Grand Portage 2016

  It has pretty much gotten to the point where Grand Portage is the only historical reenactment I make it to in the year.  Being my old “home” as well as my daughters’ favorite place and event of the year, we pretty much have to go.  Anyway, I will let  the photos speak for themselves, but some of the highlights include: -A friend of the girls’ and our family coming along for her first...

18th century trews

    For a long time, I have admired the appearance of trews (triubhas in Scottish Gaelic/Gàidhlig) being worn in images of Scottish Highlanders at the turn of the century (18th to 19th).  Finally, I got to making a pair, knowing that we will be celebrating the wedding of my good friend and piper, Jeremy Kingsbury at Grand Portage National Monument this year for their historic event. I had no real pattern, but...

Tailoring Challenge… Highland wear.

I recently completed the biggest tailoring and sewing challenge that I have faced to date.  It came in the form of a tailored and fully canvased tweed jacket.  For a long time, I have admired some of the vintage styles of kilt jackets that once existed but are not commercially available today.  Some of these are seen on hunters and gamekeepers (ghillies).  This coming fall, I would like to do some shooting in vintage, kilted...

Selling off some items

I am selling off some items that I have not used in years and wish to convert that cash into other “toys.”  I am posting here on my blog to get the info out to as many people as possible with hopes that someone can get good use of this.  For the items below in the condition and quality that they are in, this is a STEAL!!! Companies Franche de la Marine sergeant uniform. Breeches and vest 100% hand sewn using...

A Medieval Crossbow Reconstructed

After a bit of messing around and a few minor glitches, I have nearly completed my medieval crossbow.  All that I have left is to build a rear site for it.  Currently, there is a hole drilled in the tiller where I have placed a nail for a rear site.  Once I get the height etc. figured out for the site, I will build a bone or antler site to put in place.  I also have another bow in the works with a composite (horn, wood, and...

Snow Days!!!

Snow days can really be nice.  Although they really mess things up at work, they are a mini vacation and chance to enjoy winter.  Today, among the many things I go accomplished, I finally got out and tested some new 14th century gear I have been working on.  With the medieval hunting I have been doing, I decided to push things up from the 10th century “Viking Age” to a later date.  This allows me to play with a...