Scriptoriums at coming events in ID

Greetings happy scriveners, from Genevieve,
In a fit of enthusiasm (and with Lady Trinite Signet's support), I've offered to drive scriptoriums at two coming events in ID: Battle of Brothers (17-19 July) and Raglan Fair (20-24 August).

HE Ursula (B of B steward) has assured me of space and time in schedule for the Battle of Brothers. Still waiting to hear from organisers at Raglan, but since there is some(?) space for A&S this year, I'm hoping we can share.

These scriptoriums aren't intended as classes, just as space and time during the event to sit and putter at current projects, flip through someone else's scribal books :-) and chat about the joys and challenges of C&I, with scribes new and not-so-new.

It's a great chance to do scroll blanks, if you haven't a current project going.

If someone wants to offer a class, please do! and we can use the space accordingly. Contact the respective A&S organisers, and just keep me in the loop.

I'll bring what books I can - more are welcome! (Put your name in them, to make sure they go home with the right person.) This would be particularly welcome at Battle of Brothers, as I'm probably taking public transport to the event...

If you want to do a 'shift' at a scriptorium (basically make sure someone is at the table, keeping an eye on the books and supplies), please let me know.

Looking forward to seeing you this summer, regards,

Genevieve la flechiere

more medieval ships

Last October Trinite had mentioned wanting to find more images of ships for use in PCS scrolls, and Ysabella-Maria and I posted some that we found (see http://dragonscribes.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html). I'm about to start working on some more PCS scrolls, and none of those really piqued my inspiration (well, unless anyone can get me a scroll text that starts with "Z"?) So I went googling for some more images, and thought I'd share what I found (which was, frustratingly, still not much!):

An awesome 13th-century Arabian ship, from http://www.arabian-archaeology.com/arch2islamic.htm:


A ship from the Manesse codex:


A ship from a medieval Bulgarian fresco, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Bulgarian_Navy:

admin blah blah

This site got flagged as a potential spamblog. That is a site created for the purpose of distributing spam web links.

I am not sure what triggered the Automatic spam detection and occasionally the detection system at Blogger seems to do this.

Just in case anyone has been trying to log on and seen the blog as *locked*

-Bridget


ps. hope everyone who went had a nice time at Coronation.

Laurel Scroll - a start

In case somebody missed it, Helwig Ulfsdotter was elevated at Midsummer Coronation and became a Companion of the Order of the Laurel. I have the task of doing her scroll.

Given that I had one sheet of vellum, donated to me by Mistress Jaelle at the last Coronation, I decided that this was the right project for the material.

I did not decide on a design until quite recently, because I wanted to be sure that it would be in a style that appealed to Helwig, I waited until she was informed by a writ of summons at Double Wars that she was to sit vigil at Coronation. I showed her the grants from the page: http://verysleepy.itgo.com/grants.htm

The Tallow Chandler's Guild's Grant of 1456 made Helwig say: "Oj. Oj. Oj." upon first viewing, so that was the one I picked.

The text was adapted, slightly, from one version found on a site with scroll wordings based on period texts: http://www.angelfire.com/pa/allthat2/scriptorium/wordings.html
The text we chose is the first Laurel elevation text, which is based on a Charter for the foundation of the University of Heidelberg from 1386.

This is all wildly out of period for Helwig's persona, but for the later period grants there is very little in the way of decorations and she wants a scroll with illuminations in the borders.

To make a long story short, I did not have time to finish it for court, but I did finish the calligraphy and Their Majesties Marcus and Cecilia signed it for me to finish and deliver to Helwig personally upon completion. I also include the first photo of the scroll in-progress, as Duchess Nerissa suggested I keep you guys updated and show you my progress.

period AoA text

Oh, the things you find while googling!

Whenever I get a new or backlog scroll assignment, the first thing I do is google the recipient's name, to see if I can find out anything particular about the person so I can personalize the scroll if possible. Just recently doing that turned up a page of Period Swedish Award of Arms text, translated into English and adapted to SCA usage by Frithiof Sigvardsson Skägge. (There's also a knight's oath). For one of the two Dragon's Bowles that I did for Coronation this weekend, I adapted the adaptation of the text of the award of arms done 15 February 1554 by King Gustaf I Vasa of Sweden for Joen Karlsson. Frithiof's adaption of the text read:

We [name] and [name], by Right of Arms King and Queen of Drachenwald, make it known that We by exceptional favour and grace, so also for true and faithful service to us and our Realm, gives [name], as long as he/she may live, with this Our open letter, freedom and exemption from tax and dues on all the estates he/she owns in Drachenwald, and that may come to him/her by marriage, inheritance, or gift, and also give him/her Shield and Device that is [blazon]. That [name] these estates under right exemptions in the service of Us and Drachenwald like all other noble men and women in Our Realm may enjoy, use, and keep, and that no one any let or hinderance make, by our displeasure, We here below ascribe Our names.

