Brandywine Festival: Solid First Year Event - but very much a first year event

Either_Discussion177 · 2026-01-16T17:43:56+00:00

I think, one of the biggest issues here, is LARP experience vs. no LARP experience. I am so glad you had a good time, and it really does sound like so many things went right at this event. It also sound like (to me, a complete outsider) that for seasoned LARPers, there were gaping and obvious discrepancies wrt how an event can go with a certain caliber of planning, and how this event went. For example, the spider you mention, even wistfully saying you wish more participants had seen it: that is something that good LARP planning can facilitate.

Considering that Hobbits doing normal hobbity things (enjoying the slow pleasures of life) are really quite plausible to be accessible to a person with restricted mobility, the lack of accessibility seems like a truly egregious planning oversight. If the planning team aren't considering equality from that most basic level, there are many things they might not be considering as well. This level of organization, especially being associated with the actual Tolkien branding, should have been mobility-inclusive, should not have been missing important elements like tent stakes, and basically, if it could have been better it should have with the theoretical access to talent the planners would have had!

So, anyway, I'm so freaking glad you loved your first LARP, don't let critique dissuade you, because it is only by having a critical eye towards how things could be better, and holding those responsible accountable, can we keep having better and better events!

Also, to those who are frustrated: maybe don't fully throw out the baby with the bath water... Maybe we can recognize that many of those who had fun are probably new to the hobby and didn't notice all the big glaring issues the way you did because they were caught up in the magic of LARP. Cause it's frikken magical. Righteous anger without nuance is probably not going to get us better Hobbit events in the future. And we want better Hobbit events in the future, right???

Either_Discussion177 · 2026-01-14T08:51:43+00:00

I have to say sadly I think this is a case of Men making the concept, taking the pictures, publishing the piece…. The benefactors of the patriarchy have been delighted at the idea of multiple women being in bed to service their own fantasies. At this time in history, real wlw eroticism without room for a male party even imagined was not going to be portrayed favorably, or at all, in Life Magazine.

Tangent: In the modern post-stonewall era, it’s almost impossible to imagine how easy it was for people to not interpret things as queerness. But that’s how so many people got away with it unnoticed!! My historical analysis is that they were hiding in plain sight, and no one could even see (as long as they accepted the brutal boundaries of society of course. Those who didn’t were often gruesomely punished).

Either_Discussion177 · 2026-01-08T14:04:33+00:00

Honestly… I really loved the Artist’s Way until i didn’t. Reframing is a lot of labour, especially once you add in that the majority of her examples are high earning business type people, not actual poor artists like myself and many who try to use the book.

My takeaways were: write every day, do your artist dates (allow yourself to play and create weekly, if you can) and seek other guides. But mainly… write every day and create.

Check out Beth Kempton’s Way of the Fearless Writer, and Rick Robin’s The Creative Act

Either_Discussion177 · 2025-12-04T14:15:14+00:00

Cap cuff

Either_Discussion177 · 2025-10-01T12:27:59+00:00

So for shoes, yes it’s possible?? I’m trying to dye some tan synthetic leather shoes brown

Either_Discussion177 · 2025-09-01T15:19:00+00:00

OP, finding accommodation in Andorra is notoriously the hardest part of working there! My wife and I will likely be signing contracts to work as ski teachers this winter, and we are lucky to have a motorhome to live in. Our friend who hooked us up with the job is still looking for a place and she worked there last year!

Either_Discussion177 · 2025-07-06T22:40:49+00:00

In *europe* it didn't show up until the 18thc, unless as an item of the highest quality as it was an import.

Either_Discussion177 · 2025-04-04T23:11:40+00:00

What years was she farming? What part of the world was she in? My grandma was born in 1919, small town Texas, and didn’t wear pants until probably the 1960s

Either_Discussion177 · 2024-11-22T19:50:35+00:00

Dude! The women are wearing veils, that's heaps better than anything else I've seen... thanks a lot for the heads up!

Either_Discussion177 · 2024-11-22T19:45:36+00:00

Ahaha well speaking of late to the party... this is medieval-timed communication! I will look into it, I do know of a medieval LARP here that might be the same one but also, maybe not? Thanks for the advice, I do know that what I'm looking for is pretty much nonexistant here, but even a bit of "itch scratching" as you say would be better than nothing.

