|
 Thank
you once again for taking an interest in my craft. As of 6/22/07, I have
completed well over 3200 pairs of boots and shoes even providing boots for
Walt Disney MGM studios, Stan Winston Studios, several Shakespearean festivals, and a two opera
companies. I very much enjoy my
job. Since 1999 boot making and medieval leather working
has been my primary means of earning an income. I take great pride
in, and extract much joy from, making boots for people.
I am Michael J. Fine and I live in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am married to a beautiful lady, Jennifer
who is also known as Rhieinwylydd.
Jennifer helps me a few days a month and travels with me to merchant at
large events.
 On
11/25/06 we had our first child, Shannon! She is almost 6 old in these
pictures. My travel schedule will be cut down for a few years.
In the SCA, I am Sir Bohemond le Sinistre,
Order of the Laurel, Knight of the Company of St. Martin. I live in the Barony
of al-Barran (Albuquerque, New Mexico), which is a territory of the Kingdom of the Outlands.
My wife Jennifer is known in the SCA as Lady Rhieinwylydd Cyfeilog.
Though I attend some Renaissance fairs, I
mostly attend big SCA events like Pennsic and Estrella. Above is a picture
of me and at the bottom of this page is my coat of arms so that you may
easier find me at events you are attending. I display my coat of arms at
my tent at every event I attend. I'm almost always camped with the
Outlands, but I don't always run a merchant booth, so the best way to find
me is to look for my coat of arms. At most SCA events I attend, I
participate on the field and fight. If I am not running a merchant booth at
an event, and you would like to talk about boots, please feel free to come up and
introduce yourself. I will be more than happy to take your boot order.
I have been recognized for my artistic
skill in the SCA by receiving a Baronial level arts and sciences award,
Order of the Russian Thistle, a Kingdom level arts and sciences award,
Companion of the Argent Hart, and a Grant of Arms Award, the Desert Flower
of the Outlands. In July of 2002 I created a Companion of the Order of the
Laurel, the highest arts award in the SCA.
Word-of-mouth business started me off on
this endeavor and now the internet and advertising have helped sustain the
business.
I learned the boot trade from Sir Richard
of Wolfswood. I very much appreciate the opportunity he gave me when
he shared his knowledge.
In 2002, I purchased shoe shop
equipment. Up to this point I did
most or all of the sewing by hand (no machines!) However, my shoulder has
given out and so modern equipment is a must. It reduces time and wear and tear on my body. In many cases machine sewing is
equivalent quality to hand sewn, however, in other cases machine sewing is
much superior. For example, the
sole sewing machines actually pull the tread through a glue pot before
stitching tremendously improving the longevity and durability. I
continue to hand sew where it is the superior technique or necessary.
 This has allowed for me to start producing
machine made off the shelf footwear!
I still make custom footwear.
Now I can offer immediate shipping on several in stock styles. Available in standard sizes, I hope to
expand styles twice a year. Everyone has responded so positively
to the new off the shelf items that I am sure to expand them with great
vigor in the future.
 My
fun side job with Raymond is making Anglo Saxon Drinking
Horns from Sutton Hoo and Taplow as well as experimenting with Viking
Drinking Horns. Sir Raymond has taught me a lot about crafting since we
started hanging out and making things together. The drinking horn and armor projects are a team effort with
Sir Raymond the Quiet. At Estrella War 2002 Sir Raymond, Pope, and I
won the Arts and Sciences category war point with a reproduction Sutton Hoo drinking horn.
The Company of St.
Martin.
Photo taken at our 2003
charitable tournament and some members were not present.
Top
row from left to right, Duke Aaron Graves, Sir Elric Kyrri, Sir Bohemond le
Sinistre,
Sir Raymond the Quiet, Master Juan Balthazar Tigerro , Duke Artan MacAilin,
Duke Martino Michel Veneri, Master Iric Blackelk. Bottom Row left to right, Sir Lavan
Longwalker, Mistress Sara de Montgomerie, Sir Kragon of Land's End, Duke
Hrothger Monomakh. Travel Schedule
Our first child arrived! So no more travel for a
few years as a Merchant. If I am attending an event for pleasure,
you can always stop by my camp to order boots. When I am merchanting, please stop by our booth and say hi, we
would be glad to see you and visit.
 The
best way to get a pair of boots from me is to print out an
order form, have a friend help you take measurements, and send them to me
in the regular US Postal Service mail. Just follow the instructions on the
order form.
Historical and SCA Helms
 Although
in the past Raymond and I have made several styles
of helms and taking custom helm orders, I have decided not to pursue armor
with any vigor. No more custom
orders, sorry. We will be posting helms often to our
in-stock helm page on Raymond's web site. Occasionally we will be
making one of our elaborate Sutton Hoo, Coppergate, Vendel, Uppland, and
Norman helms to the site or take them with us to events.
Raymond or I may make a helm
here and there, when we do it will show up at some event and on the in stock helm page.
"Find Your Fun, Bohemond!"
So I have been playing for some
years and started to burn out... It happens to just about everyone at some
time. My friends started telling me "find your fun." After
some deep introspection, I decided my fun was making fighting armour or
"rigs." I had been so busy making things for others, I never
made stuff for me. So here are some picts of some of my latest personal projects.
If you are reading this then thank you for
taking the time to get to know me a little. I posted this page to for
those who don't get to meet me face to face at an event. Below are my
SCA awards, not to brag, just to let you know you I am involved in the well
being of our game.
I wish you happiness,
Bohemond
Boots By Bohemond
Michael J. Fine
8116 Princess Jeanne Ave. N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87110
505-293-9258 Not after 9:00pm please.
If you wish to contact me via E-mail, click HERE
  
Bearer of the Cordon Royal of Lycurgus (royal service)
Bearer of the Cordon Royal of Martino (royal service)
Bearer of the Queen's Cypher of Aindrea (royal service)
Companion of the Scorpion of al-Barran (baronial service)
Companion of the Scorpion's Sting of al-Barran (baronial fighting)
Heart of the Scorpion of al-Barran (being a good example)
Legion of Gallantry (Outlands)
Scroll of Honor (Ealdormere)
Companion of the Russian Thistle of al-Barran (baronial arts)
Companion of the Stags Blood (AoA fighting)
Companion of the Argent Hart (AoA arts)
Thegn of the Iron Hart (GoA fighting)
Flower of the Outlands (GoA arts)
Once and always a Champion of the Children (baronial service)
One of The Master Swordsman of al-Barran (style from tourney)
Knight of the SCA
Order of the Laurel
Current A&S Champion of al-Barran
Who bears the arms patent "per bend sinister
argent and checky argent and sable, on a bend sinister gules a sword
inverted Or, in chief and elephant's head cabbossed Sable."
|
