Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - Newsletter March & April 2012

Dear honourable Lords and Ladies,
dear gentle members of the "Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild" and "-eMail Group"!

This month the newsletter comes to you with some delay because of my long vacation in the beautiful kingdom of Meridies - I got to see beautiful embroidery at the A&S display at Gulf Wars and got to know many embroiderers of this very interesting kingdom.

Renika was so kind to post some pictures of the beautiful patches for last years Guild Project "We have Dragons" - I am very looking forward to seeing more pictures of the patches and finally of the finished wallhanging.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.428479097177543.119840.145045025520953&type=1&l=bb3abb4183

...and finally some Guild business:

Guild Membership Roll:
We have 65 members now - I heartily welcome Cathryn of Chester from the Middle Kingdom to the Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild.
( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Member-List )

Guild Blog - Dragon's Embroidery Workshop:
If you would like to join the Workshop, just write me an eMail! ( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com )
...related blogs:
- Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group ( http://idfibreinterestgroup.blogspot.com/ )
- Aarnimetsä Embroidery Basket ( http://kirjontakori.blogspot.com/ )

Guild Fanpage at facebook:
Our guild fanpage at facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/guild.head.Racaire ) has 240 fans! (last newsletter - 223 fans) :)

I can't repeat it often enough - every project can be an inspiration - therefore please don't hesitate to use the fanpage or the blog and to post your embroidery projects or links to your projects there if you like :)
...and if you think you have a great project which you would like to share, please don't hesitate to contact me :)

Guild Projects / Challenges:
- The 1st Guild Project 2010 - "Coat of Arms Wallhanging for Drachenwald"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Coat%20of%20Arms%20Wallhanging%20for%20Drachenwald
- The 2nd Guild Project 2011 - "We have Dragons"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Project%202


Misc. Projects / Challenges:
- A&S 50 Challenge ( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2008/03/50-challenge.html )
- A&S 50 Challenge Drachenwald Blog ( http://drachenwald-as50.blogspot.com/ )

Yours in Service
Racaire
Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild Head
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/
http://embroidery.racaire.at/

African dragons for the wallhanging

For my two squares I decided to go with something African as I thought that everyone else would go for the traditional European or Chinese dragons. Since African legends don't do dragons as such, I went for two water serpents. Both pieces are in cotton perle on wool fabric.

The first is Nyaminyami, the god of the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. His wife lives in the Kariba Gorge, and when the dam was built they were separated. The local people believe that one day Nyaminyami will destroy the dam and be reunited with his wife. I guess he's like a local Loch Ness Monster, there have been many sightings and people have apparently disappeared and been eaten by him. Most of the images I've seen of him are carvings in wood and stone, so I thought I'd give him some nice water colours.



The other serpent I chose is Ayida-Weddo, a voodoo legend from Benin in West Africa. Ayido-Weddo, also called the Rainbow Serpent, is the wife of Damballah, a goddess of fertility and part of the creation myth of the Fon people. I did her in the colours of the Rastafarian flag just because :).



- Ameline

Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - Members

If you do not want your SCA name and/or group to be listed here,
please contact the guild head

New members of the Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - January:

~ added 26.01.2012: ~
65) Cathryn of Chester (Middle Kingdom)
(relationship to Drachenwald accepted)

- Guild Member-List -

additional information:
Guild Head: Lady Racaire
Aarnimetsä - region guild head: Fru Ida Juhanantytär
Central - region guild head: Lady Racaire
Insulae Draconis - region guild head: Lady Jahanarabanu Vivana
Nordmark - region guild head: fru Renika Rikardsdottir
South - region guild head: - (Lady Racaire)

Yis Racaire
Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild Head

Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - Newsletter January & February 2012

Dear honourable Lords and Ladies,
dear gentle members of the "Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild" and "-eMail Group"!

I wish you a great 2012 and hope everyone of you had a great New Year's Eve.

The year 2012 already starts with a very interesting information - the guild welcomes a new local guild head in Aarnimetsä.
First I want to thank Lady Fiora for her great work as the former guild head of Aarnimetsä - Fiora, thank you very much for your great work over so many years - you inspired so many people! :)
...and it is a great honor for me to be the one who may introduce Fru Ida Juhanantytär as the new local guild head of Aarnimetsä to you and I am also happy to forward the following text from Fru Juhanantytär to you:

________________ ~*~ ________________

Dear people in Drachenwald,

My name is Fru Ida Juhanantytär.

And I got a really good post as the new head of the Aarnimetsä’s embroidery guild.

Right after those words I have to start thanking and praising my predecessor, Donna Fiora, who has done big work by sitting us all in the same circle, and helped sharing our secrets among each other. And she somehow got us all to confess that there are no secrets in embroidery, there’s just passion and learning.

I can’t say if it was her who first showed her unfinished work saying “this is what I been doing lately”, but definitely, without that circle of skirts, her small jug of good wine and that relaxed cackle of female voices talking about their needles, spins and  ideas. I would never have shown my own works to anybody, or had time to learn my own favourite stitches. Donna Fiora has inspired and encouraged me, and humbly saying right after these words “no, I didn’t do that much.” 

We have lot of skilful embroiders in Aarnimetsä, and I think our guilds purpose is to gather all of us into the same place. Our guild is the meeting point, showroom, study and gossip house for our own passion: stitches, yarns, needles and hundreds of different ways to create something unique from textiles.

I hope that we keep on meeting in cantons and events, showing our best and worst and keep gathering new and old embroiders together.

So, who am I?

