Archive: Arts and Sciences: Reports: April - June 2002

ocal Arts and Sciences Report for April - June 2002. Due July 15th.

Name of Region: Oaken

Name of Group: Barony of the Cleftlands

Your SCA Name: Edward Brackeburye

Date of last warrant (If any): not warranted

How long you have been an officer: 6 months

Events held by your group in this reporting period:

Event 1

Corronation
There was a coronation held in Cleftlands. There were many Cleftlanders who stepped forward and offered their services and talents. I only hope I can remember and gather all the names of those contributors and what they did.
Classes

Milesent Vibert: Beginning English Country Dance
Aurore de Vie: The Thrifty Anachronist
Kateryn ferch Rhys: Dancing 201
Jess: Byzantine (round) Chess
Yseult the Gentle: The perfectly personalized T-Tunic
Peredur: Lyceum (a roundtable discussion)

Brother James hosted a mahjong tourney and had 5 tables of players all going for the prize.
Yes there was an A&S competition! We had ten entries. From our Barony, Snowden entered her sugar paste, a novice entry, and Aurora entered her dress. It was a populace judging for a prize and Lady Milesent and Lady Branwen FitzPayne judged all the entries.
At the request of Her Majesty Alys, there was a marvelous sugar paste display.
Scribes who did scrolls for this event include: Milesent Vibert, Lyonnete Vibert,
The Dance guild did a presentation dance at feast at the request of the Royals.
Cooks guild did a wonderful feast lead by Lady Ceinwen ferch Elidure O'Denbeigh.
What is an event without fighting? Ser Nichols was the Marshal in charge of the Heavy fighting. Thanks to all list mistresses and other helpers, e.i. Heralds.
Gifts for the Royalty

Edward Brackenburye - matching wood travel boxes with the Royal arms painted on top.
Lyonnete Vibert - 50 blank scrolls based on the Visconti hours.
Nial the Wanderer of Bork - Rose cordial and glasses, beer and 6 bottles of spiced mead.
Furies Keep - Golden rose and foot rubs at Pensic.
Dryw Sidon - Glass beads and veil pins.
Yesult the Gentle - Byzantine Silk Coronation Shoes for His Majesty.
Shlomo Korobenik - Cherry summer Cordial.
Rutgar von Stutgart - 5 Red Company capes.
Sarra - Ruff
Marsailli and Children of the Cleftlands - Medusa head, marzipan, trinket boxes and necklaces.
Karl von Kohn and Midori - 2 pouches and 2 cordials
Cleftlands Needle worker's Guild - Pouches with sacks and totes.
Ailish of Darkstone and Gina Huang - Singing at Feast

Event 2:

Northern Oaken War Maneuvers VI
This event is a great way for everyone to get their camping gear etc. in order for Pensic. There was so much going on I hope I don't neglect any of the Arts and Sciences.
Classes
I think our Barony is blessed in that every time there is a call for classes a number of willing populace steps forward. This time was no exception.

Lyceum monitored by Peredur - A roundtable discussion on SCA life.
Sewing shiny things Lady Milesent - A hands on class on Milesent's cheater's method for sewing little mirrors onto your Middle Eastern costume.
Fudging Figures Lady Milesent - A hands on class on drawing the human figure and having it end up looking like a person. Paper and crayons provided.
Dancing! Led by the Cleftlands Dance Guild - Come dance several popular English country and other sca dances. No experience necessary.
Basic Garb for Beginners by Katerin ferch Gwenllian - A class on quick and simple garb to tide you through the war.
The Thrifty Anachronist Lady Aurora - Your guide to SCA flash without much cash. Lady Aurora takes you through several simple ways to modify existing garments for a more period, and very thrifty look.
Brewing Class Lord Nial - To be announced
Brewer's Roundtable monitored by Lord Nial - Bring your own meads and cordials to share and sample.
Hofla - The crowning jewel of Northern Oaken, everyone is welcome to drum, dance, watch, tell stories and enjoy.
After a day of fighting, fencing, archery, and classes we had a nice Court out on the field. Our usual spot was too wet to hold court. There were a number of AOA and Purple Frets given out as well as a Knight made and Pelican put on vigil. But since this is an Arts and Science report, I will report those awards.
One of the most deserving awards was the Order of the Evergreen to Rob�rt de Cleftlands. His work is magnificent. A lot of his armour is leather worked and when I first saw it I was shocked to think something so beautiful would be used to stop blows.
myfanwy ferch Rhonwen has been elevated to the Order of the Evergreen for her scribal work. A lead in the scribal arts, she is willing and able to help out at a short notice. And did I mention her work is excellent.
Hely d'Isigny received the Order of the Willow for his scribal skills. Yet another who's skills have been overlooked for too long. His work is stunning.
Milesent Vibert also received the Order of the Willow for her scribal work. Again she is most deserving of this award. She has always gone out of her way to teach classes (and I have taken some and they are worth it for the help they have provided me) and share her knowledge.
As if it isn't enough that so many awards were for the excellent scribal work our Barony does, the Scribes Guild was called forward to receive the Order of the Grove.
One major gift was given during this court. Wow, it was from the Scribes Guild! They put together a gift of scrolls, one for each award that the Kingdom currently gives out.

