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Written By Ida

April 7, 2022, 5:59 a.m.(6/4/1017 AR)

I hate empty shelves. Even though other things are keeping me busy, every time I leave the shop, that empty space mocks me. I want to do more sets of armor, more daggers and swords, but the time...I really need to try to make the time. I feel like this is an argument I have with myself too often.

Written By Ida

April 3, 2022, 6:44 a.m.(5/24/1017 AR)

I did some hairpins for the shop this week. Nothing too extraordinary, as other things have kept me busy, but I get antsy when the shelves are collecting dust. I still need to wrap my head around the huge alaricite hammer I feel inspired to make. I have a picture in my head, but the story to put behind it...that's still cloudy.

Written By Ida

March 25, 2022, 8:11 p.m.(5/7/1017 AR)

I think my merchant neighbors might make me go missing if a cow ended up out back behind the shop. It's a bit of an accidental animal rescue already.

Written By Ida

March 6, 2022, 5:49 a.m.(3/24/1017 AR)

I made a dagger that I am rather proud of. It has a personal touch, which I don't often include in such works, but it fit the piece too well not to attempt. Another sketch has been done as well, and then, really, I need to get those other projects I keep belly-aching about getting done, done.

Written By Ida

Feb. 26, 2022, 4:31 p.m.(3/9/1017 AR)

I have one special commission to work on and then a bunch of projects I've put off for too long that need doing. The shop may get stocked still, when I need a break from the other things, but it might be a bit before I'm ready to throw myself into commissions again.

Written By Ida

Feb. 20, 2022, 6:48 a.m.(2/24/1017 AR)

I've written before about my feelings of forging alaricite pieces. It's kind of a respect thing, in sum - me respecting a metal that deserves to be worked with nothing but the best I can give. It can be intimidating, I guess you'd say, but also incredibly rewarding when it's complete and heading off to its owner. I always thank Jayus before I send it along and ask Gloria to guide it - as well as offer the weapon a bit of a prayer, too. Some may think that latter is rather nutso, but eh.

Written By Ida

Feb. 3, 2022, 11:40 a.m.(1/18/1017 AR)

After the shop sold out somewhat suddenly, I thought to put up a handful more of the winter inspired daggers. I haven't done much work on the hammer I got so worked up about creating, admittedly, and find myself kinda considering another unique diamondplate piece for the shop. You'd think with winter and spending more time indoors, I'd have a flurry (haha, get it?) of sketches going on. But...not so much. Yet.

Written By Ida

Jan. 30, 2022, 7:01 a.m.(1/10/1017 AR)

I was quite honored when Ambassador Bahiya'al'Mathali sent a missive asking about commissioning some knives as prizes for the Refugee Charity Tournament. The drawings she sent along once I agreed to do so were designs I had not really seen before. I mean, sure I've seen some curved blades for swords and a dagger or two, but these had something just...different. It was challenging to try to copy those, but also great fun to try. I have always thought of diamondplate as kind of cool, glimmering like the sun on untouched snow, y'know? Now, I have a whole new perspective.

In any case, it was an interesting and rewarding commission to work on and I hope the blades serve the winners well.

Written By Ida

Jan. 25, 2022, 5:58 p.m.(1/1/1017 AR)

I should write something about it being a dagger to the heart, but that just makes it worse.

(I kid! Mostly.)

Written By Ida

Jan. 20, 2022, 6:16 a.m.(12/18/1016 AR)

I may craft an actual hammer weapon. Not that I've any skill with hand-held weapons, but it is an idea I can't quite get out of my head. I even have a sketch mostly done, though I have to wonder if it might be better to work on something that someone might actually be able to use instead. I suppose I could always loan it out.

Written By Ida

Jan. 18, 2022, 5:34 a.m.(12/14/1016 AR)

To work on something and have it be well-received is a joy that is hard to describe in words. It is, though, a great joy, and I'm thankful for the abilities that allow me to keep attempting to do this.

Written By Ida

Jan. 16, 2022, 3:50 p.m.(12/10/1016 AR)

After completing a rather inspiring commission, my thoughts wandered to the approaching winter. I even made some hot chocolate to help the mood and ended up sketching up a design inspired by the season. Just a handful of daggers ended up in the shop, for now, but maybe I'll so more in the next week or so. Mostly, I wanted something new out there and then to retreat to more hot chocolate and a quiet evening.

Written By Ida

Jan. 2, 2022, 7:51 a.m.(11/10/1016 AR)

The shop needs a restock. Sometimes things will sit for so long that I wonder if they will ever sell. Months, even, go by and they continue to catch the light that comes in from the door more than much else. Then suddenly, like a sudden winter gust, they are all purchased. Inspiration for what to do next currently fails me. Hairpins? Swords? Daggers tend to be popular. Even when I narrow that down, there's the matter of theme. Maybe some creature of winter, or stark trees waiting for spring to return. I guess I'll figure it out when I figure it out.

