Busy

Working on a shooting bag specifically for the Bess. This one is based off of a Native American design but I am personalizing it and the bead decoration will be entirely my own design. I am not going to copy the work of a given Tribe or Nation as I have no idea what the bead designs might mean, or might have meant. So inspired by but not a copy of.

It is made of German tanned buckskin, a very good method of tanning. It will have red wool tradecloth trim, a little fringing here and there, and of course, the beading. An interior strip with various pockets and holders for tools is included. I have chosen to make the flap 'rough'; that is, the part that stitches to the bag and one other side are nice and straight, but the other two sided come from the natural edges of the leather hide I have, making them irregular. I think it looks very nice. :)

There is also a gun sock up for the bess. This one is wool, but a leather exterior one will also be made. Beading will happen with these too.

Then there are the inner pouches for miscellaneous stuff; each pouch will have a unique beaded design that I can easily feel such that I can determine which pouch I am grabbing in the dark without looking.

I receive a piece of deer and elk antler, one each. One is to be used as a flaker for my knapping work. The other is to be drilled out to make a powder measure for the Bess.

Looking to pick up some moosehide...brain or German tanned...for the making of several pairs of moccasins. I already have and can easily make more wool 'liners'. The flaps of the Summer sort can and will be beaded in some cases.

The wool leggings may also see some beading. I haven't decided yet. Certainly the garters will; for which purpose a beading loom is soon to be acquired.

The haversack and Ranger knapsack will get some embroidery, maybe some beading. Certainly the strike a light bag will get beading.

One might picture a seriously gaudy appearance but such won't be the case. Little things in the larger pouches may be brightly decorated, but most everything on the outside will be subdued; greens, greys, browns, black, white or cream here and there. One design will feature a white six pointed star in a black band; an homage of sorts to my Tolkien Ranger self...and of course that bag will be used in that context too. This design is likely to be the one for my garters too.

So a lot of stuff to work up. During archery season I will be medieval/Tolkien ranger. During gun season the Colonial Ranger. A better life than this modern crap.

Eledhwen