I started my embroiding by using thick wool-yarn on fleece, it was something on a hood, it’s still unfinished and my big sister has it somewhere just to scare me some day.  That’s how I started at my SCA-lifestyle somewhere circa 1998.

Nowadays I prefer linen or smooth wool as a textile, and my favourite yarns are cottons, I have just started to use woollen yarns. (maybe one day I will try my luck with silk, but it’s far in the future.)

My frame is always round, wooden, light one, and last time I counted I had it in five different sizes.  I always lose my scissors during big works, and I keep on looking for that perfect needle.

My favourite stitches are nowadays split-stitch or change-stitch, but I also like satin-, and padded-stitch. I am a bit dyslexic and it seems that it really matters over counted-techniques, like blackwork. I work more by  free hand or try to learn styles like they used in Opus Anglicanum.

I’m also the seneschal of Miehonlinna, canton in the South-East Finland. I was founding Miehonlinna in circa 2000. We are active but small group, very lovely people.

In mundane I work half-time as a potter, and full day as cleaner lady at hospital.

I read books a lot. I watch detective-DVDs while doing my textile crafts.

I live in South-West Finland, even I’m originally from the eastern side of the country.

If I don’t get my daily amount of black tea I get cranky, and my motto is to always have a good picnic, nevertheless what else the day would bring to me. And I love baking.

Best regards

Fru Ida Juhanantytär

________________ ~*~ ________________

And now to the Guild Project 2011 - "We have Dragons":
Fru Juhanantytär posted some pictures of the great patches which already arrived - they are sooooo lovely - please check out: http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2012/01/we-have-dragons-challenge-we-surely.html
...and don't miss Renikas lovely dragon: http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2012/01/we-have-dragons-challenge.html
There are still some patches on its way and I can't wait to see more pictures - of more patches and also of the progress concerning the assembling of the wallhanging. :)

...and finally some Guild business:

Guild Membership Roll:
We still have 64 members.
( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Member-List )

Guild Blog - Dragon's Embroidery Workshop:
If you would like to join the Workshop, just write me an eMail! ( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com )
...related blogs:
- Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group ( http://idfibreinterestgroup.blogspot.com/ )
- Aarnimetsä Embroidery Basket ( http://kirjontakori.blogspot.com/ )

Guild Fanpage at facebook:
Our guild fanpage at facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/guild.head.Racaire ) has 223 fans! (last newsletter - 209 fans) :)

I can't repeat it often enough - every project can be an inspiration - therefore please don't hesitate to use the fanpage or the blog and to post your embroidery projects or links to your projects there if you like :)

...and if you think you have a great project which you would like to share, please don't hesitate to contact me :)

Guild Projects / Challenges:
- The 1st Guild Project 2010 - "Coat of Arms Wallhanging for Drachenwald"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Coat%20of%20Arms%20Wallhanging%20for%20Drachenwald
- The 2nd Guild Project 2011 - "We have Dragons"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Project%202

Misc. Projects / Challenges:
- A&S 50 Challenge ( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2008/03/50-challenge.html )
- A&S 50 Challenge Drachenwald Blog ( http://drachenwald-as50.blogspot.com/ )

Yours in Service
Racaire
Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild Head

We have dragons - the challenge

So how is the challenge going? Here's my (Renikas) contribution, finished just now and I aim to ship it this weekend.

This is the dragons den, filled with jewels and precious things. Embroidery in red and golden silk on dark blue wool. I have stitched some small pieces of red cloth on the dragons head, knee and elbow in order to create more of a 3D-effect and then covered it with silk in split-stitch. The jewels are glass beads and then I outlined some artefacts with gold thread.

We Have Dragons-challenge.. we surely have dragons (picture-rally)

My lords and ladies. Greetings from Aarnimetsä!
I must show you pictures of all these wonderful patches which have arrived for the guilds next wallhanging, The "We have dragons"-wallhanging... and we surely do have lot of dragons!

I'm posting these photos as a new local guild elder of Aarnimetsä region, And it's great to step into such a lovely pair of guild elder slippers from my predecessor, Donna Fiora, who has made a great job by inspiring all these skillful hands of Aarnimetsä to work with these patches.
Here are no less than 14 wonderlfull patches, all made in Aarnimetsa!


First we have three patches made by Maria Tavintytär, she has told that she became inspired by leftover fabric at Donna Fioras Wool-embroidering 101-meeting, during last spring. You can read her own stories about these jolly dragons here (it's only in finnish)
Her first dragon is calling "long live the king and queen of Drachenwald" over the mountain top.


Maria Taavistytär's second dragon, called by her as The Brother-in-law, for the first dragon.

Maria Taavintytär's thrid dragon, red backgroud has been inlaid into the blue one by stiching.
It's dedicated to Aarnimetsä.
And she has also made this brave knight, who is fighting under a dragon pennant!
***
Next patch is beatiful work by Beata. I simply love the colours of this work.
***
Next four Dragons were suprise to me, if you may.
These are made by my skillfull big sister, Fru Kattarina Juhanantytär, who is a great seamstress.
Now I found out that she is an good at embroidery too! She started embroidering in one night after ten- or fifteen-year pause. And these are what she made..

First after the long pause, she said it took few tries, but still.

The second and the third dragons.

The fourth one is my special favorite from her series.. and she's making even more patches! (she said there's no need to stop the wagons now after the slow start.)

***
And even more lovely works from Aarnimetsä. "the one who saves, has it."
I must introduce you Lady Gytha Bielke, the senescall of the Canton of Unikankare.
She tells me these tiny dragons were meant for another project, but she felt inspired by dragons and decided to use her works as a center for bigger patches.