Demonstrations held by your group during this period:

Demo 1
Case Western Reserve University Medieval Society; April 27. We were asked to lead a hand at this years Spring Fest to try to recruit an interest in the Case Medieval Society.
Those in attendance were Lady Milesent Vibert, Lord Edward Brackenburye, Lord Bastian Eychener, Lord Olafr Grimolfsson and John Crick (no SCA name yet). We had a table display with Lord Edwards banner, illuminations by Milesent as well as card weaving by Milesent. The four lords did a demo on fighting and Milesent acted as herald explaining the blows taken and the armour we wore.
Demo 2
May 5 dance demo
Pagan Spring Ritual Those attending were; Milesent, Edward B. Hawise, Angie, Jeanie, and Darius. It was running late (over an hour) and Milesent and Edward B. had to leave. Those that stayed taught a few dances to the very receptive group and then danced the Maypole with them.
Demo 3
June 17th An evening demo (approx 7pm to 9pm) for Camp Whitewood in Ashtabula County, Eastwatch territory but there was only one Eastwatch Lady at the demo. We helped out our neighbor territory.
In attendance from Cleftlands: Darius, Zuriel (With her horse), Kathryn verch Rhys, Hawise and Milesent led dancing. Milesent also did Calligraphy and Illumination.
Demo 4
June 22nd A Saturday day demo (approx 1pm to 4pm)
In attendance: Syr Theo, Aldred, Conrad and Bernhardt did fighting (Theo and Aldred talked, Conrad and Bernie fought). Baroness Seadna and Dryw Sidhon did glass beads (Seadna talking and Dryw crafting) Lady Alex taught about stained glass and Milesent taught about calligraphy and illumination and a little bit about clothing in medieval times. Also in attendance: Maria Vincente de Castille (Couldn't fence, there weren't any other fencers) Darius and Nial and Madog. Not sure what they did as I was unable to attend the Demo.

Guilds and/or Special Interest Groups:

