I really like the linoprint and think that the fact that it's a bit rough only adds to it's charm. All my books are packed away at the moment but there's at least one more matches reference in the Hobbit. Can't quite remember where but Gandalf has to start the fire as the Dwarves are unable to with ...

How strange to see so much sun! Here in New England the snow is starting to turn to slush, so I imagine you're starting to smell fall on the air? No not yet. It's been an exceptionally wet summer here but we wont get any true autumn feel to the weather for at least another 6 weeks. It alternates be...

Really nice work Caed, I've always liked the turtle brooch version of these. Gulli's was particularly nice too.

As per my 2021resolution '4 - Stop lamenting about my new world countryside and embrace it. Visit and show you all some of the places we have here in Australia that I don't view as pretty but I hope you all will.' here are a few shots from a training hike we knocked out today. Sadly shipping delays ...

Came across this fellow doing excellent maps of Australia.
Not sure how many folm on here are from the great Southern land but they're pretty good.

https://cartographychronicles.com/collections/all

We know he loses his horse crossing the Ford at tharbad, where it runs back to the Rohirrim, and then he has to walk the rest of the way, so he didn't even take spare horses We know he is a strong swimmer, he is one of only four to escape the assault on Osgiliath by swimming and so when his horse i...

Well after a really average start to 2021 I have to say that my goals are simple. 1 - Craft more 2 - Engage more with the community here 3 - First full overnight camp in MIddle Earth kit (not a viking camp) 4 - Stop lamenting about my new world countryside and embrace it. Visit and show you all some...

I hope to be proven wrong but I can't see this going well... Whatever they come out with will be considered the new canon. There will be an entire generation of people introduced to the world of Tolkien because it's the latest and greatest thing but it's likely the only content they ever see will be...

A great idea Caedmon

For me it's B

They're all great and I love that belt but I think B would be more universal in it's use as a decoration. It wouldn't look out of place on a belt strap end itself, or around the rim of a clay jug, embossed in a leather strap etc etc etc.

Personally, I got the impression Tolkien was suggesting something more like a collar of office (pic for reference, although it’s probably not an especially historical example). I always read it as a livery chain too but a lot of wandering has highlighted the utter impracticality of such a garment...

I waxed a linen haversack with straight beewax, it didn't come off or rub even in the heat of summer. I melted it in a pot, brushed it on, then ironed it repeatedly while wiping away the excess - I'll post some pics later I have to second this comment, even in the Australian heat we don't see any o...

Thanks for the write up, I think they look bloody brilliant.

I don't know if you intended it as one of your Easter eggs but I'm struck by the Ranger like qualities of the block of black walnut. It looks quite old and beaten on the outside but under the worn facade is a rich quality.

Hail Ranger, Welcome.

I think it's also likely that the Rohirrim follow similar traditions given that the Professor based them so solidly on the Anglo Saxons. They may have a different name for the months but they would still have milked the cows three times a day in Three milk, burnt off weeds in weed month, slaughtered...

Appendix D - Shire Calendar places importance on Yule and Midyears day (called the Overlithe in a leap year) so Hobbits at the least must have placed some importance on the solstice. The Lithedays and the Yuledays were the chief holidays and times of feasting. The additional Litheday was added after...