HANDCRAFTED HISTORY

Tag Archives: medeltidsevent


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Cudgel wars 2018

This came to be a more personal blog post, so if you want to join one of my adventures from the summer, here we go!

Cudgel Wars is a SCA event in Finland, situated at a lovely site with saunas, beach, small boats for exploring the lake, and all the usual SCA activities like archery, fighting, workshops and more.

I traveled alone for once, and the long journey made me a bit tired even if most hours was spent on the ferry with food, apple juice and lots of sewing.

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Finally on site, I was super tired and needed to put up my camp before it got dark, so I asked some friends for a little help…

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And in no time the whole tent was up, R put together the wooden bed and I was moved in. Think everything was done in under an hour, comparing to Double Wars when our camp took three hours with three persons to finish. Thank you!

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Here is my home during the market season! It is so cozy! The tent is from Tentorium and I am very satisfied with the quality and all details in it, it feels sturdy, well done and is easy to handle even though the wooden poles are heavy to lift. The poles, pegs, ropes and linen canvas all fits in the car along with basic camping gear, clothing and three boxes of shop things, if I put down the back seats in the car.

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Breakfast inside the tent one morning; coffee and chocolate soft cheese on bread. Tired, in need of some alone time but overall happy. Sometimes the best thing is just to hang inside your tent, watching all the fun things happening outside and being able to feel contentment.

My friend B dressing her son in viking clothing for the cooler evening

Parts of the Frostheim group that I lived with, hanging in the kitchen area. Well, actually none of the persons in the photo lives in Frostheim, but having the best group makes for new friends…

In my tent, having some wine and wearing the 15th century outfit with the dress I finished sewing during Hamar, and the necklace I bought there.

20180712_222358And meeting lots of new friends and amazing people in the Purple Dragon household!

Taking some nice photos by the lake in the evening

M in two of her outfits

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The Mörk family

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R by the lake in his viking gear

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The site was situated by the lake, but if you wanted to take a small walk the forest was just above, with pine trees and a nature that felt very close to my own home.

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Trying out my bathing dress in the lake, and it worked well for both swimming, modesty, looking medieval and avoiding some sun. It was harder to get it of after when it was wet…

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The ferry took about 8-9 hours, traveling through beautyful archipelagos with small island, mixed with boats and longer stretches of sea.

All considered, it was a very nice event and I really recommend it to anyone searching for a SCA event that feels like a vacation.


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Visby Medieval Week 2017

This Medieval week in Visby was rather different from my previous ones; I traveled without love (who was working) and lived indoors in a rented apartment with two friends. I also had workshops scheduled for every day I was there, and just had a free afternoon the day we arrived. So, with that said, I don’t have much photos since I was working a lot, but I wanted to share some moments with you- both by camera and words.

Me and my two friends really had the best living and it was easy to share with them, but we did have different hours so often I was on my own to and from work. It actually was really nice, I had some of my best moments because I was out on my own, strolling or talking with people and new friends I otherwise wouldn’t have time to see. I really recommend having some time on your own during the Medieval Week- it’s the perfect way of meeting new friends!

And adventuring on my own also means climbing things; even if wearing a full silk dress and veils…

One afternoon I met up with Minna to take some photos in the botanical garden, one of them is now the header for my social media! Here in the late afternoon light, trying to tie up my headwear without a mirror and enough pins (it ended up hanging from one side as you may have seen…)

Minna in her awesome hood; made from a manuscript from South Europe.

Work, I say? Yes, since I run Handcrafted History as my full-time commitment, most of my medieval and viking adventures and event is about work for me. I either have my market stall, selling clothes and handcrafting materials, or holding workshops and lectures. During Medieval Week, I mostly work at Kapitelhusgården, which is a lovely place and medieval restaurant in the middle of Visby. During the day, they offer workshops and lectures, and in the evening the garden transforms to a restaurant and pub, with a picnic-feeling. I love the place!

I am holding my workshops there during the week, and this year one of my attending handcrafters took some pictures with my camera- so I actually have some during-work-photos. (This usually never happen because I get so busy with the workshop and explaining things…) So this is what it could look like when I’m holding workshops! I usually wear medieval or viking clothing when I work, but on modern locations such as universities I wear my everyday clothing (if nothing else is requested).

Linnea whom I traveled and lived with

And J, from my local group, meeting in the park for a chat and some photos


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A summer update (medieval wedding)

Since I’m still waiting for the photos from our Midsummer wedding, more posts about that will have to wait to. But we had a really great time, we got married all safe and good and had an awesome party, with all of our friends and family attending in medieval/viking clothing and helping us creating the most wonderful weekend. I did receive one photo of us from our photographer Minna, so I want to share that with you;

Our wedding outfits are inspired by Italian 15th century fashion. My hair is a modern take, but with the elaborate hairstyles of Italian early renaissance women in mind. The clothing really took some time to finish, and oh my, there was quite some problems involved…. But more of that later (when I can lay my hands on more pictures of details and such)

Now, it’s the beginning of July, and most of my friends post updates from their vacation. For me, July is a fully booked working month with lots of events, markets, workshops- lots of fun! Next week, I’m of to Skellefteå’s medieval days to hold a lecture, and some workshops. Me and B also will have a market stall to sell some goods. The week after that, I’m working on Hägnan’s medieval days in Luleå (my hometown) as a coordinator for the handcrafters (and selling my wares to) and after that, home a couple of days to rest and do laundry, and then Saltvik’s viking market is next.

