Teaching and Fun
We just had the fun weekend of teaching and getting to know my newest student, Kai and his partner Gerald. Kai and I worked away at learning new rectangular construction models.
I had the fun of teaching him the magic that is rectangular constructed pants and how to properly fit them. He is such a great student! Immediately "got it" about how they work and how to manipulate the numbers to alter the fit. Yay! Kai! We then went on to putting together a toile of the byzantine shirt pattern found online. http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandpeter/manazan_shirt/manazan_instructions.htm
It's a nice redaction from an extant 8th century shirt, and the simple simple measurements to pattern it are kind of magic. I'm initrigued and want to make one too, but A. is not wild about the collar opening. I think it came out very well and Kai is determined to do things right so it gave me good oprotunities to show him some sewing tips and tricks. I wish I was organized enough to actually plan the lessons to come out this well, but hell, I'll settle for lucky.
A. was a good host and showed Gerald some of the leatherworking skills, talked about leather and how modern leatherwork differs from the period techniques. I don't know that he was ready to jump in and start doing anything with leather right away, I haven't asked yet.
Saturday night we all went out for dinner to Bella Gioia; a wonderful italian restaurant in the Pearl dist. I highly recomend it!(owned and run by one of my friendlier surgeons from work: Fabio Cappucini) We had a really tasty dinner with a lovely wine. Then hop down to The Highland Stillhouse Pub in Oregon city for scotch and beers. A. has found me a scotch I like. Lucky for him I only want it once or twice a year : it's scary expensive! Then onto Rimsky Koursacoffee house for desert and coffees. The yum, but also a bit of the sad becasue we got there so late all the yummier things on the menu were all gone! We all had such a good time chatting and visiting and joking that who could care?
Up this morning sort of late-ish, Kai dove back into the sewing project to get the sleeves set and figure out how to "go around the corners" at the arm seams. I? finished my coffee, thanks. Then out for a breakfast at Edgefeild and back home for a quick trip through "embellishment 102" and pack them up, head them out and hug them both good bye.
I am lucky to have such an enthusiastic student! Kai is soaking up everything like a sponge. He asks good questions and listens carefully, making great leaps of progress with each lesson. He brought up his tunic that we patterned last time he was here to show his progress. WoW! It sports his first ever attempt at embroidery, and it's good- really really good.
I'm a bit tired now, time to get some laundry done, some food prep for this coming week and oh yeah, relax it's a weekend.
I had the fun of teaching him the magic that is rectangular constructed pants and how to properly fit them. He is such a great student! Immediately "got it" about how they work and how to manipulate the numbers to alter the fit. Yay! Kai! We then went on to putting together a toile of the byzantine shirt pattern found online. http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandpeter/manazan_shirt/manazan_instructions.htm
It's a nice redaction from an extant 8th century shirt, and the simple simple measurements to pattern it are kind of magic. I'm initrigued and want to make one too, but A. is not wild about the collar opening. I think it came out very well and Kai is determined to do things right so it gave me good oprotunities to show him some sewing tips and tricks. I wish I was organized enough to actually plan the lessons to come out this well, but hell, I'll settle for lucky.
A. was a good host and showed Gerald some of the leatherworking skills, talked about leather and how modern leatherwork differs from the period techniques. I don't know that he was ready to jump in and start doing anything with leather right away, I haven't asked yet.
Saturday night we all went out for dinner to Bella Gioia; a wonderful italian restaurant in the Pearl dist. I highly recomend it!(owned and run by one of my friendlier surgeons from work: Fabio Cappucini) We had a really tasty dinner with a lovely wine. Then hop down to The Highland Stillhouse Pub in Oregon city for scotch and beers. A. has found me a scotch I like. Lucky for him I only want it once or twice a year : it's scary expensive! Then onto Rimsky Koursacoffee house for desert and coffees. The yum, but also a bit of the sad becasue we got there so late all the yummier things on the menu were all gone! We all had such a good time chatting and visiting and joking that who could care?
Up this morning sort of late-ish, Kai dove back into the sewing project to get the sleeves set and figure out how to "go around the corners" at the arm seams. I? finished my coffee, thanks. Then out for a breakfast at Edgefeild and back home for a quick trip through "embellishment 102" and pack them up, head them out and hug them both good bye.
I am lucky to have such an enthusiastic student! Kai is soaking up everything like a sponge. He asks good questions and listens carefully, making great leaps of progress with each lesson. He brought up his tunic that we patterned last time he was here to show his progress. WoW! It sports his first ever attempt at embroidery, and it's good- really really good.
I'm a bit tired now, time to get some laundry done, some food prep for this coming week and oh yeah, relax it's a weekend.