This is one of the blogs I love to follow, because this amazing artisan is always working on something lovely; she posts frequently; she has a sense of humor; and she likes cats. Her embroidery leaves me stunned and makes me think maybe I should get off the Internet and do something with my life.
I also enjoy seeing photos of her daily progress on historically inspired projects like embroidering Noah's Ark.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
Dig up a free magazine article from the Society for Medieval Archeology!
Sample articles from the 2006 online journal:
- Investing in Sculpture: Power in Early-historic Scotland (pp 105-42) Meggen Gondek
- An Early Anglo-Saxon Bridle-fitting from South Leckway, Forfar, Angus, Scotland (pp 249-60) Tania M. Dickinson, Chris Fern and Mark A. Hall
- Reflections on a '9th-century' Northumbrian Metalworking Tradition: A Silver Hoard from Poppleton, North Yorkshire (pp 143-64) Gabor Thomas
- A Lead Model for a Late 5th- or Early 6th-century Sword-Pommel (pp 243-9) Barry Ager
Many articles contain photographs as well as line drawings; this journal is an excellent scholarly source for use in A&S documentation.
Thanks to HE Eirny Thorvaldsdottir and Lord Martin de Gras for bringing this to my attention. You both rock!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
"Persian Clothiers" Facebook Page
You just never know when one of your friends is going to create an amazing resource.
Lady Adelicia de Clare of Atenveldt has set up a Facebook Page dedicated to sharing "thoughts, patterns, ideas, pics and sudden brainstorms without judgment." It has an international membership, lots of great photos, and some pretty knowledgeable folks who don't mind having their brains picked by the rest of us.
If this link doesn't work for you, just log into FB and search for "Persian clothiers." It will pop right up. Then, to join, click Join Group in the upper-right corner of the group's page.
Lady Adelicia de Clare of Atenveldt has set up a Facebook Page dedicated to sharing "thoughts, patterns, ideas, pics and sudden brainstorms without judgment." It has an international membership, lots of great photos, and some pretty knowledgeable folks who don't mind having their brains picked by the rest of us.
If this link doesn't work for you, just log into FB and search for "Persian clothiers." It will pop right up. Then, to join, click Join Group in the upper-right corner of the group's page.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Music SCAdians will love
If you don't know the music of these wonderful Atenveldt bards, you should check them out And please like their Facebook page, too!
One of the highlights of my Estrella War this year was Master Yonaton, his lovely lady and talented son performing bardic around a camp fire. What a perfect evening!
Next year, look for members of the Whiskey Bards at Estrella, and ask them for a song :-)
(Warning: Some content may be offensive to some listeners. I just uncheck the songs that bother me in my iTunes, but, you know, like, do whatever.)
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Images for Costumers and illuminators: An Online Gallery of Religious Art
As you plan your garb, where do you find period images? When you're getting ready to illuminate a scroll, where do you turn for inspiration? Here's a wonderful site with lots of period art:
You'll find famous works from artists like Fra Angelico, Bellini, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Giotto and Masaccio - the list reads like a "Who's Who" from your college art history classes.
Costumers: To see an example of a painting with great period headcoverings and what appears to be an intricately embroidered sleeve, check out Bellini's Presentation at the Temple. Here's how to get there:
Isn't that beautiful? Such masterful presentation of complicated folds of cloth, and lovely depictions of both garb and faces.
Illuminators: To see an example of a procession which might inspire a scroll, go to:
I just love the queen's weird saddle and the harness on the horses. I can so see using some of these elements in a scroll for an equestrian award, can't you?
You'll find famous works from artists like Fra Angelico, Bellini, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Giotto and Masaccio - the list reads like a "Who's Who" from your college art history classes.
Costumers: To see an example of a painting with great period headcoverings and what appears to be an intricately embroidered sleeve, check out Bellini's Presentation at the Temple. Here's how to get there:
- http://www.christusrex.org/www2/art/gallery.htm
- Scroll down and click on "Giovanni Bellini" (under "Artists")
- Click on the first painting (Presentation at the Temple).
Isn't that beautiful? Such masterful presentation of complicated folds of cloth, and lovely depictions of both garb and faces.
Illuminators: To see an example of a procession which might inspire a scroll, go to:
- http://www.christusrex.org/www2/art/gallery.htm
- Scroll down and click on "Ambrogio Lorenzetti" (under "Artists")
- Click on the last painting (Effetti del Buon Governo, Detail).
I just love the queen's weird saddle and the harness on the horses. I can so see using some of these elements in a scroll for an equestrian award, can't you?
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Curious About Life in Elizabethan England?
If you have a late-period persona, this page is a great place to start your research.
"Elizabethan England" at the Shakespeare Resource Center has links to:
Even if you just love Shakespeare and English history, this is a wonderful site.
"Elizabethan England" at the Shakespeare Resource Center has links to:
- "British History Online" - with both primary and secondary sources; created by the Institute of Historical Research and the History of Parliament Trust;
- "The British Monarchy" - "kings and queens of Britain, Scotland, and the UK from the original Anglo-Saxon kings to present day";
- Description of Elizabethan England, 1577 - from Fordham University;
Even if you just love Shakespeare and English history, this is a wonderful site.
Monday, January 28, 2013
British Museum "Object Video" Collection
First a quick word of thanks to Daniel of the SCA Apprentice List at groups.yahoo.com for making me aware of this amazing resource.
The British Museum has an online video channel where you can watch videos about Exhibitions, Events, Object Stories, or the WCEC. I was particularly impressed by the video on the Holy Thorn Reliquary, from France, around 1410.
Normally I'm not a big fan of reliquaries because (cynic that I am) I suspect that most of the objects contained within must be frauds. How many pieces of the cross can there actually still be? And the idea of saving bits of human bone just seems icky to me.
Yet when I heard the curator's explanation of each part of the reliquary and its role as an object of meditation, I found myself marveling over the beauty of the piece, the intricacy of its workmanship, and its complex symbolism. For the first time, I was really seeing a reliquary as something significant and worthy of my attention.
Don't just think about these videos in terms of your own viewing pleasure; you can also use them as teaching aids or discussion prompts in a A&S class, or as documentation for an A&S project.
Imagine what might be considered a relic in the SCA, and how we might house it. What techniques would we incorporate, and what symbols? Could reliquary design be adapted into a three-dimensional SCA award scroll? And are these questions valid, or merely sacrilegious?
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| Current Welcome Screen for the British Museum's Video Channel |
The British Museum has an online video channel where you can watch videos about Exhibitions, Events, Object Stories, or the WCEC. I was particularly impressed by the video on the Holy Thorn Reliquary, from France, around 1410.
Normally I'm not a big fan of reliquaries because (cynic that I am) I suspect that most of the objects contained within must be frauds. How many pieces of the cross can there actually still be? And the idea of saving bits of human bone just seems icky to me.
Yet when I heard the curator's explanation of each part of the reliquary and its role as an object of meditation, I found myself marveling over the beauty of the piece, the intricacy of its workmanship, and its complex symbolism. For the first time, I was really seeing a reliquary as something significant and worthy of my attention.
Don't just think about these videos in terms of your own viewing pleasure; you can also use them as teaching aids or discussion prompts in a A&S class, or as documentation for an A&S project.
Imagine what might be considered a relic in the SCA, and how we might house it. What techniques would we incorporate, and what symbols? Could reliquary design be adapted into a three-dimensional SCA award scroll? And are these questions valid, or merely sacrilegious?
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