Pennsic 44 Classes

It seems like just yesterday I was posting about Pennsic 43, alas it's nearly Pennsic 44! Here is the docket of classes scheduled primarily during Peace Week, including a slight modification (and addition to) my Italian Dance for ECD, now English, Feet!

• 7/28 @ 10:00 AM - Italian Dance for English Feet: Anello, Fedelta
• 7/30 @ 12:00 PM - Italian Dance for English Feet: Contrapasso en Due
• 7/31 @ 10:00 AM - Italian Dance for English Feet: La Castellana
• 7/30 @ 4:00 PM - Whose Partner Am I Anyway?

Camp Decorations

I took on the task of creating new decorations for the summer encampment or Pennsic home of Furies Keep. I initially had the idea to create banners for each person's heraldry, but that idea was quickly dropped under a pressing deadline (NOWM in June) and it morphed into something more easily mass produced and gave the suggestion of the person's heraldry.

Ginevra

Gianna

For instance, my heraldry is Per fess indented flory at the points sable and argent so I took the field division, roughly half and half horizontally, and the colors, black and white), and created the representation of arms.

Ginevra's heraldry is Azure, a tower argent surmounted by a fess gules fimbriated charged with three fleurs-de-lys Or and represented the primary color area, or field, as blue with red and gold accents.

Here's a picture of them hanging in our main dining hall.

Camp heraldic banners in action!

Order of the Silver Oak - June 2015

The Order of the Silver Oak is an award given by the crown to those who have shown proficiency in the sciences or research. The recipients are known by their badge blazoned: Purpure, an oak tree blasted eradicated argent, fructed Or. This award is equal to the awards: Order of the Willow.

• Direct Link: Die Hausbucher, Landauer I
• Title: Amb. 279.2 ° Folio 69 verso (Landauer I), Wood Manufacturing
• Origin: Nuremberg Twelve Brothers

The Order of the Silver Oak was created on pergamenata with Windsor-Newton gouache and Speedball calligraphy ink using a C3 nib. The text reads as follows:

German: Lasset alle Anwesenden wissen, dass sowohl Arabella, königliche Schutzherrin der Wissenschaft und der künste, als auch Ragnvaldr, König des Reiches der Mitte, die Fertigkeiten und das Engagement von Meinhard Hammerschmidt für die Wiederbelebung der Gilde der Holzarbeiter in den Cleftlands und die Eröffnung seiner Holzwerkstatt anerkennen. Ebenfalls gewürdigit wird, dass er andere zu dieser Kunst ermutigt und seine jahrelange Erfahrung mit ihnen teilt. Von nun an soll er als Mitglied unseres Ordens der Silbernen Eiche angesehen werden. Wir erweisen ihm die Ehre das purpurfarbene Abzeichen der Strahlenden Eiche in reinem weiß mit goldenen Eicheln rechtmäßig und ohne Einschränkung durch andere zu tragen. Dies wurde durch uns beschlossen am sechsten Tage des Juni während der Nordeichen-Kreigszüge in unserer Grafschaft der Falkensteingrube. 

English: Let all present know that Arabella, Royal Patroness of the Sciences and Ragnvaldr, King of the Middle Kingdom wish to acknowledge the skills and dedication of Meinhard Hammerschmidt for rekindling the Guild of Woodworkers in the Cleftlands and for opening his woodshop to encourage and share his years of artistic experience with others. Henceforth, he shall be known as a Companion of our Order of the Silver Oak. We bestow upon him the right to bear the badge: Purpure, an oak tree blasted eradicated argent, fructed Or without let or hindrance from any person. Done by our hands this 6th day of June at Northern Oaken War Maneuvers in our Shire of Falcon's Quarry.

When I received this award assignment, I was particularly happy about it since Meinhard is bessere Hälfte. ;) I reached out to a co-worker in the Vienna office and asked him to translate the scroll text since Meinhard's persona is German. After a few back and forth emails and a consult with the co-workers daughter who spoke a little better English, we came up with a good approximate translation of the somewhat archaic flowery scroll text. How does one work on a scroll with a S.O. in the home? You knock the scroll out while they're at work when you work from home for a day, of course. ;)

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.

Throwing Shade

In all its glory...

Ginevra and I organize an annual bocce tournament at Northern Oaken War Maneuvers. In the past, we used a 10'x10' standard pop-up day shade that I lovingly painted with white nebuly (for Cleftlands) in the living room of my apartment. It served well for a number of years, but the paint used has begun to flake off and it was generally unappealing as a home base for something as auspicious as the Baroness' Bocce Tournament!

Fast forward to Red Dragon 2013 which hosted a day camp competition. I took a few pictures from the day of the setups that appealed the most and noticed that almost every picture was of (now) Mistress Genoveva von Lübeck setup and the simplicity of the canvas day shade and how great it looked.

Skip forward again and you land sometime in May of 2015. I've been working on the banner project for camp beautification at Pennsic and simply couldn't them all finished before NOWM where they were going to decorate the main pavilion. Whew! With that weight off my shoulder, I thought I could jam through another project on the back burner - a replacement day shade.