Given in [place] the [date],

[Signatures]

Since the Dragons Bowle is an order, and not the granting of rights to arms, so I had to change it some. Here's the text I came up with:

Make it known that we, Gerhardt and Judith, by right of arms king of the glorious kingdom of Drachenwald and our fair queen, for his exceptional favour and grace, so also for true scholarship and notable attention to all the accoutrements that make a man noble and gentle, invite Arenwald von Hagenburg, with this our open letter, into our Order of the Dragons Bowle, and give to him the right to bear the badge of the order, a dragon passant coward sable charged with a bowl per pale or and gules as depicted more plainly below. That the said Arenwald may enjoy, use, and keep, and that no one any let or hindrance make, by our displeasure, all rights attendant upon membership in the said order, we here below ascribe our names.

Given at Holmrike the xxth of June in the year of the society xlii.

And here's the scroll:

backlog AoA & Panache

A long-overdue backlog, which I was pleased with: I coined the text, based on advice in 'Book of the Courtier, ‘Of the chief conditions and qualityes in a wayting gentylwoman', my lord Robert made some small edits, and I'm happy with the calligraphy.
I chose the text to reflect Katherine's skills in costuming, esp. making her husband Ozbeg lovely Lanceknicht and Mongol clothing, and handsome Tudor gowns for herself.
Trinite painted the initial, and it's the splash of colour that makes it look finished. And we even got her Grace Allessandre Melusine to sign it, so only one sig is 'forged'.
I even get to hand it to the recipient on Wednesday at fight practice.

The text is as follows:

From ye king & queen to whom these presents show God grant you good health & peace be upon you. Having heard ye goodly reports of ye gentlewoman Katherine of Thamesreach, to wit – being well-born and of a good house, accompanying sober and quiet manners with a livelie quicknesse of wit, she hath the understandinge how to ordre her husbandes cloathing & substance & his household, and setting out her beaute and disposition of person with meete garments y^t beste become her ye which she hath made after the facion of ye most, of some darkishe and sad colour not garish, therefore for her doing ye exercises meete for women comlye and with a good grace, do we Peregrine and Alessandre Melusine King & Queen of Drachenwald, install Katherine of Thamesreach to ye ordre of ye Panache, that alle these facions, comely exercises & noble virtues may be commune to a greate many. All rights and priveleges apertaining thereto including ye right to bear arms in our Society are likewise hers. Done this xxiiij day of February AS XXXV at Champions of ye Isles by our hand & seal.

a small and slightly scrappy piece

This small work is a 'passport' or letter of commendation for one of our shire members, who is moving to Atlantia. She's been locally active, and she wanted something to show her new B&B to introduce her. I'd have gotten the viceregal signature (and suitable text) if I'd had time, but had a planning failure (ie. I forgot til the day of delivery).
It's a bit scrappy because it was done in some haste, w/out a practice piece first.
My lord Robert coined the text - he now has a wiki page to keep all his assorted texts, poetry and sources in one place.
In the typed text, 'y' represents a 'thorn' so 'y^e', with a small E above the thorn, is actually sounded as 'the', 'y^s' as 'these' and 'y^t' as 'that'.
I'm also fond of ampersands (&) , because they're so flourish-y to write. :-)

Here's the text of the piece:

Unto Girard le Bourguignon & Gueniévre de Monmarché, Baron & Baroness of Windmasters Hill & to all others to whom ys present letters come, know that Bryggyt Stangeways has been ys ii years past resident in the Shire of Thamesreach, of which time she hath proved of Gentle conduct, in all ways comporting herself within ye bounds of Law & serving the Shire in all her power in such matters of Law & Charity as are in her competence. Therefore do I, Genevieve la flechiere, Seneschal of Thamesreach commend her unto yr Excellencies keeping & pray she may find welcome in yr lands as in time past she has in these for love of good and by way of charity

writ ys day of St. Brendan the Navigator in the Manor of Haggerston Thamesreach

A4 drawing boards for sale

Marabu A4 board, in decent condition ( will be cleaned) 10, euro ( plus shipping if you want it mailed)

Now on Hold for Elsa.

Both are used. I looked them over and they seem fine, the clips and rulers work okay.

Magnificent Melisende

Greetings all! I was honored this weekend with membership into the ID Company of Merit for Artists and Scientists. I thought I would share the absolutely wonderful scroll I recieved. I am thoroughly tickled and delighted to now be the proud owner of Melisende Masterpiece! Laurels out there, have a close look, this woman would make a wonderful addition to your order!

