Month: March 2007

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The Black Nag

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I just went over to the Gulf Wars site looking for an A&S classes lineup, and instead found a schedule of dances for the nightly balls.  Woohoo! Except I don’t know hardly any of these.  I have learned so far, a pavan, Korobushka, and the Black Nag.  As I expect I’ll throw myself madly into learning dances, I figure I’d better take notes. The Black Nag.  Here’s a cheat sheet.   But what do all those terms mean, "slip" and "siding" and "hey"? "Slip" – is what a ballet teacher calls "chasse’" – even little children do these gallops around the … Continue reading The Black Nag

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Renn Faire Show Fencing

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I happened upon the following theatrical lesson at the end of the day.  This young boy was learning that you protect your neck by thinking of his sword as a pendulum on a clock, suspended from the tip, to block your opponent’s blade.  Let the sword swing right… …then left… And you protect your legs by thinking of the sword like a golf club…swing right… And your shoulders from an overhead assault with a held block! which then you could, slide down your opponent’s blade, catch his guard, and ram your hilt into her gut!  (Wish I’d gotten a picture … Continue reading Renn Faire Show Fencing

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UWF Fencing Club and Mobile Pirates

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"Salle Mcafee" I spoke to Douglas Rusinko about the group that he instructs, and he gave me some direction, and also some information about how to get more instruction.  Turns out they meet three times a week, and some of their accomplished member-officers give lessons on the side.  Also Douglas does demos in a restaurant in Destin, Captain Kidd’s Seafood Buffet, which he encouraged me to turn up at. I also chatted up a couple of female fencers who were strutting around in very nice SCAdian doublets and feathered hats.  I picked them out as SCAdians not only by the … Continue reading UWF Fencing Club and Mobile Pirates

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Packing for War

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Here’s all the loot a Greet thinks she needs to go off to war for four-and-a-half days.  The trick here is to pack in loads that I can manage to carry.  If anyone has any additional suggestions, PLEASE feel free to comment – I’ve camped before, but never in such cool temperatures, and of course, I’ve never been to An Event. GARBEmbroidered undertunicWhite muslin undertunicPlaid kirtleBrown sleevesGreen dress with laceJan’s black cotehardieJan’s white chemise Didn’t useJan’s pants Didn’t useGreen smocked Italian dress Didn’t useRussian cloak & hood Slept underKnitted chaperone Big hitRose stockings & ribbon garters, legwarmersUnmentionables, five days worthBelt … Continue reading Packing for War

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Vendors at the GCRenFaire

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I did quite a bit of shopping at this RenFaire – I needed a leather belt and pouch for Gulf Wars, and wanted to see what else was common.  I also wanted to chat with leather makers and figure out who might be amenable to making Daan a watchcover.  Finally, I wanted to chat up a woodworker, for future fiber toolmaking exchanges.  Here’s what I found. MagiCreations Leather – Dennis Miller, Lake Forest CA – This guy was understandably proud of his work.  (Though he also had fur-lined manacles hanging from the ceiling…the sheer number of which tells you more … Continue reading Vendors at the GCRenFaire

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Gulf Coast Rennaissance Faire Recap

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I had a wonderful time.  And I want this post to be a long, braggy story about all the vendors I met, and how wonderful people looked, and how many mundanes dressed up, and the fencing contacts I made,  and how beautiful the jousting horses were, and how even the birds of prey liked my tippets, and the shopping I did…but it’s Monday, and I also have Phoenix Glade minutes to put together, in addition to (ahem) some Very Mundane Work to do.  Bother. Sorry.  More later. Continue reading Gulf Coast Rennaissance Faire Recap

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Elderberry Syrup

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So I’ve mentioned ELDERBERRIES in the garden planning post last week, and you’re possibly wondering why.  Apparently they’re incredibly useful fruits to stave off viruses, and the syrup, or "rob"? made from them is sold commercially, and has been used for a Very Long Time. From the SCA-Herbalist list: they are an effective treatment against not only flu, but other viruses as well.They were tested against 9 different types of flu and were effective againsteach one. The way it works is that the virus has spikes growing out of it enabling it to cling to the cell walls. The elderberry … Continue reading Elderberry Syrup

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Plant Dyes – Demo Piece

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Shelly at Gaia’s Garden gave me a great idea for a demo piece. She described once seeing a sampler, woven out of many colored threads, each with an attached herb packet that was labeled with the scientific name and info about the plant.  I think this is a fabulous idea, particularly as I can add to it as I go along, and since it’d be soft, it’s not as fragile or cumbersome to pack as a board would be, but I could pin it up anywhere.  Thanks for the idea, Shelly! Continue reading Plant Dyes – Demo Piece

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Renn Faire

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Today I’m going to the Gulf Coast Rennaisance Faire, with Edwin and Elspeth.  I’m very excited, as I haven’t been to a Ren Faire since college, and that one was the big one outside Atlanta.  But that was also the first one I went to, earlier, when about 11, and it made a Huge Impression on me. I have some shopping I want to do, and some contacts I’d like to make.  I need a decent leather pouch to carry my money, phone, and camera at Gulf Wars, and I want to make friends with a woodworker, so I can … Continue reading Renn Faire