I had been speaking with Master Lorenzo Petrucci about his simple five pole day shade made out of a canvas tarp. Seemed simple enough, right? Five poles, some ropes, canvas and grommets. Easy! Except... I think even then I realized it probably wasn't what I want, especially knowing that there can be The Weather (TM) at NOWM, i.e. RAIN. I wish, nearly a year later, that I could remember the exact sequence of how it all came about, I just know it was all last minute.

Very. Last. Minute. (May 26, 2015 to be exact as I just confirmed my fabric order date!)

Mistress Genoveva posted Tutorial: Simple Canvas Dayshade for Events (with or without wings) on her blog at Honor Before Victory in June 2014. I had it on the radar for ages and the fire was lit.

• I order an industrial Singer sewing machine from Amazon. 
• I order 10 yards of 10.10 OZ (60") Sunforger® Tent Canvas - FIRE RETARDANT. 
• I call Panther to order a metal ridge sleeve and stakes.
• I call Panther back because I would like to order some dags so the day shade matches my tent.
• I call Panther AGAIN because I would like to order some of the colored braid.

Game on.

While I wait for the materials to arrive, Meinhard and I quickly build the infrastructure - four poles and the ridge pole. We created the four ropes out of 3/8" synthetic rope.  I think we applied stain and polyurethane stained them at NOWM. 

The final bits of material arrived by Tuesday, June 5 and that's when the chaos really began. I already have Wednesday through Friday off since that is the traditionally the start of event setup for the event, so I get right to work once the materials arrive.

I ordered 60" wide fabric so I wouldn't have to make as many flat felled seams, which in theory sounded amazing. In retrospect, I think I was unprepared for the bulk that would need to be rolled up and fit under the neck of the sewing machine. I attached the dag material from Panther on with a flat fell then used the black braid edging around the perimeter of the entire day shade. I measured out the locations for the reinforced fabric grommet patches and attached them. A final panicked call to Oliver Stillman for use of his behemoth grommet setter finished the project.

And then I go to NOWM on Thursday morning. (So this chaos all transpires in a 36 hour period.)

Why no in process pictures, you ask? Because I just didn't think about it with the time crunch! I ran in to a lot of sewing machine problems and the sheer weight of that much fabric pulling off the table. I could actually function and get some seams sewn when I called in help from Meinhard to simply support the weight so it would stop pulling on the needle.

TLDR> I made a day shade and it is awesome. :)

The new day shade at the almost-finished bocce list of Northern Oaken War Maneuvers.

Order of the Willow - October 2014

The Order of the Willow is an award given by the crown to those who have shown proficiency in the arts. The recipients are known by the badge blazoned: Purpure, a willow tree eradicated Or. This award is equal to the awards: Order of the Silver Oak.

• Direct Link: Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts, British Library.
• Title: Book of Hours, Use of Sarum (‘House of Eleanor Worcester’)
• Origin: France (Rouen), 1430-1440

The Order of the Willow was created on pergamenata with Windsor-Newton gouache and Speedball calligraphy ink using a C3 nib. The text reads as follows:

Draw near and hear the words of AnnMarie, Royal Patroness of the arts and Cadogan our King. We are pleased to recognize Trisola Ducci for her artistry in the field of drama and wish to name her a companion of Our Order of the Willow with the right to bear the badge: Purpure, a willow tree eradicated Or. Done by Our hands this fourth of October, AS XLIX (49) in Our Marche of Tirnewydd at Red Dragon.

When I received the assignment, I began my usual Internet stalking research about Trisola and was pleasantly surprised to realize I had seen her around before, primarily as one of the pilgrims in the Pennsic Players Canterbury Tales. I admit, it’s my first time going to see a PP production, but my dear sister Ginevra was also cast as a pilgrim in a few of the tales, so how could I resist? As it turns out, Trisola is a veterinary doctor working with exotic birds and an archer, so rather than focus on a Tales reference, I went with a nod towards her areas of interest.

Also, please remember to buy more pergamenata, gouache, and a smaller nib before Regular Event…

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.

Pennsic 43 Classes

Hello, Pennsic People! Here are my class notes for my Pennsic 43 classes:

• 7/30 - Alman all the Time
• 7/31 - Storytime with Arbeau
• 8/1 - Whose Partner am I Anyway?
• 8/4 - Italian Dance for ECD Feet – La Castellana

Award of the Purple Fret - March 2014

The Award of the Purple Fret is an award given by the Crown to individuals who have been recognized for service to a group, office, or Kingdom. The recipient was Terentia Faustina, read into court at the Masque of Courtly Love on 3/1/2014.

• Direct Link: Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts
• Title: Four Gospels
• Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Greece (Thessalonica, monastery of Philokalos) 

The Award of the Purple Fret was created on pergamenata with Windsor-Newton goauche and  Speedball calligraphy ink using a C3 nib. The text reads as follows:

Before those here assembled it shall be know that we Cellach, King by right of arms of the Middle Kingdom, and Vukasin our Queen, do recognize the exemplary service that Terentia Faustina hath freely given through her dedicated work as a Minister of the Arts and Sciences. Therein, we publicly commend her and are pleased to bestow upon her the Award of the Purple Fret without let or hindrance. Given by our hands this first day of March, Anno Societatis XLVIII (48), in our Marche of Alderford.[Greco-Latin: Gaudium scientia et servitium, “the joy of learning and service” in the quatrefoil.]