Written By Ida

Jan. 2, 2022, 7:44 a.m.(11/10/1016 AR)

I have been working on two inspiring commissions, despite not really taking commissions much anymore. There is always that sense of hope and excitement to try to bring someone's idea to life in the form of a weapon. While still mostly at the sketching phase for both, one seems nearly ready to be put to fire when the time comes. The other is still mostly vague outlines, but I'm looking forward to trying to solidify its story.

Written By Ida

Dec. 26, 2021, 7:50 a.m.(10/24/1016 AR)

I was inspired by stories of bright lights that sometimes manifest along the northern borders of Arvum, which is now (hopefully) captured in sword form. With winter not long away, it seemed not wholly out of season. As well, I managed a bit of a sketch for another project, though it's hardly anything more than vague outlines of thought at this point. Some bows continue to collect dust in the shop, waiting for an archer to someday be of need. Most of the battle gloves have sold, but a couple remain. Mostly, I'm glad when there's time to let inspiration turn into metal, as such has been fleeting the last few years.

Written By Ida

Dec. 18, 2021, 8:59 a.m.(10/8/1016 AR)

I was sitting in the shop late the other night, just enjoying a bit of whiskey and watching people pass by along merchant row. Door was locked, considering the hour, with just the hints of autumn chill able to seep in. I thought maybe I just had a long day, or hadn't counted my drinks right, but reading the whites lately...I have to wonder now about the voices. Sometimes gone is not really gone. While rare, there have been reintroductions of people thought long lost. This was different, though, and there's a measure of sadness to it because of that. It was like having people in the shop, almost, as they had been so many years ago. I swear Arn called me a drunk, which I admit to wondering myself in the moment. Rymarr's as stoic as ever, yet with a kindness hidden in his tone. Niamh's as near ethereal as the day we first met here. A few others, too, but then it all passed almost as quickly as it had started - voices slipping back out to mingle with passers-by as if nothing at all had happened. These are strange times, indeed.

Written By Ida

Dec. 11, 2021, 4:18 p.m.(9/23/1016 AR)

I completed the intriguing dagger commission for Lady Monique and, as usual, she rewarded my efforts far too generously. I also worked on some battle gloves for the shop - we will see how well they sell. I am truly excited to be working on weaponry that focuses on the sweet science, as I like to call it. Pugilism, brawling, fisticuffs - whatever one might use to describe bare-handed fighting, is of course something close to my heart. I may no longer be able to claim the title of premier pugilist of the West Marches, but that will never dim my love for as much.

Written By Ida

Dec. 1, 2021, 7:50 p.m.(9/3/1016 AR)

Relationship Note on Tikva

Now I want to write a storybook for Lord Tiber with all the things I know about weapons. And/or make him replicas of some of the greatest or storied ones I've actually managed to see in person. Sadly, I know little of military history, but weapons? That would be fun to share. I bet he could probably tell me a few good stories I haven't heard, even.

Written By Ida

Nov. 25, 2021, 3:27 p.m.(8/18/1016 AR)

What feels like a lifetime ago, when I first came to Arx, Prince Edain asked me to make some armor for Princess Marian. It was a simple set, nothing like what we are all probably used to seeing these days, but I think it did what it needed to. It had the face of a fierce dragon on the breastplate that I've always been a bit proud of. Shortly after that her sister, Monique, sent a missive and visited the shop about a commission - a dagger and a sword. The sword, a rubicund piece if I remember correctly, got to be known as Troublemaker, and the dagger had a blooming rose theme to it. Thus began what has been a very long relationship (one I won't tally in number of years for both of our sakes) of making sharp things, mostly daggers, for Lady Monique. I remain grateful for her patronage all this time, especially as I was not the smith back then that I like to think I am today.

I find myself again today being challenged and thrilled by her trust in me for another project involving sharp things, and I'm pleased so far with the rough sketches I've been working on. There are touches of nostalgia mixed in as well - of times when we were all a bit younger, a bit more bright-eyed and ready to take on the world. Which, I suppose, a lot of us have certainly tried since then. Of friends come and gone, lives that have moved on. Y'know what I mean.

It has been rare lately that I'm able to take commissions, but this one? This one isn't something I would say no to. It's like peeking back into the past and stealing a bit of joy from it.

Written By Ida

Nov. 21, 2021, 9:24 a.m.(8/10/1016 AR)

I hope Griffin Fortitude found a good home. From what I have heard, the auction event was a grand success and I'm just sorry I didn't manage to attend.

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