The inspiration isn't only music/dance

lord_kjar and I are at the Known World Dance event in Germany this week. So far it is much fun, and very inspiring.

We arrived Wednesday afternoon, before site officially opened, and enjoyed the evening hanging out and chatting with others, many od whom had traveled further than we to get here. The lady from Caid (the Shenschal of the Isles) landed at the Frankfurt airport about 1.5 hours before our flight, so after clearing customs she had a bit over a half an hour to wait for us to arrive so we could train to the site together. She thought it worth the wait to not have to figure out the train trip on her own, and we were delighted to have such a fun travelling companion.

Thursday morning we went to the beginning bransles class, not because we needed it, we both can bransle, but because they are fun, and that room has a smooth tile floor, while the downstairs room has a cobblestone floor.

Then we went to the class on playing 15th Century dance music, because he would like to learn more period stuff, and because I wanted to finish sewing my braids so I could wear my new dress, and sit down lectures are good sewing time.

After lunch we took a couple of class periods off, just to be social, even though the classes offered looked fun. We did make it to the class on playing music from memory, and the rehearsal for the event choir, where I finished sewing my braids.

Therefor I went back up to the youth hostel as dinner was winding down to change into my new bliuat. I decided I would braid my hair on site, so grabbed the bag with my circlet, veil, and accessories, and went back down the hill.

When I reached site I realised that the belt pouch I had left on the other belt in the room still contained the second set of braids. So the best boyfriend ever went up the hill to fetch it for me, whilst I started doing the first braid.

It is going to take some practice to get efficient at braiding in tablet woven bands such that the pattern shows over the hair, but I love the effect.

We had fun at the evening ball, both dancing, when we knew the dance, and talking to people when we didn't. Not long before midnight a bunch of us walked uo the hill together (there are not many keys to the youth hostel, so we need to share/coordinate them).

One of the ladies in my room has a new lenght of breast binding that she made and is using for the first time this event. She reports that it is quite comfortable.

This morning I woke up wondering if she had done them bias cut or with the grain of the fabric, which led to wondering if anyone has ever done them with other textile techniques, like nålbinding or sprang. I bet the latter would lend itself very well for that.

This got me thinking textiles in general, and now I am wondering if those belts one sees in 12th Century illustrations and status which look like cloth around the waist and rope hanging down are sprang? One could do it with extra long ends hanging out beyond the loom, then twine them into rope after interlocking the middle bit...

Need more time for textile research!

Need more time to learn to play music!

Need more time to dance!