Medieval and Renaissance Costumer Webring

Okay, so it's mostly vendors but this is the portal to 23 websites dedicated to medieval and Renaissance costuming.  Go to the link, scroll down to the "Sites Associated with this WebRing" box, and start clicking!

If you have a site, you could add it to the webring and increase your traffic.

http://hub.webring.org/hub/renaissanceandme

Happy web-browsing!

Estrella War: Spiffing up your campsite from Charles Oakley

I discovered this site a number of years ago, and was delighted by the variety of wood-working projects this Living History enthusiast has created.  He also includes photos of extant examples of beds, chairs, etc. which you could use in your documentation if you were making something for an A&S competition.

http://www.livinghistory.co.uk/homepages/oakley/

If you're in the mood for browsing lots of living history pages, check out Living History's Free Web Sites Index:

http://www.livinghistory.co.uk/homepages/index.html

Some of these are empty or private, but you can scroll down, find an intriguing title, and click on links.  Who knows what treasures you might find?

Estrella War Camping Links

Google "sca camping" or "Estrella camping," and you can read for the rest of your life.  However, these four links have pretty much all the information you'll ever need:

CT's SCA Camping Page - very newcomer friendly
SCA Camping 101 - a site with good points regarding camp courtesy, and what to look while purchasing your first tent
"You forgot the what?" - a comprehensive packing list is from the wonderful and much-missed Master Yehudah of Nuremberg.  This list taught me how to prepare for Estrella War, and I've used my own version of it for every camping event since.
The Official Estrella War Links and Articles Page

My Own Two-Cents' Worth 

from Lady Tiphina of Ledbury

Packing & Camping

• It's commonly said that we don't camp in the SCA - we relocate.  This is the truth.  Camping in the SCA is stuff-intensive.  I try to pack ahead, and keep as much of my camp gear packed year-round as possible. A check-list is critical to my sanity and my spouse's survival.
• When you load your vehicle/trailer, consider the order in which you will need the items.  First out (i.e., items like a sledge hammer for driving in your tent stakes) should be last in.  The things you will need last (like clothes) should go in first, if possible.  Nobody likes unloading the entire truck and stumbling over tables, bins, and a camp stove while looking for the tent.
• Plastic tubs which fit under your cot are a GREAT idea for keeping clothes clean and dry.
• A door mat outside the tent will dramatically reduce the amount of dirt inside your tent.
• Definitely store a set of "mundanes" in your vehicle (complete with an extra pair of dry shoes) so that, no matter what, you have something clean and dry to wear home.
• Plan your outfits in layers.  A typical day at Estrella might start out with freezlng temperatures but be in the mid-60s by afternoon.  Sweat pants, thermal undershirts, etc. can be worn under garb and removed as needed.
• If you have long hair, a spray bottle of leave-in conditioner will make your life considerably easier.

Cooking

• Minimize your work and maximize your fun by cooking ahead as much as possible.
• Freeze everything you can.  "Zip-lock" freezer bags can hold browned hamburger, stew, soups, etc.  Frozen foods and frozen milk will keep the cooker cold, and extend the life of both food and ice.
• Store your coolers in a shaded area - preferably on the north side of your tent.
• You can reheat frozen quiche for an easy hot breakfast.  Civilized people do NOT have to cook in the morning.
• Don't risk food poisoning.  Towards the end of the war, my typical menus are soup mix with canned veggies and chicken added, or mac & cheese made with canned or instant milk and a can of tuna thrown in for extra protein.  Or I take an unopened jar of mayo and pickle relish in case we want tuna salad.  Canned chili with melted Velveeta is another great end-of-war option.  Velveeta doesn't really qualify as food, but you don't to refrigerate it either. 
• Ramen and applesauce are your friends.
• Take more plastic bags than you think you need, especially if you've brought the fur-kids.
• A thermos to keep your coffee warm can make all the difference when you come back to camp hungry and tired.
• I tend to get busy, and forget to eat lunch, so I often tuck a bottle of water, a meat pasty or sandwich, a hard-boiled egg and a piece of fruit into my basket before I leave camp in the morning.
• Drink plenty of NON-ALCOHOLIC fluids.  Seriously.
• Have fun.

Estrella War - Period Pavilion Links

 It may be too late to sew your own period pavilion this year, but it's a splendid time to dream and to plan.  Then, when you go to Estrella, you can look at real tents, talk to the owners, find out what works for them and what doesn't, and think about what you and your family really need.

