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You might be wondering just who I really am and why do I have anything to contribute in regards to medieval pottery, costuming, cooking technology, etc. Well, I'm actually a trained artist who naturally works in a field other than art. You know the drill. Get a degree and then find a job that doesn't relate so you can put bread on the table. Fortunately, I have a hobby that allows me to express my artistic inclinations in my spare time and receive lots of warm fuzzies while doing it.
I graduated with honors from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor's degree in Art. My area of specialization is Ceramics. Ask me to draw something and I'm liable to run the other way, but if you ask me to make a vessel of clay, I'll be up to my elbows in mud before you can blink. I've also been in a partnership with another potter and have operated a small working pottery/shop in Cedar Falls, IA. We specialized in fairs where we could demonstrate our craft on site.
My favorite non-medieval things to make are classically influenced vessels; functional, but not practical items; and teapots. All these types of vessels require a combination of construction methods. The method that I like to use is to wheel-throw the different elements of a pot and then assemble them at the leather-hard stage. One of the first pots I made with this method was a funerary urn for my cat.
It was the Society for Creative Anachronism that peaked my interest in the Russian culture and in reproducing medieval ceramic items. I've been working most recently on cooking wares from England. But plan to be making reproductions of several vessels that have been found in Russia. As far as costuming is concerned, I've been sewing clothes since I was 12 years old. My mother, having finally gotten tired of my incessant requests for doll clothes, taught me to sew Barbie doll sized clothes and it's been one big sewing extravaganza ever since. I have to admit, though, it wasn't until my introduction to the SCA that I started designing my own clothing. For medieval Russian clothing, there are no patterns. Based on my research and the research of others who were generous enough to share their findings, I've made several garments by using simple shapes and common sense.
Other areas that I explore here are things that I've helped experiment with or have researched. But rest assured, everything in these pages are things that I find infinitely interesting!