#armstreet

Some of the babin’ men of Swordcraft! (Got to give them a little love❤❤)
Photos all taken by me!

Another set full of some fierce women of Melbourne Swordcraft. Photos all taken by me!

My partial armour up for HMB. Plz excuse the poses, I was being told to do my best blue steel impression.

I’m madly in love with this beautiful hand made 14th century dress.

When you’re pouty because you didn’t get to smash peoples faces in.

When the Australian fighters are a mighty fine looking bunch

I got some amazing new accessories at the Abbey Medieval Festival over the weekend. This circlet is one of my favourites.

The Royal Court ofChesterwick at the game on Friday, one of our first nights without The Price!  Of course we all acted out. It’s insane how much we’ve grown over the last year and a half and how much joy these people bring me. We now have almost 20 registered members, and had 16 at Quest! Honestly, never would have dreamed of being this excellent. 

Chesterwick is a warband from the LARP game Swordcraft, based in Melbourne, Australia. We take inspiration from the 14th century. 

Photo by Portrait Photography Melbourne. 

I’m in love with this photo that my friend took of me in my 14th century longbowman gear! This is my Chesterwick side-character (for when I’m not playing the Duchess), William (Willy) Hunter. He’s a fine young lad who works in the stables, taking care of the horses and dogs. 

Photo taken by the amazing Michael Rutter.

Get a girl who can do both! The Prime Minister of Granada and Duchess Cecilia of Chesterwick, in our finery and then in our armour! This was taken at the most recent Swordcraft Quest, an Australian LARP battlegame with over 500 attendees. 

First photo is by Penwoody Photography.
Second photo by Portrait Photography Melbourne. 

One of the best parts about working for ArmStreet is that you get to try fancy stuff on!  That Found Princess Cape is seriously amazing - cotton velvet with crazy embroidery and silk lining. Gorgeous! It’s also nice and warm, thus why I was wearing it.

You can check out the cloak here.

How is Pennsic already over? I remember last year it dragged on for what felt like forever - I never had enough sleep, or enough time, or enough patience. I loved the experience, I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but the whole thing felt like a struggle because I never knew what to expect. To be honest, I was happy to go home.

When this Pennsic started, it felt like last Pennsic never ended. It’s as if my life was put on pause last August and everything this year has just been a part of one big intermission, filling in the gaps, pushing time along. When Pennsic started, life resumed.

Same lake, same good company, same walk up the hill to work. Same shops, same food, same customers. Just like last year, the sun would set and the smoke would rise like an old friend and linger until the morning light.

Weirdly enough, when I’m home I almost miss the drumming. To be honest, after a few days of Pennsic you stop hearing the drums - they just fade into the atmosphere, become a part of your heartbeat, lull you to sleep. As I sit in my bedroom writing this I feel a certain sense of loss, as if the quiet night isn’t quite as peaceful when it’s not marred by that steady rhythm. 

Last year I couldn’t wait to go home, I basically ran to the airport. This year, I was grasping at the moments, watching tents collapse and the dust rise as people filed away down the dirt roads around us. I didn’t want it to leave, I had so much more to do and so many people to hug. I had poetry to write and walks to go on and carp to feed. By the time we left, it wasn’t Pennsic anymore, it was just Cooper’s Lake Campground. 

I suppose I’m now existing in the twilight zone between Pennsics, and next July my life will resume.

PENNSIC IS COMING! 

As some of you know, I have a lot of feelings about Pennsic. 

Like, a lot. And I’m SO excited. I can’t wait to settle into that busy chaos that makes my head silent. I can’t wait to see the mist on the lake, in the morning, and hear the beat of the drums at night. 

I am ready.

Solving our marital issues with swords! Can’t wait to see how this photo actually turns out. 

(I’d rather do the whole sack of rocks and him in a pit in the ground thing, but it’ll do it.)

Ready to fiiiiight. Honestly, I can’t thank ArmStreet enough - I didn’t bring any of the fencing stuff with me (completely forgot about the whole Pennsic thing when I was packing my bags for Ukraine… oops…), and they put together some basic kit in less than a week!! I am so lucky to have such a kind, thoughtful employer. 

Also, these are the first gloves EVER that actually properly fit my tiny hands! So, so happy. Here’s what I’m wearing because someone will inevitably ask!

Gloves:Padded Fencing Gloves
Gorget:Errant Squire Gorget - super basic stainless steel gorget. 
Gambeson:Kingmaker Gambeson -a two-part gambeson that separates the arms from the vest, meaning that when I have a leg harness attached to it, the suspension of it won’t be affected when I raise my arms. 

I have to say, ArmStreet photoshoots are a whole new experience! After 2.5 years of working for them (I work in marketing/ content), I’m finally getting up close and personal and seeing how things work. Once you’re here, it’s easy to see how the sheer quality of everything is upheld to such a high standard. It’s amazing. I’m currently in day two of our four day photoshoot, and I’m exhausted but excited – Ukraine is an amazing place and I love the people I work with!

Probably one of my favorite looks from the last two years or so. Super, super simple and comfortable, and really easy to do archery in!! This is my usual Swordcraft character, Cecilia, Duchess of Chesterwick. 

Basically, it’s an underdress, an overdress, a breastplate and a hood! The profile of it all ends up coming across as quite 14th century (early), while still remaining fantasy and LARP appropriate. 

Model:Sun and Swords
Photography:Tony Delov

Hood, belt, scabbard: Sun and Swords
Underdress:ArmStreet
Overdress:ArmStreet
Pouch:ArmStreet
Boots:ArmStreet
Breastplate: Sun and Swords + ArmStreet