The Armour Archive

Black Swan Designs

Hi All- I'm 100% behind Halv and his efforts with Norstead, so the gift certificates are good for any stocked size/fabric without extra cost. If you are 5' 7" to 6'2" tall and have a 38'-56"ish chest, either our One Size or Large will fit you. Right now we have more wool AS trousers a...

Black Swan Designs

Forgot to mention that this will be a team event: Tenans: Jeffrey Hedgecock, Captain (USA) Jeffrey Wasson (USA) Frederic Piraux (Belgium) Venans: Luke Binks, Captain (Australia) Petter Ellingsen (Norway) Graham Nixon (New Zealand) Points will be awarded in Skill at Arms, Foot Combat, Joust and Melee...

Black Swan Designs

A Costume contest on the theme of

â€˜Knights and Ladiesâ€™

will be held on Saturday, November 1 at the World Invitational Joust.

The â€œLadiesâ€

Black Swan Designs

If you book a room or a car or even eat in a local restaurant, please take a moment to mention to the manager that you're in town for the joust. Doing so will help us raise sponsorship for the event next year, including discounts for joust goers who patronize local businesses. AIRPORTS Closest airpo...

Black Swan Designs

Is this the sort of thing you're referring?

Portable Tankless Water Heater

Black Swan Designs

Didn't really know where to put this, so sorry if it's not where it should be... Does anyone have recommendations for hot water camping showers? I need to figure out a way for a number of people to take hot showers outdoors under somewhat Pennsic-like conditions. I've heard of some clever and inexpe...

Black Swan Designs

You could always check with those of us who have stuff in stock all the time- Historic Enterprises, Revival, Sofi Stitches, etc.

Gwen

Black Swan Designs

Extra points for what, unhorsing? If so, no. 'Extra' points are only available for horsemanship and lance breakage. Edited to add- There are no points added to the official score. However, if someone does unhorse someone else, the one doing the unhorsing generally gets a big round of 'Woohoo, good o...

Black Swan Designs

The last course of the final, Jeff vs. Steve Charlton. Jeff hit Charleton so hard he nearly unhorsed him.

[img]http://photos-207.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v314/120/110/593316207/n593316207_1793620_2074.jpg[/img]

Black Swan Designs

Our lineup for the World Invitational Joust is now confirmed- Jeffrey Hedgecock / USA http://www.worldjoust.com/images/hedgecock2.jpg Luke Binks / Australia http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v314/120/110/593316207/n593316207_1787470_2302.jpg Fred Piraux / Belgium http://www.worldjoust.c...

Black Swan Designs

Just added 3XL to the T shirt menu.

FYI, T shirts are in production and will ship to you on or before October 1.

Gwen

Black Swan Designs

OK, I think Jeff has it sorted out now. Weekend Pass and T shirt Combo Lee, I hope you'll be able to make it for the whole weekend! As I understand it, Jeffrey Forgeng is utilizing the Academy of Arms as his full time assistants in the WMA presentations. You guys will basically have Jeffrey teaching...

Black Swan Designs

OK, I fixed the Ticket and T shirt combo link.

I'll work on the weekend ticket prices, thanks for pointing that out. I think both Jeff and I were having a Stoopid Day yesterday.

Gwen

Black Swan Designs

AIRPORTS Closest airport- San Diegoâ€™s Lindberg Field . San Diego Airport is a very easy 30 minute drive from the site. Los Angeles International Airport / LAX is about 2.5 hours from the site. Only plan to fly to LAX if youâ€™re travelling internationally, as the flights are sometimes cheaper. Do...

Black Swan Designs

Tickets went on sale today for the World Invitational Joust in Poway, CA on November 1 & 2. Order tickets here: Tournament of the Phoenix tickets We also have a gorgeous T shirt for the event, designed by our good friends at Renaissance Arts and Design- [img]http://www.historicenterprises.com/im...

Black Swan Designs

Paperback: 199 pages
Publisher: Madhatter Pr; 1st edition (December 1981)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0941082008
ISBN-13: 978-0941082006
Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds

'From the Neck Up' online

'From the Neck Up' on Amazon.com

Black Swan Designs

Oh that sucks!! And Jeff just wrote to say what a good practice you had last weekend. Bummer.

Gwen

Black Swan Designs

You lost me there Russ. Dave and I are friends, and I was just giving him a friendly jab in the ribs. I'm not sure what you thought I meant. Anyway, we only sell the unblocked 'hoods' (when we have them)- it's up to the purchaser to do the final blocking, or to use the hood as a hat. Kinda like whet...

