Introduction

Hi!
This is my first time blogging. I almost blogged once, but my husband said I couldn't talk about him or the kids, which narrowed my subject matter so much that it didn't seem worth it.
I've been in the Society for Creative Anachronism for about 16 years.

A couple of days ago I decided to join the A&S50 Challenge, which suddenly gives me a reason to blog without mentioning my family. So here I am!

I'm hoping that having a blog will keep me on track and engaged with the challenge.




I've chosen to complete the Breadth Challenge for a few reasons.
1) I have a hard time focusing on one activity, and I find that I'm more inspired to do things if they're different.
2) I only have about a year and a half to two years left in the challenge, so I think the other two options (Persona and Depth) would be too difficult to finish in that time.

Yesterday I made a list of what I've done so far that counts towards the goal (since the challenge has been going since 2007, I can count things I've done in the last six years), and what I would like to do to finish it.
I will post pictures and documents to support what I've done so far, but here is the list:

I would like to teach 10 different classes (10/10): Accomplished!

• Butter 101
• SCA 101 (for newcomers)
• The Houppelande: A Classy Tent-Like Garment
• 14th Century Garb
• Pysanky 101 (retired, although I would teach it again if there was no competition)
• The Boqtaq: Like Wearing a Boot On Your Head
• Medieval Dairy
• Mongolian Food
• British Sworddancing
• ADEPT Demo Class (this is a class on a chatelaine tool)

I would like to make scrolls using 10 different styles (10/10): Accomplished!

• Norse
• Acanthus
• Mongolian
• Mostly Calligraphed
• Faux Printing (late period)
• Middle Eastern
• Celtic Animal-Knotwork
• Whitework
• containing a Portrait
• Black Hours

I would like to do 5 things relating to the Medieval Dairy (5/5): Accomplished!

• Make a Soft Cheese
• Make a Hard Cheese
• Make a Mozzarella-Style Cheese
• Teach a tandem class on Butter and Cheese
• Make Medieval Ravioli (with cheese filling of course)

 I would like to do 10 things relating to Fiber Arts (9/10)

• Hand stitch an entire outfit
• Hand-dye fabric with period dyes
• Card-weave edging on a 14th century Cote
• Card-weave trim 
• Drop Spinning
• Make a Houppelande
• Make a Netted Snood
• Bead a Veil
• Learn Goldwork
• Make a Birgitta Cap

I would like to do 5 things relating to Mongolian Culture/Crafts (3/5)

• Make a Boqtaq
• Make other Mongolian Beaded Headwear
• Make Mongolian Food
• Make Felt the Mongolian way
• Learn a Mongolian Folktale and Perform It

I would like to push my craft further in 5 areas (4/5)

• Make a scroll with Period Pigments
•  Bind a book
• Make Cloisonne
• Make Springerle
• Make glass beads

I would like to do 5 things that challenge me excessively (4/5)

• Teach a Class at Pennsic
• Make soap or a pair of turn shoes
• Enter an A&S Competition with full documentation
• Perform at a Bardic Circle
• Make a Boqtaq the traditional way

I think that's the full 50. So wish me luck!