Armourers Guild: Lord Timothy guild leader. I haven't made it to a guild meeting for a while but I know they are busy with armouring as they still meet every week. There is talk about a portable forge that will be traveling around the barony to help with forging. Syr Theodric has been busy helping Berhardt make some new armour on their own outside the actual guild meetings.
Archery Guild: Lord Ian guild leader. This guild is busy as usual practicing every Sunday. We have 2 MITs that are on their way to becoming full marshals. They did most of the work at NOWM: Ian and Paul.
Brewers Guild: Lord Nial the Wanderer of Bork guild leader Nial taught a root beer making class at April Desert revel. It tasted good. There were many gifts made for Coronation by the brewers guild and they continue to brew and share knowledge with all comers. Klaus would like to start a project that will include making cordials from a listing he found that would just about cover every type there is�. good luck to Klaus.
Cooks Guild: THL Ealdred of Gwyntarian guild leader. The Cleftland's cook's guild had an inventory meeting on June 24th. Attending were Ceinwen, Elizabella, Schlomo, Ealdred and Clairiel. We didn't work on any specific projects but we did bring up the suggestion of holding monthly meetings on the Sunday before each dessert revel to either cook for the next revel or plan what to bring. In this way we would like to encourage both more interest in the Cook's guild and in presenting period foods at our dessert revels. At a later date Angharad suggested that we choose a theme for some of the meetings. So far suggested: Pies, pastes and coffins for September and Sausage making for November.
Dance Guild: Lady Milesent Vibert guild leader. Being one of the more active groups they have been busy. Monthly dance meetings will begin again in August as the new contract has been sent in. The guild has been active at the demos for this quarter teaching any and all who will venture forward to learn. There have been a number of new and one time meeting attendees who have joined in to learn the dances. There have been some new dances tried which have been well received and the old favorites are being taught every week at meeting.
Glass workers Group: Ladies Alex and Seadna Lady Alexandra taught a glass painting class at our May Dessert revel. It was well attended and well received. A number of the populace did some painting; Milesent, Lyonnete, Vashti, Zuriel, Claire, Gwen, and at least 4 others who I can't remember..sorry.
Needle workers Guild: Lady Madelaine guild leader. A major project has been put forth to the Barony. Lady Madelaine has requested that the populace make dolls/toys for a demo that will be coming up in October. This is for the Rainbow Babies hospital and she hopes it will be well received and that every child will get a favor.
Scribes Guild: Lady Guenhwyvar MacEwen guild leader Another major event is coming up, Northern Oaken War Maneuvers and the guild has been asked to make scrolls. The guild has decided to make a gift of one scroll for each award of the Middle Kingdom. I, Edward Brackenburye, attended a meeting for my own benefit, learning calligraphy and illumination, and was talked into doing my first scroll for this project. The major players of the guild are into the project: Aiden, Heley, Milesent, Gwenhwyvar, myfanway, Nial, Lyonnete, Cat, Zuriel, Stephan. I may have missed some but there are so many willing scribes in the Barony. Not sure where to report this achievement as the award was not given at a Cleftlands event. But, HL Aldermoureis Ventzke received her EVERGREEN (for her skills in & teaching of C&I) at Swine and Roses
Tentmakers Group: Lord Klaus von Eisenstein group leader. Well they are at it again. Bastian is well on his way to constructing his own pavilion tent. Klaus has decided to add an addition to his tent and is making another room. Edward is completing his dags for his tent and adding a canopy to the front�.this has been completed in June.

Personal Projects:

*These projects have supporting documentation on file with the A&S minister.

*Madelaine Bouvier has turned in a few projects with supporting documentation.

Italian renaissance over gown circa 1495.
Two Mongolian dels (tunics), both made from raw silk.
A wool cloak with a heavy cotton lining made for a man.
Femal Grulc chiton circa 250BC, make of fine white cotton and trimmed with gold and white trim.
Cotehardie and sideless surcoat-14th century. Royal blue cotton.
A gaza dress for a lady made of cotton.
Matching Mongolian dels, 1 male, 1 female, 1 child.
Basic t-tunic for a lady made of blue heavy cotton with trim.
A gambazan for a lady archer. Made the pattern . Made of trigger.
A german style puff and slash shirt for a man based on the Costume Connection pattern.
New Cleftlands Baronial Banner for the fighting unit.

*Aurora Catrina de Vic did a great write up of her ladies c.1535 outfit. Full dress with much decorative trim and extras. This one actually has to be seen to be appreciated.

Bastion's tent is one of the big projects going on at this time.

I, Edward, have this crazy idea of doing a whole Book of Hours. I have the tools and am getting training. I know it will take a year or so, but I would like to try this thing. To add to this, I have started the project and have the first page done.

April

Nial teaching root beer making at meeting.
Angharad ferch Tangwystl: Two Byzantine outfits appropriate for the 6th century including a white linen tunicas; one knee length for a male and one floor length for a woman. Two red linen-cotton dalmaticas (again, knee-length for him, and floor length for her). A decorated with yellow linen clavii embroidered in red and gold cotton yarn and decorated with garnet beads. His clavii are embroidered with a flame motif taken from his badge, and hers are decorated with an appropriately Byzantine religious motif of fishes and crosses, the design of which was inspired by a 6th century Byzantine silver sigil ring.
Lord Dryw Sidon has continued his work with glass beads and has started to experiment with color and design. They are looking good.
Bastian has started to make a period tent. The tent makers are starting to make a mark on the Cleftlands. This is the first project of this year but brings the total number of period tents made in the last year to 4. Klaus is lending his experience as a guide to help with the tricky parts.
The Dance guild encouraged everyone to join in at the dessert revel and even convinced Syr Theodric to join in. He happens to be a very good dancer.
Lady Gwenhwyvar MacEwen has volunteered to teach a scribal class at our July dessert revel.
Seadna and Alex - beading on belts for coronation.
Sir William - Byzantine Women's garb.
Alexandra la Noire and Marilyn Horstmann - made garb together and worked on 3 beaded tote bags.
Zachariah - prepared a strawberry dessert and a veggie plate for dessert revile.
Karl von Koln - made a velvet-trimmed beaded pouch and a white leather pouch.
Yseult the Gentle - shoes of tyrean purple silk, embroidered with gold and pearls, for coronation.
Tatsukawa , Alienor, James Barkley, Katerin ferch Gwenllian, Hwin Lan- collective effort making 20 small leather pouches.
Bronwen Elvina - green silk under-tunic, purple silk surcote, mud silk Byzantine male tunic, red silk bliaut, lavender silk bliaut.
Serena- raising silkworms with period methods.
Aldermoureis - Byzantine outfit
Robert de Cleftlands - book pouch- leather tooled.

