WWF - Replica Bone Strap End Picture Progress

 A flat piece of bone, that was both thick enough on one end and flat enough to accommodate my strap end. This is the second blank I cut out. After cleaning up the gnarly bits on the inside of the bone it was to thin. This piece is almost perfect.

 The drawing from the York Archeological Trust book. Since it is shown at 1:1 scale that makes it much easier for me to verify against my piece. I do plan on carving both sides unless I screw up the front and end up making the piece to thin.

 Cut slightly larger the first time to allow for filing and scraping.

 The hole has been drilled and the outside frame of the front etched into place. The hole was done by drilling three holes and connecting them by cutting out the bits in between with the knife. It was smoothed and leveled with a file.

The edge frame was started with my knife, making a v cut along the edge. A straight gouge and a file were then used to make it slightly wider and deeper.

Doing this part of the decoration did convince me to make a new tool. I took a piece of an old bandsaw blade, bent it over, and attached a handle to it. This scribing tool will make evenly spaced frame lines simply by resting the wooden handle against the edge of the bone and letting the blade dig into the bone itself.

You can see a bit of the gnarly inside of the bone left. I'm afraid to scrape it any more for fear of making it to thin and thus wasting all this effort. Since the back is planned to be carved, I am hoping this depression disappears in the process.

Winter Garb Test Run

Since the Northern Outpost Winter Romp was cancelled we decided to test our winter garb at the local conservation area. Not many people there though one couple thought we were there to murder them, one lady (feeding Chickadees from her hands) didn't bat an eyelash, and one gentlemen interrupted his phone call to ask us what we were doing in costume. I thin this would make an awesome place for a winter demo/ half day event.

Weather was -10ºC with a -15º windchill and it was sunny. We hiked 1.3 km without snowshoes or skis. The trails had previously been broken by other hiders but I found it easier walking in the unbroken areas with my wool boots and leather overshoes. As I get older I definitely find I need more arch support than what turn shoes provide.

I was wearing linen pants and tunic, a thin wool tunic, thin wool pants, wool nalbound socks, a thin wool kaftan, wool nalbound mittens, wool hood, and a wool cloak (double over the back area). On my feet I also had two layers of blanket wool turn shoe boots and leather ankle high turn shoes. The leather boots were treated with beeswax paste and allow to dry for three or four days.

I was perfectly warm, my feet perfectly dry. In fact, once we got into the trees and the wind was mostly blocked I got hot enough to throw back my hood and take off my mittens. I stomped in a water puddle in the parking lot just to test my waterproofing and it worked a charm. No water seeped through the seams or soaked through the leather. The wool boots repelled any water that splashed above the leather over shoes. Slogging through water or slush all day would be uncomfortable but the occasional puddle is no problem.

The only thing I felt lacking was face coverage, especially in the wind. So a scarf of some nature is in order for windy days. I think for sunny days it would be smart to make some snow goggles to cut down on the glare. My ears were a little cold under the thin wool hood so for harsher and longer outings a thicker hood may be in order.

With this garb I can confidently say I can handle a full day 10am to 4pm in -10º to -15º C weather. Any warmer and I will have to drop a layer of wool, my tunic. Any colder and I will need thicker wool garb.