Then, it’s time for The medieval week in Visby, and since love didn’t have any vacation to spend on Visby this year, I’ll be going with some dear friends, and we have booked an apartment to stay the week. So, for the first time ever, I’ll be sleeping indoors- which will be very good for getting good rest I think. Previous years, I have always got sick during the week, and it’s really a bother to hold workshops when you have the flu or a food poisoning…

Anyway, I’m holding workshops on Kapitelhusgården this year to- and now they have the workshops and lectures up for you to reserve a place on! Just follow the above link to se all their interesting workshops and such. Many of my workshops tend to get full before the week even start when pre-booking is available, so be sure to get a place beforehand! If you would like to attend one of my workshops, I can offer:

Gör en toile- medeltida mönsterkonstruktion (the drafting of a personal pattern on your body)

Mönsterkonstruktion av ärmar (patternmaking for sleeves)

Brickbandsvävning med mönster (tablet weaving with patterndrafting)

Medeltida brickbandsvävning (tablet weaving with fast warping and simple patterns)

Medeltida sömnadstekniker -fortsättningskurs (medieval seams and handcrafts for non beginners)

All this courses will be held in swedish, but on the workshop about seams and handcrafts I will have time for fast translation for those who would like to attend and are english speakers. During the weaving and pattern workshop, I will not have time to translate and many of the participants won’t be able to follow english instructions only- so that is the reason the workshops are in swedish.

So, that was some of my summer. More updates will follow, and of course I will keep you updated from the different events. Check out my instagram #handcraftedhistory to follow my everyday work, and my facebookpage Handcraftedhistory for updates, offers and pictures.

Spara


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The SCA event “Double Wars”

This week has been going real fast, maybe too fast forward. We are packing and preparing for the big SCA event Double Wars, which takes place in southernmost Sweden. In our case, that includes a 10 hour long drive over half of Sweden. I really like roadtrips, sweatheart isn’t that thrilled, but I promised we could buy a bag of candy to come along in the car…(yes, that worked)

The event is a really big one, and also over a week long, with outdoor medieval encampments and lots and lots of activities such as archery, handcrafting, cooking, fighting and such. And parties, of course. The event is also commonly referred to as “Knäcke” which basically means the hard, swedish crispbread. To make the war a bit more interesting, somewere in the beginning people wanted to find som real (but not political or religious) issue to battle about. The choise fell on what side of the crispbread you should put your butter on (a very noble issue indead) so now, every year in Sweden, hundreds of fighters gathers to battle over what side of the bread is the right one… Brilliant! Sometime it is the details that is the most important.

We have been building some simple furniture for our camp, sewing som new garments (mostly underwear) and preparing meals and a comfy camp. Lots of extra job, and my business have been somewhat put on the side for some days. But I’m sure looking forward to the event, were I will have workshops and a market place during the market days.

Our friend R visited us earlier this week, and got the nice task of helping with our tent… (he’s way taller than I am, perfect for reaching to the top of the tent). As you can see, there isn’t much grass and greens yet- the spring has been rather late and cold so I’m packing som warm woolen dresses, a hood and some woolen socks for sleeping in (wool really is the best for keeping warm).

Yesterday I realised that there was going to be a mask bal at the event. I’m last on the cake, I know, but I suddenly wanted to make some masks… Now, of to do some more laundry, packing, cooking and other shores…

I wont be posting here during the week, but you can follow our adventure on Instagram at #handcraftedhistory. And if you’re going to the event- you can find me at Lady Branna’s camp and I would love it if you came by and talked to me!

Spara


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To the Spring Crown Tournament!

Yesterday a snow storm svept in over my hometown, so everything is covered by a layer of snow. Pretty nice, yes- but I’m so longing for spring!

This week I only have time for a very short update, since I’m packing for our local SCA group’s big event the Spring Crown Tournament. It will be one of the biggest SCA events here in the northen half of Sweden (since like, ever) and will probably be a lot fun. Counting over 200 participants, a lot of activities, a tournament and some nice feasts we will have a full weekend. The event is mostly fun, of course, but also a bit of work for me. I’m planning to hold a workshop in rosaries and how to make them, and am also packing my shop to go along.

The truth is that I have a lot of handcraft materials and medieval + viking stuff at home in my basement that is not available on my webshops. Instead I’m bringing them to different markets and events to sell- because it is fun but mostly because keeping a webshop is a lot of work for quite a wee bit of money.

So I’m packing and packing, and since H is at work I got the honour of packing the car to. Really. I’m not much good at packing cars, I think I’ll have to practise some tetris moves if this is going to work in the future… But the event will be really fun, and my friend K will help me with keeping the shop during the weekend. I’ll come back to you with lots of photos and a raport of the event afterward, hope you will have a nice weekend!


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Hasselas medeltidsdagar och Selånger marknad

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Visbypesten har gett med sig och jag packar för nya äventyr. Ja, all Visbypackning är kanske inte riktigt bortstuvad än, men det är ju fint att hemmet ser lite bebott ut också? Det kommer komma bilder en en liten Visbyrapport inom kort. I helgen (lördag) besöker jag Hasselas medeltidsdagar för att föreläsa om 1300talets dräkt och visa kläder. Det blir lite medeltida samhälle, lite kuriosa, mycket praktiskt kring dräkt och så… en hel del underkläder. Jag kan ju liksom inte låta bli nu när jag har chansen…

På söndag hänger jag med föreningen Gyllengran på Selångers marknad och pratar hantverk, kläder och har med mig lite utförsäljning och loppis. Om du ser mig i helgen så kom gärna fram och säg hej! Jag kommer se ut ungefär såhär, möjligtvis lite blötare på grund av utlovat regnväder…

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