Black Swan Designs

Always a smart alek in the crowd, eh Dave? Of course I use the hats we sell because they are here and it would be silly to buy others. We're currently out of stock but expect more soon. Any wool felt hat will work just as well, but make sure it's wool felt, not just poly felt. I'm sorry I can't reco...

Black Swan Designs

Process: Look at period artwork so you know the shape you're going for. Soak hat blank in hot water with a drop of dish soap and a few tablespoons of salt for 10 minutes. Squeeze/wring excess water out Pull wet blank over hat block. Use a correctly sized and shaped hat block, or containers and other...

Black Swan Designs

Use a form that is smaller than your head. Things like flower vases, coffee and tomato tins, storage containers, jars, etc. Just make sure they can take the heat of the blank and the force of you pulling the blank over it. Stretch the blank down over the form until it's smaller than you need it to b...

Black Swan Designs

I remembered I had these online already- The first hat I reblocked for Jeff- http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v80/120/110/593316207/n593316207_115329_4040.jpg Of course Luke has this hat now- http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v248/120/110/593316207/n593316207_1210907_949.j...

Black Swan Designs

Yeah, I just did 9 more of them over the weekend, prep for the joust. Everything from ridiculously tall ones to short ones, round top, flat top, ones in between. It's kinds cool to play with the shapes you can get. I'll try to remember to take the camera home and shoot some pictures tonight. Gwen

Black Swan Designs

It's not a big deal, but I make these things for you guys, not for me, so if I need to make the wrist bigger for your big manly hands, it's good to know.

Black Swan Designs

I had a couple of guys at Pennsic tell me the same thing, so I've adjusted the pattern to make the hand opening bigger. Please don't hesitate to email me directly if you run into a situation like this, as I can't fix a problem if I don't know one exists. I made the Bocksten a bit longer because of c...

Black Swan Designs

Jeff commissioned a sculptor to carve the lion in wood. Then he cut the sculpture into pieces, cast the pieces, glued the pieces back together and painted it gold. He'll have to make another one for November, which he will probably gold leaf rather than paint. The crest will doubtless get damaged at...

Black Swan Designs

Update: All orders have been shipped except: Hook- waiting for confirmation that you've moved and the address is good to ship to. Morris- Waiting for payment Morrison- Will ship Monday I still have 10 yards of black available, if anyone wants it. I also have some other wools that I'll be putting up ...

Black Swan Designs

Well, think of it this way, Oh Armour Godâ„¢- If you didn't know it was plastic, then it didn't stick out like a sore thumb, therefore it did what it was supposed to do. It's just a costume piece. This wasn't a reenactment, it was historical theatre. See my comments regarding Luke's crest.

Gwen

Black Swan Designs

That's what Jeff thought but wasn't sure. I didn't want to say it and be wrong, glad you had better information. Jeff thought it had been moulded off of one in the Tower.

Gwen

Black Swan Designs

Jeff in his full glory on the final day- new lion crest, mantling and Sleeves of Powerâ„¢ http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v311/193/46/574036332/n574036332_1172612_8930.jpg Jeff and Dom in the final. Dominic pulled his shot because he was nearly out of the tilt before Jeff got there. T...

Black Swan Designs

Jeff- See an explanation of Luke's outfit here - Bern Joust 2008

Mac- Dunno, will find out for you.

Gwen

Black Swan Designs

And another thing- was someone else wearing your clothes in Berne? Luke's squire appears to be wearing your clothing, and I cannot for the life of me figure out how or why. Who is 'Dave'? http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v312/188/60/1434918301/n1434918301_30032260_3346.jpg

Black Swan Designs

I will make you a livery coat and another vest in Jeff's colours, but I implore you to stop 'rounding out'.

And yes, on further thought there was probably good reason -not- to wear the Crescent livery this weekend.

Black Swan Designs

And now that I think about it, he has a regular livery coat, too.

I have not been remiss in providing appropriate clothes for him.

Black Swan Designs

He has one, and it's even in Jeff's colours. http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v282/120/110/593316207/n593316207_1375585_8430.jpg http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v282/120/110/593316207/n593316207_1356911_3454.jpg He's old enough now where I can no longer bully him into we...

Hot water camp shower?

WIJ 2008 - The Tournament of the Phoenix

Tickets on sale for the World Invitational Joust

HOW TO: Blocking wool felt hats