Written By Ida
Nov. 20, 2021, 1:12 p.m.(8/8/1016 AR)
I did a small restock of the shop recently. Stuff move a bit more slowly these days, and I wonder if I should be making more swords or basic armor instead of bows, hairpins, and daggers - considering the state of things. It is hard to really know what might be most useful. I mean, even a pair of hairpins can be considered useful in the right circumstance. Maybe it's time to put my focus on larger projects. Still, the forge tends to not only ground me when I need it, but creating things is such a joy... I guess we'll see.
Written By Ida
Nov. 13, 2021, 4:01 p.m.(7/23/1016 AR)
I designed and managed to make a rubicund sword this past week. It's a donation, though, rather than something that will be put up for sale in the shop. There are not many things I'm able to do when tragedy strikes the Compact, being simply a smith who can still swing a decent punch now and again. Hopefully the blade will be well received and help raise some funds for the efforts toward Bastion.
Written By Ida
Oct. 30, 2021, 4:59 p.m.(6/23/1016 AR)
I have a really great mask, and yet I've never managed to get myself out to any masquerade party with it. I'm more of a tavern-party type, I guess. I have a couple of lovely gowns and maybe it's about time I wore one along with the mask for a fancy shin-dig.
Written By Ida
Oct. 21, 2021, 6:17 p.m.(6/5/1016 AR)
I get great joy in having chairs made for people. They are fairly simply things, when you think about it, but also special in their own way. It's kinda like...here. Come sit for a spell. This is a place for you to rest or just take a load off and watch the world for a bit. I am grateful for the patient carpenters in the city for always entertaining my ideas. I could make my own out of metal, of course, but there's something about the familiar creak of wood that makes them just a bit more personal I guess.
Written By Ida
Oct. 2, 2021, 9:27 a.m.(4/22/1016 AR)
It's been awhile since I worked on some bows for the shop, but now I have. I may do some basic armor sets again soon, or maybe some swords. It seems like we may all need some of these things now.
Written By Ida
Sept. 27, 2021, 6:50 a.m.(4/12/1016 AR)
Relationship Note on Jaenelle
It was a great honor to be asked to design a dagger for the wedding reception, and I am grateful still to have been trusted with the work.
Written By Ida
Sept. 26, 2021, 9:10 a.m.(4/10/1016 AR)
Sometimes, I get caught up in what seems to be the greater good and lose sight of what is truly important. I try not to scold myself too harshly for it, because I am only human, but oaths and steel - I need to be better than that.
Written By Ida
Sept. 20, 2021, 6:29 a.m.(3/26/1016 AR)
I don't envy the nobility their politics and responsibilities. Nobility is not the aspiration of every commoner, I don't think. Or many of them. I can't be sure since I haven't asked every single one, but I'd guess that to be the case. There are some who have histories that might lend them to seek that path, which is a whole different story really.
I don't craft the way I do hoping it will earn me a title. What would be the point in that? Then I couldn't...do what is pointed to as the reason for nobility? The heart of my weapons, I hope, is a story or inspiration, not a rung on a ladder for myself. I am responsible for only my brother (even if he says otherwise) and my shop, here in Arx, and I am grateful to the gods for little more than that.
I don't craft the way I do hoping it will earn me a title. What would be the point in that? Then I couldn't...do what is pointed to as the reason for nobility? The heart of my weapons, I hope, is a story or inspiration, not a rung on a ladder for myself. I am responsible for only my brother (even if he says otherwise) and my shop, here in Arx, and I am grateful to the gods for little more than that.
Written By Ida
Sept. 17, 2021, 6:24 a.m.(3/20/1016 AR)
And just like that, my day was made.
Written By Ida
Sept. 7, 2021, 3:02 p.m.(3/1/1016 AR)
Daggers seem to be selling out faster than hairpins these days. I suppose that must be some sort of sign of the times. Also means I need to design some more daggers.
Written By Ida
Sept. 5, 2021, 2:31 p.m.(2/25/1016 AR)
I've been sketching like crazy, and a couple of things even ended up in the shop. Maybe it's the cold, but there's something comforting in the quiet of falling snow and a good hot chocolate, and it apparently makes me curl up with a blanket intent on drawing.
