Re: Then and Now - Embarrasing Photos Abound!
Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:58 pm
Okay, here's mine:
2004. Cheap by-the-sword.com tunic, Minnetonka Moccasin boots, black drawstring pants. Only really good bits of gear were the cloak (twinrosedesigns.com) and the gauntlets (ravenswood leather). Almost nothing in my kit was DIY.
Same time period, with a sword Pete let me borrow for the RenFaire. (This was before I even had anything sharp and pointy, except my Cold Steel hawk.)
2007. Some improvement: The tunic was DIY (green osnaburg from periodfabric.com, using a Viking tunic pattern) and the jerkin was DIY (black deerskin using a Simplicty pattern). The belt was courtesy of Mr. Remling, as was the waterskin. This was the camping trip where I learned not to wear Moccasins in the woods with my wussy modern feet. (Also, by this point I had my longsword, but I didn't take it camping.)
2008. Much better. The spearhead was from JAS Townsend, the shaft was a maple sapling. The hood was another DIY--I'm still not satisfied with how that came out, but whatever. The second tunic and the pants were both homemade. The boots were a big investment, but worth every penny, especially once they were rubbed with Sno-seal. And, of course, Vanmoriel came along for the ride on my hip.
Last year. By now it's pretty much come together, and all I'm working on is tweaking, phasing out things that don't work and making new things that work better. Next on my project list: a poncho-style rectangular cloak that can better double as a light blanket, oilskin-on-wool.
2004. Cheap by-the-sword.com tunic, Minnetonka Moccasin boots, black drawstring pants. Only really good bits of gear were the cloak (twinrosedesigns.com) and the gauntlets (ravenswood leather). Almost nothing in my kit was DIY.
Same time period, with a sword Pete let me borrow for the RenFaire. (This was before I even had anything sharp and pointy, except my Cold Steel hawk.)
2007. Some improvement: The tunic was DIY (green osnaburg from periodfabric.com, using a Viking tunic pattern) and the jerkin was DIY (black deerskin using a Simplicty pattern). The belt was courtesy of Mr. Remling, as was the waterskin. This was the camping trip where I learned not to wear Moccasins in the woods with my wussy modern feet. (Also, by this point I had my longsword, but I didn't take it camping.)
2008. Much better. The spearhead was from JAS Townsend, the shaft was a maple sapling. The hood was another DIY--I'm still not satisfied with how that came out, but whatever. The second tunic and the pants were both homemade. The boots were a big investment, but worth every penny, especially once they were rubbed with Sno-seal. And, of course, Vanmoriel came along for the ride on my hip.
Last year. By now it's pretty much come together, and all I'm working on is tweaking, phasing out things that don't work and making new things that work better. Next on my project list: a poncho-style rectangular cloak that can better double as a light blanket, oilskin-on-wool.
Not very Ranger-ish! 
I've always had an abundance of hair, it just can't grow long.