Society for Creative Anachronism
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…
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…
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…
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.
My last post,, was about the research, design, and calligraphy of my most recent scroll. This post will be about its illumination. After the calligraphy, I penciled in my design concept. Then I used a black 005 Sakura Micron Pen to make chosen lines permanent. I then erased the pencil with a white eraser. My…
My scroll creation process is not a direct line. To begin, even before I have the text, I research the person to receive the award. Their persona’s time period and personal interests both within and outside the SCA. This has become easier if the person posts on FaceBook, as Bietriz does. I got motifs to…
For a few years, about 2008 and 2009, I enjoyed decorating glassware. The glassworkers in Calontir were making baskets-full of beads at that time. I wanted to decorate glassware. Making glass, like Calontir’s Glassworkers Guild now do, is a true labor of love. It takes skill, heat, and unique materials. …
What should you consider before committing to an SCA Peer relationship? In this post I consider 7 of many possible expectations.
Artisan of the Steppes is a body of work competition that’s been held in the SCA Kingdom of Ansteorra for over 28 years. Work diversity is encouraged including endeavors that didn’t click with the maker. All items entered have documentation on their history and creation. Mosaic Entries I took these pictures August 6, 2000, in…
Looking for class handout files on old DVD discs… I stumbled upon more SCA photos! It’s been ten years plus since the Barony of the Lonely Tower held this Spring Fling Event. It was so much fun! Camping, cabins, catapults, classes, cooking and court. Have a look. Do you recognize anyone? Is that you? Maybe it’s…
Scribe Song sung by the Barony of the Lonely Tower’s own Master Dolan. Unfortunately there is a lot of background noise in the video, but you can still hear the song and M. Dolan’s wonderful bardic voice. Words by HL Ingeborg bildsbriotr Ulfsdottir; music by Master Dolan Madoc of Harlech. YouTube Published on Feb 21, 2013
Over my 26 years in the SCA I’ve heard many people lament writing documentation. They want to show off their authentic medieval re-creation. They excitedly show me the well-done “what’s it” they made from start to finish. It’s a real medieval-style treasure! They ask me, “What can I do to show it off, without writing documentation?” …
Court of TE Aleksandr and Roise, Barony of the Lonely Tower
Me and someone’s scooter disguised as a “horse”. . This goes back 21 years to Pennsic War XXIII. My 13-year-old daughter and I had more fun than a passel of puppies! We’d been in the SCA about 4 years. Just enough time to acquire: enough period-style camp clothing enough camp gear tent camping experience SCA background…
I’m teaching again!! It’s been years, unfortunately. In early April you can take my “Playing With Period Pigments” class at the Bellewode Heraldic Scribal and Dance Symposium in Kirksville, MO. It is a safety and hands-on class, teaching paint production from natural earth powdered pigments. You’ll take home the safety supplies and paints you make. Would…
This was the moment he most loved about tourneying, that first glorious sortie with banners streaming, trumpets blaring, and the earth atremble with pounding hooves as hundreds of knights came together in a spectacular clash of sound and fury. ― Sharon Kay Penman, Devil’s Brood Have you ever seen Medieval-style fighting? Recently I saw SCA warriors preparing, so…
The Barony of the Lonely Tower delivered another striking Twelfth Night mid-winter SCA fete, January 2, 2016. Calontir Steel and Armored Combat fighters wielded weapons in multiple diverse contests. Armored Combat Competition Lonely Tower’s annual event kick starts the years event calendar. It delights Calontir’s warmhearted, non-fighting populace with day-long friendship, fun, and festivities. The…
Merchants in the Great Hall. I went to Kris Kinder the yearly winter holiday shopping extravaganza for Calontir‘s pre-1700s reenactors in Midwest, USA. It’s always bursting with quality handcrafted toys, attire, jewelry, camp gear, edibles, weapons, and armor tempting money out of 600 attendees’ pockets. Yesterday, I was one who was lured by its enticements. Norse-age…