup-cover/) - It's finally finished! I've had this as my SCA on-the-go project since Gulf War (which was in February, so it's been a minute). I decided that I wanted to get it finished and usable, so I did a stitching spring to the finish line. I ironed the cover, but it sat in the hoop for
- [CAPE CULT: Making an American Duchess Cape](https://opuselenae.com/cape-cult-making-an-american-duchess-cape/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatirix joins a cult! A cape cult. Okay, I’m making the American Duchess Cape, in keeping with my penchant for jumping on bandwagons 6-24 months after the trend has, uh, stopped trending. It was a fun and relatively easy make, for all that I’m not the size of a museum mannequin.
- [Lucet Cords (three and a half ways!)](https://opuselenae.com/lucet-cords-three-and-a-half-ways/) - Tutorial Time-Stamps Basic Cord (turned): 00:03:18 Basic Cord (wrapped): 00:05:19 Beaded Cord: 00:08:35 Two-Color Flat Cord: 00:17:00 Two Color Round Cord: 00:25:45 IN WHICH our intrepid recreatirix walks through how to make lucet cords a few different ways. I'll cover making the basic cord (both turning the lucet and keeping it stable), making a beaded
- ["Viking" Coat: Historically Adequate Norse Outerwear](https://opuselenae.com/viking-coat-historically-adequate-norse-outerwear/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatirix finishes her historically adequate “Viking” coat project, and is wayyy too pleased with it and also herself. It’s honestly hard to know what a femenine Viking coat might have looked like: there’s very little archeological evidence that points in any direction. The best we can do is speculate. Come join
- [Tudor Witch: A Historically Inspired Halloween Costume](https://opuselenae.com/tudor-witch-a-historically-inspired-halloween-costume/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix drops the video a day late (but on Halloween!) and unleashed her (not-so) inner Goth just in time for the holiday. This video also is a documentation of the creation of my entry for Mathew Gnagy’s Spooky Historically-Inspired Costume Contest. Come join me and see what works, what doesn’t, and
- [Red Silk Trim: An Exploration of Narrow-Ware Weaving](https://opuselenae.com/red-silk-trim-an-exploration-of-narrow-ware-weaving/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatirix tries and fails to remember how to properly warp her inkle loom! Join me as I make some red silk trim for an eventual “Viking Coat” project.
- [REFORM! A 1910s artistic reform dress for the #reformdresschallenge](https://opuselenae.com/reform-a-1910s-artistic-reform-dress-for-the-reformdresschallenge/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatirix makes an artistic? aesthetic? REFORM dress in response to Juul and Fanny’s #ReformDressChallenge, using a fairly difficult fabric, and spending WAY too much time on the embroidery portion. I really enjoyed creating such a wonderfully simply shaped garment and am looking forward to making some more dresses along these same
- [Rainy-Day Mending (an AESTHETIC journey)](https://opuselenae.com/rainy-day-mending-an-aesthetic-journey/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatirix takes advantage of the all too infrequent rains of eastern central Texas to bundle up in a jumper (after turning up the aircon; just cause it's rainy doesn't mean it's COLD), drink WAY too much tea, and dive into the mending basket that she's been ignoring for over a year.
- [Medieval Accessories: Making an Embroidered Pilgrim's Bag](https://opuselenae.com/medieval-accessories-making-an-embroidered-pilgrims-bag/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix frantically shuffles around projects in order to make this medieval embroidered pilgrim's bag much sooner than expected. Based on the miniatures in the Cantigas de Santa Maria, this lovely accessory, embellished with silk chain stitch, exists solely so that I might give it away to one of you to celebrate
- [Straight and Narrow: Rolled Hems](https://opuselenae.com/straight-and-narrow-rolled-hems/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix makes (yet another) versatile feminine oval linen veil, along with a linen coif suitable for the masculine medievalist. I’ve taken the opportunity to walk you through the steps of two different rolled hem stitches for use on a much wider variety of things that just headgear. And I’m giving them
- [What the heck is a "Cyclas?" My One-Day (Medieval) Make](https://opuselenae.com/what-the-heck-is-a-cyclas-my-one-day-medieval-make/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix takes up the challenge to make a garment in Just One Day! In this case, it's a Cyclas, an early 14th century sideless surcoat (you may remember me talking about them in last week's CoCoVid capsule wardrobe video). Join me as I drink too much tea, struggle with my camera
- [Medieval Capsule Wardrobes: Strategically Building Your Closet (CoCoVid)](https://opuselenae.com/medieval-capsule-wardrobes-strategically-building-your-closet-cocovid/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix participates in her Very First Online Convention! And also talks about medieval clothing, consumerism and conspicuous consumption, rejects gender essentialism, and pets her cat. Again. If you're interested in how to put together a 14th century wardrobe that builds on basics and still allows for a myriad of coordinating outfit
- [Modern Make: A Versatile Ruffled Linen Skirt](https://opuselenae.com/modern-make-a-versatile-ruffled-linen-skirt/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix doesn't actually make any historical clothing, but instead embarks on sewing a wonderfully modern, almost history bounding, absolutely hobbitcore ruffled linen midi-length skirt. Join me as I completely mess up my patterning, interrupt myself multiple times with additional information, and pet my cat a ridiculous amount. ALSO, I announce some
- [Video: Sleeping in my Underwear: Yesterday's (Medieval) Pajamas](https://opuselenae.com/video-sleeping-in-my-underwear-yesterdays-medieval-pajamas/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix takes a dare (or accepts a challenge, if you want to be pedantic about it) to recreate MEDIEVAL PAJAMAS. The results of this research may scandalize you! (But probably not)
- [Video: Not THAT Kind of Gore: How to Sew an Inset Gore](https://opuselenae.com/video-not-that-kind-of-gore-how-to-sew-an-inset-gore/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix elucidates how to sew an inset gore by hand. Follow along as I discuss cutting into fabric, marking seam allowances, pinning fabric, hand stitching, felling seam allowances, and reinforcing the gore point. Now with bonus cat interlude!
- [Video: Medieval Smocked Apron (and a Giveaway!)](https://opuselenae.com/video-medieval-smocked-apron-and-a-giveaway/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix makes medieval several smocked aprons to donate as gifts to her local SCA group, and announces a giveaway!
- [Video: Gluckhaus: The Drinking Game with a Math Problem (feat. Tornado)](https://opuselenae.com/video-gluckhaus-the-drinking-game-with-a-math-problem-feat-tornado/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix helps her very own small Tornado to make a portable Gluckhaus game (and tries very hard not to take over too much).
- [Video: Costuber Twenty Questions](https://opuselenae.com/video-costuber-twenty-questions/) - A brief interlude, wherein our intrepid recreatrix dresses up (because any excuse is a good excuse) and answers SewLoud's 20 Questions for Costubers. Thank you all so much for helping me reach my first milestone of 100 subscribers, I love and appreciate you all!
- [Video: Manuscript Challenge: Pearled London Hood](https://opuselenae.com/video-manuscript-challenge-pearled-london-hood/) - IN WHICH our intrepid recreatrix decides at the last minute to make a London Hood, in a house not her own (don't worry, we're just self isolating across two households in order to maintain upkeep with both of them), with half of her normal supplies two and a half hours away. CAN SHE DO IT?
- [Video: "Blackwork" Italian Renaissance Pocket](https://opuselenae.com/video-blackwork-italian-renaissance-pocket/) - In which our intrepid recreatrix decides that pockets are vastly superior to drawstring pouches, and decides to make one.
- [Video: Painting Bobbin Holders (not shuttles)](https://opuselenae.com/video-painting-bobbin-holders-not-shuttles/) - In which I paint some bobbin holders (not shuttles; that'll teach me to read the fine print before uploading) for my friend Delphina (who was very graciously patient with my while this project dragged on WAY too long), and learn a valuable lesson about filming at night even when I think I have enough light
- [Video: Magic Kirtle](https://opuselenae.com/video-magic-kirtle/) - In which I use accessories and small articles of clothing to transform my English Tudor working class kirtle into a Florentine Italian Renaissance gown!
