Barbaric Nerdiness

Yesterday, some friends and I went to the Viking Festival. My neighbors (I may have mentioned them before) are beer brewing Vikings (yes, for real) and they invited us last year. It was so fun, we went again this year. I had even more fun this year, I even got to throw a flaming axe. Going to a Viking Festival is a bit like stepping back in time. Many people are in costume and carrying weapons. They have music and have competitions like fish flinging, log tossing, axe throwing, archery and combat. It is barbaric and feels very manly, but it is also super nerdy when you think about it. Will Wheaton's definition of a nerd totally applies to these people (and I LOVE it!)

So Vikings are big, manly, bearded nerds who, let's face it, are really the best kind! I am 99% sure that I will eventually end up with someone who gets obsessive and geeks out over things like I do. I could totally see myself getting wrapped up in the Viking culture. I love the idea of making costumes and dressing up. And (you never cease to learn something new about yourself) I found that I rather enjoy watching men being barbaric and throwing weapons and yelling war cries. What can I say, I guess I am a primitive woman at heart. Seriously though, check this out - best nerds ever, right?

I actually learned that this sub-culture runs deep. There is a pretty big group of people that get together annually for "wars" where they go camping for a week in primitive tents and every one has to be dressed up in traditional garb, by day the men get all dressed up in their chain mail and fight battles with one another and by night they have bonfires and drink mead and dance and basically just be medieval. Doesn't that sound SO FUN?!? I would so go to that. I really need to become closer friends with my neighbors. I bet they go to those events. One day, I will tag along. Things like this really nail home how much of a geek I really am. I am hearing it as I say it, but oh well. I embrace it! Here are some pics from yesterdays adventures:

Christmas Crafts in August

Last week was HOT! We have one week out of every year that is not absolutely perfect weather and last week was that week! Being so close to the beach, I don't have any air conditioning so hot, sweaty and grumpy pretty much defined the week. For some strange reason, in spite of this weather I am really feeling Christmasy right now. I am in the mood for the holiday season and wish it weren't four whole months away! Boo.

I have been looking at homemade stockings on Pinterest and got inspired to make some. I really like the simple look of burlap and happened to have leftover burlap from my makeshift light fixture that I made for my outdoor space here so I took several different patterns and ideas from Pinterest and made my own version. Mine have a lace cuff and I put a brooch in the corner that I found from Michaels and hung wooden initials that I painted with red glitter (also from Michaels) from the brooch. It is nice because they can be personalized but easily changed. Since I seem to have a new roommate every few years, the flexibility is nice. I also like the combination of the burlap, lace, and glitter. It gives a lot of dimension to a simple pattern.

Here is the final result:

Unfortunately, I don't really have a "how to" here, so if you want to make your own stocking, you will have to google patterns. I really just made my own pattern by tracing a stocking that I already had onto a paper bag and using that. I used a fabric the same color as burlap as a liner and then used and off white fabric as a liner for the lace. Then I stared at all of the pieces for a long time as I figured out which way everything needed to be for me to sew it all together (not as easy as it looks, when things need to be turned upside down and inside out it gets confusing) But all in all, it was an easy project, I did it all in one afternoon. And it was fun, I love being crafty! Now I just have to wait four more months for christmas. Patience...