Thank you Melisende for your lovely work! I am awestruck!

Trin



A close up of the capitol...


The scroll it it's entirety!

A4 drawing boards for sale

I have a couple of these nifty portable drawing boards for sale if anyone is interested.

-Bridget

the big fire brigade job

my sister asked me to do these scrolls for her. She is an active member of a volunteer fire brigade and she wanted to giver her brigade something special. Not sure what the lists actually mean and it was a bit of a challange to do something modern. but here are the results.

Too late?

Greetings, all!

I have a question for the collective scribal mind. I'm still working on the backlog and suspected that the gentle for whom this scroll is intended would appreciate a late period scroll. I checked with him and yes, he would like secretary hand 'with all of the flourishes and squiggles'. That's fine by me, and this is what I have produced:



My concern is that it's so late period that it's too late. What does the collective scribal mind think?

Lia's two latest scrolls

Hello lords and ladies.

It's been a while since I posted, mostly because it's been a while since I was actively scribing. However, for last coronation, being 12th Night 2009, I made a Queen's Order of Courtesy scroll for our lovely signet, Trinite Ducalon. It was an elaborate fake-out as I got the assignment without a name, then when HRM Fiona found it was on my table she wrote me and told me the name to use, and to ignore further instructions from Trinite. I was soon contacted again by Lady Trinite and given the fake-out name.

I did the gilding, then the event was upon me, and I had to travel to it with a not-yet-finished scroll. It was signed and handed out in court in proper order, and right after court I swooped in on Trinite to take it back and finish it at home.

This time I added colours, and penwork details. I think it came out beautifully in the end. I chose a style which I particularily like and which looks quite light and girly. I thought that suited a Queen's Order of Courtesy award. The inspiration is from MS Digby 36, a mid 15th-century English manuscript at the Bodleian Library.

And finally, images of the scroll itself. I uploaded the final photo here, but more detailed shots can be found in my album of illuminations (first picture, and the following handful). I sent it on via SCA-mail to Trinite and she received it at Crown Tournament this month past, finally.

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After I finished the Queen's Order of Courtesy scroll for Trinite I accepted another assignment for the principality of Nordmark. It was the Golden Ribbon award (service) for my good friend Viscountess Filippa Birgersdotter. I'm happy about this one as well, although my miniature painting still needs lots of practice. The historiated initial contains my version of a photo where Filippa is presenting Their Highnesses of Nordmark with mead. It shows her sporting spirit with the thumbs up and it makes me giggle. I only started taking photos after most of the illumination was done and only the miniature remained, they can be found in my album as well, starting here, and showing the finished scroll here.

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If any of you fine gentles spot anything in the execution of these scrolls that you might have pointers about, please let me know - I am always interested in learning and improving, and notes on my work will not make me like it less :)

Anno Societatus Change!!!!

Just a quick word of reminder, warning and notice to all scribes, the year is changing as of May 1st from Anno Societatus XLIII (43) to Anno Societatus XLIV (44).

Any scribes working on Double Wars scrolls... my apologies... but don't panic if you have already written the A.S., it can be dealt with!

Cheers! Have I told you all how much you rock lately?
Trin

Scribe Roundup!

Greetings all you wonderful scribes! At the risk of jinxing myself, since I seem to have a little time to catch my breath between one event and the next, I would like to update the scribe database. If you are currently interested in doing scrolls for the kingdom, please ping me in an email with your SCA name, mundane name, snail mail address, phone number and best email address. Also if you have any preferences for time, style or award feel free to include that as well! ... any of the requested information is optional, however the more I have the easier it is to get information and goodies to you! :-D Yes, I said goodies.

It is an honor and a pleasure working with all of you!

Cheers!
Trin
Mbroidress@aol.com

Finally on Parchment

I would like to share a project that I recently tried, where I have attempted to work on Parchment for the first time. Despite pouncing I found it highly absorbant but not enough to make it too hard to work on. I highly recomment it to those who have not tried it before. This is a scan of the image - the colours have come out a bit colder and the gold isn't hightlighted, but you get the idea!

I now need to add some finishing touches and decide what to actually do with it!

scribal hazards

My most usual way of scribing is to sit on the edge of the bed, in front of the TV, with my feet on the rungs of a small stool and a cutting board on my lap. Last night, Joel used the cutting board for chopping green onions and garlic. The scent is pretty overpowering. I'm thinking, maybe I need to finally get a real writing desk!

Telling or not telling?

I have a small dilemma. I'm making a backlog scroll for a person and I can't decide whether I should let it be a surprise or if I should ask them what they would enjoy - period, motives and such.
Surprises are always nice, but a backlog is also a rare chance to get that custom-made scroll.
If it were you, what would you prefer?