Champion Challenge

When Their Excellencies Concordia selected me as their A&S Champion, I set a number of goals for my tenure in that role. I wanted to continue to grow and learn as an artisan. I wanted to inspire and encourage other artisans. And I wanted to build a network with my fellow artisans--people I could talk to, people who shared my interests or inspired me to try something new.

One of the ways I decided to go about accomplishing all that was to visit A&S displays and interact with the artisans showing their work. I set myself a high goal--500 displays and performances. I had special cards made to leave with tokens at these displays.

My first chance to begin working on this goal came at Pennsic XLV. On Sunday of War Week, I visited the Pennsic A&S Display where artisans from across the Knowne Worlde showed their work. There is SO much talent and knowledge in the SCA--it's really an amazing thing to behold. I've always been impressed with the work of our artisans and enjoyed looking at their displays. This time, though, I noticed a distinct difference: I wasn't just an observer. I was able to engage in intelligent, knowledgeable discourse with so many different people about techniques, materials and research.  I set out to appreciate and encourage others; I wound up inspiring myself all over again.

A handful of the displays at Pennsic, showing a variety of skills and crafts.

There were a few artisans with whom I spent a large amount of time "talking shop"--in particular, two different leather workers and one Viking chain weaver. The was also one artisan from the West--a truly lovely lady who had pottery on display--who was so delighted with the small token I left that she gave me a piece of her pottery in return!

I learned a lot from Brendan about
period leather dying techniques!

This Laurel diadem is gilded leather.
It was so amazingly light and thin!

I also attended the Knowne World Choir and Friends concert on Thursday of War Week, and presented the director of each group with a card and token as well. There really is nothing that compares with live music--it flows into you and through you and moves you in ways that a recording simply never can.

In September, I traveled to South Dakota for the coronation of the SCA's first same-gendered monarchs, Yehudah & Hrodir. There I got to experience a "Sweet and Sour Tastery and Temptorium" as well as enjoy a phenomenal display of the artisans of the Kingdom of Northshield.  There were gorgeous gowns, stunning embroidery, intricately knotted hair nets, delicate ceramics, beautiful woven trim, and of course, Posaments, which I was particularly excited to see again since I took Eithni's class at Pennsic. I was hoping for the chance to geek out with her over my first attempts, but alas I never ran into her at the event.

Posaments on display at the Coronation of Yehudah and Hrodir.

In February, I attended King and Queen's A&S and Bardic Championships in the East Kingdom, where I had the opportunity to speak at length with many artisans about their entries.  I learned about kilns and beads and Italian coats and Tudor toothpaste. I saw how vibrant colors could be achieved with period dyes, disabusing my previously held notion that medieval garments were often pale or faded. I tasted food that had been preserved with salt distilled from the sea. I chatted about how historical events led to the differences in modern Christian denominations. I learned that enamel comes out different depending on what fuel you use to heat it. All of the artisans were SO knowledgeable about their topics, and so very willing to share that knowledge! It really touched me, too, how many of them appreciated my small tokens--one artisan immediately plucked the ring from the card and put it on his finger; another emailed me right after the event to tell me how he had enjoyed speaking with me and thanking me for my support. It was very humbling.

And after I visited the artisans, I had the immense pleasure of listening to the final round of the Bardic competition. A challenge was issued to for performers: they were to prepare a performance (based on their resume) on a theme selected by Their Majesties. They had only thirty minutes from the time they learned their them until the time they performed--I can't even imagine that kind of pressure! All four of them were *amazing*.

A middle eastern umbrella that remains
 parallel to the ground,
regardless of the angle of the stick holding it!

In March, I traveled to the Barony of Nottinghill Coill in Atlantia to attend the Kingdom A&S Festival. I set up my own display, and then spent a considerable amount of time being amazed by the talent and knowledge of others. From hand-embroidered Elizabethan garments (WHERE do they find the patience for that?!) to a period umbrella that may make retainers' lives a whole lot easier to delicious baked treats, the displays were inspiring.

I was especially happy to see Lord Ihone's leatherwork display -- in particular, I noted that he had done a leather "scroll", which is an idea I have tossed around for my protege sister for *years* but wasn't sure how to tackle. I didn't get a chance to chat with him, sadly, but I was delighted when he was named as Atlantia's new A&S Champion!

Ihone's leatherwork display.

In April, I attended Night of the Tartan in the Barony of Lochmere in Atlantia. There were several A&S competitions, an open display, and a competition to select the official Baronial Beverage (which drew twelve entries!). One of the competitions had a Celtic knotwork theme, and the other was a "new-to-you" theme. There were scrolls and trim, and a wooden Viking chair and a hat and a poncho. I also had the pleasure of listening to Laydes Fayre and the Lochmere Vocal Music Guild perform several period pieces.

May brought me full-circle back to Wars of the Roses, where I was in charge of running the competition to choose my successor. The challenge was to create an item that would have been owned or used by any of the "major players" throughout the Wars of the Roses. We had five entrants in the competition, exhibiting excellent craftsmanship. I was personally drawn to Lord John Kelton's leather costrel--I am so excited to know there's another leatherworker in the local group!



Lord John's leather costrel -- winner of the Baronial Champion competition.

Lady Astrid's display -- winner of the Populace Choice competition.

Roses also had close to a dozen entries in the Brewing competition. While I wasn't able to indulge in the taste-testing (I had to drive), I was inspired by the entries and have found new motivation to take the plunge into brewing myself -- a project I have long wanted to tackle but keep putting off for various reasons. No more! Perhaps next year, a bottle of my brew will stand beside the other entrants at Roses?

Turning in my sash and medallion at evening court was bittersweet. I am honored and humbled to have represented Their Excellencies for the past year, and I am eternally grateful both for the faith They placed in me and the opportunity They offered me. I am inspired to strive onward in my arts, to continue learning and growing. I will also carry with me all that I have learned over the course of this quest I set for myself--both the increased knowledge I gained about various arts, and a new approach and purpose as I visit displays and interact with other artisans in the future.