Her first pink dragon is surrounded by dogs.

Second one didn't have any better luck with deer.
This dragon is under a lion.. poor thing!
But, never mess with dragons! Here's one burning down a building!

And here are a whole buch of dragons are frying up a sailing boat and her crew in the blazing winds of horror.
Aren't these patches most clever way to tell stories about dragons?
****
I wish I could tell you even more about these lovely patches. If any one of these lovely embroiders would like to tell us more about her work, please send me a note!

Last but not least, Fru Kattarina Juhanantytär has promised to sew together the wallhanging. So please, to send in your own work for the wallhanging, please contact me for the address.


In your service. Fru Ida Juhanantytär, Miehonlinna canton. Aarnimetsä

Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - Newsletter November and December 2011 & 9th Report - featuring embroidery by Hilkka Susinens

Dear honourable Lords and Ladies,
dear gentle members of the "Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild" and "-eMail Group"!

November already started and December isn't far away - therefore I wish you all a wonderful christmas time - I hope your time will be filled with nice events, love and joy.
I am very sorry but due to a very busy mundane life I wasn't able to send out a newsletter for October - in the future I will try to send out a guild newsletter at least every 2 - 3 months.

...and again I am very happy that I may present another lovely project of a Guild member to you -
Hilkka made a lovely patch for the "We have Dragons" guild project:
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2011/10/featuring-another-great-project-hilkkas.html

...and because there is still enough time to finish a patch for the guild project, once again the project details:

Guild Project 2011 - "We have Dragons":
________________ ~*~ ________________

2nd Guild Project - "We have Dragons"

- Fabric: wool

- Fabric size: 20,0 x 20,0 cm (7,9 x 7,9 inch) + ca. 1,5 cm (0,6 inch)

Surplus for sewing

- Fabric color: every color allowed

- Embroidery: every technique allowed

- Important restrictions: 1) at least one dragon per patch (or more!) ; 2)

the basic fabric for the patch should be wool, you can use silk, linen,

wool, metal,... (thread or fabric) to embroider it

- End date: October 2011 (please send in your patches till 1st of October)

- The project is open to everyone - you don't need to be a Guild member to

join this project.

- Every embroidery technique and skill is welcome - please don't hesitate

to contact me if you are interested!!

If you ever had a favourite picture or story including at least one or

more dragons - this is the time to embroider it!

Dragons fighting against knights, dragons sleeping at the top of a hoard,

dragons flying above woods, lakes, fjords, mountains; dragons eating or

scaring virgins, a dragon mother surrounded by kids, dragons who just lost

their fight against the knight (or the other way round), ... just take a

journey through your memories and the old stories you read in books or

you've been told - lets bring the old legends to life again! :)

...and if your embroidery is based on an old myth - I really wouldn't mind

if you tell us the old myth by posting a picture of your embroidery and a

short text telling the legend (and if you don't like to post it by

yourself, you can still send me your photo and your text and I will do

that for you).

Thinking of all people and also the newcomers in some regions, who maybe

haven't done a lot of wool embroidery till now, I would ask the lords and

ladies who have some experience in wool embroidery to screw up their

courage and to offer one or more wool embroidery classes at the next

events they will attend or at a private embroidery & sewing evening for

your local group - it would be great to see more lovely applique,

intarsia,... and all the other possible kinds of wool embroidery in the

future!

And last but not least - because of the great support and interest into

our first guild project shown by the local guild in Aarnimetsä, the second

guild project will be assembled by the local guild in Aarnimetsä under the

gentle guidance of the local guild head Lady Fiora. Many thanks to Lady

Fiora for her great help.

...and again the artisan who makes the most patches will get a small

embroidered gift from the guild head. :)

________________ ~*~ ________________
The "We have Dragons" project is a great chance to get rid of wool
leftovers or to swap wool leftovers with friends :)

Guild Membership Roll:
We have 64 members.
( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Member-List )

Guild Blog - Dragon's Embroidery Workshop:
If you would like to join the Workshop, just write me an eMail! ( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com )
...related blogs:
- Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group ( http://idfibreinterestgroup.blogspot.com/ )
- Aarnimetsä Embroidery Basket ( http://kirjontakori.blogspot.com/ )

Guild Fanpage at facebook:
Our guild fanpage at facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/guild.head.Racaire ) has 209 fans! :)

Every project can be an inspiration - therefore please don't hesitate to use the fanpage or the blog and to post your embroidery projects or links to your projects there if you like :)
...and if you think you have a great project which you would like to share, please don't hesitate to contact me :)

Guild Projects / Challenges:
- The 1st Guild Project 2010 - "Coat of Arms Wallhanging for Drachenwald"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Coat%20of%20Arms%20Wallhanging%20for%20Drachenwald
- The 2nd Guild Project 2011 - "We have Dragons"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Project%202

Misc. Projects / Challenges:
- A&S 50 Challenge (
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2008/03/50-challenge.html )
- A&S 50 Challenge Drachenwald Blog (
http://drachenwald-as50.blogspot.com/ )

...and now to the 9th Guild Report:
Report of Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - Drachenwald
9th report by reporter / guild head: Lady Racaire

Time Period: 16. May 2011 - 15. November 2011 / 2nd report 2011

Members:
Since the last report three new members joined the guild and we have now a total of 64 members.
List based on the membership roll (http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Member-List)
started at 18.October 2007.

