A&S 50 Challenge

This year is A.S. L, also known as the fiftieth year of the Society for Creative Anachronism. In celebration of this momentous occasion, a challenge was put forth to artisans across the Knowne Worlde. An artisan could choose to make one item from each of fifty different crafts, or to make fifty items of one single craft. This feat was to be accomplished before the fifty-year celebration, which will be held in June 2016.

I opted for the latter challenge: fifty items of one craft. The craft I chose was Viking Wire Weave. It has taken me a year and a half to complete this challenge. Herein are my fifty items. All are woven of 26-gauge enameled copper wire, unless otherwise specified.

Item #1: A copper, six-loop, single-weave necklace, which I entered in a winner-takes-all competition at Lochmere's Battle on the Bay event in September 2014.

Item #2: A silver, six-loop, double-weave necklace, which I entered in a competition at Lochmere's Battle on the Bay event in September 2014. I won this competition.

Item #3: A silver, seven-loop, single-weave necklace, which I made as a token of my favor for my fiance, Luke.

#4, in progress

Item #4: A double-stranded necklace of blue and green, six-loop, single-weave, which I made for my protege-sister Isolde.

Item #5: A chain of alternating blocks of green, silver, and blue, to be worn suspended between the brooches of my Viking apron dress.

#7 & #8

Item #6: A double-stranded chain of blue and silver, to be worn suspended between the brooches of my Viking apron dress.

Item #7: A silver circlet. This chain was actually a mess-up that I drew too tightly, causing the weave to become deformed. It also featured my first hand-made hook clasp, however, and I was darn proud of how that came out.

Item #8: A green, six-loop, double-weave necklace to be worn by me.

Item #9: A silver, six-loop, single-weave necklace for my Opal medallion.

Item #10: A blue, six-loop, double-weave necklace given to the Barony of Lochmere as largesse.

Item #11: A chain of alternating blocks of single-strand, double-weave silver and double-strand, single-weave gold-and-blue. Experimental. Added to stockpile of largesse.

#12 - #20: Avacal Largess

Items #12 - #20: An assortment of red, gold, and silver chains, made to contribute to the Principality of Oertha's largesse basket for the new Kingdom of Avacal.

#21

Item #21: A new technique: six-loop, single-weave green over six-loop, double-weave silver. Intended to be a bracelet, but a bit too long. I wear it as an anklet instead.

Item #22: Six-loop, single-weave red over six-loop, double-weave gold. Necklace. I'm not actually sure where this one ended up!

Item #23: Six-loop, single-weave blue over six-loop, double-weave silver. Added to stockpile of largesse.

Item #24: Six-loop, double-weave red necklace. Added to stockpile of largesse.

Item #25: Six-loop, triple weave gold necklace with blue glass pendant. Christmas gift for my aunt.

Item #27: Six-loop, double-weave blue necklace. Auctioned at the fundraiser for Lochmere's new coronets.

Item #28: Six-loop, triple-weave green necklace. Entered in an A&S competition at Lochmere's Feast of St. Brigit, with item 29. Won the competition.

Item #29: Six-loop, double-weave copper necklace. Entered in an A&S competition at Lochmere's Feast of St. Brigit, with item 28. Won the competition. Later given as prize for A&S competition at Lochmere's Battle on the Bay 2015.

#28 and #29. Photo (c) Lady Cassair Warwick

Item #30: Six-loop, double-weave blue and silver necklace. Site token for the Queen of Atlantia at Lochmere's Feast of St. Brigit.

Item #31: Six-loop, double-weave blue and silver necklace. Site token for the King of Atlantia at Lochmere's Feast of St. Brigit.

Item #32: Six-loop, single-weave silver over six-loop, double-weave blue. Necklace. Auctioned at the fundraiser for Lochmere's new coronets.

#33

Item #33: Six-loop, single-weave blue over six-loop, double-weave gold. Necklace. Added to stockpile of largesse.

Item #34: Six-loop, triple-weave gold necklace woven of 28-gauge wire. Displayed in Atlantia's Kingdom Arts and Sciences Festival 2016.

Item #35: Six-loop, single-weave necklace in alternating blocks of green, silver, and blue. Meant to be worn with Viking apron dress, and items 5 and 6.

Item #36: Six-loop, single weave blue necklace. Given to the Barony of Lochmere as largesse.

Item #37: Six-loop, double-weave blue necklace. Added to stockpile of largesse.

Item #38: Six-loop, single-weave blue necklace. Given to the Barony of Lochmere as largesse.

#37

Item #39: New technique. Six alternating loops of silver and copper. Double-weave necklace. Added to stockpile of largesse.

Item #40: Six-loop, double-weave green necklace. Christmas gift for my future sister-in-law, Jamie.

Item #41: Six-loop, double weave silver necklace with a blue-and-white heart pendant. Christmas gift for my future sister-in-law, Juli.

Item #42: Six-loop, double weave blue necklace for a coworker.

Item #43: Six-loop, double-weave silver necklace with a seahorse zipper-pull pendant. Personal, in memory of a friend who passed away in May 2015.

Item #44: Six-loop, single-weave blue over six-loop, double-weave copper bracelet. Added to stockpile of largesse.

Item #45: Six-loop, single-weave silver necklace. Given to the Barony of Lochmere as largesse.

Item #46: Six-loop, double-weave green necklace. Added to stockpile of largesse.

#49

Item #47: Six-loop, double-weave blue necklace. Intended to bestow as largesse to the Shire of Vaca del Mar at the end of February 2016.

Item #48: Six-loop, double-weave red necklace, made for a Secret Santa gift exchange at work.

Item #49: Six-loop, double-weave gold necklace woven of 28-gauge wire. Christmas gift for my mother.

And, for the grand finale, it seemed only fitting that I combine techniques and create a truly masterful chain for the woman who is my inspiration in the Society ...

Item #50: Multi-part chain. Six-loop, single-weave green over six-loop, double-weave gold, joined at each end to short chains of six-loop, double-weave gold. Pelican medallion from Combat Medallions. Christmas gift for my Pelican, Mistress Arianna Morgan.