Concordia Champion Prize

One of my last duties as Concordia's A&S Champion was to organize and run the competition at this year's Wars of the Roses. It is customary for the outgoing Champion to make the prize for the winner of the competition. I immediately decided to make a leather blackjack.

I began by drawing up a measured blueprint of the body of the mug on a piece of waxed parchment paper. I have discovered this to be superior to regular paper, because the wax helps it repel water when it comes time to trace the pattern onto the wet leather, thereby preventing rips and tears in the pattern. The measurements I used were based on a mug I had previously completed, which was assembled from a pattern provided by Lord Geoffrey de Cardeville during an eight-week workshop he taught in the Barony of Lochmere (Atlantia) in 2011.

Once the blueprint was drawn up, I wet down a side of ten-ounce, vegetable-tanned cow leather and traced the pattern into it. Then, using an Xacto knife, I cut the body of the blackjack from the side of leather. Since I did not intend to tool any designs into this project, I moved on immediately to the seams. Using a seam marker and a four-hole punch marker, I marked the seams into the leather. Then, using an awl, I bored the sewing holes. This is a long, miserable process, and it always makes me appreciate our modern tools all the more. When the holes were complete, I stitched the jack together using brown waxed linen thread and two needles.

Once the body of the mug was sewn, it was time to measure and cut the bottom insert. This time, I used a thinner 5-6oz. leather, which was MUCH easier to insert and sew in than the thicker leather I've used in the past. Once the bottom was sewn in, I soaked the blackjack in cool water for around five minutes. Then I carefully inserted an empty plastic bottle with the desired diameter into the mouth of the mug (one of these days I will make a proper wooden mould, but for now I use what tools I have). Once it was stretched fully around the bottle, I set it aside to dry for several days.

When it was dry, I pulled the bottle out of the mug. I then sealed the outside of the vessel with wax and the inside with a completely modern epoxy called EnvirotexLite.

 The first step in sealing the mug was to heat the leather at two hundred degrees Fahrenheit for several minutes (preheating the leather causes it to absorb the wax better) and then thoroughly coat the outside of the vessel with liquid wax. Care needed to be taken to not drip wax on the rim or inside the mug, however, as it will cause the interior sealant to not bond properly with the leather.

After the wax was applied and allowed to cool, I applied a second, thick coating of wax along the stitched seams. This prevents the interior sealant from seeping out. I used a pastry brush in both wax applications.

First coat.

Once the leather was completely cool, it was time to pour the interior sealant. For the first application, I prepared six teaspoons of the EnvirotexLite, which I poured directly into the mug. Then, by tilting it this way and that to spread the sealant, I coated the entire interior surface. Using a spoon, I carefully applied the sealant around the rim as well.

The sealant requires twenty four hours to fully set. After the first coat, the interior of the mug and the rim were very rough. I sanded it down with a fine-grit sandpaper, and then prepared a second application. It only required four teaspoons, because the leather absorbs far less on subsequent applications.

Second coat.

Twenty four hours after the second coat, the interior was much smoother. However, the interior handle seam needed some attention. This seam has proven problematic to seal in the past, because the EnvirotexLite flows with gravity, and it's really difficult to find the perfect balance that will keep the sealant in that seam until it hardens.

I created a dam with several pieces of scotch tape (a first-time experiment for this project) and, after pouring the sealant into the mug, balanced it carefully on a dolphin candle holder in my living room. I watched it for about half an hour, and it seemed to be correctly balanced. So I left it to harden and went to bed.

Whoops!

And I woke up to … well … this.

The mug tipped forward during the night, and a lot of the sealant flowed out. Fortunately, enough remained inside to sufficiently seal the seam. Fortunately as well, it didn't stick to the surface of my bookcase, nor to the waxed top of the mug handle! I was able to cut off the solidified overflow and easily remove the tape dam.

 I applied one final, small coat of the sealant, mostly to smooth over a few rough edges. When that last coat was set, I again placed the mug inside my oven at 200 degrees to melt off the excess wax from the surface and exterior seams. Then, while the leather was still warm, I used a soft cloth to buff the waxed surfaces.

When the mug again cooled, I filled it with water and let it sit for an hour to test for watertightness. It passed the test, showing no signs of seepage or leaks. This mug will hold twelve ounces of hot or cold liquid.

I displayed it in the open display at Roses. Then it was awarded to Lady Astrid, who won the Populace Choice competition with her lovely embroidery!

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.