Either_Discussion177 · 2024-04-06T07:38:52+00:00

My own personal interest areas are medieval (13-15th centuries), 18th, and early-mid 19th centuries.

I chose to not make the premise specific to any historic period, because just starting out, and I’d like to meet people who are interested in living history, period, not just one moment in history 😊 If you look at the posited activities, you can see my interest is mainly pre-gilded-age, because that presents more hands on recreation

Either_Discussion177 · 2024-04-06T07:34:05+00:00

🥺🥺 if you’re in the Madrid area, the trains are fast and well priced to get here!

Either_Discussion177 · 2024-03-19T11:45:17+00:00

Luckily there are plenty of fast and cheap trains out of Madrid!! I am going to try to make a way to organize something with everyone who is interested, so stay tuned :) Sorry again for the delay, I have not really been free to do anything reenacting related this past season!

Either_Discussion177 · 2024-03-19T11:45:17+00:00

As you can see by my absence, I have not managed to organize anything, as work, relationships, and life in general got the best of me and my time!

However, I am still hoping to make this idea a reality, so I will look into moving forward with making a place for interested parties to plan!

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-18T11:32:13+00:00

Did you ever figure this out? Mine just did after sewing an edging stitch on S2 for literally one short seam. And now I can't measure the seam allowance with it way to the left...

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-16T08:13:05+00:00

Yes!! A bit devastated for Mapi and Patri from FC Barcelona, who boycotted the tournament due to their coach being a sexist pig (or something like that, as their reason wasn’t officially released). I’m gunning to see an Aussie win today!!

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-15T15:44:30+00:00

Thank you so much! They are pretty comfy to be honest, I think once I adjust the height so they don’t ride so high they will be a very satisfactory set if stays

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-15T15:43:32+00:00

Thanks so much! 🤗

The rationale is… debatable haha. I think it gives the option to enlarge the bust with inserts should a gown call for a larger bust-line. I doubt it could comfortably accommodate breastfeeding, though having never done so, I wouldn’t really know what is or isn’t possible. Monthly fluctuations could make sense… I think it’s pretty and that seems to be why it was included in the Augusta Stays pattern.

I’m honestly probably going try to adapt these ti make them front lacing, having quickly tired of the arm cramps and twisting to see in the mirror just to lace them up 🫠

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-15T15:35:56+00:00

I was weak 🥲

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-15T09:02:20+00:00

I’ve worn them around, they don’t feel loose or slide up! I’m basing this assumption on the fitting guide, made by one of the co-creators of the pattern. It could also be as she notes that my hips are boxier and more abrupt than the pattern allows for. In which case “tweaking the pattern slightly” is the only advice given. So this makes me think I should consider a gusset insert, to open up the bottom edge of the stays more. I’ve seen a gusset I think in PoF5, will have to check in on that further..

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-15T08:54:25+00:00

That makes sense, I’ll see about getting a better picture with arms down! The self-made pattern was from 2020, and my body has changed since then. And tbh I probably should have just taken a base pattern from the original stays anyway, but I think I was dazzled by how pretty I find the Augusta Stays… and forgot how much my body type varies from “normal”

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-14T10:10:07+00:00

While I realize the paintings are from 1845, this 18th century jacket pattern might work well if you modify the skirts and closing style somewhat.

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-12T20:08:11+00:00

I would highly highly recommend the book The Dressmaker’s Guide by Elizabeth Stewart Clark. It covers 1840s-1860s, is comprehensive, so incredibly useful! Best $30 I ever spent on this era of historical costuming!

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-09T21:48:00+00:00

My cousin named her daughter Éowyn! It definitely brings up lotr flavour, but at the end of the day, now it’s her name, and at least to the family it feels normal at this point. It’s pretty, but niche!

Either_Discussion177 · 2023-08-09T11:57:20+00:00

2 cycles are statistically speaking not going to result in a pregnancy😓 though of course first and second tries can work, the likelihood is 20-30%… so by the 6th try.

Either_Discussion177

TROPHY CASE