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.

Order of the Willow - March 2014

The Order of the Willow is an award given by the crown to those who have shown proficiency in the arts. The recipients are known by the badge blazoned: Purpure, a willow tree eradicated Or. This award is equal to the awards: Order of the Silver Oak.

The Award of the Purple Fret was created on pergamenata with Windsor-Newton gouache and  Speedball calligraphy ink using a C3 nib. The text reads as follows:

Let the words of the Crown be sung throughout the lands of the Middle Kingdom! Pleased are we to recognize the enthusiastic pursuit of music and the tutelage of the Cleftlands Choir shown by our loyal subject Patrick of Cleftlands. Henceforth he shall be numbered as a companion of our noble Order of the Willow with the right to bear the badge: Purpure, a willow tree eradicated Or Given by the hands of Vukasin, Royal Patroness of the Arts, and Cellach our King on this first day of March, Anno Societatis XLVIII in our glorious Marche of Alderford.

The wording of the text feels a little out of order from the standard Midrealm Scribes handbook. The recipient was in court, receiving his Award of Arms (I think for the second time) when his Majesty asked him if he had a Willow. Patrick politely said no, your Majesty by which King Cellach commanded that the award be changed to a Willow and Herald Make It So! The award scroll was created after the fact, so I tried to impart a little of the imperative tone of the edict. Hopefully it came through as more of a missive and declaration rather than a casual invite to the order.

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.

A Valentines Day Massacre

One of the premier fighting and shopping events of the Midrealm is St. Valentine's Day Massacre, or Val Day as it is commonly known. I've traveled to the wilds of Kalamazoo once before for the event and it was grand, but I haven't made it the last four years. This is the year of a historic Baronial investiture, a pairing of mother and daughter to lead the Barony, and one of them is a member of our Sisterhood. To support them during this time, the Team has made preparations to head north for the investiture... and to look dapper while doing it.

Ginevra has been documenting the steps of creating her dress for Val Day and it sort of guilted inspired me to do a little sewing of my own. The stash fabric on the right has been languishing in my closet for at least five years; it was a Pennsic purchase that I didn't have anything particularly in mind for. It doesn't exactly scream Italian, but it's pretty and Italy did enough trade with the Turks/Persians, that I figured it was OK.

The whole project started off well enough. I had just enough fabric for three rectangle skirt panels at 47 inches long, plus enough material for a bodice and sleeves. Success! I wanted to try using the gamurra block pattern since it is flexible, custom, and worked well when I made all my easy wear items for Pennsic. The skirt construction was easy, three straight seams, so I moved quickly on to the bodice where I used two layers of linen/cotton fustian heavy weight fabric and a medium weight white linen as lining. I felt I had some time, so I added channels and hemp boning, just like my other Italian gowns. A bit more sewing and the bodice was done.

It was a piece of cake.

And then I tried on the bodice. Apparently I didn't learn my lesson about cake when watching Labyrinth a thousand times. The bodice was a bitter piece of marble cake and a bit of a hot mess. It didn't fit quite as well as I would have liked and the neckline was just that - at my neck. The nuns called and said I was pious enough for the convent it was so high and modest. Not exactly what I was going for, so back to the cutting board.

It was Wednesday night, meeting night, and already after work. I threw the section of material I had set aside for sleeves down and very quickly cut out a new bodice with proper pieces from Period Pattern, Italian renaissance, view VII. It went together more quickly than expected (without boning, alas.) And on Thursday, I was hand sewing towards the end of the business day so I could attach the skirt and sew down the lining by the end of night. I was able to throw a hail Mary pass and get it into enough shape to wear it, but the fit still leaves a little to be desired. It will still need to be taken in a little to make it worth wearing again.

Award of Arms - January 2014

An Award of Arms is given by the Crown and grants the right to bear and display arms. The recipient was Bubba of Winchester, read into court on January 25, 2014 in the regency court of Calum and Constanza in the Barony of the Cleftlands.

• Direct Link: St. Andrews Rare Books Blog
• Source: St. Andrew's Psalter
• Origin: 15th century London

The Award of Arms was created on pergamenata with Windsor-Newton gouache and 23K gold leaf. The calligraphy was done by Ginevra Boscoli using black India ink and a Brause nib. The text reads as follows:

Be it known to all that we Cellach, King by right of Arms of the Middle Kingdom & Vukasin our Queen send greetings. We have heard much good of Bubba of Winchester, who has made himself worthy of advancement by his service wherever there is need and his skill with a bow in times of war. In recognition of these good works we are minded to make unto him an Award of Arms and bestow upon him the right to bear the arms Or, a   popinjay proper and on a chief wavy azure three goblets argent. Done this 25th day of January, AS 48 by the hands of our Regents Calum and Constanza, fourth Baron and Baroness of the Cleftlands, in or lands of Brendoken.

Finished work.

Inspiration piece.