Queens Prize Tourney

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. 

Today I am wise, so I am changing myself

~ Rumi

 I judged 3 entries at the first Midrealm Queens Prize Tournament and the turn out of 22 entrants was great. 

I loved seeing all the amazing stuff and the artists. 

Also I have never been more disappointed in myself then this, I felt completely out of my league judging. I was able to offer suggestions for how to better find resources for one entrant who was very much a beginner on how to find research for making a period item.(I would like to get a hold of that gentlemen and teach him some research tricks for beginners.)

I was familiar with the nut ivory which the other judge was not in the carving game pieces, but he was a better researcher because it is what he does for a living in a university and the artist was not looking at how the game is played or even wanting to document that really, so I had displaying ideas for her. And she was helpful in her research of the Lewis chessmen at the Scottish museum and we geeked about how they could have washed up where they did with me suggesting a storm and a sunken ship or ship wreck. We also geeked about Tagua nuts and the extra pieces and suggestions of uses like wood burned medallions. 

The Wooden sign of the other entrant was really descent for a first attempt and made with a time constraint, he was fairly self aware, I offered hardware suggestions and strapping for hanging for period effect. 

I loved seeing how the carver fell down a rabbit hole of research because of the chosen heraldic device on the item.

I did have fun! & I really felt inadequate.

I am grateful that I don't normally feel that way when judging for A&S Faire. It is amazing how hard we all work to make sure that folks have people who might know about the subject they are judging in faire and they tried to do a good job with Queens prize also I feel the Laurels that I worked beside were a better fit for judging the entries that we were assigned at Queens Prize. The game pieces had who I believe  is a carving laurel with me. There was a leather working laurel on the Leather Quiver with me.  And the Laurel with me on the carved wood sign was awesome too Who knew far more on wood working then me.  

What I learned is I have work to do.

The next step is to answer the question, What do I need to do to become a better judge and by that I mean helping the person whos items are being judged. 

One wall and 5 wheel barrels of dirt

It was beautiful out today 60's. Jim and I did some final adjustments to the wall that will be around the raised bed and serve as a water stop.

Then Jim started digging up dirt from the front hill of dirt we are trying to remove that is next to our drive way. I am fairly sure it was dirt from where the swimming pool is. I drove the wheel barrel and dumped the dirt in the new raised bed. We got 5 wheel barrels full dug and moved. Jim also removed 4 bushes we wanted gone from the front bed as well. It is a start. We will need at least another 20 full. Imagine how much that would cost if i bought bags of dirt.