- [Video: Hel Dress for Tornado](https://opuselenae.com/video-hel-dress-for-tornado/) - New video live today! I made a Viking-style outfit for the kiddo (I'm going to have to start calling her Tornado now, since she's big enough to roll her eyes when I call her Poppet) and filmed... almost enough of it to make a coherent video. I hope this is a decent debut video (I'm
- [Vlog: War of the Rams](https://opuselenae.com/vlog-war-of-the-rams/) - I made another vlog! This one is properly SCA-related, about The War of The Rams, a relatively local war event between my kingdom and the neighboring one. For everyone who was more interested in tutorial videos, project diaries, and period look-books, don't worry; those are still coming. I started with vlogs because they've been relatively
- [YouTube Debut!](https://opuselenae.com/youtube-debut/) - I know it's been SO LONG since I posted anything here. First, there was so much life that happened: elevation, and then a divorce, and then movingout, making a different relationship work, finding a job and figuring out how to be a single parent and still have enough time left to create enough to not
- [Veil In Progress](https://opuselenae.com/veil-in-progress/) - I haven't been posting a lot here lately. Things have been very busy, what with the elevation and all. And not just mine, Master Alden had his not too long ago too, which involved a little bit of effort on my part to make his scroll. /silly I have a post I want to make
- [By Invitation Only](https://opuselenae.com/by-invitation-only/) - This past weekend was Kingdom Arts and Sciences. Ansteorra has a yearly (although the did do an extra one this year; I'm not sure if that will be the norm, or if they'll scrap the idea of twice-yearly) competition to determine the premiere artisan of the kingdom. In addition, the top ten scoring entries (with
- [In Progress: Cecilie's Bliaut](https://opuselenae.com/in-progress-cecilies-bliaut/) - Not exactly SCA related, but sort of tangentially appropriate. My friend Cecilie works at Sherwood Forest Faire here in Austin, and she commissioned me to make her a 12th century bliaut with pendant sleeves, like this one that Racaire made. She bought a lovely blue linen in herringbone twill, and instead of taking time away
- [Steps Backward: Viking Acanthus Collar](https://opuselenae.com/steps-backward-viking-acanthus-collar/) - So remember that pretty embroidered collar I had all planned out yesterday? Well.... It's had some setbacks. Master Alden and I had decided on blue lines for this lovely design. And seeing how much fun I'd had with pearl cotton on the Cantigas pouches, I thought I'd use it again. I had some beautiful robin's
- [New Project: Viking Collar](https://opuselenae.com/new-project-viking-collar/) - I started another project today, a quick viking collar for a tunic with a damaged neckline. The inside of the tunic will be patched, and the outside will be hidden by this collar. It will be embroidered in blue DMC cotton for washability, and the tunic is forest green linen. I'll add some matching blue
- [Looking Forward](https://opuselenae.com/looking-forward/) - In my last post, I talked about what I had done during 2015. In this one, I want to take a moment and detail some of the things I'm working on for 2016. Both in an effort to be accountable for them, and also to psyche myself up to be super excited about them. For
- [2015 Wrap Up](https://opuselenae.com/2015-wrap-up/) - It's a new year! While I am usually overwhelmed by possibility and eager to start the new year's projects, this past year has ended on a difficult note for me, personally. I am having a hard time being excited about 2016 and what it will bring. I want to take a minute or two to
- [Completed: Cut and Thrust Scroll](https://opuselenae.com/completed-cut-and-thrust-scroll/) - One of the things I believe in is the concept of noblesse oblige as it relates to the SCA and what I perceive to be my duties in it. With my awards and titles comes a responsibility to support my royalty, my kingdom, and my society, and to live up to those accolades. Which is
- [Cantigas de Santa Maria Pouches, Part One](https://opuselenae.com/cantigas-de-santa-maria-pouches-part-one/) - For a while now, I've been wanting a six board chest, in which to keep my feast gear and other sundries at events. I have resigned to myself to the fact that I don't have time to do all the things I want to do. And even more importantly, I don't have to do the
- [Cantigas de Santa Maria Pouches, Part Two](https://opuselenae.com/cantigas-de-santa-maria-pouches-part-two/) - When last we left our project, I'd finished up the embroidery on the first pouch, and I'd sketched out the diamonds on the yellow linen (the last of the linen from my Byzantine dress [have I seriously not blogged that either?! What is WRONG with me?], except for what I've held back for lining the
- [Bliaut Modifications](https://opuselenae.com/bliaut-modifications/) - A friend of mine, Mariana, gave me a whole bunch of her old garb. Which is so sweet, but seeing as she's more than half a foot shorter than me, there needed to be some modifications made. This particular piece, a Spanish bliaut, is a lovely shade of sea-glass green, with navy blue velvet ribbon trim. I
- [Queen's Champion Invitations](https://opuselenae.com/queens-champion-invitations/) - Sometimes life throws a curveball. Not to me, this time, but to the lady who was meant to make the invitations to our most recent Queen's Champion event. The steward of the event, my sweet friend Marie, texted me to ask if there was any way I could make invitations in the four days before
- [In Progress: New Red Hose](https://opuselenae.com/in-progress-new-red-hose/) - This weekend, and next week, I am from home on a trip. I hesitate to call it a vacation, as we are, this weekend, in Maryland for Edmund's grandmother's funeral (ave, Atlantia!). Next week we will be back on schedule for happy Thanksgiving visitation plans though, which should be more joyous. One of the things
- [Fox Embroidery Pattern](https://opuselenae.com/fox-embroidery-pattern/) - Remember that fox embroidery I did, back in the day? The one, I uh, apparently never posted finished pictures of? Huh. I should do that. Only three years late... This was for a Sable Swap a couple years ago. The recipient was an embroiderer and had a Kievan Rus persona. I know what it's like
- [Dragon Pouch](https://opuselenae.com/dragon-pouch/) - Ave, everyone! I know, it's been a bit since I've written. Life got busy. But I thought I'd take a minute and post about a little collaboration project I did with my friend Lia. Our local Barony had its fall event over Halloween weekend. One of the fun things that happened was that every fighter
- [Knitting for Ants](https://opuselenae.com/knitting-for-ants/) - I have been informed several times in the last couple of days that I am knitting sweaters for ants. They will be the most well-dressed ants in the kingdom, and we will have ant fashion week and fashion shows and everything. (For the record, these are size 6-0, that's 000000, needles; they're .75mm. The swatch
- [Review: Scribal Workshop](https://opuselenae.com/review-scribal-workshop/) - As you may have noticed, I do some scribal stuff. A little bit of calligraphy and illumination. Sometimes. I may also have a ridiculous collection of inks. Remember these? Yeah, there's more now. I have a problem, really. One of the companies I buy from is a very small organization called Scribal Workshop. I met
- [In Progress: Bliaut Collar](https://opuselenae.com/in-progress-bliaut-collar/) - Have I really not blogged about this beyond showing some samples? I know I've talked about it a BUNCH on the Facebook page (good reason to follow me there; I tend to post small updates on things that don't make it to the blog as finished posts). It's about time I did, then, since I've
- [Rabbit's Lion Scroll](https://opuselenae.com/scribal-rabbits-lion-scroll/) - Hey guys! I have this scroll I did, but the person who commissioned it (Her Majesty Michelle) asked me to keep it under wraps until it was finished and given. But now that it has been, I can talk about it! The person in question has a Roman persona, and is often called Rabbit. I
- [Tutorial: Prick and Pounce](https://opuselenae.com/tutorial-prick-and-pounce/) - I've had a lot of people interested in how I transfer my patterns to fabric for embroidery. I use a technique (one that's completely period, actually!) called pricking and pouncing. Basically, you poke holes in paper to make a design template, then shake colored powder on the design. When you lift the template, it gives
- [To War!](https://opuselenae.com/to-war/) - It's been a bit quiet around here, hasn't it? It's because I went to war! The week of March 15-22 was Gulf Wars, one of the big inter-kingdom wars that takes place in the US every year. It's been about 14 years since I went to a war (my very first SCA event was Pennsic
- [Court Barony Scroll for Sabina](https://opuselenae.com/court-barony-scroll-for-sabina/) - I was commissioned by a friend to make, in secret, a Court Barony scroll for his wife, Sabina. He had some very specific ideas for what he wanted it to look like. He wanted a very long scroll, that could be unfolded (and unfolded and unfolded). He wanted a genealogy, going back to the line's founder,