1) Racaire (Central - guild head)
2) Rakonczay Gergely (Aarnimetsä)
3) Thomas Paumer (Central)
4) Katherina Mornewegh (Central)
5) Lia de Thornegge (Scandinavia)
6) Edith of Hedingham (Crown Principality of Insulae Draconis
7) Baroness Mary Verch Thomas (Crown Principality of Insulae Draconis)
8) Hudd de Peth (Kingdom of the Outlands)
9) Johanna aff Hucka (Aarnimetsä)
10) Eva Grelsdottir (Aarnimetsä)
11) Arnulf der Zeilner (Central)
12) Lady Jane Devereux (Crown Principality of Insulae Draconis)
13) Katharina Woinovich (Central)
14) Lady Eilgri Beccan (Aarnimetsä - Aarnimetsä region guild head)
15) Viscountess Helwig Ulfsdotter (Scandinavia)
16) Katharina von Owe (Central)
17) Sileas von Biuira (Central)
18) Lady Ælfwynne of Eoforwic (Nordmark)
19) Renika Rikardsdottir (Nordmark)
20) Mistress Anya Mstyslavyaya (Central)
21) Alenn von Horn (Central)
22) Halfdan von Veneta (Central)
23) Anna de Byxe (Nordmark)
24) Hedwig von Simmaningen (Central)
25) Sahra (Aarnimetsä)
26) Sinikka (Aarnimetsä)
27) Myfanwy Methig (Aarnimetsä)
28) Rixende of Aarnimetsä (Aarnimetsä)
29) Jahanarabanu Vivana (Insulae Draconis - Insulae Draconis region guild head)
30) Ida Järvinen (Aarnimetsä)
31) Lady Melisende Fitzwalter (Insulae Draconis)
32) Lady Siubhan inghean Fhearghuis (Insulae Draconis)
33) Katarina von Danzig (Insulae Draconis)
34) Mave (Central)
35) Himiltrude fan Austrasia (Central)
36) Honor of Restormel (-)
37) Tamara Stefanova (Central)
38) Eleanora von Ratzeburg (Central)
39) Johanna von Steinwedel (Central)
40) Lady Ameline de Leeuw (South)
41) Elisande (Central)
42) Lady Gunnhild von Brunswiek (Central)
43) Sorcha Fhionn inghean ui/Ruairc (Principality of Cynagua/West Kingdom)
44) Petronilla of London (Central)
45) Astrid Thorvaldsdottir (Central)
46) Petra von Bremen (Central)
47) Lady Rose Chandler (South)
48) Jaelle of Armida (Aarnimetsä)
49) Kareina Talvi Tytär (Central)
50) Lucia Thaylur (Kingdom Atenveldt)
51) Elinor (Insulae Draconis)
52) Isabella of Vielburgen (Central)
53) Amal binti Hamid Al-Chania (Aarnimetsä)
54) Elzbeth MacGregor Goldsworthy (Kingdom of Ealdormere, Trinovantia
Nova)
55) Klara von Meersburg (Central)
56) Magdalen Yrjänäntytär (Aarnimetsä)
57) Ida Juhanantytär (Aarnimetsä)
58) Katheryn Hebenstreitz (Aarnimetsä)
59) Yosephina von Schwarzmoor (Central)
60) Felicitas Schwartzenbergin, Baroness of Gotvik (Nordmark)
61) Anastasia (Kingdom of Ealdormere)
62) Alfhild de Foxley (Nordmark)
63) Aoífe ní Aodhagáin (Insulae Draconis)
64) Hilkka Susinen (Insulae Draconis)

Officers:
* Guild Head: Lady Racaire
* Aarnimetsä - region guild head: Lady Fiora
* Central - region guild head: Lady Racaire
* Insulae Draconis - region guild head: Lady Jahanarabanu Vivana
* Nordmark - region guild head: Fru Renika Rikardsdottir
* South - region guild head: - (Lady Racaire)

Planed projects / projects in progress:
* 01.2011 - 10.2011 - second Guild project for 2011 "We have Dragons"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Project%202
* 01.2010 - 10.2010 - first Guild project for 2010 "Coat of Arms
Wallhanging for Drachenwald"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Coat%20of%20Arms%20Wallhanging%20for%20Drachenwald

...other interesting projects:
* support of the A&S50 challenge in Drachenwald with the blog: http://drachenwald-as50.blogspot.com/ - SCA-wide challenge - finish date: celebration of the 50th year (in 2015) of the Society for Creative Anachronism
* please support the Token Challenge:
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2010/07/dragons-needle-embroidery-guild.html
* please support the Pennsic Giftbasket:
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2011/01/faq-giftbasket-confusion.html
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2010/10/dragons-needle-embroidery-guild.html

Guild blog:
* Dragon's Embroidery Workshop blog: http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/ - a place for the embroiderers of Drachenwald to show their own work & projects, ask questions, get answers
and enjoy each other's company - no finish date - possibility to display finished projects or projects in progress
* facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/guild.head.Racaire - for anyone who is more comfortable with posting and following the guild news and postings at facebook. I try to repost all posts from the blog also at the fanpage and even a little bit more... :) The fanpage has already 181 members - SCA members & people interested into the SCA and our Guild who aren't members yet - please participate & contribute - let us show what beautiful things we can create and let us inspire each other! :)
* homepage: no homepage by now

...other interesting blogs / homepages:
* Aarnimetsä: Aarnimetsä Embroidery Basket ( http://kirjontakori.blogspot.com/ )
* Central: - (see Dragon's Embroidery Workshop http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/)
* Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group: http://idfibreinterestgroup.blogspot.com/

Yours in Service
Racaire
Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild Head
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/
http://embroidery.racaire.at/

Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - Members

If you do not want your SCA name and/or group to be listed here,
please contact the guild head

