Dance Seminar

I did what I usually do, taught and danced alot. I met some really great new people and caught up with someone I know and haven't seen for a few years. It was all good.
The event project was to repair my banner. I spliced on a new piece replacing what was torn. It was something in the project bin. Now I just need to repaint the end and the compass rose. I dripped black in one area that was to be white, so I'm going to follow someone's suggestion and just paint over it with white paint. Instead of using the banner pole like I did before, I'm going to extend the spike on one upright of my tent, cut off the end of the banner pole, drill a hole at the end and secure it to the top of the tent. That way it wont' have a banner pole splice to tear on anymore. It also means I need to find a new use for the portable hole. A picture will be posted when there is one.
Then on Sunday Etienne and I went to Shava's 50th birthday party. It was fun! It was the best adult birthday party that I've ever gone to. There were pinatas, hidden kindereggs, and fishing for rubber duckies. I played a game that was new to me which Dahrien brought. It was called "kube," or something like that. The quick and dirty explanation is this: throw sticks at other sticks. The game was fun, mostly because of getting to throw sticks at other sticks. The resulting sunburn isn't so much fun. I failed to plan for a sunny day.

I'm such a geek!

I just got an earlier shift at work from 7:30 am to 4 pm starting May 7. The only thing I thought is that I will be finally able to watch Jeopardy. I like to think of it as the game show for smart people. I've been watching it since I was about 9 years old.
I hopefully have fixed my Italian work dress. I had to lower the arm holes a half-inch under the arms because of chafing. It actually ended up being three-quarters of an inch.
I'm teaching at basic Italian dance this weekned in Jara. I'm looking forward to it! It's been a year since I got to do serious dancing other than at dance practice.

An Expensive Weekend

I went to the gym for the first time since I hurt my leg and I wasn't sore afterwards other than normal muscle soreness. It's been about four months, and it's about time. I also bought one of The Firm workouts. Giovanna has said good things about it, so I thought I'd give it a try. I've also been biking to work at least three times a week.
I spent a whole lot of money this weekend. I got a new mp3 player since I broke the old one. It still plays, but the volume control doesn't work anymore. I bought 6 yards of black silk corduroy. It's very nice and should be at $10 a yard. That was half price at SR Harris. It's the most I have ever spent on a single cut of fabric, and it was worth every penny. I also had to get something to line it with. The dress will be lined in a plain red cotton brocade. I have a dress planned from it, for which I have made one of previously mentioned Italian sleeves. I should have the next one done in a few days, depending on how busy work is next week.
I am teaching 16th century beginning Italian dance next weekend at Dance Seminar in Jara. I have yet to prepare my class, since I actually have to teach it tonight at dance practice. Collectively, the Nordskogen dancers have come up with the other half of Half Hannikin (spelling). It's a dance I don't know, but it's dead easy.
The other thng I did last week Friday was finish my article for The Quill on candied orange peels.

Frustration Aplenty

I went to Coronation in Silfren Mere (Rochester, MN). I had a good time, got to see TJ, taught a class, bought something, had to go to a meeting, and I got to dance. It seems like a laundry list. I produced my first set of wax tablets and a stylus for the silent auction. I got some really good compliments, and pointers. I taught my first ever actual clothing class, rather than just something on blackwork. I've helped people with clothing, but I never had taught any classes on it. Maestra Giovanna was a big help with some pointers, and she even sent someone to my class. Yay! I also finally have pictures of her cuffs and collar so I can go graph the pattern and add it to my blackwork sampler. Two people were wearing my blackwork at Coronation on Saturday! I hope they got lots of compliments and told people I did that.

Bardic Madness XVII

The results are in, and everyone had a good time!
I had only planned to participate in two challenges and participated in four.
I took Freydis's sestina class and finished the one the class started together. Then I wrote another sestina for the Royal Challenge. I had never written any before, and didn't have any idea what a sestina was before I took her class. I'm told they are not easy to write, but then every time I go to Bardic Madness I get really inspired.
I carpooled with Ingus and Cecilia de Cambridge and saw something I have never seen happen before. It was Saturday night after feast and we were both sitting in the room where the bardic circle was going on. Someone else just finished singing. Cecilia stood up because she wanted to sing, and the room went quiet. Can you imagine a room full of bards not saying anything at all?
She then said that she wanted to sing but would wait if there was anyone else who wanted to go first. Everyone in the room collectively and loudly said: "No! We want you to sing!" Everyone was quiet and listened except during the chorus of the song that she asked us to sing along with.