Found some books put out by the British Museum on both the Staffordshire Hoard and the Suttun Hoo burial.
But its in british pounds.
This could get interesting...

Today was the last day of classes. My final project went over well, i managed to get everything done and turned in and felt rather proud of myself for having two fully finished finals this quarter, where in past quarters i'm chronically missing a mood board or a print out or an artist statement or somesuch. I recall trudging across the parking lot leaving the lab, feeling like i didn't have all my stuff because i'd cleaned out my locker and work box the three days before, and having the usual Gods-i'm-tired/now-what-do-i-do? thoughts that happen after any quarter.
Then i remembered the senior prep notebook.

So, i went home, showered, ate, and spent the entire evening cleaning the apartment top to bottom.

See? I'm getting started right away on my procrastination!

In other news, i have some serious want for decent hot chocolate, especially hazelnut and raspberry flavors. Sadly, the only sort i can find here is Swiss Miss :/ i suspect there is Land-o-Lakes at Sams, but my card is expired. There may be some at the commissary eventually, but not the last time i checked...
and then i made the mistake of browsing Ghirardelli...

on the other hand, i already have all the ingredients i need for pie. so i shall make pie instead, and have tea.
Yay for tea.

metyldapryde suggested i check out the Viking Answer Lady for sources of information for my senior project.

ZOMG! why did i not know this existed before?

old book list out. New "these things, i want them" list is here for all to find :D

And i think i want to learn to speak icelandic...

So i've been thinking about Senior Project a bunch. Its sorta meant to be the pinnacle of one's academic career (thus far) plus its what the Graduation Auditors look at when deciding whether you get the pass or fail stamp. Surviving classes with passing grades is not enough, you actually have to prove you learned something too! imagine that...

Anyrate, Senior being what it is, it doesn't wait to start until next quarter. Today we got the project brief to get started on our research; a multi-page notebook/binder that is eant to answer questions about what we're here for as well as what we're doing for our project, and how, and something like 50 design studies. Theres been a lot of conversation in the lab too about what we're going to do. You know how some people get to college without actually knowing what they want to major in? Not knowing what you're going to do for senior now isn't so bad, but if you don't know what you're doing on day one of next quarter, its way worse then that.

I'm taking the museum rout. Wavered a bit before, but after this quarter (where i've actually gotten to do two replica projects!) i'm pretty sure. I've only talked about it a bit with my prof, and of course theres all of winter break to ideate and adjust, but right now it looks like i'll be doing a series drawing inspiration directly from the "cloisone garnet" artifacts found in the Sutton Hoo and Staffordshire hoards. There'll be at least three final pieces, covering what i see as the three major type of museum jewelry. A recreation piece, which is an attempt to use traditional tools and techniques exactly the way 'they' might have (for SCA, its A&S reincarnate!), a replica, which only has to look realistic but can be cheap, flimsy, or fake since it's intended to stay behind display glass at all time, and something moderately mass-produceable and simplified for "gift shop jewelry."

Exhibiting is part of the Senior class grade and part of the graduation requirements, and from what i've heard its supposed to happen around week 9 of the quarter, which is the first week/weekend of march. On the other hand, theres a major jewelers tradeshow and competition that weekend, so i suspect it'll get moved by a weekend in some direction.

Its going to be a fun winter.

If anyone has any good primary or secondary sources on Anglo-Saxon metalsmithing techniques or the Sutton Hoo Burial Hoard or Stafforshire Hoard, (or wants to go to London XD) I'd appreciate the help. Look i'm networking! The neat thing about this project is there will probably be at least one SCAdian in the bibliography somewhere.

And the recreation piece will definetly be tweaked into an A&S entry. just maybe not till after graduation...