Bootmaker
My son, who wanted to be Robin Hood for the Medieval Feast, had strong ideas about the costume.
Although he let me make his clothing and hat, but he made his own boots, and his own bow and arrow.
Warning him that bootmaker apprentices work 7 years to learn the trade, he insisted he had a plan.
Bowmaker
A few years ago when we studied Texas history, we learned about the Native Americans of Northeast Texas.
They were master craftsmen of bows because of the bois de arc wood in their local area. They traded their famous bows far and wide.
Asking where we could find bois de arc wood of our own, I simply let him use my crepe myrtles in the back yard.
Robin Hood
After reading a lot of great books during our study of the Middle Ages, my son especially enjoyed The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green. I immensely enjoyed that book too.
Green, who taught at Oxford, was one of the Inklings with CS Lewis, he suggested the name for Lewis’ famous books for children: The Chronicles of Narnia.
We’ve enjoyed several of Green’s books through our classical studies, as he brings characters to life.
Robin Hood’s bow was made of yew from Sherwood forest.
Here he is! The fabric portions I made, but everything else he made: boots, bow and arrow, other accessories strapped across his chest. He was so into it and so happy.
Stay tuned for our Medieval Feast!
Epilogue 2024
My son got a lot of wear out of those boots! In fact, he wore them with his Lafayette costume, even to Colonial Williamsburg after we moved to Virgina.
From a distance guests thought they were real.
One day while visiting with the Colonial Williamsburg shoemakers he showed them the boots he made. (he was wearing them)
They said that is basically how they make some versions of boots too, then they got a pair to show him!
