Did I mention I was a slacker? SHAME!

Yes - Shame abounds...mercilessly. Life has been quite interesting lately...in the Irish/Chinese Curse sense of the word.

My dearest beloved husband pointed out that I haven't added a single blog post since January.  So, umm...sorry guys! It has been a truly busy year thus far.  We finished the helm from my last shame post, but I still don't have any good pics of it completed so you have to wait more.

Several months ago I sketched out a totally new armor design, something that would look patchwork, would look repaired, and would be totally one of a kind. 

About a month after I did the sketch I pulled out all my scrap leather and cut out the front pieces, making sure they are from different pieces so they all take the dye differently when I get to that point.  I looked for sections that had tears, rips, or marks and intentionally chose those to help with the general feel I was going for.  It sat for weeks before I pulled it out and tooled it and then it sat for several more months.

And - with a month to go before Fair, the beloved has begun slaving me so there is at least a little progress to share! Tonight we took it all out and started working out the articulation issues, the base issues, and the pauldron design - A NEW ONE!  A much tighter "bowl" design rather than the broad ones at the top, with an articulated "sleeve" at the base, and some fun tooled designs on the middle.

As you can see, I work in a strange fashion, I lay things out, keep the sketch in view, and have another notebook for actual notes and to-do's.  Productivity is limited to quiet actions with migraine meds in my system, so I am hoping to get heavy action done on Wednesday. 

Sadly, this is not the only project in the works.  Its my only current in-progress...but not the only one in the house. We are working on a leather backpack, a pocket sash, several new costumes for Kasha, replacement weapons for Kasha, some house construction for Kasha - specifically a lofted bed, and anything else that sounds awesome to make.

I am hoping to get some hoods for me, started on a leather leaf waist cinch for a friend, and to finish a helm for the beloved before Fair hits...Anyone think I might be nuts?