New members of the Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - October:

~ added 21.10.2011: ~
64) Hilkka Susinen (Insulae Draconis)

- Guild Member-List -

additional information:
Guild Head: Lady Racaire
Aarnimetsä - region guild head: Lady Fiora
Central - region guild head: Lady Racaire
Insulae Draconis - region guild head: Lady Jahanarabanu Vivana
Nordmark - region guild head: fru Renika Rikardsdottir
South - region guild head: - (Lady Racaire)

Yis Racaire
Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild Head

Featuring another great project: Hilkkas patch for the "We have Dragons" guild project

Again I am very happy to be able to present another lovely project to you - this time a lovely embroidery of the very talented Lady Hilkka Susinen:

Hilkka Susinens patch for the

Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild project "We Have Dragons"

I saw this lovely embroidery irl at Rhaglan and her stitches are very small and even - very lovely embroidery and the dragon is just too cute. *lol*

Hilkka is also a member of the "Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild", which is a guild of the Kingdom of Drachenwald within the SCA and she is living in the beautiful lands of The Principality of Insulae Draconis (Iceland, Ireland & United Kingdom). :)

And some words for you from the artist - Hilkka was so nice to send me also her documentation for the A&S competition and also the story of 'Odo de Feu' to share it with you:

Documentation

The stitches used are:
Stem Stitch, Chain Stitch, Split Stitch, and French Knot.

Material:
Wool base fabric, cotton embroidery floss

Technique:Stem-Stich, Chain-Stitch, Split-Stitch and French Knot

Inspiration:

This piece has both an historical and an SCA inspiration. The historical inspiration is from Beowulf, in which the robbery of a chalice from the dragon's hoard causes it to fly out and wreak havoc along the Geats2. The style, as discussed below, is adapted from an early 9th-century sledge carving found in the Norwegian Oseberg queen's burial. In this version, the dragon is upright and, like the Beowulf dragon, winged. The chalice is shown disproportionately large to emphasize its importance to the story. The choice of an early 9th century model represents an early-to-moderate view of the dating of Beowulf (or at least the basic story), although dates suggested for the poem range from the latter part of the 7th century to the beginning of the eleventh and the issue of Scandinavian influence on it is equally debated3.

On the SCA side, the patch has been made for this year's wall hanging initiated by the Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild “We have Dragons”. It is a depiction of the noble dragon Odo de Feu of the Costa del Lough Rí, an honourable member of the Shire of Eplaheimr and welcome guest at so many of our events, with a chalice that might have started out in the early mediaeval church near Odo's home...

Historical Design Reference:

The design is an adaptation of a sledge carving. It came from one of several sledges found in the Oseberg Burial Mound4 (820 A.D.), three of them were covered in carvings and most likely ceremonial. The carving-motif singled out for this project shows a dragon and possibly a cat.

As mentioned above, the basic outline of the dragon has been altered to a “rampant” pose and given wings to fit with both the Beowulf description and the noble dragon Odo de Feu. The chalice's basic shape is based on the Tassilo chalice6, a characteristic chalice of the style which was common at least through the time of Theophilus; the ornamentation is much simpler than the Tassilo chalice, which shows saints' faces that would be inappropriate for an early Northern piece, but also has bands and sections of twining and knotwork designs interspersed.

Notes on the Work:

Though the embroidery floss used to complete this project is cotton, in period it would have been wool or silk thread. I chose to used cotton thread for reasons of availability in Ireland today. Silk thread would have been used during the Viking age for embroidery and tablet weaving; full garments made from silk would not have been comon. Garments most often were made from either wool or linen7.

The base fabric is wool, which would have been done in Viking age as well.

The earliest finds for the “French Knot” stitch date to the 14th century. I did, however, include it in my work as I find it works well, giving the impression of gemstones on the chalice. The Tassiliokelch shows several rows of gemstones embedded in the gildings around the knob.

At this point the material is zig-zaged with the sewing machine.

The piece will form part of this year's wall-hanging from the Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild “We have Dragons”. The demensions (20cm x 20cm) are indicated with modern sewing thread for assembly-purpose only.

Lord Odo de Feu and the Chalice

Once upon a time there lived a dragon on the western marshes of Lough Devnaree1, a dragon so fierce, no-one dares to speak his name nor tell his story. So here is the story of his cousin instead:

In a time long gone, in the heartlands of Lough Devnaree, there lived a dragon, known as Lord Odo de Feu of the Costa del Lough Rí2, but everyone just called him “Odo”. Unlike his cousin, he was was the most gentle of all dragons, though his humour could be on the rough side.

As it happened, not far from his dwelling a new church was to be build. An army of tradesmen descended onto the lands around a holy well and over the next few summers it grew into a monastary complex with the bee-hive-church – as it was the coustom at the time – forming its centre of spirituality and power3.

One day, his fierce cousin from the western marshes won a gruesome victoty over his longtime enemy who hailed from the southern bogs4.

Customs now dictated, that he would have his relations over to celebrate his recent success. Neither in the mood to put up with any of them nor to share his loot, but having to comply with ancient customs, he limited the amount of liquid plunder shared to one glass for each of his guest; may be hoping, none would take upon him a jurney as arduous for such limited reward.

It has to be said that Odo was particularly fond of a sip once in a while and may be even a bit too fond of it at others.

Seeing that even with the finest horses breed these days it hardly worthes the trip for only a short stay, Odo said to himself, “there must be a way to make this journey worth while.” and see, there was; Lord Odo de Feu remembered folks telling of chalices the humans of the holy dwelling used; mocking him off his small frame, saying they'd be too large for him event to lift and drink from it, nevermind “borrowing” one.

