Sanna's Corner of Obscure Things

[sanna]

My area of expertise pretending to know stuff is not as impressive as Russandol's, but in spite of that I thought to offer to answer questions regarding (medieval) clothing and cookery.

My experience in tailoring comes strictly from hand-sowing clothes from 14th and 16th Century for myself, so I am by no means a professional. I have done some research, however, and have access to some impressive sources (namely my friend's bookcase). I have only just begun to experiment in dyeing with plants and mushrooms and the occasional insect but hopefully will be able to pursue that hobby further. I am also quite a passionate naalbinder, even though I have only mastered two of the gazillion stitches.

Then there's the entire cultural and social aspect of fashion of which I'm very, very much interested in indeed.

As for cooking, I have trained as a baker / confectioner and a cook and work currently as a restaurant manager. I have subjected my nearest and dearest to medieval / renaissance dishes for more than a decade now. In addition to that, and just as with fashion, the culture and history of food and the running of a household are my main subjects of study.

So if you have any questions, ask away!

Oh, and if any of you feel the need of adding obscure bits of folklore into your stories, like why it pays off to run naked in a rye field on the Midsummer night, I might be able to help there, too.

[russandol]

Jul 21, 2010 10:52:29 GMT -6 sanna said:

My area of expertise pretending to know stuff is not as impressive as Russandol's

An expert? Me? I just throw sticks far away with another stick, then I pick them up and start all over again. It is more like madness, if you ask me!

You don't know what you've started, I will be asking you about a menu soon-ish.

[sanna]

Jul 21, 2010 12:43:49 GMT -6 russandol said:

It is more like madness, if you ask me!

Good, because now my hobbies seem sane and not geeky at all. Um.

You don't know what you've started, I will be asking you about a menu soon-ish.

<Mr. Burns> Excellent! </Mr. Burns>

[erulisse]

I don't cook - at all. My microwave and salads are my friends, real cooking I leave to my DH.

However, I do have a background in fiber arts - spinning, dyeing and weaving. And my mother was a fashion designer and professional seamstress so I have sewn clothing all of my life (I only wish I had half of her talent).

I also am a jeweler and an artist in several media, so I offer my own talents (whatever they are worth - about two cents in today's markets) to the Council at their convenience. And, as had been mentioned earlier, I have a Masters Degree in Anthropology with emphases on archaeology and am married to another archaeologist - the possibilities are endless....

- Erulisse (one L) - there is a reason that I arise each morning at 3:30 am, the above paragraph does illustrate my personal insanity :-)

[elfscribe]

Jul 21, 2010 10:52:29 GMT -6 sanna said:

My area of expertise pretending to know stuff is not as impressive as Russandol's, but in spite of that I thought to offer to answer questions regarding (medieval) clothing and cookery.

My experience in tailoring comes strictly from hand-sowing clothes from 14th and 16th Century for myself, so I am by no means a professional. I have done some research, however, and have access to some impressive sources (namely my friend's bookcase). I have only just begun to experiment in dyeing with plants and mushrooms and the occasional insect but hopefully will be able to pursue that hobby further. I am also quite a passionate naalbinder, even though I have only mastered two of the gazillion stitches.

Then there's the entire cultural and social aspect of fashion of which I'm very, very much interested in indeed.

As for cooking, I have trained as a baker / confectioner and a cook and work currently as a restaurant manager. I have subjected my nearest and dearest to medieval / renaissance dishes for more than a decade now. In addition to that, and just as with fashion, the culture and history of food and the running of a household are my main subjects of study.

So if you have any questions, ask away!

Oh, and if any of you feel the need of adding obscure bits of folklore into your stories, like why it pays off to run naked in a rye field on the Midsummer night, I might be able to help there, too.

You guys are awesome. I feel completely untutored compared to all of you. Sanna, I'm glad you know these things and undoubtedly I may need help (as I frequently do) at some point. And I learned a new word, naalbinder. Very cool. So is the art of a naalbinder called naalbindery? In my case it would be nailbiting. My grandmother once tried to teach me to knit. It was a dismal failure.

[sanna]

Naalbinding, or needle binding, and I'm sure there are other names too.

I've never mastered the art of knitting, either. Too many moving parts. A single needle and a bit of yarn are so much easier to control.

[erulisse]

Knitting...done it...did't like it. But I have asked for and inherited the knitting needles from my mother, my aunt and my mother-in-law when they passed, and maybe when I'm old(er) I'll try taking it up again. It is relaxing, just not my craft of choice.

And Elfscribe, I am absolutely sure that you also have talents in areas that you just don't think about. Can you arrange a room to be welcoming? Plant a garden that will have riotous color? Raise wonderful animals/children (take your pick)? Those are three things that I am not so good at, as a small example, and those are things that take talent to do well.

- Erulisse (one L)

[kymahalei]

Thanks Sanna and Erulisse. If you only knew the plot bunnies you've started. . . I'll take one dress, hand sewn, a midevil meal (do you do carry out? Say something that's prepared by the masses or over the open fire in the woods?) I've also got space in my next story for some jewel work and some finely dyed fabric. Oh, yes, I can get into this!

Elfscribe, you've got your share of talents. Anybody who can turn a quote from a thirteenth century nobleman into a compelling and engaging story must be well tutored in some way. I've learned a lot about writing from reading your stuff. Thank you.