2022: A Retrospective
2022 was a heck of a year. I think compared to previous years, I learned more about who I am as an artisan. I did a lot of making things but I also did a lot of research and then I did a lot of acting on that research. While I am still learning, I think it’s been a year of intense growth and I’m very proud of myself for trying things I would never have thought I could try before.
I did ALMOST succeed in one goal I set for myself in January: I did not buy new fabric all 2022, until the last couple weeks of December, when Fabrics-Store put a linen on sale I’ve been waiting for them to discount since it was launched a couple months ago. I used fabric I already had or was gifted for almost all of my projects. It’s helped me work down my stash a bit, but I also spent a lot of time this year on projects that were not garb, so I think it balanced out. And honestly, the fact that my “Not Garb” list is about as long as my “Garb” list below makes me pretty darn proud.
Things I Made
Garb
Body garments: I made 3 new camisas, including the embroidered Herringbone Camisa and the very fancy one with sleeves as tall as I am, and another pair of calzas and the linen calzas medias that go under my knitted ones. I now have a pretty solid stash of body garments, which is awesome.
Headwear: I made two Flemish hoods and the silk veil for the Green Saya outfit. I also made and updated several cofias so I have a solid collection.
Structural wear: I completed the Green Saya! I still have not worn it anywhere. But it’s completed and made! I did also make the Summer Saya and wore it exactly once before it got eaten but it still counts!
Outerwear: I have the Pink Gonete now, as well as finishing the black loba/tabardo/thingy. I also have the new shawl but I don’t really count that as something I made because it literally is just a piece of fabric. I did also make myself a set of mittens.
For others: I helped make Coronation garb for Their Majesties as well and found some time to have sewing days for newcomers and some friends throughout the year to help keep people clothed. I got to knit a pair of glovers for Sof’ia to use at the archery range- not period, but I’m still happy I made them.
Not Spanish: The Valkryie garb for me, Hrefna, Sof’ia, and Shireen, including the bibs.
Not garb:
Jewelry: Some random jewelry out of left over bits and bobs including some bracelets. I finished the headpiece for the Green Saya outfit twice over! I also made three rosaries- my two long ones and a short, ring mounted one.
I did make the black and silver fabric into two pillows and a tablecloth.
I embroidered Tala’s fostering belt favor (which I still love as one of my favorite embroidery projects).
Calligraphy: I did my handwriting project and completed my apprenticeship contract for Bea, including a documented SCA signature. I made a second apprenticeship contract as an elevation present for Bea and Esa. And finally, I made Hakon’s Kraken scroll transcription in English.
Classes: I taught my Spanish Women’s Undergarments class and my class on the Libro de guisados and converted the Libro class for teaching online as well as in person.
Recipes: I finished my three spice blends, my empanadillas, and my almodrote recipe is finished but not fully documented yet. I found a wide variety of applications for the Duke’s Powder recipe. In non-Spanish cooking, I also made a delicious English saffron custard.
Garb Things I Would Like to Make
So, onto a project idea that I have been toying with for a while. I have a lot of Someday Projects, and came up with the idea to try exploring my persona more in depth by exploring the garb and lives of similar (read: contemporaneous) women throughout the peninsula. I truly think it would be a fun way to explore how the world in and around 15th century Castile plays a role in Mariana’s live. And so, I can finally announce that my next big project is an “Around 15th Century Iberian Peninsula Look Book.” It is definitely more than a year’s worth of research and work, but I’m going to give it a go. The concept is to delve into both higher and lower class women in the major powers on the Iberian peninsula during the 15th century. The pie in the sky would be that each look includes a little blurb on the woman herself and her life. This might include:
A Muslim woman from al-Andalus in the 15th century, under the Nasrids.
An openly Jewish woman in both Christian and Islamic Spain.
A richer woman in Castile than I usually do. Maybe this is where my Salome comes in.
A woman from Navarre, leaning more into Basque influence.
A woman from Aragon, and focusing on how it is both similar and different to Castile, despite falling under the same monarchs for part of my time period.
A woman from 15th century Portugal, and how that might differ from her Spanish and Islamic neighbors.
Maybe even including exploring a woman in Flanders? This is a little after my usual period but is a fascinating way to explore more in depth the geopolitics of what would shortly become the Spanish Empire.
I’ve got a variety of specific projects in mind, for which I already have either a very clear vision/purpose and for some I even have fabric for (or rather, I found a project for some fabric I already own, which is even more important I guess). In no particular order, I would like to make these items in 2023.
A red saya with long sleeves, like the Annunciation of Saint Anne painting to the left. I may honestly just try for the whole outfit on that one.
An 13th or 14th C qamis out of the Moroccan Blue linen I acquired at the end of December.
Another gonete out of the blue cotton sateen.
A saya verdugada. Many illustrations show some fun contrasting colors between the fabric and tape used to contain the stiffening material. I have some gorgeous blue silk that is destined for this project, probably with some sort of red fabric tape to contain ropes to form the shape.
To go on top of the verdugada, a sobresaya with the fun slits down the skirt.
A rollo. I don’t want to make it too ornate, but there is a sculpture in Anderson with one that’s got some ouches at the four points and is wrapped in what is probably linen, and I think this style would suit me nicely. This piece will need a crespina to go with it, but I don’t know that I’m brave enough to try to make netting myself yet.
A set of wool calzas medias from some of the tan wool I still have.
Not Garb Things I Want to Make
Having Not Garb projects on hand I think really helped me get through my garb projects and keep up better with my motivation throughout the year. I’ve felt so much better rounded as a SCAdian and artisan for it.
My priorities for Not Garb projects are to finish the commonplace book, quiver, and chopines.
Adding new Nola recipes to my repertoire, specifically starting with the recipes I use in my slide deck that I haven’t finalized yet: Rosquillas, Manjar Imperial, Ginestada, and Potaje de Farro are the first ones off my Nola wish list to accomplish in 2023.
Simon de Spaulding encouraged me to look into some games to add to my persona and Evan was super supportive, gifting me some playing cards from Maestra Heather Hall and an alquerque board for Hannukah in 2022. I want to learn some card games to play and how to play alquerque for sure, and maybe backgammon as well.
Simon also sent me a song, Paso el Agoa, from my area/period that I would like to learn. I’m not really sure what this will look like from a practical perspective, but I’m going to give it a go!
I have the printed fabric that I need to make either a tablecloth or pillows out of. I’m also debating taking apart the Red Tabardo to do the same or maybe to make something else but thinking specifically camp ambiance wise.
Bea encouraged me to make individual bags for my various pieces of feastware pottery to go into my new box (which still needs handles) so I think I’ll give those a go!