As night fell, Odo rose to the skys and silently made his way to the church, circling over the religious compund until the last lights went dim, he descended. Silently creaping into the building housing the artefacts, he got hold of a small chalice, a child's one really, but of perfect size for him to seize.

The day of the dreaded celebrations grew closer and the fierce dragon's spirits rose with every day and every hour that passed without a single one of his relatives showing his face – or wine glass for this matter – until, almost at the last minute, our beloved Lord Odo de Feu, struggling under the weight of the chalice, arived at the western marches of Lough Devnaree.

The fierce dragon was furious, not only was he obliged to make good on his promis and fulfill old customs, but he realised he had been tricked. Worst of all, there was nothing he could do about it but to give Odo his share of the loot.

Many thanks to Hilkka for the possibility to feature your project - I love it! :)

Featured Artisans of the last months:
June, July August: Racaires "Weiberlisten" Wallhanging
May: Jahanaras "woven fabric for the Pennsic Gift Bags"
April: Renikas "embroidered 14th century buttoned dress" in progress
March: Rakonczays "Mars and Silvia" tapestry in progress
February: Honors "Bayeux style tapestry"

Newsletter September 2011 - featuring Siubhans embroidered cloak

Dear honourable Lords and Ladies,
dear gentle members of the "Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild" and "-eMail Group"!

I hope you all had a great summer and are already prepared for autumn and winter.

...and speaking about the cold time of the year I am again very pleased that I may present another lovely project of a Guild member to you - Siubhans lovely embroidered cloak: http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2011/08/embroidered-cloak.html
...please take some time and take a look at her posting - this is really a very awesome embroidery project.

The Guild Project 2011 - "We have Dragons" - will reach its end soon therefore I once again included the project details for you.
...but please don't fear, Fiora and I already spoke about enlarging the end date to make it to a real anual project and to give everyone some more time for more to embroider some additional patches.

________________ ~*~ ________________

2nd Guild Project - "We have Dragons"

- Fabric: wool

- Fabric size: 20,0 x 20,0 cm (7,9 x 7,9 inch) + ca. 1,5 cm (0,6 inch)

Surplus for sewing

- Fabric color: every color allowed

- Embroidery: every technique allowed

- Important restrictions: 1) at least one dragon per patch (or more!) ; 2)

the basic fabric for the patch should be wool, you can use silk, linen,

wool, metal,... (thread or fabric) to embroider it

- End date: October 2011 (please send in your patches till 1st of October)

- The project is open to everyone - you don't need to be a Guild member to

join this project.

- Every embroidery technique and skill is welcome - please don't hesitate

to contact me if you are interested!!

If you ever had a favourite picture or story including at least one or

more dragons - this is the time to embroider it!

Dragons fighting against knights, dragons sleeping at the top of a hoard,

dragons flying above woods, lakes, fjords, mountains; dragons eating or

scaring virgins, a dragon mother surrounded by kids, dragons who just lost

their fight against the knight (or the other way round), ... just take a

journey through your memories and the old stories you read in books or

you've been told - lets bring the old legends to life again! :)

...and if your embroidery is based on an old myth - I really wouldn't mind

if you tell us the old myth by posting a picture of your embroidery and a

short text telling the legend (and if you don't like to post it by

yourself, you can still send me your photo and your text and I will do

that for you).

Thinking of all people and also the newcomers in some regions, who maybe

haven't done a lot of wool embroidery till now, I would ask the lords and

ladies who have some experience in wool embroidery to screw up their

courage and to offer one or more wool embroidery classes at the next

events they will attend or at a private embroidery & sewing evening for

your local group - it would be great to see more lovely applique,

intarsia,... and all the other possible kinds of wool embroidery in the

future!

And last but not least - because of the great support and interest into

our first guild project shown by the local guild in Aarnimetsä, the second

guild project will be assembled by the local guild in Aarnimetsä under the

gentle guidance of the local guild head Lady Fiora. Many thanks to Lady

Fiora for her great help.

...and again the artisan who makes the most patches will get a small

embroidered gift from the guild head. :)

________________ ~*~ ________________

The "We have Dragons" project is a great chance to get rid of wool
leftovers or to swap wool leftovers with friends :)
Guild Project 2010 - "Coat of Arms Wallhanging for Drachenwald":

If you want to send one (or more) finished patch(es) to Fiora and
need her address, just contact me and I'll send you her snail mail address
asap.

...and now back to the normal Guild business:

Guild Membership Roll:
We have still 62 members - I heartily welcome Alfhild de Foxley from Nordmark as a new guild member.
( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Member-List )


Guild Blog - Dragon's Embroidery Workshop:
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com
...related blogs:
- Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group (
http://idfibreinterestgroup.blogspot.com/ )
- Aarnimetsä Embroidery Basket ( http://kirjontakori.blogspot.com/ )

Guild Fanpage at facebook:
Our guild fanpage at facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/guild.head.Racaire
) has 201 fans! :)

Every project can be an inspiration - therefore please don't hesitate to use the fanpage or the blog and to post your embroidery projects or links to your projects there if you like :)
...and if you think you have a great project which you would like to share, please don't hesitate to contact me :)

Guild Projects / Challenges:
- The 1st Guild Project 2010 - "Coat of Arms Wallhanging for Drachenwald"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Coat%20of%20Arms%20Wallhanging%20for%20Drachenwald

- The 2nd Guild Project 2011 - "We have Dragons"
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Project%202

Misc. Projects / Challenges:
- A&S 50 Challenge (
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2008/03/50-challenge.html )
- A&S 50 Challenge Drachenwald Blog (
http://drachenwald-as50.blogspot.com/ )

Yours in Service
Racaire
Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild Head
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/
http://embroidery.racaire.at/

Turnier des Herzwalds II Badges...