Written By Ida
Sept. 3, 2021, 8:01 p.m.(2/21/1016 AR)
Sometimes I craft for myself. Well, not really myself, as I have no skill with weapons, but I get a vision or inspiration and put it to metal. Try to, at least, and sometimes I am beyond pleased while no few other times, it's not quite what I hoped. It will still cut or smash, of course, but I feel like I may have failed it making the proper story. In any case, a sword I was particularly proud of - which even sold! - lead to a very inspiring commission request. At first I was worried - the sword is one that I don't think I'll ever best with another creation and I was feeling kind of gloomy about that. It was an idea I would have never come up with myself, though, and one that grew from a wholly different source of ideas. I hope the piece will serve her wielder well and both will tell stories in this world to be remembered.
That's the great thing about crafting, I guess - sometimes the idea isn't my own, and yet it inspires me almost unexpectedly and I get the chance to put it to metal. I don't have a lot of time for commissions these days, if really ever, but it happened in one of those rare lulls of my life. Working on it was like taking a new breath, and I am grateful for the trust and opportunity.
That's the great thing about crafting, I guess - sometimes the idea isn't my own, and yet it inspires me almost unexpectedly and I get the chance to put it to metal. I don't have a lot of time for commissions these days, if really ever, but it happened in one of those rare lulls of my life. Working on it was like taking a new breath, and I am grateful for the trust and opportunity.
Written By Ida
Aug. 16, 2021, 4:26 p.m.(1/13/1016 AR)
Relationship Note on Hadrian
What's interesting is that I recently had cause to help repair a wagon, and there were rumors of growls, but no purrs. I can only aspire to create things as wondrous as the clock tower, even on a much smaller scale. I'd think your dreams prophetic, but mash made from cauliflower? That's crazy.
Written By Ida
Aug. 4, 2021, 6:20 a.m.(12/16/1015 AR)
Relationship Note on Noah
Most esteemed Prince Noah Grayson - I am actually working on a dagger specifically for you and it will probably have griffins. Maybe purple ones on sooted black. Though now I'm thinking a complimenting pair of daggers might serve better. There are some quirks of design I'm still trying to figure out.
Written By Ida
Aug. 2, 2021, 3:11 p.m.(12/13/1015 AR)
The shop is well stocked. Well, if you consider fancy hairpins and basic armor as well stocked I guess. It makes me feel accomplished and took my mind off other stuff for a bit. I try to never underestimate the power of busy, creative work.
Written By Ida
July 28, 2021, 10:55 a.m.(12/2/1015 AR)
My skills with armor are humble, to say the least. With the unrest in the city, though, I wonder about doing some sets of basic standard steel at reasonable prices, or simply at cost, in the shop. They would not be as protective as say high quality steel or rubicund, but certainly better than a cloth jerkin and pitchfork I guess. Perhaps I should take the time to better my skills, but armor has never been a love of mine so. Yeah.
Written By Ida
July 18, 2021, 11:21 a.m.(11/10/1015 AR)
It is surely no shock to anyone that I favor dragon themes in my work. Because of this, though, I also tend to be a little more critical of the design phase because I want them to be really, really good. I'm not sure if I managed that this time, but the sketch I ended up with inspired a variety of different types of weapons forged from an equal variety of metals. The latter mostly because I've ended up with what could be called a ridiculous hoard of materials that certainly should be used for more than just collecting dust.
Written By Ida
July 11, 2021, 12:56 p.m.(10/25/1015 AR)
Sometimes things in the shop won't sell for a few weeks and then *poof* - the cases are suddenly empty again. I've a few sketches I've been toying with - dragon themes - but there are still some kinks I am trying to work out before they will be final designs. It has been a long time since I have done a special weapon in the shop; something vaguely extravagant in materials, but also (hopefully) an inspired tale paired to match. Perhaps I'll do another bow, or even a dagger, though swords always tend to sell better than either of those.
Written By Ida
July 4, 2021, 9:56 p.m.(10/11/1015 AR)
Sometimes it's just best to wear something and let it speak for itself.
Written By Ida
June 28, 2021, 11:32 a.m.(9/27/1015 AR)
I tried a bit something new with designing and am pretty pleased with the way they turned out. I worked with cupridium, as I have a bit of a surplus of that on hand at the moment. Or, I did at least. Now they are all happy little hairpins that will hopefully be well-received.
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