. . . shows up in the most interesting ways.

About a month and a half ago, I went to a local bead show, and found someone selling netsuke.  And found an adorable falcon-shaped one.

For those not in the know, netsuke are miniature Japanese sculptures used to help keep pouches and boxes suspended from an obi (or belt), usually wore by men.  Usually carved out of boxwood, ivory, agate, and other materials, they are beads in the form of animals, masks, and various other items. The first use of them is documented to 17th c Japan (or Edo period) – which unfortunately means that the use is at best grey-period SCA time period.

On the other hand, there are paternosters with intricately carved skulls, people, and other things of memento mori.

While I’ve been doing intaglio, I haven’t had much of a chance to do any bone carving (I should probably try and track down some bone for carving soonish) – and the abilities of the artist of the netsuke is incredible!  And with this little guy, I think I might make a Calontir paternoster, complete with relics from places and people around the kingdom.

Meanwhile, I finished the second item due for the Lilies Fireworks fund today.  It’s a heraldic banner, done custom for the winner, using the method I use for painting weather-resistant banners.  My hands and legs are currently covered in a couple splashes of paint here and there, but I am overall pretty happy with it, especially given the size of the banner: 2′ x 3′.  It’s pretty massive, though, that means that it can be seen from a sizable distance.

I also received some scrumptious fabric the other day, and with the upcoming reign to be Norse, I’m going to try and make something a bit more period than what I own right now.  So, I’ve got some linen and wool, and some lovely goose-eye fabric that will probably get used for this, once I get that all figured out.  We’ll see, and let’s see if I can get some help with it, because lord knows I’ll need it.  Here’s a peek of what I have!