- [Embroidered Head Cloth](https://opuselenae.com/embroidered-head-cloth/) - A friend of mine, Dena, approached me a while ago, asking if I would make her a forehead cloth. I think she was thinking about it just being a triangular linen cloth, but of course I couldn't let it go just at that. I hand-hemmed all the edges with a plain running stitch, and added
- [Lilium Aureum (part two): Painting the Scroll](https://opuselenae.com/lilium-aureum-part-two-painting-the-scroll/) - Commence Part Two! The first thing I did was to fill in the rest of the calligraphy. I tend to be pretty confident when it comes to my calligraphy (I have a tendency to give one of my mentors heart attacks because when I work with other illuminators, I'll do the calligraphy after theyre finished painting instead
- [Lilium Aureum (part one): Creating a new charter](https://opuselenae.com/lilium-aureum-part-one-creating-a-new-charter/) - Not too long ago, at our local Larurel's Prize Tourney (I have picture of that coming soon), I was approached and asked to design a charter for a new children's A&S award. For those of you unfamiliar, a charter is a scroll that has spaces left blank for the recipient's name, the date, royal signatures,
- [Veil Pins](https://opuselenae.com/veil-pins/) - I admit it, I'm a bit of a magpie. I love pretty, shiny things. Jewelry, goldwork embroidery, silk, you name it. Some of my favorite gifts and largesse have been veil pins, which feel my shiny addiction nicely. A local bead store was going out of business recently, and had a ton of items on
- [Rene's Red Doublet](https://opuselenae.com/renes-red-doublet/) - Just a couple shots of a new doublet in the works. Well, it was new when I was making it... In May. It's finished now, but I wanted to show the in-progress shots first, especially the attempt at a pad-stitched collar. I'm pretty happy with the way it came out; it added a lot of
- [Wait, it's been how long?](https://opuselenae.com/wait-its-been-how-long/) - Uh, so. It turns out that even when you're super busy with projects and creating things, they don't actually end up blogging themselves. I have a million things to share (some of which are huge surprises that not even the Facebook page has seen yet). The most exciting recent thing that happened was that I
- [Queen's Champion Award Scroll](https://opuselenae.com/queens-champion-award-scroll/) - I was one of three people asked to make scrolls for the most recent Queen's Champion event here in Ansteorra (author's note: this has been in my queue so long that it was no longer the MOST recent Championship. *hangs head*). My compatriots picked the other scrolls, and I jumped on the chance to make
- [New Project](https://opuselenae.com/new-project/) - Starting to practice for a new project. It's only kind of a secret, in that the recipient knows it's coming, but wants to be surprised at the end. So I'll be posting little sneak peeks, but nothing revealing until it's in his hands. For now, though, have a glimpse of my lettering practice.
- [In which, the unexpected happens.](https://opuselenae.com/in-which-the-unexpected-happens/) - So, Candlemas happened. Those pretty patterned socks I was knitting? I entered them in our local Baronial Arts and Sciences Champion on Saturday. For those of you who aren't familiar with the SCA, it's similar to a county fair crafts competition. Sort of. There are judges who have a rubric for "grading" your project. Each
- [Super Secret Scroll: Finished!](https://opuselenae.com/super-secret-scroll-finished/) - The scroll is finished, and the title was given this Saturday during court, so I can talk about it now. It's a Court Barony scroll for Robert de Bray, and it was requested that I include a European dragon of some sort and his coat of arms, all in a vaguely 16th century style. I
- [Oops.](https://opuselenae.com/oops/) - As you may have noticed, I have kind of fallen of the NaBloPoMo wagon. Usually it's not too bad, but this year I have two blogs, an active two-year-old, and several more commitments than I have had in the past. So I'm giving myself permission to stop. I'll still be posting multiple times weekly, but
- [New Scribal Supplies](https://opuselenae.com/new-scribal-supplies/) - Well, I've rather gotten to the point where I cans reveal anything else of the scroll until after it's presented. Well, I could show you the bottom border, but it's not finished yet. So instead, have a quick shot of my new fun supplies: 23K double gold leaf. Gilded scrolls, here I come!
- [Secret Scroll Border](https://opuselenae.com/secret-scroll-border/) - I'm finished with the calligraphy part of the scroll, and have moved on the the painting portion. Here is the top border almost finished. The rest will have to wait til tomorrow in better light.
- [Secret Scroll](https://opuselenae.com/secret-scroll/) - Initial letters for a super secret scroll commission due soon. I can't show anything explicit, but I might show a glimpse now and then...
- [Infallible Spell: Completed](https://opuselenae.com/infallible-spell-completed/) - Since this piece has been received (and approved!) by the commissioner, I can talk about this now. My friend Mel wanted a small piece showing the Infallible Spell for Beauty from CS Lewis' Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Only the top part of the text was written in the book. The other words are crappily
- [Spiral Cup Cover](https://opuselenae.com/spiral-cup-cover/) - The give-away cup cover is coming along nicely. One arm of the spiral is finished; I don't think it will take more than another week or so to finish. Then I get to give it to someone!
- [Teal and Orange Bliaut](https://opuselenae.com/teal-and-orange-bliaut/) - I finished the teal and orange bliaut. Did I even talk about it here? God, I'm such a bad blogger. Okay, so my friend Cecilie is doing a vow renewal this coming spring, at our local Renaissance Festival, which is Robin Hood themed. So she wants everyone to be dressed in 12th century garb. Since
- [Elizabethan Elen](https://opuselenae.com/elizabethan-elen/) - Quick picture of me in some (very old) Elizabethan middle-class gear for a photo-op. I love it, but I want to remake it with better construction and drafting.
- [Gilding the Lily](https://opuselenae.com/gilding-the-lily/) - I got some new gilding substrate recently, miniatum, and I wanted to test it out. I made a basic 'a' letterform, gently raised, to gild. I waited for it to dry, then used some fairly inexpensive Thai gold I got on eBay to test it out. As you can see, it worked perfectly, resulting in
- [Giveaway cup cover](https://opuselenae.com/giveaway-cup-cover/) - Remember how I said that we were on Facebook now? Well, it's getting so close to the 50-like giveaway deadline that I started the cup cover I'll be giving away. Here's a sneak peek of the design. If you're interested in winning a hand-made cup cover, head over to the page and 'like' it. In
- [As Far As The Eye Can See](https://opuselenae.com/as-far-as-the-eye-can-see/) - Today's job was making linen bias tape for a friend's doublet. Miles and miles of bias tape.
- [NaBloPoMo](https://opuselenae.com/nablopomo/) - Every November, I do something called NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month. It came about as a spin-off of National Novel Writing Month, which also takes place in November. The goal is to write a blog post a day, all month. I know I tend to wait until the end of projects to post pictures
- [German Brickwork Reliquary Box](https://opuselenae.com/german-brickwork-reliquary-box/) - Part the second! To start with, I used a paper mache box, like these ones, and cut off the top and bottom circles. I chose some silk I had in my stash; the colors don't match, but since the original inspiration seemed to be cut from leftover scraps and pieces of re-used tapestry, I thought
- [Dychwelyd](https://opuselenae.com/dychwelyd/) - It's time for another Welsh lesson. Today's word is "dychwelyd," and it means return. As in: I'm back! I didn't mean to take such a long break, and it hasn't been because I haven't been making things or going places. Rather it's been because I've been too busy making and going to actually take the
- [Wordless Wednesday: Letter of Intent](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-letter-of-intent/)
- [Shields: Finished!](https://opuselenae.com/shields-finished/) - They're done! And just in time, too. My lovely Baron and Baroness have decided to step down at Candlemas, in February, so I wanted to make sure that they cloaks were finished and wearable for our Yule celebration in December. I kind of forgot to take more incremental pictures of Avery's shield. Oops. The blue
- [Embroidery Pattern: 6-point star](https://opuselenae.com/embroidery-pattern-6-point-star/) - Time for another embroidery pattern! This one is based on a purportedly Byzantine brooch design I came across during a long-ago Google image search. I have yet to find that picture again, or anything corroborating it's provenance or authenticity. That said, it's a pretty design! I modified it from the one I used on my cup
- [Roses Embroidery Pattern](https://opuselenae.com/roses-embroidery-pattern/) - Remember that cup-cover I did for Edmund? With the compass-Tudor rose motif? I'd gotten some interest from a historical embroidery group on FaceBook for the pattern, and I thought I'd post it. I don't mind if it gets shared elsewhere, but please credit and link back here.