It's been quite a while since I posted anything. But I made up two Badges for Turnier des Herzwaldes II. One for the Tourney Champion and one for the Nobleman of the Tourney. Granted, Sir Gerhardt von Wuestenburg won both, but they were fun to make.The swords and II were split stitch, the trees surface couched, the heart made with Klosterstitch and the black background was made with another type of couching.

Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - Members

If you do not want your SCA name and/or group to be listed here,
please contact the guild head

New members of the Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - August:

~ added 27.08.2011: ~
63) Aoífe ní Aodhagáin (Insulae Draconis)

-> Guild Member-List <-

additional information:
Guild Head: Lady Racaire
Aarnimetsä - region guild head: Lady Fiora
Central - region guild head: Lady Racaire
Insulae Draconis - region guild head: Lady Jahanarabanu Vivana
Nordmark - region guild head: fru Renika Rikardsdottir
South - region guild head: - (Lady Racaire)

Yis Racaire
Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild Head

Embroidered cloak

I've finished the embroidery on Lutr's cloak. I think I started this 3.5 years ago, but it has had times where I haven't worked on it, like when it was in our shipment of stuff from the UK and more recently when I was waiting for the green silk to arrive. I do need to line it now and who knows how long it will take me to get around to that right now. It's a bit daunting as I'm sure the linen isn't wide enough to line the cloak without piecing it. It has been long enough since cutting out the cloak that I'll have to re-figure out how to fold the fabric to cut half circles.
Here are some pictures.
For those who care about details, I used a relatively heavy wool bought in London. The embroidery was done with 2/12 Gemstone Silk from Halcyon yarn. I had help projecting the image onto the wool and drawing it on with chalk (Thanks J!) Since the chalk didn't seem like it would hold up long, I basically basted along the lines with red sewing thread so I could go back and embroider without worrying about the lines. I used yellow to do the outlines and then all I had to do was fill in. I filled in by starting along the outline and working my way toward the center in a circle. This led to some interesting patterns when the light hits just right. That might not be visible in the pictures. I liked the effect. We decided to give the dragons blue eyes and a green nose...just to spice it up a bit.

I've gotten lots of comments over the years on this cloak, usually along the lines of "you must really love your husband".

The project started when Lutr asked me to make him a new cloak and to put embroidery on it. I was thinking something relatively small on the front so I said "sure!". Then he explained what he wanted. I sighed and said, not as enthusiastically, "OK".

Even though I have been tempted to add a small X on one of the pieces with small text that says "you are here", because of how it kind of looks like a crazy road map, I haven't done it...yet.
The current plan is to line the cloak in blue linen. Because it is linen and not silk, the color isn't a jewel tone like the silk of the embroidery. I hope it will look OK. I plan on hemming the two layers separately along the bottom of the cloak so that if one or the other stretches, it won't hang funny. The wool layer has already been worn many times...often with the needle still in it wherever I was currently working.

Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - Members

If you do not want your SCA name and/or group to be listed here,
please contact the guild head

New members of the Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - June:

~ added 13.06.2011: ~
62) Alfhild de Foxley (Nordmark)

-> Guild Member-List <-

additional information:
Guild Head: Lady Racaire
Aarnimetsä - region guild head: Lady Fiora
Central - region guild head: Lady Racaire
Insulae Draconis - region guild head: Lady Jahanarabanu Vivana
Nordmark - region guild head: fru Renika Rikardsdottir
South - region guild head: - (Lady Racaire)

Yis Racaire
Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild Head

Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild - Summer Newsletter for June, July and August 2011

Dear honourable Lords and Ladies,
dear gentle members of the "Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild" and "-eMail Group"!

It's again time for the summer newsletter for the months June, July and August - I wish all of you who are travelling to Summer Coronation, Pennsic or to one of the other great summer events a wonderful time.
...and maybe, when you are travelling through Nordmark, you'll get to see the very first Guild project - the "Coat of Arms Wallhanging for Drachenwald" irl at an event. (http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Coat%20of%20Arms%20Wallhanging%20for%20Drachenwald)

I am very looking forward to seeing some of you at Raglan - please don't forget the "Duarte's Raglan challenge!" concerning colorful banners or contact Mistress Katheryn and join the "Token Challenge" or provide something for the "Pennsic Giftbasket" and don't forget our "We have Dragons" guild project... there are so many nice possibilities to make something and to support your kingdom if you like. :)

Concerning this months featured artisan and project - unfortunatelly I run out of projects which I may feature, therefore I decided to feature one of my old projects, my Weiberlisten wallhanging - I hope you'll enjoy it :)
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2011/06/featuring-another-great-project.html

...and before I continue with our Guild Project details for "We have Dragons", I would like to remind you about the Dragon Scribes (http://dragonscribes.blogspot.com/) and inform you that a fanpage at facebook was started for the Dragon Scribes: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dragon-Scribes/209769245728261

Guild Project 2011 - "We have Dragons":

...once again the project details:

________________ ~*~ ________________

2nd Guild Project - "We have Dragons"

