My stuff

This design is mine. I created it myself from scratch. It is the symbol of my own group, the Northern Rangers. I found out this morning that someone nabbed it and has been using it as their group badge for some Steam connected group. There is nothing I can do about it of course. However, I can, and I will, make the statement that the design is my own...not that of another person. I would not have minded but apparently the person using it has claimed creation of it.

The dangers of the Aether.

I am in the design process of making a painted silk flag of this design that we might fly it at events of every sort. I may add some Sindarin or Quenya script to it, I have not yet decided. The basic design, however, I shall keep. It is my own and I will be damned if I will set it aside.

Honorless orcs aside, I have been busy.

Once I have figured out where I put the tillering cord...and why it isn't with the other things...I will begin bowyering in earnest. :) Two hickory staves to work with. Hopefully I will get fortunate and make decent bows the first time out. Probably not, but we shall try in any event.

I have arrows to make for myself and my sons, who are both keen to be Rangers as well. Warms the heart, does that. To that end, I shall make Jim Hill's spine tester so I can get the shafts as closely matched to the bows as possible. Both of my sons also want to hunt..and that requires being able to draw a 45# bow as well as passing all required hunting courses. Once they do those things I will give them a proper horn.

Garment making is ongoing; I am working more with browns and greens these days, leaving the black out of the equation. Black is too easily spotted in the forest except at night. I will work in some nice golden yellows and crimsons for the Autumn, and of course dark grey features for the cloaks. I am still working at making my own boots but for the moment I have the 'Maiden' style of boot from SCA Boots and they are *very* nice. More than acceptable to my mind. I can pull them up over the knee to cover the lower thigh, or cuff them down beneath the knee for a more traditional look. I wish to make these in brown hence the patterning and experimentation.

Also working on leather projects; mostly to do with shooting gloves and arm guards, but also a bit of jerkin design and quiver making. String making is also under way; jute and linen cord for making bowstrings. :)

Hunting season begins soon. I personally believe a Ranger ought to have some skill at hunting, but that is a personal thing.

For now I am using my hunter's knife when I go into the forests..I cannot carry a sword else I would spend some time trying that out. Viggo Mortenson slept with his and kept it with him always when filming Lord of the Rings. Knowing and being comfortable with one's gear is a necessity...but here swords are forbidden so I cannot go this route. For me, knife and hawk.

Lots of work to do all around.

Eledhwen