- [German Brickwork Embroidery](https://opuselenae.com/german-brickwork-embroidery/) - Ever since I dyed some of my silk tram, I've been thinking that I should do some brickwork embroidery. The long parallel stitches really show how beautiful the shine of the silk can be. I didn't want to do a pouch, though. Everyone does pouches, and while I'm okay with that, I wanted to do
- [An Infallible Spell](https://opuselenae.com/an-infallible-spell/) - Quick preview for a project I've been working on. Firstly, I've gotten a bunch of period, or period-like (no lead-white, please!) pigments. I've been putting them all in their own little seashells, mixed up with gum arabic and glair (an egg-white binder) and making a reference sheet for later. And remember how I said that
- [Wedding Calligraphy](https://opuselenae.com/wedding-calligraphy/) - Two of my friends got married last weekend, at the Fall Event for my Barony. The gentleman who performed the marriage contacted me to ask if I would be willing to calligraph the ceremony, and of course I said yes. I wanted something simple, where the words themselves would be the decoration. I settled on
- [Completed Scroll(s)](https://opuselenae.com/completed-scrolls/) - The finished Bardic Champion scroll, complete with detail shots. And since there are several amazing people in our Barony, who were very kind and arranged to bring the Archery scroll I illuminated, I have pictures of that, too.
- [Tablut Game](https://opuselenae.com/tablut-game/) - Last year, I participated in the Sable Swap, a kingdom-wide secret gift exchange. You may remember that I made an embroiderer's kit for my assigned giftee. It was easy to decide what to do because, as an embroiderer, I know what I would love to receive. This time, though, I got a gentleman with an
- [Wordless Wednesday: Avery's Shield](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-averys-shield/)
- [Whitework Versal](https://opuselenae.com/whitework-versal/) - After seeing a series of amazing videos (but particularly parts 5a and 5b), I wanted to practice some whitework. One of the ways I do that is to make decorative borders and versals on small pieces of paper for my Baron and Baroness to use as note cards. I figure that sort of thing is
- [Pelican Gift](https://opuselenae.com/pelican-gift/) - A friend of mine, Alden Drake, received his (very well deserved) Pelican at Laurel's Prize Tourney. I had been planning on making him a gift of a cup cover with his badge on it, but since his badge is a half-white, half-black dragon (with teeth and claws and spines and wings) on a half-black, half-white
- [Wordless Wednesday: Super Secret Project](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-super-secret-project/)
- [Laurel's Prize Tourney](https://opuselenae.com/laurels-prize-tourney/) - A week ago, I had the opportunity to attend what is probably my favorite event, Laurel's Prize Tourney. It's an Arts and Sciences event, but not a competition. Rather, it's a body of work event, where artisans bring what they've been working on for the last year or so, and Laurels sign up to sit
- [Slogging along.](https://opuselenae.com/slogging-along/) - I'm still working on these. It's kind of slow going cause I don't have a dedicated embroidery space to keep my frame set up. It's a little vexing. I've set myself the deadline of this weekend to get this one finished, because everyone is away at Gulf War this week. I want to have this
- [Wordless Wednesday: Smocking Sample](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-socking-sample/)
- [Blackletter](https://opuselenae.com/blackletter/) - This is what a week of Gothic Textura practice looks like.
- [Myfanwy's Device: Completed](https://opuselenae.com/myfanwys-device-completed/) - And, a long overdue post about Myfanwy's device. I finished it some time ago, but apparently forgot to post the final pictures. The first one here is with all the split stitch and couched background finished. And here it is with the stem-stitch outline added. I'm particularly pleased with the iris.
- [Parchment and Quill](https://opuselenae.com/parchment-and-quill/) - One of my continuing goals is to be as authentic in my craft as I feel I can reasonably be. Sometimes that means that I machine sew my clothes except for visible stitches. Sometimes that means I order three ounces of white silk tram to dye with natural dyes for embroidery. This time, it means
- [Gesso and Gilding](https://opuselenae.com/gesso-and-gilding/) - Remember when I went to KWHSS and took classes on gesso and gilding? Well, I thought I'd try it at home to see if it worked as well as I hoped (hint: it didn't). I reconstituted the mostly-dried gesso unto a thin paste and painted up some pretty leaves and an illuminated letter. The off-white
- [Indigo Dyeing, take two](https://opuselenae.com/indigo-dyeing-take-two/) - Remember my indigo dyeing adventure last time? And how it didn't turn out so well for my cotton yarn? Well, after I got it all untangled, I decided to bite the bullet and dye it again. Of course my hands turned blue again... But I got a darker yarn. Here you can see the difference
- [Translation](https://opuselenae.com/translation/) - As you may or may not be able to tell, I'm gearing up to make a new version of the Egyptian Stockings, with some more-authentic materials than I used last time. Another thing I'm trying to do is make sure that my research is even more solid than it was last time, and that means
- [Scribal Playdate, Part the Second](https://opuselenae.com/scribal-playdate-part-the-second/) - When last we left our intrepid scribes, they were taking a wee cordial break. After we finished imbibing, it was time to make some iron-gall ink. First we started out by grinding Aleppo oak galls (you can use domestic US oak galls, but you have to use so many more because they are not as tannic
- [Scribal Playdate, Part the First](https://opuselenae.com/scribal-playdate-part-the-first/) - A couple of very lovely, wonderful ladies got together last Saturday and threw a Scribal Play Date for those of us who were interested in learning some intermediate scribal techniques. It was almost ten hours of scribal classes and experimentation, and we still didn't get around to mixing pigments and painting. I'm going to break
- [Wordless Wednesday: Iron-Gall Precipitate](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-iron-gall-precipitate/)
- [Queen's Champion, May 2013](https://opuselenae.com/queens-champion-may-2013/) - I'm getting better. I actually brought my camera this time. I'm trying to get better about actually taking pictures. Especially because my Mother's Day present was a new 16 gig memory card for my camera. I'm heading out to a Scribal Symposium in June, and I wanted to make sure I had enough space for
- [Early and Late period Cup covers](https://opuselenae.com/early-and-late-period-cup-covers/) - So, I've been a little silent lately. It wasn't on purpose, I've just been working on a lot of stuff lately, and it's sometimes hard for me to balance the things I like to do (this blog) and the things I've committed to doing (the things I'm going to be posting about this week). It's
- [Celtic Snake Cup Cover](https://opuselenae.com/celtic-snake-cup-cover/) - As promised, here's the other cup cover I've been working on. It wasn't for the largess competition, so I wanted to post it separately. I had a cup cover that I was using, and two of the Queens (well the Queen and a former Queen) started play- fighting over it. So I gave it to
- [Calligraph all the things!](https://opuselenae.com/calligraph-all-the-things/) - I've been trying to do as much calligraphy and illumination as I can. One of the really awesome things about tournaments is that most of them require you to submit a letter of intent, stating that you want to fight. It's a chance to shmooze the Royalty and to show off your (or your friend's)
- [Sable Thistle](https://opuselenae.com/sable-thistle/) - Yesterday was the Tourney of the Smitten Heart, down in San Antonio. The Baron and Baroness played the part of Lord Lust and Lady Love, and they held contests to see which was mightier. I went sans Bebe and husband, and with no real responsibilities, other than to make sure a couple of A&S entries
- [Cwral](https://opuselenae.com/cwral/) - Progress on the Welsh Triskele cup cover. I'm split-stitching in a non-divisible spun silk thread, which is a little chunkier than DMC Pearl Cotton 5. It's a little more, uh, rustic looking than I had planned, due to the larger stitches, but I'm actually finding that I like the effect. You can also see the
- [Gwenneth Update](https://opuselenae.com/gwenneth-update/) - Still chugging along. I'm trying to stitch at least a little bit every day, like I have been (or rather not been; I took the weekend off) with the spinning. I think my plan today is to finish that green section. Then on to the black at the bottom.
