1st SCA Event of the New Year - Ursulmas 2008

Usually SCA events revolve around Walters (Idris) and the Medlested household fighting in mock battles and there are really only a couple events where I have to stick my hand in the air and say, uh yeah, I won't be hanging out in camp this time, I'm going to go live in the Arts and Sciences section. Ursulmas is one of those events. Held every January in the Monroe Evergreen State Fair Grounds it is a public event advertised as a renaisance faire. Last year I got the opportunity to demonstrate hand spinning as "Living History" and for two whole glorious days all I did was spin and spin and spin on my spinning wheel. I was on cloud nine!

So this year I contacted the A & S Autocrate and asked if they needed anyone for Living History again. They remembered me from last year and jumped on the chance to have me demonstrate since I was the only one. Sadly I missed the first half of Saturday because of a programing class I was taking but I got to Monroe as fast as I could, changed into my Garb and plunked myself down to work on some more of my alpaca. I had already spun a lot of it so I spent the rest of Saturday and half of Sunday plying to gether two bobbins of yarn

It was as great as last year! I layed out all my documentation and samples of wool and books and talked to anyone who would listen about the history of the spinning wheel pointing out its parts and showing the processes of spinning.

The best part came when a gal asked me if I was selling any of my yarn. Totally caught of guard I said no, but then stopped and said but I wasn't against selling it. She said "how much for this?" and picks up a tiny skein of chocolate Coopersworth yarn and I shrugged and said "$5?" She said "ok!" happily plunked it in her pocket and ran to her stroller to get my $5 bucks. I just about pee'd myself with the excitement of selling my first product and I had had that sitting around for almost two years! Next timeI think I better put up a for sale sign.

It was such a great time and I think I will have to do this every year. Next public event to demonstrate at? June Faire in Gig Harbor! WooHoo!!!!

To top it off one of the gals running the Arts and Sciences booth gave me a Beaver fur coat to use to make myself, Walter, and Padon SCA garb out of. That was the coolest! Warm hats and cloaks here they come!