Each year at Atlantia's Kingdom Arts and Sciences Festival, there is a Persona Pentathalon. Artisans create five items that would have all been owned/used by the same person. Three of these five items must fall into different categories. It's a daunting task, requiring artisans to work in multiple mediums.
The next KASF is in March 2017. For the first time in my SCA career, I feel that I may have a skill set that varies enough to consider competing. What to enter, though?
I'm thinking Viking.
The wire-weave chains fall into category six.
The Norwegian-style leather coin purse could be category six or two.
Lampwork beads--which I'll be learning at Pennsic--are category three.
I'm gonna guess tallow candles would be category four--I'll have to double-check that.
Wood-carved spoons--another Pennsic plan--are another entry for category six.
Calligraphy and illumination are category one.
...and a heraldic banner is category seven.
Or I can do something British, which will let me do bookbinding and a blackjack but will leave out the wire-weave chain and the coin purse.
Or maybe not...the Trewhiddle Scourge was, after all, found in England. But that's probably religious. I could do a religious book with calligraphy and illumination and the church obviously would have used candles, too. Hmmmmmmmm....
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Friday, June 17, 2016
A New Adventure: Bookbinding!
I attended Atlantia's Summer University event last weekend. One of the classes I took was long-stitch bookbinding, in which we created a small, leather-bound book from circa 14th century Germany. I got the hang of it almost immediately, and I couldn't wait to get home and try making some from scratch!
I've recently acquired some 3-4oz white cowhide leather, which I decided would be perfect for the project. I cut out rectangles that are 11" x 6" (this was SO much easier to cut than the leather I use for blackjacks and bottells!).
For the pages, I used what I have on hand: white printer paper. I cut it in half, creating 5.5" x 8.5" pieces. I then folded these in half, so that the pages of the book will be 5.5" x 4.25". I grouped the pages into folios of five sheets, and each book has five folios.
The class instructor, Runa Barefoot, provided us with a template to mark the stitching holes in both the leather and the folios. I used this same template on my books, and punched the holes with a hand awl.
With that done, it was time to stitch the folios to the leather. I did the stitching with white linen thread. Beginning with the first folio, I stitched from the inside out through the pages and then the leather. I formed a small loop with the thread, and then stitched back through the same hole. Moving down the spine, I stitched in-to-out, then out-to-in, and so on until I reached the last hole. Adding the second folio, I stitched back up the spine to the top.
Before beginning to stitch the third folio, I stitched through the small loop I had formed at the beginning, and then tightened the loop down flush with the leather. Then I stitched the third folio down the spine. At the other end, I fed the needle under the stitch between the first and second folios before sewing in the fourth folio. I then repeated the process one more time for the last folio.
At the end of the last folio, I again fed the needle through the joining stitch. Then I stitched back into the final hole to end up with the needle and thread inside the last folio. I tied off the thread an snipped off the excess.
Convincing the leather to stay folded over and keep the book closed is something of a challenge. For the moment I'm weighing it down to sorta "train" the leather to stay where it belongs, but I'm going to devise some method of clasping it or tying it. Stay tuned for future projects!
Here's what it looks like, unrestrained:
For the pages, I used what I have on hand: white printer paper. I cut it in half, creating 5.5" x 8.5" pieces. I then folded these in half, so that the pages of the book will be 5.5" x 4.25". I grouped the pages into folios of five sheets, and each book has five folios.
With that done, it was time to stitch the folios to the leather. I did the stitching with white linen thread. Beginning with the first folio, I stitched from the inside out through the pages and then the leather. I formed a small loop with the thread, and then stitched back through the same hole. Moving down the spine, I stitched in-to-out, then out-to-in, and so on until I reached the last hole. Adding the second folio, I stitched back up the spine to the top.
At the end of the last folio, I again fed the needle through the joining stitch. Then I stitched back into the final hole to end up with the needle and thread inside the last folio. I tied off the thread an snipped off the excess.
Here's what it looks like, unrestrained:
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Being Champion
I've been doing a lot of thinking since Sunday evening. I spent so much time and worked so hard to earn the title of Baronial A&S Champion...but what does it actually MEAN to me to be the Champion?
The way I see it is simple: my role is two-fold. On one hand, I am a representative of Their Excellencies and the Populace of Concordia. It is on my shoulders to carry that responsibility with grace and dignity, and to always conduct myself honorably.
My second role is to promote and encourage the Arts and Sciences and those who pursue them, whatever form they may take. I should teach. I should host A&S nights. I should sponsor competitions and provide feedback to artisans who enter. I should do things that don't even occur to me now because, really, as far as A&S goes, I'm just as much a newcomer as anyone.
One simple thing I can do is thank artisans for sharing their work. Putting something you've poured your heart and soul into creating out on a table or a stand for all the world to see and judge is terrifying. I know it well. I also know the rush of excitement and the feeling of accomplishment an artisan experiences when someone appreciates their work. It's amazing, what a simple token left beside your display can do for your confidence.
I've built up my stockpile of wire-wrapped rings again, but I had to design a new card to use for the next year. This is what I've come up with:
The way I see it is simple: my role is two-fold. On one hand, I am a representative of Their Excellencies and the Populace of Concordia. It is on my shoulders to carry that responsibility with grace and dignity, and to always conduct myself honorably.
My second role is to promote and encourage the Arts and Sciences and those who pursue them, whatever form they may take. I should teach. I should host A&S nights. I should sponsor competitions and provide feedback to artisans who enter. I should do things that don't even occur to me now because, really, as far as A&S goes, I'm just as much a newcomer as anyone.
One simple thing I can do is thank artisans for sharing their work. Putting something you've poured your heart and soul into creating out on a table or a stand for all the world to see and judge is terrifying. I know it well. I also know the rush of excitement and the feeling of accomplishment an artisan experiences when someone appreciates their work. It's amazing, what a simple token left beside your display can do for your confidence.
I've built up my stockpile of wire-wrapped rings again, but I had to design a new card to use for the next year. This is what I've come up with:
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