- Fabric: wool
- Fabric size: 20,0 x 20,0 cm (7,9 x 7,9 inch) + ca. 1,5 cm (0,6 inch) Surplus for sewing
- Fabric color: every color allowed
- Embroidery: every technique allowed
- Important restrictions: 1) at least one dragon per patch (or more!) ; 2) the basic fabric for the patch should be wool, you can use silk, linen, wool, metal,... (thread or fabric) to embroider it
- End date: October 2011 (please send in your patches till 1st of October)
- The project is open to everyone - you don't need to be a Guild member to join this project.
- Every embroidery technique and skill is welcome - please don't hesitate to contact me if you are interested!!
If you ever had a favourite picture or story including at least one or more dragons - this is the time to embroider it!
Dragons fighting against knights, dragons sleeping at the top of a hoard, dragons flying above woods, lakes, fjords, mountains; dragons eating or scaring virgins, a dragon mother surrounded by kids, dragons who just lost their fight against the knight (or the other way round), ... just take a journey through your memories and the old stories you read in books or you've been told - lets bring the old legends to life again! :)

...and if your embroidery is based on an old myth - I really wouldn't mind if you tell us the old myth by posting a picture of your embroidery and a short text telling the legend (and if you don't like to post it by yourself, you can still send me your photo and your text and I will do that for you).

Thinking of all people and also the newcomers in some regions, who maybe haven't done a lot of wool embroidery till now, I would ask the lords and ladies who have some experience in wool embroidery to screw up their courage and to offer one or more wool embroidery classes at the next events they will attend or at a private embroidery & sewing evening for your local group - it would be great to see more lovely applique, intarsia,... and all the other possible kinds of wool embroidery in the future!

And last but not least - because of the great support and interest into our first guild project shown by the local guild in Aarnimetsä, the second guild project will be assembled by the local guild in Aarnimetsä under the gentle guidance of the local guild head Lady Fiora. Many thanks to Lady Fiora for her great help.

...and again the artisan who makes the most patches will get a small embroidered gift from the guild head. :)

________________ ~*~ ________________

The "We have Dragons" project is a great chance to get rid of wool leftovers or to swap wool leftovers with friends :)

"Token Challenge" and the "Pennsic Giftbasket"

...and also a reminder for the "Token Challenge" and the "Pennsic Giftbasket"!
More info here: FAQ - Giftbasket confusion: http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2011/01/faq-giftbasket-confusion.html
And I would also like to remind you once again on the eMail Mistress Katheryn sent out concerning specific items needed for the Pennsic Giftbasket some time ago:

------*------

Greetings!

This year at Double Wars we will jointly work on some parts of the Pennsiv giftbasket. Lady Jahanara is currently weaving the fabric to make two shoulder bags – one each for the King and Queen who will recieve our gift. Theese bags will contain things that might be useful for a King and Queen to have with them.
So, here is a list of specific items that I would like them to contain. If you wish to make a certain item - let me know and I will make sure that we won't end up with to many of one item and to few of another. If you think of something else that could be useful that is NOT on this list - let me know!
This is just a part of the gift so we will still need more items! This is just for a Kings and Queens kit that could be useful for them to have close by at any time!

2 x a small book to take notes in
2 x a small sewing kit for emerency mending, a needle book, one or two sewing needles and small wooden thread spools (I will provide small thread snippers, and all the other parts could ofcourse be made by different people.)
2 x embroidered handkerchief
2 x small bags to either hold duct tape or possibly make up
2 x coifs as emergency head wear
fingerlooped or woven ribbons for lacing for both bags

Any former kings or queens how could add to the list??? What do you think could be a good thing for theese bags?
At DW we will put the bags together and decorate them. The Queens bag will get an apliqued rose and what we will do on the kings bag I don't know at the moment, but we will come up with something!
And as soon as we know what kingdom we're swaping gifts with we could make a few tokens that the king and queen could have in their bags if they unexpectedly want to thank someone who helps out. Even tokens suitable for children would be good!

Let me know if you want to help!

Katheryn
Pennsic giftbasket coordinator

------*------
...and last but not least - please also don't forget "Duarte's Raglan challenge!"
Especially if making a banner for your local group, barony, principality, guild, kingdom, your own coat of arms,... is already on your list, please join this challenge to add more banners and therefore also more colors to the next events :) - http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2011/01/for-your-information-duartes-raglan.html

Now back to the normal Guild business: 

Guild Membership Roll:
We have still 61 members..
( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Member-List )

Guild Blog - Dragon's Embroidery Workshop:
If you would like to join the Workshop, just write me an eMail! ( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com )
...related blogs:
- Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group ( http://idfibreinterestgroup.blogspot.com/ )
- Aarnimetsä Embroidery Basket ( http://kirjontakori.blogspot.com/ )

Guild Fanpage at facebook:
Our guild fanpage at facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/guild.head.Racaire ) has 188 (+7) fans! :)
Every project can be an inspiration - therefore please don't hesitate to use the fanpage or the blog and to post your embroidery projects or links to your projects there if you like :)
...and if you think you have a great project which you would like to share, please don't hesitate to contact me :)

Guild Projects / Challenges:
- The 1st Guild Project 2010 - "Coat of Arms Wallhanging for Drachenwald" http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Coat%20of%20Arms%20Wallhanging%20for%20Drachenwald
- The 2nd Guild Project 2011 - "We have Dragons" http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/search/label/Guild%20Project%202

Misc. Projects / Challenges:
- A&S 50 Challenge ( http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/2008/03/50-challenge.html )
- A&S 50 Challenge Drachenwald Blog ( http://drachenwald-as50.blogspot.com/ )

I wish you all a wonderful summer!!

Yours in Service
Racaire
Dragon's Needle Embroidery Guild Head
http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/
http://embroidery.racaire.at/