- [Gwenneth's Device](https://opuselenae.com/gwenneths-device/) - Welcome to the new blog! I kept finding that my other, mundane one was getting cluttered and that I needed more space for Elen's work to be shown, as well as having one central place where I can put my documentation and class handouts. The SCA-related posts I made on the Sycamore Grove blog will
- [Guild Hopping: Leatherworkers #484](https://opuselenae.com/guild-hopping-leatherworkers-484/) - I try to make it out to a new guild meeting every month. When the Leatherworkers Guild started meeting again, I jumped at the chance to attend. I wasn't the only one, either. There were six or seven new people in attendance, and we all went around the room and discussed what we wanted
- [Adventure in Indigo ](https://opuselenae.com/adventure-in-indigo/) - One of the things that I have been meaning to do is attempt indigo dyeing. We did it at Willow's dyeing weekend last year, and since I started knitting the Egyptian Socks of Doom, I knew that I wanted to make another pair with a more period kind of yarn, indigo dsfddyed by me. So
- [Beautiful Food](https://opuselenae.com/beautiful-food/) - It's shots like this that make me think of the Dutch Masters, and all the beautiful food they painted. And in other food-ish news, Edmund and I have decided to get together with our friends Cecilie and Oddketil and start experimenting with brewing. Our first batch of beers will be three one-gallon variations on
- [Halfway Done](https://opuselenae.com/halfway-done-2/) - Maybe a little more than halfway, actually. There's the other two quadrants to be finished, and two lines of yellow chain stitch around the outside of the bowen knot, plus the stem stitch outlines.
- [Known World Heraldic and Scribal](https://opuselenae.com/known-world-heraldic-and-scribal/) - A couple of weekends ago, I had the opportunity to go the the Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium (or, cumbersomely, KWHSS). People came from all over the SCA world, some from as far away as Drachenwald (most of Europe), to take classes and share knowledge. It was tons of fun. Penelope working on a
- [Scribal Guild](https://opuselenae.com/scribal-guild/) - I got exactly one picture last week. I dunno why Linden keeps making these faces, when she knows I'll post them...
- [Welsh Triskele Cup Cover](https://opuselenae.com/welsh-triskele-cup-cover/) - So, as the principle, or leader, of my Barony's Fiber Arts Guild, I've been hosting a cup cover stitch-along, where I take everyone from choosing designs and fabric, on through to embroidery stitches and thread, to finishing techniques. And it occurred to me that I've been making and gifting cup covers to a lot of
- [Hellsgate Chivalric Scroll](https://opuselenae.com/hellsgate-chivalric-scroll/) - One of the things I really enjoy doing is making scrolls for the Barony. The Stronghold of Hellsgate is a satellite group to Bryn Gwlad, north of us, but associated with us. They hold their own competitions to determine chivalric, rapier, and a&s champions. This scroll is based on a Greek manuscript from the late
- [Wordless Wednesday: Embroidery shop haul](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-embroidery-shop-haul/) - (Psst. They came from The Needle Works, my local embroidery shop.)
- [Passimenterie](https://opuselenae.com/passimenterie/) - Handmade trims for Nick's fighting and court doublets. And thread-covered buttons for the latter. Now to have it all done by Queen's, on May eleventh. Why do I do this to myself?
- [Dolly.](https://opuselenae.com/dolly/) - I finally made a dress for Bebe's (as yet unnamed) doll. I had a scrap of linen that had a border embroidery pattern and it suited this perfectly. I hand stitched the hems and did a buttonhole stitched key-hole neckline. I didn't want to mess around with a facing that small. I ended up taking
- [Wordless Wednesday: Illuminate](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-illuminate/)
- ["A snake, a snake! Oh, it's a snake..."](https://opuselenae.com/a-snake-a-snake-oh-its-a-snake/) - More celtic-y snake-y progress. Now I just have to make two more by May 11th for and A&S competition. No pressure...
- [Scattered Embroidery News](https://opuselenae.com/scattered-embroidery-news/) - I finished my smocked apron! It's fantastically beautiful, and I love it. It's really a perfect low-effort, high-impact object. It's made of weaver's cloth and DMC floss, so I'm not overly precious about getting it messy. It only took a yard, so the materials aren't expensive. I made it in less than a week, working
- [Maiolica Day](https://opuselenae.com/maiolica-day/) - Remember that maiolica tile I painted? Yeah, I still haven't taken it to get fired, but I painted a plate, too! A bunch of us got together and bought a few little pieces to work on together. Some of us had practice tiles. Some of us had plates. Amata threw that plate herself. On a
- [Cloth Dolly](https://opuselenae.com/cloth-dolly/) - One of my favorite things to do is to make sure that the Bebe has enough toys for our SCA events. And by that, I mean toys that can pass as period. They don't actually have to be what kids in the 1380s would have played with, but I try to stay away from plastic
- [Blue Cotehardie](https://opuselenae.com/blue-cotehardie/) - Guess who can make a cotehardie in ten days or less. That's right: me! February 12: Making a toile of the bodice. Haven't done this in a while, after all. February 13: Cutting out the fabric. Yes, that would be me marking on the right side of the fabric. Some days you just make stupid
- [Finished Red Favor](https://opuselenae.com/finished-red-favor/) - I thought I'd finish the favor's story here. All the embroidery and pearls done: At the Tourney (picture credit: Elisava Iliesca): And with the rest of the display for scale (picture credit: Ledona McGowan):
- [Monogrammed Favor](https://opuselenae.com/monogrammed-favor/) - Starting a new project for the next A&S tournament that's coming up. The theme is Love and Lust, and you can enter something for either or both sides. I'm electing to do just the Love side of things, and am embroidering a handkerchief favor that can also double as a cup-cover. I have it in
- [New Garb for Poppet!](https://opuselenae.com/new-bebe-garb/) - The answer to yesterday's question is "nothing." There's nothing cuter than a baby sleeping. Unless it's two babies sleeping. Together. In garb. Poppet outgrew her last garb, the green with pink trim between the last event and this one. Originally, before I started taking hallucinogenic drugs, I thought maybe I could make us all new
- [Wordless Wednesday: What's cuter than a sleeping baby?](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-whats-cuter-than-a-sleeping-baby/)
- [Halfway done!](https://opuselenae.com/halfway-done/) - Only one more stocking left to go!
- [Evolution of a scroll.](https://opuselenae.com/evolution-of-a-scroll/)
- [Work-cation? Stay-cation? Leave of Absence?](https://opuselenae.com/wrok-cation-stay-cation-leave-of-absence/) - I'm sorry I went AWOL last week. It wasn't my intention, and it certainly wasn't planned. I've been in the midst of making sure I have everything together for two SCA events that are a week apart. I'm entering the stockings I charted into both A&S competitions, and I have been running myself ragged trying
- [Egyptian Medieval Socks](https://opuselenae.com/egyptian-medieval-socks/) - You can see here the beginnings of a new project. For an SCA competition, I'm researching, charting, and knitting medieval Egyptian socks. They're coming along, but I've started (and completes, and ripped) the toe three times. Hope the fourth is the charm!
- [Wordless Wednesday: Scroll](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-scroll/)
- [Baronial Shields: Phelim](https://opuselenae.com/baronial-shields-phelim/) - I'm a quarter of the way done with the Baronial Coats of Arms. This one belongs to Phelim, the current Baron of Bryn Gwlad. His shield is amazingly simple and graphic, with translates well to a battlefield banner. I was afraid, however, of the large spaces being boring when translated to needlework. I elected to
- [Nearly done](https://opuselenae.com/nearly-done/) - So close to being finished. And then, only three shields to go.
- [Goblet](https://opuselenae.com/goblet/) - The first shield is nearly done. It went from this, to this: to this: in a matter of days. It's actually even further along the path to the finish line. The top right quadrant is filled, with a pretty cream color. I just have to do the last quarter and then outline everything with a
- [Shields](https://opuselenae.com/shields/) - Setting up a new embroidery project. These will be the coats of arms for the current and former Baron and Baroness of my SCA group. Her Excellency commissioned me to make them, to be added to the Baronial cloaks. My goal is to have them finished by Christmas.
