The Good
So much good! I didn't spend as much time in the exhibits as I would have liked, but just breezing back and forth to the bathrooms, I got a glimpse of a lot. Such beautiful works! And a hawk! We apparently have a falconer in Atlantia, which is exceedingly cool. (She got a Silver Nautilus; I couldn't hear, but I expect it was for being an exceedingly cool falconer.) A nice lady demo'ed a warp-weighted loom for me. It's a simple piece of equipment (uprights, crossbeams, sticky-out parts) with a really complex set-up (so many pieces of string!). Someday, someday...
I saw many people I was glad to see, heard only a fraction of the music I would have liked to have heard (Clan Cambion was jamming with PAGE, how cool is that?), and had a tasty lunch.
My class went well, and folks told me it was helpful. When I demurred that, if a librarian couldn't help someone find information, I probably couldn't, I was firmly told, "Yes, you can. You're Teleri and you're magic." :D
I met Julian (I think? So hard to hear in that place!) the Deputy KMoAS for the North, who was interested in lyres, and his friend who was making a talharpa. We lyre geeked for a bit and I demo'ed my playing style for them.
I got superfantastic feedback on my woven wares at Pentathalon. Mistresses Molly and Brianna joked that they were going to Statler and Walforf at me, and we sat down to fiber geek. I have recommendations on fibers to try, rules of thumb for the size of the brocading weft vs. warp, ways to make warping my Beka better, ways to bring the band in tight. (And I should write those down before I forget.) They heartily recommended the NESAT series of conference proceedings (I actually tried to buy NESAT X from the David Brown Book Company, but they didn't actually have it, the liars), and said that might give me more evidence for silk in England.
A very nice Viking Laurel told me my wool belt wasn't nearly as uneven as I feared it was, hurray!
Overall, I think my scores are better than they were in 2009. Progress!
Master James of Middle Aston announced a scroll text competition. I dimly remember the last one - was it really ten years ago? - and I think I should do something for this one.
The Bad
After my class, my voice just kept deteriorating. I entirely lost it by the end of the day, so I opted out of doing my two stories. Very disappointing! Very, very disappointing! From the art side of things, that was the only real downside.
I put in my labradorite ball and my lyre improv; their documentation was almost nonexistent and they were scored accordingly. Which is totally fair - they were not up to the level of my other entries. It's just infuriating to have good entries that I've spent hours on that I can't do!
Maybe next time, I make videos.
The Ugly
That site could hardly be more hostile to performing artists. I didn't really mind that it probably didn't get above 50 degrees inside - that's why I'm wearing wool. I did sort of mind that they ran out of parking (because of a concurrent event) and I had to schlep my gear a fair half-mile from car to building - but that was out of their control, so no sense in fussing. But the place is loud and the acoustics are poor for most of the exhibition space. The hall with the kitchen wasn't bad (and that's where Cambion/PAGE were) but neither the classes nor Pentathalon were there. (And I suspect that trying to make myself heard in my class didn't help my voice.)
Feedback that may not be on my judging forms that I should write down right now
BORG Mora worsted wool, 20/2 weight - try this for wool weaving
Try tripling silks in each hole for brocading with the 1mm gold
Try doubling the width of the silk band and repeating the pattern to see if that helps the brocade straighten up and fly right.
Generally speaking: Brocade weft should be 2x as wide as warp threads.
Use a biggish piece of something disposable at the start of weaving to 'draw in' the warps. (Brianna mentioned "mop cotton" - from mops?)
Put butcher paper or brown craft paper in between layers of warp on the box loom to help with tension problems (Brianna) OR use manicure sticks for the same task (Molly).
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