Earlier I wrote about Calontir blogs. I have an addition I missed. I don’t know how because it’s been around since October 2006. It is M. Eleanor Deyeson’s Workshop. A well organized, often updated, well researched, SCA relevant blog. Be sure you check it out. Related Prior Post: 4 Calontir Blogs That Will Inspire You
Hope you had a joyful friends and family filled Thanksgiving. I did. Now it’s on to Black Friday shopping, for me at my local Barnes and Noble. B&N is the only national book retailer in Omaha. Even so, it is limited to trending books. I took a look at its scribal related books, hoping for inspiration….
I’ve been posting information relating to the making of a scroll I can now show. How to Google For Illuminated Manuscript Inspirations, My Battle With Calligraphy, and 5 Tips To Train Your Artist Eye all sprang from my efforts to create this scroll. The scroll is an Iren-Hirth for the Duke Sir Anton Rhaghelan. That…
People don’t see detail like a camera, and yet as a scribe detail is penultimate. We anticipate what we think we should see therefore we miss things. Our logical brain gets in our own way. My first SCA art teacher, M. Gillian of Dragonsley, showed me a way around this, at least for my then…
Calontir‘s current Monarchs, Logan and Ylva, are Norse-Viking and the scroll they want me to do is for a person with a 14th century Western European SCA persona. How do I blend those two? I started by asking Google. Trolling for manuscript images with Google is helpful if you know the way it searches. Its search results…
Queen’s Prize in Calontir, September 2016 Checking out the calligraphy and illumination entries at Calontir’s recent Queen’s Prize Tournament I saw a copy of Claire Travers’ book Beginning Illumination. I was intrigued, so I ordered it. While only 80 9″x11″ pages, it is worth the reasonable $19.97 hardcover cost. Travers first introduces the reader to the materials and basic techniques….
Scroll production is a battle with calligraphy for me. I receive the task, research and plan the script and motifs I want to use. When I begin the lettering, the first and largest permanent motif, I’m tense. The page is blank and the more expensive the support–Bristol board, pergamenata, or calfskin vellum–the tenser I am. There…
Confidence comes from physical activity. Just doing that thing you are interested in on a regular basis boosts faith in yourself. For me, it unleashed my calligraphy and illumination reliance. I started with little skill, as you see here. What I had was a desire to learn. To make mistakes. Mistakes are guideposts for…
Last week at my local Starbucks I had a most enjoyable, nerdy conversation with another customer. I am still amazed. As I sat in an easy chair, a woman, about my age, sat across knitting and looking at a laptop while wearing an in-ear speaker. She was also talking with other nearby knitters, although they…
If there’s a way to make a scribal mistake I’ve probably made it. Especially in calligraphy. I’ve miscopied words and lines, skipped lines, repeated words, misspelled words, and been misinformed. I’ve spilled ink, changed hand style, and misjudged line spacing. Being tired, too caffeinated, stressed, or rushed adds to my shakiness. There are things I…
I’ve been searching and collecting information for my Scribal Resources page. Recently I came across this large free book collection by David Myers. Rather than pillage his items individually, please, check The Art is Creation, Free* Artist Reference e-Books page yourself. The web page is a scribe and art history geek’s on-line library in one place. The books contain…
Ever since last Christmas when I first played Cards Against Humanity I’ve wanted to play it again. While it was an odd thing, perhaps, to play at a multigenerational family Christmas gathering, we all had bundles of fun. Recently I purchased my own set of cards and an expansion pack to play with my friends. We’re…
I am so pleased Calontir’s current monarchs are Logan and Ylva. Their enthusiasm and joy are blessings for us all. I want to do more because of their heartening spirit. Their Royal Majesties Logan and Ylva have Norse personas. And their award style features that design. As a scribe I find this tough. The Norse left…
A few pictures I took today. The Barony of the Lonely Tower‘s Armored Combat Revel. .
Way back in February 1996, I was welcomed into the Barony’s Order of the Rose Window. Then I was known as Siobhan le Blake. The Rose Window is an honor for those showing talent in the arts and sciences. That’s Baron Alexandr giving it to me, with Roise at his side. The back row left to right,…
In 2008 Marie and I toured the British Isles. One of my favorite cities was Bath, England. Here are photos of our few hours there. I would love to go back someday. Immediately off the bus, we toured the Roman baths. After exploring and a snack, I saw Bath Abbey. A huge vertically decorated building,…
I’m so excited. We have more eager scribes attending our classes. We had three come from the Mag Mor, Lincoln group. This time, I scheduled space at my local library. Even with hauling supplies, I felt better about the space we used. Most people don’t like their picture taken, but I was able to catch M….
Today I am sharing my 2016 five most popular blog posts. Those that have been “clicked-on” the most. These aren’t my “best” posts. (You and I have our own opinions of those.) They may not be my most useful posts either. In today’s world popular blog posts happen by your willingness to share, comment on, and talk…
I am not a politician. bragging about my accomplishments. I don’t want to be that obnoxious person needling your nerves with bluster and boast. Even so, we all need ways to spotlight our own talents, scribal and other. As a scribe, our works commonly are grandly shown at court, taken home and hung on a wall. While…
Lining Up, Waiting Our Turn In the early 1990s, the Barony of the Lonely Tower put on a demonstration at the Oakview Mall that included a historical fashion show. “A Walk Through History”. Here are scans of the pictures I took, (except the one I’m in. I didn’t take it.) The clothing eras progress from oldest…