- [Viking Seams](https://opuselenae.com/viking-seams/) - Viking women would decorate the seams of their garments both to tack down the seam allowances and to create visual interest along the major lines of their garments. Some of the stitches used were delightfully intricate. I had trouble with one, until I sat down with the instructor of a class on them and made
- [Natural Dying, uh, Dyeing Symposium](https://opuselenae.com/natural-dying-uh-dyeing-symposium/) - I finally processed all the pictures from the Natural Dying symposium I went to in September. Somehow, I thought I'd done it already. Better late than never, I suppose. Mordanted fabric strips and threads. We used strips of cotton and linen fabric, and wool and silk embroidery threads, so see how each material took the
- [New Kit for Poppet](https://opuselenae.com/new-kit-for-kitten/)
- [Calligraphy](https://opuselenae.com/calligraphy/) - A calligraphy project, from start to finish: an Instagram play in 7 acts.
- [Eagle Pouch: Completed](https://opuselenae.com/eagle-pouch-completed/) - I know, I know. I promised a run-down of the fox embroidery. But i realized that I have two projects that need to be wrapped up first. The biggest one is the Double-Headed Eagle pouch. This was embroidered as a Christmas present for a friend (and only finished 7 months late). It's worked in long-and-short
- [Class](https://opuselenae.com/class/) - Today I teach a class on basic embroidery stitches at my local SCA populace gathering. I'm excited and a little nervous. It's the first formal teaching I've done down here. Right now I'm gathering up supplies to take with me. I hope I have enough!
- [Fox Embroidery](https://opuselenae.com/fox-embroidery/) - A quick update on the fox embroidery project: The second picture is truer to color, with a penny included for size comparison. This will be another pouch like the Double Eagle one (a project completion post is in the works). I've actually just finished all the red on the right fox, so I'm nearing the
- [New Embroidery Project](https://opuselenae.com/new-embroidery-project/) - Gearing up to start a new embroidery project: an embroidery kit for someone in the SCA. There will be a pouch (that's what this is), a scissor fob, and a needle-roll. I can't wait to start!
- [Letters of Intent](https://opuselenae.com/letters-of-intent/) - Letters of intent for Nick's rapier teacher and fellow student. Illumination and calligraphy by me. I did one for Nick, too, but neglected to take a picture of it. I'll see if I can fine one that someone else took... Edit: I found one I took to show Nick what it looked like (he was
- [Done!](https://opuselenae.com/done/) - So, I am planning to take some pictures of this awesome pouch that aren't Instagram ones. Really. But for now, here's the finished jobby.
- [So close.](https://opuselenae.com/so-close/) - Finished up the embroidery on the double-eagle pouch and I'm sewing up according to Racaire's beautiful tutorial.
- [Wordless Wednesday: Couched Eagle](https://opuselenae.com/couched-eagle/)
- [Double Eagle](https://opuselenae.com/double-eagle-embroidered-pouch-sca/) - I read a lot of Heinlein novels. Which leads me to say that I will never ever think of a double eagle without thinking of this coin, which was gifted to Maureen by her father on her wedding day. Which doesn't have anything to do with this post, except that this project features a double-headed eagle. I'd been
- [Compass Rose Cup Cover](https://opuselenae.com/compass-rose-elizabethan-blackwork-cup-cover-sca/) - A while back, I got tired of getting leaves and bugs in my cup at SCA events and made myself a cup cover. In the same post, you'll see that I started one for Nick, too, but I never liked it. The design is good, but the colors and progression I chose for it was,
- [Wordless Wednesday: Pattern](https://opuselenae.com/wordless-wednesday-pattern/)
- [Card Weaving](https://opuselenae.com/tablet-card-weaving-trim/) - Every so often, I feel like trying card weaving again. This was both an exercise in weaving with smaller diameter thread (each "thread" was two strands of embroidery floss) and an excuse to make some trim for a baby tunic for Poppet. Two birds and all that. I used two small lengths of zip-tie to
- [Embroidery](https://opuselenae.com/embroidery/) - So, I know I've been gone for a couple months. I'm sorry about that. My first trimester was terribly hard on me; it felt like I was hung over for four months. Yes, four. My morning sickness lasted all day and didn't abate until well into the fourth month, after my doctor prescribed me some
- [Cup Covers](https://opuselenae.com/ansteorra-bryn-gwlad-blackwork-embroidered-sca-cup-covers/) - So, I finished some projects yesterday. Since moving to Austin, we haven't had a chance to do anything SCA-related. Well, that's not entirely true. We have been going to the Tuesday night fighter practices, but nobody (except the fighters) dresses up or anything. Next weekend there's a Land Court, wherein we all dress up and
- [Shire Favor](https://opuselenae.com/embroidered-afonlyn-sca-shire-favor/) - I miss my Shire. They're my people, the ones who first got me into the SCA, and taught me that it could be something more than drunken parties, or stick-jockeying. That there are people for whom the love of history comes first. When Nick and I decided to move to Austin (Barony of Bryn Gwlad,
- [Finally!](https://opuselenae.com/anglo-saxon-embroidered-tunic-afonlyn-sca-favor/) - I finished the embroidery on Edmund's Anglo Saxon Tunic. Finally. I'm very pleased with how well it turned out. Doesn't that look nice? There are some parts where the blue line is a little lost in the sea of fill stitching, but I think it's okay on the whole. I finished the neck embroidery and
- [Anglo-Saxon Tunic](https://opuselenae.com/anglo-saxon-embroidered-sca-tunic/) - A while ago, I made an Anglo-Saxon-ish tunic for Nick. It's a relatively easy thing to make, and an easy thing to throw on for a last minute event. The problem I have with most T-tunics is that they look plain and hastily thrown together. So, in an attempt to avoid that, I decided to
- [Non-Event](https://opuselenae.com/sca-afonlyn-intro-event/) - The popovers were indeed a hit. And I did take pictures. However, in my attempt to delete every photo on my camera in anticipation of an upcoming event... I merely succeeded in erasing every photo on my camera. So popover-pictures will have to wait until next time I make them. Which could be sooner than
- [Embroidered Patch](https://opuselenae.com/celtic-triskele-emroidered-patch/) - So, I said earlier that I've been doing a bunch of reenactment stuff lately. In the interests of posting some of that stuff too, I give you my first real embroidery project. Okay, at least my first project that it 100% covered in stitches. It was going to be a pouch decoration, but when I

## Pages

- [We'll be back.](https://opuselenae.com/) - Opus Elenae will be relaunching soon...
- [Home](https://opuselenae.com/home-2/) - Historical Clothing and Slow FashionCourtney is the passionate creator and self-taught costumer behind Opus Elenae. She is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), where she creates medieval and renaissance clothing for herself and her partner, as well as exploring related techniques such as embroidery and weaving. Beyond historical pieces, Courtney crafts modern
- [Link In Bio](https://opuselenae.com/link-in-bio/) - Link In Bio OpusElenae.com YouTube Channel Ko-Fi Harney & Sons Affiliate Link Instagram Facebook
- [Video Grid Gallery](https://opuselenae.com/video-grid-gallery/) - [video_grid]
- [Video Gallery](https://opuselenae.com/video-gallery/) - [video_gallery]
- [Welcome to Opus Elenae!](https://opuselenae.com/home/) - I am a historical recreationist making videos about medieval and renaissance historical sewing, calligraphy and scribal arts, tutorials, and more. I mainly play in the SCA but also veer into fantasy LARP and Renaissance festival territory. Newest YouTube Videos Latest Blog Posts Sign Up for Blog Post Notifications Instagram
- [About](https://opuselenae.com/sample-page-2/) - Courtney is a historical recreationist making videos that focus mainly on medieval and renaissance historical sewing and related tutorials, with forays into Edwardian and 1780’s clothing, but also calligraphy and scribal arts, and more. As far as events go, she mainly plays in the SCA but also veer into fantasy LARP and Renaissance festival territory.
