Guitar callouses

Yup, I’m feeling the pain. Picked up Guitar For Dummies at the library over the weekend, and have started learning chords.  The authors recommend practicing 30 minutes daily – I can’t bear more than about 15 minutes, at present! No point pestering anybody for any lessons yet, I fear.  I am picking the guitar up twice a day, trying to make some progress.  Just when I’m sure the chord won’t stick in my head, it does.  I suppose this sort of frustration is very good for me. My new quickie crocheted guitar strap works great, though. Continue reading Guitar callouses

Second Fighter Practice

Not many people turned out today, because of Gatalop running concurrently.But there was David, and Juliana with her youngest child, and Nick with his chain mail project. I should have gotten a pic of him working on the links.  He has a jig that fits in a small backpack, whose purpose is to wind wire (what sort of wire?) into a coil – looks like a spring.  Then he slips the coil off its dowel, and snips each ring away from the coil. Continue reading Second Fighter Practice

Cool weather gear

I bought yarn for this fall’s cold weather knitting project, Roam by Rowan.  Doesn’t it look rather medieval?  Sort of a jerkin.  It has a hood, which I’d like to make long and pointy – with the practical aspect of having more room for my hair.  I got a better yarn than that boring brown, though.  It’s ‘Country’, in 652 Willow. Think that’ll look nice with my Gothic Fitted Dress fabric (hint – it’s the plaid I put on the banner above)? Continue reading Cool weather gear

Garb Wishlist

Greet’sHeadgear:  Learn to net – net a Snood  Hungarian cap with stuffed braid covers Underwear:  Basic smock – still needs hemming, embroidery? Dress:  Gothic fitted dress in woven plaid – need help fitting pattern  Sideless surcoat in a fancier winter fabric for Twelfth Night (Handboke, page 53)  Flemish Working Dress – no idea of fabrics yet  Mary of Hapsburg gown? Footwear:  Anna Socks from Rowan   Must find/make appropriate shoes – man, I miss those driving moccasins I had about ten years ago, they’d be perfect. Daan’sHeadgear:  Tailed hood that can be coiled into a hat (Handboke, page 55) Underwear:  … Continue reading Garb Wishlist

Never face into the wind when plucking an herb…

Yet another reason that SCA is good for me, is that it’s turning into a hub of all the things I like to do, or have a yen to try. Knitting?  Check.I want to learn spinning, though spinning the cat’s fur isn’t exactly period.  So what.Costumes? Duh. With much embroidery.Fencing? Maybe, maybe…Bellydancing?  Oh, please!Geneology?  As much as I can stand.Organic gardening?  Yup.Herbalism?  Double yup.  I think Greet should be an herbalist, it gives her a good reason to go check out the yummy Crusaders who might need a poultice.  And then I can make soap again. I was watching the … Continue reading Never face into the wind when plucking an herb…

Dance!

At my very first fighter practice, I met a clearly wonderful SCAdian called Alicia.  Clearly wonderful, because she also dresses like a gypsy (ahem!) and because she has lovely skills, like playing recorder and guitar, and belly dancing – which she is willing to teach!  I wish I’d taken her picture.  Next time. [She also loaned me her lovely copy of The Known World Handboke (sic), which I am doing my best to keep out of the rain, and not drool on.  The sort of quality that SCAdians produce for fun just puts to shame so many for-profit products that … Continue reading Dance!

Meeting the locals

So I finally de-lurked, and called hospitaller Geoffrey Griesegonelle.  We had a lovely telephone conversation, and I agreed that my next step was to attend the Shire’s weekly fighter practice, which doubles as the local meeting.  That was yesterday.  I brought my camera. This is Geoffrey, finishing his armoring. First, there were warmups.  I spent the warmups remembering I had a camera, and working up the guts to tromp all the way around the fence, around the soccer field to avoid the sun, and by that time they were on drills. (Click on the pictures to enlarge.) Elspeth and Edwin … Continue reading Meeting the locals

What shall I call myself?

I’m not interested in the Society in order to play out princess fantasies.  I don’t want to wear satins and velvets (ick! hot! not to mention the drycleaning!), and I’m still rather intimidated by actually trying to speak forsoothly. I was also a little intimidated by all these SCA websites that say to beginners, "First, you should come up with a name, and persona."  Come on guys, ‘western civilization (and then some) until 1600‘ is a big, BIG, field!  I did know a couple of things. I want to make the Working Flemish Dress, as researched and detailed by Drea … Continue reading What shall I call myself?

The Beginning

I’m finally bowing to the inevitable…or seizing my luck with both hands. The Tale of How I Found the SCA, orWhy Szarka Never Needs Help Finding New Projects, though she frequently likes company to entertain herself. Four years ago, when I was involved with Readerville, I met a member online who was also a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism.  The things that she described doing sounded like such fun, that I asked how one joined in the games.  She said, ‘oh, there’s probably a chapter near you, look here and see.’  I did, but the web page I … Continue reading The Beginning