Looking for ways to punch up my workshop presentation I discovered the tell-tale signs you have when you truly know you are an SCA scribe. I know I have shown several of these. You might be a rabid SCA scribe when… The highlights in your hair are from your gouache, not the Clairol bottle. You…
In 2000 I entered Calontir‘s Arts and Sciences Championship Competiton with the three items in this photo. (Yes, they were all mine. Back then I was known in the SCA as “Siobhan le Blake”.) The easiest single entry to see is the colorful six item comparative illuminated manuscript styles’ study. Lower in the photo, in the…
Master William Blackfox (aka Mark Wallace), author and illustrator of the cartoon Warthaven, was, talented in many fields, including playing the bagpipes. He viewed everything in life as fun and generously gave the SCA his time and talents, until his untimely death in 1997. For those of you who never had the pleasure of knowing William…
Wandering through my local 1/2 Price Books I came across the The Art Of Teaching Craft: A Complete Handbook by Joyce Spencer and Deborah Kneen. Written in 1995 it is just what I’d been searching for to help me prepare for my calligraphy and illumination classes. It is a practical guide to teaching small to medium classes, in…
I’ve been writing my scroll layout handout for the coming Lonely Tower Scribes’ class. While it’s too detailed for here I thought a few design tips might be appreciated. Picking your inspiration I first choose a medieval style relating to the recipient’s persona or interest. If that’s not possible because time is short and I…
Baroness Lady Milada von Felsenhof Until 2010 this caring woman, Lady Milada von Felsenhof, was my SCA role model. Her memory still is. I met her in 1991 at a Lonely Tower summer revel. Besides her yummy pie for the pot-luck lunch, she brought bubbles for the children. She didn’t just bring them, she played with…
A few days ago I went to the Old Market again. That is always a chance for pictures. I never know where they will pop up. The reason for this Sunday walk and lunch at Wheatfields was to meet with good friends and visitors from Wisconson. When I lived in Germany John and Cerona were…
In the SCA we devote hours to award creation and giving. Whether entry level or the highest awards , from start to finish, their total creativity hours are in the thousands for each six-month reign. With all that consumed time, what’s their purpose? Their obvious purpose is to acknowledge the recipient’s accomplished efforts. Whether novice or peer,…
I recently came across a lengthy post by Sir Wiglaf Wilfriding on qualifications for peerage. It’s an article worth reading and discussing, but not here. Although I do have two quotes of his to discuss. … To get knighted, you have to meet the standard and stay on it long enough for the knights to…
Don’t want to think of this, even though I know the SCA is 50 years old now. Taken September 10, 2010 as I was welcomed to the Order of the Laurel. Two people prominent in this photo are now gone. Mistress Luciana della Ridolphi and Duke Ostwald Konrad von Riestoten. She received one of the earliest…
Today’s Lonely Tower scribal class was concentrated pen fun. Seven students experimented with a 12th-century Protogothic calligraphy script. They were intent on their efforts so we saved the painting part of the class for September’s session. I had students that were novices and also some with art degrees. We shared tools, books, and ideas. I also…
I’m at my local mall doing my lunch and 2ish mile walk. I’m also test-driving this Blogger app. Taking a photo and writing a brief post away from home. See how it handles bumps and speed. Snapping unsuspecting models’ pictures is a sneaky fun. People seldom survey their surroundings and never think to look up…
I’m doing my homework for the coming calligraphy and illumination classes. I want these new students to feel the class benefit as soon as we begin. For that, I’ve been looking into new teaching methods. I’ve created Pinterest boards showing related medieval manuscripts have my handouts on Google Docs. My mission is to keep my students enthused and returning.
I love my Calontir family and am elated I attended Their Majesties Logan and Ylva’s coronation yesterday. I saw pageantry and caring at every turn. The spectacle was plentiful, at times tearful. My photos show only a portion. Elena gave her crown to King Matsu before they left their reign. When Matsu and Elena departed and…
Have you ever had a magic moment? An experience so sweet and serendipitous it gives you goose bumps. Time slows down and you are transported to another dimension. Many men say watching their child born was like that. Women are usually too busy at that moment to have that feeling. I’ve had some minor ones,…
As I am planning things for the coming scribal classes, I found an excellent handout about starting and maintaining a scribes’ guild. While my intent for our classes was to continue on from the information provided at the recent Barony’s scribal introduction class, not to form a guild, the information in Hillary Rose Greenslade’s article is…
Students at May’s Lonely Tower scribal gathering suggested we have regular calligraphy and illumination classes. This coming July 24th I will host the first one. While reservations are not needed responding to the event notice on Facebook would help planning. I can easily seat 12 without adding extra tables. Beyond that I’ll have to add tables….
Calontir‘s Lilies War is XXX. I spent five of its ten days enjoying wondrous sights and adventures. Sadly I could not do them all. Not in the day’s numbers nor the picture possibilities. I missed opportunities. Even so – even with the sweltering heat – I had the best of times. Arriving late I set…
Early in June the Barony of the Lonely Tower held their quarterly potluck revel and champion tournament. This one was to select the Barony’s Cut and Thrust Champion. The weather was perfect and there was a breezy populace turnout. The Cut and Thrust Champion Tournament was the day’s feature, as my pictures show. It had three…
In 1990 I sewed some boring brown homespun cotton into my first SCA garb. Using a pattern with princess seams, I added buttons up the sleeves and knotwork detail. My first attempt. Today, my camping garb isn’t much better even though I don’t use a pattern to make it.