- [Documentation](https://opuselenae.com/documentation/) - I divide my documentation into two different categories, simple and complex. The simple ones are for competitions that don't require as in-depth a paper as say, a championship competition. Complex documentation is meticulously researched and is usually presented at a championship or Kingdom-level competition. Simple documentation London Hood (2012) Complex Documentation Egyptian Stockings (2012)

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://opuselenae.com/category/uncategorized/)
- [A&S 50](https://opuselenae.com/category/as-50/)
- [A&S 50 Largesse](https://opuselenae.com/category/as-50/as-50-largesse/)
- [A&S 50 Persona](https://opuselenae.com/category/as-50/as-50-persona/)
- [Accessories](https://opuselenae.com/category/accessories/)
- [Ansteorra](https://opuselenae.com/category/ansteorra/)
- [Bryn Gwlad](https://opuselenae.com/category/ansteorra/bryn-gwlad/)
- [Calligraphy & Illumination](https://opuselenae.com/category/c-and-i/)
- [Early Period](https://opuselenae.com/category/early-period/)
- [Elizabethan](https://opuselenae.com/category/elizabethan/)
- [Embroidery Patterns](https://opuselenae.com/category/embroidery-patterns/)
- [Events](https://opuselenae.com/category/events/)
- [Fiber Arts](https://opuselenae.com/category/fiber-arts/)
- [Food and Beer](https://opuselenae.com/category/food-and-beer/)
- [Knitting](https://opuselenae.com/category/fiber-arts/knitting/)
- [Largesse](https://opuselenae.com/category/largesse/)
- [Medieval](https://opuselenae.com/category/medieval/)
- [Passimenterie](https://opuselenae.com/category/fiber-arts/passimenterie/)
- [Poppet](https://opuselenae.com/category/poppet/)
- [Sewing](https://opuselenae.com/category/sewing/)
- [Viking](https://opuselenae.com/category/early-period/viking/)
- [Wordless Wednesday](https://opuselenae.com/category/wordless-wednesday/)
- [12th Century](https://opuselenae.com/category/medieval/12th-century/)
- [14th Century](https://opuselenae.com/category/medieval/14th-century/)
- [Anglo-Saxon](https://opuselenae.com/category/early-period/anglo-saxon/)
- [Celtic](https://opuselenae.com/category/early-period/celtic/)
- [Dress Diary](https://opuselenae.com/category/sewing/dress-diary/)
- [Embroidery](https://opuselenae.com/category/fiber-arts/embroidery/)
- [Administrative](https://opuselenae.com/category/administrative/)
- [Tutorials](https://opuselenae.com/category/tutorials/)
- [Reviews](https://opuselenae.com/category/reviews/)
- [YouTube Videos](https://opuselenae.com/category/youtube-videos/)

## Tags

- [14th-century](https://opuselenae.com/tag/14th-century-2/)
- [a&s-competition](https://opuselenae.com/tag/as-competition/)
- [a&s-victor-scroll](https://opuselenae.com/tag/as-victor-scroll/)
- [anglo-saxon-tunic](https://opuselenae.com/tag/anglo-saxon-tunic/)
- [apron-dress](https://opuselenae.com/tag/apron-dress/)
- [archery-champion-scroll](https://opuselenae.com/tag/archery-champion-scroll/)
- [arts-and-science-day](https://opuselenae.com/tag/arts-and-science-day/)
- [award-scroll](https://opuselenae.com/tag/award-scroll/)
- [bardic-champion-scroll](https://opuselenae.com/tag/bardic-champion-scroll/)
- [baronial-a&s-champion](https://opuselenae.com/tag/baronial-as-champion/)
- [baronial-cloak-project](https://opuselenae.com/tag/baronial-cloak-project/)
- [belt-favor](https://opuselenae.com/tag/belt-favor/)
- [bjornsborg](https://opuselenae.com/tag/bjornsborg/)
- [blackwork](https://opuselenae.com/tag/blackwork/)
- [bryn-gwlad-candlemas](https://opuselenae.com/tag/bryn-gwlad-candlemas/)
- [byzantine](https://opuselenae.com/tag/byzantine/)
- [cadel](https://opuselenae.com/tag/cadel/)
- [candlemas](https://opuselenae.com/tag/candlemas/)
- [celtic-snakes-cup-cover](https://opuselenae.com/tag/celtic-snakes-cup-cover/)
- [charting](https://opuselenae.com/tag/charting/)
- [chivalric-champion-scroll](https://opuselenae.com/tag/chivalric-champion-scroll/)
- [class](https://opuselenae.com/tag/class/)
- [coif](https://opuselenae.com/tag/coif/)
- [cotehardie](https://opuselenae.com/tag/cotehardie/)
- [cup-cover-stitchalong](https://opuselenae.com/tag/cup-cover-stitchalong/)
- [cup-covers](https://opuselenae.com/tag/cup-covers/)
- [dark-blue-cote](https://opuselenae.com/tag/dark-blue-cote/)
- [diamond-court-doublet](https://opuselenae.com/tag/diamond-court-doublet/)
- [doll-making](https://opuselenae.com/tag/doll-making/)
- [double-eagle-pouch](https://opuselenae.com/tag/double-eagle-pouch/)
- [doublet](https://opuselenae.com/tag/doublet/)
- [doublet-pattern](https://opuselenae.com/tag/doublet-pattern/)
- [dress-diary](https://opuselenae.com/tag/dress-diary-2/)
- [dyeing](https://opuselenae.com/tag/dyeing/)
- [dyeing-symposium-2012](https://opuselenae.com/tag/dyeing-symposium-2012/)
- [edmund](https://opuselenae.com/tag/edmund/)
- [egyptian-socks-v.1](https://opuselenae.com/tag/egyptian-socks-v1/)
- [egyptian-socks-v.2](https://opuselenae.com/tag/egyptian-socks-v-2/)
- [elens-device](https://opuselenae.com/tag/elens-device/)
- [elizabethan](https://opuselenae.com/tag/elizabethan-2/)
- [embellishment](https://opuselenae.com/tag/embellishment/)
- [embroidery-notions](https://opuselenae.com/tag/embroidery-notions/)
- [eventing](https://opuselenae.com/tag/eventing/)
- [fencing-hood](https://opuselenae.com/tag/fencing-hood/)
- [fingerloop-braid](https://opuselenae.com/tag/fingerloop-braid/)
- [garbing-kids](https://opuselenae.com/tag/garbing-kids/)
- [gesso](https://opuselenae.com/tag/gesso/)
- [gesta-hungarorum](https://opuselenae.com/tag/gesta-hungarorum/)
- [gifts](https://opuselenae.com/tag/gifts/)
- [gothic-blackletter](https://opuselenae.com/tag/gothic-blackletter/)
- [gouache](https://opuselenae.com/tag/gouache/)
- [guild-hopping](https://opuselenae.com/tag/guild-hopping/)
- [gwenneth's-device](https://opuselenae.com/tag/gwenneths-device/)
- [hand-sewn](https://opuselenae.com/tag/hand-sewn/)
- [handmade-trim](https://opuselenae.com/tag/handmade-trim/)
- [hellsgate](https://opuselenae.com/tag/hellsgate/)
- [heraldry](https://opuselenae.com/tag/heraldry/)
- [indigo](https://opuselenae.com/tag/indigo/)
- [italic](https://opuselenae.com/tag/italic/)
- [jacobean](https://opuselenae.com/tag/jacobean/)
- [jousting](https://opuselenae.com/tag/jousting/)
- [kievan-rus](https://opuselenae.com/tag/kievan-rus/)
- [knitting](https://opuselenae.com/tag/knitting-2/)
- [leather-working](https://opuselenae.com/tag/leather-working/)
- [letters-of-intent](https://opuselenae.com/tag/letters-of-intent/)
- [lucet](https://opuselenae.com/tag/lucet/)
- [lutrell-psalter](https://opuselenae.com/tag/lutrell-psalter/)
- [maiolica](https://opuselenae.com/tag/maiolica/)
- [medieval-knitting](https://opuselenae.com/tag/medieval-knitting/)
- [monogram](https://opuselenae.com/tag/monogram/)
- [myfanwy's-device](https://opuselenae.com/tag/myfanwys-device/)