May

Ser Nickolas - leather turn-shoes, as a gift for HRM Alys
Alexandra la Noire - stained glass and glass painting- taught glass painting at May dessert revile.
Katerina Mahler - gift box for Pensic, glass painting, blank scroll for royal gift.
Gwenhwyvar - gift box and blank scrolls as gifts.
Others that made gift boxes for the Royals to give out at Pensic include; Edward Brackenburye, Milesent Vibert, Culann and co., Joel, Zuriel, and myfanwy. Sixteen were made total.

June

Edward Brackenburye - first blank scroll as gift from guild. Also made a second small illumination with calligraphy- just experimenting for the future.
Angharad has been working to develop body blocks/toiles based on the Medireview Tailor's Assistant book. I don't know that Pietro has made anything with his yet, but I've made a 15th century Flemish under-gown based on the figure of Mary Magdalene in the Deposition (a painting by Rogier van der Weyden).
Projects by Mirrim the Mouth aka Mirrim Shinrone

Project Mince Meat - Mince pie, all ingredients (of course) from scratch, currently aging. No documentation to show yet.
Black Cloak - Roman style hood, Patterns for Historical Costumes, author starts with an "H.
Red Silk Tunic - Currently undergoing a long and painful beading process. The beading has documentation (not a clue as to where I put it), the tunic (I think) does not.
Ser Nicholas has crafted in the past quarter three hardened-leather half gauntlets.
Seadna O'Bainainn has crafted the following list of items.

3x period rosaries from handmade glass beads
2x Viking necklaces "
2 "attempts" at pewter casting Thors Hammers
teaching Zuriel bead making (one on one about 1x/week)
taught glass bead making at a demo
taught Viking necklace making at a demo
researched a Viking name... :)
Calligraphy for one scroll & Illuminaion of a 2nd
Hand beaded 12 yards of trim

Troupe Hareem Shar'eem has begun teaching introductory Middle Eastern dance classes and is teaching the new students a tribal choreography to an Egyptian piece of music by Hossam Ramzy.
Pietro da San Tebaldo has done an illuminated miniature of St. George & the Dragon, after a 14th c French Manuscript illo (for Sir Will Ransom). He has also done a 15th century arming coat in linen Arm and Leg armor in a 15th c Italian style (with patterns from www.armourarchive.org) and a new shield, canvas-covered & gessoed.
Katherin ferch Gwenllian has done an assorted amount of garb making for�yes, Pensic. She has also made cloth covers of white with red pale for camp chairs currently on loan to HRM Alys. She has also been taken as a student in period poetry by Mistress Jofridr. She has completed a tribute to Duke Laurelen of all the service he has done for the barony. She hopes to perform it at Pensic in his camp.
Karl von Koln has made aufputzen and bone inlays and wood inlays for his crossbow.

People you feel bear watching and why:

Praises/Problems:

I have only been in this office for a few months but I am pleased with the amount of sharing of knowledge and the enthusiasm of anyone who is approached to share their knowledge. This is good to see and I understand why our guilds are so strong and our group stays strong.
I wanted to mention here that Lyonnete Vibert gave up her day of fighting at Northern Oaken War Maneuvers VI when the scribes called and need to get 8 awards ready the day of the event. She spent most of the day in the scribe's hall doing calligraphy on these scrolls.
A final note on this report. I posted to our email list asking for last minute projects that have been done and received a great response to it. I have gotten about seven listing for this report. This may be a good way in the future too.

Questions or new information about your office:

Goals you have established for the office and progress on them:

With the kind help of our web mistress, we have a place on our home site that lists the projects that have been completed and written up. We also have the last A&S report posted. I hope this will encourage others to write up their work and submit them. I would like to get a 'long form' made that can be filled out electronically and submitted. Just have to find the time to make it.

What events do you think you will be attending in the next quarter?

Pennsic War