Meet Rufus

[caelista.livejournal.com]

This is a Norman knight based on the figures in the Bayeux Tapestry.

This was one of those projects that just took over once I had the idea. My friend is studying medieval history so I thought it would be nice to make a figure of a knight. Then I couldn't find many good references for 11th- or 12th-century armor so I started looking at the Bayeux Tapestry. The figures are so charming and lively, I was hooked. With the help of a couple of library books I designed this guy and learned a lot about the conquest of England in the process.

He's made of felt with applique, embroidery and couched thread. I tried to stay close to the handful of colors that were used in the "tapestry" which is actually an embroidery on linen with wool thread.

And a question: I want to make a wire armature for a project and it seems like the best way to hold it together would be soldering. If you work with wire and have other ideas, I'd love to hear them. If you have a soldering iron and have any tips, I'd love to hear those too!