Illuminated manuscripts have the tiniest strokes details. They’re so intricate I don’t see how they were made without a visual aid. Unless….they were created by someone who could naturally see with precision. Even in the ancient world magnification was technically possible. Crystal or glass lenses were known. But no deliberately created lenses have been found from then. And Pliny didn’t […]
Lonely Tower’s Scribes I’m not the Scribal-Answer-Lady, and I don’t care to be. However, discussing things scribal with others is important to build skills, knowledge, connections, and fun. Where do you go for that? As a 35-year SCAdian, it pains me to answer…Facebook. Facebook provides you comfort, hope, purpose, and validation as a member of a community. It’s a place to share […]
Before I started blogging I searched the Internet for any blog I could find about manuscript illumination. I found many on calligraphy or fancy cursive. I found academic blogs on medieval illuminated manuscripts. But I found few that related to the illumination craft. Brother Thomas Profile Logo I have listed related blogs and a few other Calontir sources you might enjoy to the side. There is another source I want to note. It’s actually a source collection by Brother Thomas the Green. He has a Facebook page, an Etsy shop for his books, bookbinding and weaving crafts, and a blog by that name with his published tutorials. I stumbled on Brother Thomas’ work in an odd way. His class handouts popped up unbidden on my Google Docs page. They were intriguing, so I went looking for the source. His teaching and blogging approaches are interesting. He uses vector graphics, of which I’m clueless. Brother Thomas’ philosophy is different from mine, perhaps because he comes from the Kingdom of the Midrealm. Have a look at his “Scroll Levels” and “Starting a Model Book” guides. His Facebook page includes some videos he’s made. Brother Thomas multiple online sites show he’s busy teaching and sharing scribal and weaving crafts. Please have a look at them.
If you’ve read about me you know I am a retired dental hygienist. Although I’m not a physical therapist or yoga instructor, as a hygienist for 35 years I learned a thing or two about hand and body pain reduction. Some tricks I learned apply directly to scribal practice. As a scribe concerned about pain control, my two main considerations are […]
“Is what I’m doing good enough to be accepted?” I hear this question often. Sometimes more than once from the same person. I’ve even asked it about my own work. It is one reason some scribes stick to AoA or baronial level scrolls. The scrolls are needed, but they’re also less intimidating because the designs are usually done by […]
Dollars to donuts the scribe is the least appreciated SCA artisan. That doesn’t mean the person receiving the award doesn’t appreciate receiving it and its kudos. But many recipients do not understand or appreciate the work done by the scribe. Award Scroll Presentation Sometimes when a scroll leaves the scribe’s hands and is given in court it’s never seen again. Depending on […]
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 know the exact green shade […]
I understand each of us is different. Still, I have this niggling feeling what I’ve done is mediocre. Shakespeare said, “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” That is uniqueness. To me, it feels like a goal out of reach. Do you ever feel like that? When I create, I create from my own fervor, […]
When Pope Gregory I (540-604 CE) defined the seven deadly sins, he also gave values to adopt, The Seven Virtues. Virtues may be both built-in talents and learned actions. They are both good deeds and their necessary training. Here, I describe the seven virtues relating to scribes. Traits that effuse every scribes’ calligraphy and illumination on their every scroll, whether novice […]
I’m getting up to speed on making paint from pigments, again. Preparing to teach my paint making class in a few weeks. I found several on-line tutorials you may like. The first part of making paint is dispersing a powdered colorant in water. The second part is mixing in a binder. The binder in each video is different. Still, I learned tips from each video, even the videos using a binder different than I use. Written Sources “Making Your Own Water-based Paint“–Natural Pigments excellent tutorial on the grinding tools and paint making. I love the articles this company provides you free on-line. Pigments Into Paint–A free pdf provided by the Guild of Limners. They sell all paint making supplies, too. Have a look at their whole website. Playing With Period Pigments: A Make And Take Class–My class handout on Google Doc (minus its pictures). YouTube Videos Pigments and Paints Colorfest Exploratorium—Alex Warren, Sinopia Pigments founder, demonstrates grinding a pigment and then mixing it into egg yolk binder to make paint. He makes it look so very easy. And it is! Making Ochre Paints—Using soil and roadside rocks artist Helen Fitzgerald makes Ochre watercolor paint. Making Watercolor Paint Out of Natural Pigment, Tutorial—A step by step tutorial by artist Ekaterina Smirnova. She shows how to make watercolor paint from pigments found in nature. How To Make Oil Paint–A tutorial about making pigment into oil paint. How To Make Your Own Oil Paint— A Howcast tutorial about studio […]
I love books, which is why my favorite bookstore closing was such a big deal. I buy books or borrow them from everywhere. Books and research are part of the SCA‘s attraction to me. Bookstore Search When I first joined the SCA, 26 years ago, I spent hours at the library each week. Then took a stack off books home. […]
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
Ignorantly flailing through historical clothing
Discovering the joy of art
Traveling Fashion Designers 🌼
Photography
historical clothing, cosplay, and beautiful acts of whimsy
Cooking, Crafting, and Bad Ideas....
Shorts, Novels, and Other Things
History is Beautiful
Women's Lives in the European Middle Ages
Going Medieval At a Scholars Pace
ἀνθρώποισι πᾶσι μέτεστι γινώσκειν ἑωυτοὺς καὶ σωφρονεῖν.
Illuminating pastime pursuits.
Allergy warning: contains young-earth creationism and form poetry. Made in a place which processes Tolkien and Chesterton.
Illuminating pastime pursuits.
The thoughts and deeds of a writer, fighter and re-enactor
Learning the arts and sciences of the Middle Ages through research and practice
A tiny obsessive perfectionist sewing her way through history
Mostly costuming and project updates with some philosophy and autobiography for color.
A trip back in time to learn about all sorts of interesting things.
Illuminating pastime pursuits.
Join Me In The Adventure!
Sewing, Embroidery, and a Bit of SF/F Geekery
Marya Kargashina's Medieval Research
Musings on Daily Life in the Ancient and Early Medieval Mediterranean By Sarah E. Bond
SCA: Addressing Authenticity for a Gaulish Persona
Illuminating pastime pursuits.
Exploring the 16th Century and Beyond
Make All The Things!
Weaving, Recruitment and Other A&S Projects
Balancing the SCA and the Mundane
Where the Middle Ages Begin
a blog about medieval manuscripts, by Kate Thomas
Erik Kwakkel blogging about medieval manuscripts
News from Calontir
SCA Adventures in A&S
Illuminating pastime pursuits.
Illuminating pastime pursuits.
Illuminating pastime pursuits.
Illuminating pastime pursuits.
Eulalia Piebakere's adventures in recreational medievalism
My Life and Times, Here and There
Illuminating pastime pursuits.
A diary of A&S projects
An Itinerant Scribe 