- [natural-dyes](https://opuselenae.com/tag/natural-dyes/)
- [non-event](https://opuselenae.com/tag/non-event/)
- [note-cards](https://opuselenae.com/tag/note-cards/)
- [omg-i-got-an-award](https://opuselenae.com/tag/omg-i-got-an-award/)
- [pattern-making](https://opuselenae.com/tag/pattern-making/)
- [phelim's-device](https://opuselenae.com/tag/phelims-device/)
- [poppet](https://opuselenae.com/tag/poppet-2/)
- [poppet-garb](https://opuselenae.com/tag/poppet-garb/)
- [pouch](https://opuselenae.com/tag/pouch/)
- [pounce](https://opuselenae.com/tag/pounce/)
- [project-setup](https://opuselenae.com/tag/project-setup/)
- [queen's-champion](https://opuselenae.com/tag/queens-champion/)
- [racaire's-braided-sewn-edging](https://opuselenae.com/tag/racaires-braided-sewn-edging/)
- [rapier](https://opuselenae.com/tag/rapier/)
- [rus-embroidery-kit](https://opuselenae.com/tag/rus-embroidery-kit/)
- [sable-swap-2012](https://opuselenae.com/tag/sable-swap-2012/)
- [scribal-guild](https://opuselenae.com/tag/scribal-guild/)
- [seam-treatments](https://opuselenae.com/tag/seam-treatments/)
- [secretary-hand](https://opuselenae.com/tag/secretary-hand/)
- [shire-of-afonlyn](https://opuselenae.com/tag/shire-of-afonlyn/)
- [six-pointed-star](https://opuselenae.com/tag/six-pointed-star/)
- [smitten-heart](https://opuselenae.com/tag/smitten-heart/)
- [smocked-apron](https://opuselenae.com/tag/smocked-apron/)
- [smocking](https://opuselenae.com/tag/smocking/)
- [supplies](https://opuselenae.com/tag/supplies/)
- [tablet-weaving](https://opuselenae.com/tag/tablet-weaving/)
- [teal-fencing-doublet](https://opuselenae.com/tag/teal-fencing-doublet/)
- [the-needle-works](https://opuselenae.com/tag/the-needle-works/)
- [thread-covered-buttons](https://opuselenae.com/tag/thread-covered-buttons/)
- [triskele-pouch](https://opuselenae.com/tag/triskele-pouch/)
- [tudor-rose](https://opuselenae.com/tag/tudor-rose/)
- [wax-seal](https://opuselenae.com/tag/wax-seal/)
- [welsh-triskele-cup-cover](https://opuselenae.com/tag/welsh-triskele-cup-cover/)
- [white-work](https://opuselenae.com/tag/white-work/)
- [ink](https://opuselenae.com/tag/ink/)
- [vellum](https://opuselenae.com/tag/vellum/)
- [quills](https://opuselenae.com/tag/quills/)
- [gilding](https://opuselenae.com/tag/gilding/)
- [translation](https://opuselenae.com/tag/translation/)
- [sion-relic-bag](https://opuselenae.com/tag/sion-relic-bag/)
- [sable-swap-2013](https://opuselenae.com/tag/sable-swap-2013/)
- [avery's-device](https://opuselenae.com/tag/averys-device/)
- [tablut-game](https://opuselenae.com/tag/tablut-game/)
- [german-brickwork](https://opuselenae.com/tag/german-brickwork/)
- [silk-tram](https://opuselenae.com/tag/silk-tram/)
- [batarde](https://opuselenae.com/tag/batarde/)
- [period-pigments](https://opuselenae.com/tag/period-pigments/)
- [glair](https://opuselenae.com/tag/glair/)
- [commission](https://opuselenae.com/tag/commission/)
- [reliquary-box](https://opuselenae.com/tag/reliquary-box/)
- [opus-elenae-facebook](https://opuselenae.com/tag/opus-elenae-facebook/)
- [giveaway](https://opuselenae.com/tag/giveaway/)
- [nablopomo-2013](https://opuselenae.com/tag/nablopomo-2013/)
- [demo](https://opuselenae.com/tag/demo/)
- [german](https://opuselenae.com/tag/german/)
- [giveaway-cup-cover](https://opuselenae.com/tag/giveaway-cup-cover/)
- [miniatum](https://opuselenae.com/tag/miniatum/)
- [teal-bliaut](https://opuselenae.com/tag/teal-bliaut/)
- [veils](https://opuselenae.com/tag/veils/)
- [infallible-spell](https://opuselenae.com/tag/infallible-spell/)
- [secret-scroll](https://opuselenae.com/tag/secret-scroll/)
- [oops](https://opuselenae.com/tag/oops/)
- [rene-white-scarf-scroll](https://opuselenae.com/tag/rene-white-scarf-scroll/)
- [calligraphy-practice](https://opuselenae.com/tag/calligraphy-practice/)
- [late-period](https://opuselenae.com/tag/late-period/)
- [Iris of Merit](https://opuselenae.com/tag/iris-of-merit/)
- [rene](https://opuselenae.com/tag/rene/)
- [renes-red-doublet](https://opuselenae.com/tag/renes-red-doublet/)
- [tailoring-techniques](https://opuselenae.com/tag/tailoring-techniques/)
- [veil-pins](https://opuselenae.com/tag/veil-pins/)
- [lilium-aureum](https://opuselenae.com/tag/lilium-aureum/)
- [creating-charters](https://opuselenae.com/tag/creating-charters/)
- [court-barony](https://opuselenae.com/tag/court-barony/)
- [12th-century](https://opuselenae.com/tag/12th-century/)
- [completed-project](https://opuselenae.com/tag/completed-project/)
- [gulf-war-2015](https://opuselenae.com/tag/gulf-war-2015/)
- [event](https://opuselenae.com/tag/event/)
- [lion-scroll](https://opuselenae.com/tag/lion-scroll/)
- [rabbit](https://opuselenae.com/tag/rabbit/)
- [roman](https://opuselenae.com/tag/roman/)
- [early-period](https://opuselenae.com/tag/early-period/)
- [bliaut-collar](https://opuselenae.com/tag/bliaut-collar/)
- [vine-motif](https://opuselenae.com/tag/vine-motif/)
- [stem-stitch](https://opuselenae.com/tag/stem-stitch/)
- [split-stitch](https://opuselenae.com/tag/split-stitch/)
- [red-crow](https://opuselenae.com/tag/red-crow/)
- [red-crow-cup-cover](https://opuselenae.com/tag/red-crow-cup-cover/)
- [badge](https://opuselenae.com/tag/badge/)
- [scribal-workshop](https://opuselenae.com/tag/scribal-workshop/)
- [handsewing](https://opuselenae.com/tag/handsewing/)
- [red-riding-hose](https://opuselenae.com/tag/red-riding-hose/)
- [pink-green-bliaut](https://opuselenae.com/tag/pink-green-bliaut/)
- [modifications](https://opuselenae.com/tag/modifications/)
- [linen](https://opuselenae.com/tag/linen/)
- [make-do-and-mend](https://opuselenae.com/tag/make-do-and-mend/)
- [cantigas-de-santa-maria](https://opuselenae.com/tag/cantigas-de-santa-maria/)
- [artisan-trade](https://opuselenae.com/tag/artisan-trade/)
- [pen-and-ink](https://opuselenae.com/tag/pen-and-ink/)
- [C&T-championship](https://opuselenae.com/tag/ct-championship/)
- [cut-and-thrust](https://opuselenae.com/tag/cut-and-thrust/)
- [year-in-review](https://opuselenae.com/tag/year-in-review/)
- [viking-tunic](https://opuselenae.com/tag/viking-tunic/)
- [acanthus-tunic-collar](https://opuselenae.com/tag/acanthus-tunic-collar/)
- [screw-ups](https://opuselenae.com/tag/screw-ups/)
- [cecilie](https://opuselenae.com/tag/cecilie/)
- [blue-brocade-bliaut](https://opuselenae.com/tag/blue-brocade-bliaut/)
- [sherwood-faire](https://opuselenae.com/tag/sherwood-faire/)
- [ren-faire](https://opuselenae.com/tag/ren-faire/)
- [clothing-commission](https://opuselenae.com/tag/clothing-commission/)
- [kingdom-a&s](https://opuselenae.com/tag/kingdom-as/)
- [gulf-war-pilgrim](https://opuselenae.com/tag/gulf-war-pilgrim/)
- [alden-drake-achievement](https://opuselenae.com/tag/alden-drake-achievement/)
- [plum-cotehardie](https://opuselenae.com/tag/plum-cotehardie/)
- [laurel-vigilant](https://opuselenae.com/tag/laurel-vigilant/)