Alternatively, you could race out this weekend, buy all the materials, and make it yourself like a crazy person.  After all, why not?  You are in the SCA :-)

Medieval Pavilion Resources - a HUGE library of links for tents, camping furniture and lots, lots more

Max & Mickel's Easy, No-bake Pavilion - I've never made my own pavilion, but if I were planning to, this would be a great place to start, because there are detailed diagrams and photographs of the niggling details like how to put in a grommet and how to lubricate your sewing machine needle to keep it from self-destructing.  No matter what pavilion you decide to make, you should read this site first.

Deborah and Steve's Plausibly Medieval Pavilions - these two have made lots of pavilions; they aspire to "high-end" accuracy; and there are lots of good links, including a link to images of surviving medieval tents - an invaluable resource if you are planning to use your pavilion as an A&S competition project.

Lastly, if you're as lazy - excuse me, as busy - as I am, and you simply want to purchase a durable, attractive tent to replace your nylon "earth pimple," check out these two vendors.  I bought my period tent from Tentsmiths, was completely satisfied with the product and received everything in great condition, on time; Panther Primitives is another vendor that many SCAdians swear by.

Tentsmiths Authentic Period Tentage

Panther Primitives, Inc.

New Page: SCA War Links

SCA War Links

With links to Estrella War, Pennsic, and other inter-kingdom wars, plus a partial list of lesser wars.

If your kingdom has a war that you would like added to the list, comment below.  Thank you!

Estrella War: Essential Links & A&S Links

Estrella War Pre-Registration Links and Deadlines

February 5, 2013     Last Postmark date for Mailed Pre-registrations
February 10, 2013     Online Pre-Registration Closes

Why pre-register?  So you can save money and so there is enough room for you to camp with your local group, household, or friends.

Estrella War Front Gate Page with Link to Pre_Registration

Save even more money!  If you're not already a member of the SCA, join today!

Activities You Can Participate in at Estrella War

If you have the appropriate certification card, you may participate in hard-suit (armored heavy combat), rapier, archery, thrown weapons or other martial arts activities.  If you are not certified, you are welcome to come watch!

In addition to martial arts, there is an almost endless list of activities you can participate in at the War.  Education opportunities include classes (a "collegium" with dozens or free or low-cost classes), artisan's competitions and showcases, musical performances, Renaissance (English Country) dance, and more.  A stroll down Merchant's Row is always fun, too.  Youth activities and martial arts opportunities also abound.

• For a complete list of activities, go to http://estrellawar.org/ and click on the "Activities" Folder in the nav bar on the left.
• For a list of A&S activities, go to http://estrellawar.org/ArtsandSciences

Images and Videos about Estrella War

Google "Estrella War images" or "Estrella War video" for the most up-to-date list.  There are literally hundreds of photos and videos for your online perusal.

A Few More Estrella War Arts & Sciences Links

Atenveldt College of Bards Estrella Coursework
Estrella War Grand Ball Yahoo Group - For musicians, dance masters, and others interested in the Grand Ball at Estrella War, held annually in the Kingdom of Atenveldt.

War is Upon Us! (Well, it's coming soon, anyway)

What do you think of when you hear the word war?  

You may be imagining Afghanistan, Iraq, Viet Nam, WWII or even the trenches of WWI.  Quotations like "War is hell" may spring to mind.  Or perhaps the memories are personal, and involve physical trauma or the loss of a loved one.

For re-enactors and recreationists, war is more heaven then hell.  In the SCA, a war is a fun event, involving hundreds or even thousands of people.  These are "largest events in the SCA, with participants attending from many different locations" (sca.org) For a truly major war such as Pennsic or Estrella, people may travel from Europe or even Asia to the United States for a week or more of "living in the Current Middle Ages."

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs28/i/2008/056/a/a/Estrella_War_2008_battle_by_ladyizzy.jpg

Those who fight may have spent months training for the event, developing strength, agility and skill at weekly fighter practices or rapier practices and traveling many miles to refine strategy and team skills at kingdom war practices.  Equestrians have trained their horses for the difficult sport of jousting.  Archers have shot thousands of arrows to prepare for the competition; artisans have completed amazing works for competition or display; musicians have spent hundreds of hours practicing.  Dancers are preparing for formal balls, or perfecting their belly-dancing moves for an evening of revelry by the fire.

What's at stake here is honor and glory.  There will be two alliances of SCA kingdoms, two sides competing for the all-important war points, and at the end of the war, winners and losers.  Is it worth it?  You bet!

The greater the difficulty, the greater the glory.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

“Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. 

These are the qualities that define us as human beings,

and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”

― R.J. Palacio, Wonder

Major Wars in the SCA

For a list with approximate dates, click here.

The next major war:  Estrella War

February 26, 2013 through March 4, 2013 

at Schnepfs Farm in Queen Creek AZ

"Medieval Glory, Honor & Chivalry in the Warm Desert Sun"

 Visit the official Estrella War website

http://www.estrellawar.org/