Author: Greet Gijsberts

Greet Gijsberts is a persona created to play in the Society for Creative Anachronism. She authors this blog in order to document her projects and adventures, and share them with a wider audience.
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O’Toole’s Herb Farm

Greet Gijsberts

O’Toole’s Herb Farm is in Madison, Florida, a stone’s throw from Tallahassee. JUST BECAUSE HERBAL FESTIVAL, February 3, 2007 Our 5th Just Because Herbal Festival will be held on February 3, 2007.  This date, the first Saturday in February, was chosen from an ancient Celtic cross-over date between winter solstice and spring equinox which has been celebrated for thousands of years.  Days start to lengthen, renewal and rebirth are in the air.  A joyous time to be had by all.  This year’s will be filled to the brim with educational and fun mini-workshops.  Concurrent sessions will be going all day … Continue reading O’Toole’s Herb Farm

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New Book on Wildflower Lore

Greet Gijsberts

I stumbled across this book today at the paperback exchange place.  The History and Folklore of North American Wildflowers.  I quote from the Spanish Bayonet entry (family Agave, Yucca filimentosa), because I have one by the front porch steps: In Virgina Thomas Harriot (1590) reported, "Here is a kind of grasse in the countrey uppon the blades whereof there groweth very good silke in forme of a thin glittering sking to bee stript off."  In 1610, Sir Thomas Gates, governor of Virginia, described some Indian "womens girdles of silke of the Grassesilke, not without art, and much neatnesse finely wrought". … Continue reading New Book on Wildflower Lore

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Daan comes to Fighter Practice!

Greet Gijsberts

(Again I forgot my camera!) We drove the Sunbeam to Fighter Practice.  I had become well-nigh annoying on this topic – ‘there’s FP on Sunday, remember?’  ‘You know you can wear anything along with your tunic that you want?’  ‘What will we bring to share at Grub and Garb?’ We got there very early, since the time had changed, and Geoffrey and PEG helped Daan get suited up.  He says it reminded him of gearing up for a jump.  (He used to jump out of perfectly good airplanes for the Air Force and loved it.  However, apparently the gearing up … Continue reading Daan comes to Fighter Practice!

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The Bible in Longhand

Greet Gijsberts

Amazing. "Two years later, the monks agreed to an even larger project, commissioning Mr. Jackson to handwrite and illustrate the whole Old and New Testaments at a cost of $4.5 million (underwritten by profits from the sale of printed versions of the handwritten Bible and by the generosity of donors ranging from a Boy Scout troop to the Target Corporation). The project would require that Mr. Jackson collaborate with a team of several calligraphers, to whom he would teach a script that he had developed just for this purpose. And a commission of monks would have to approve each of … Continue reading The Bible in Longhand

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Fundraising at Barnes and Noble

Greet Gijsberts

I spent several lovely hours pestering shoppers at our local B&N this past Saturday.  Dressed in 1300’s Magyar attire, near as I know it to be. Sorry, I forgot my camera.  (Again!) But I wore my newly finished drab cotton tunic with FIVE spools-worth of red embroidery at neck-hem-cuffs, my adorable plaid braid-covers, my very fashionable crocheted cap – which four people tried to buy off me.  When they start offering money, I’ll be in trouble.  (It’s from Romantic Knits, folks.  Six hours to finish it, stomach flu optional.) I’m very sorry I have no picture. I pestered shoppers with … Continue reading Fundraising at Barnes and Noble

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Much better than Colonial House…

Greet Gijsberts

seems to be this series, Tales from the Green Valley, which is as yet UNAVAILABLE in U.S. formats.  Or maybe it is – I’m not really a media geek – yet.  I want to see this! How do you gauge gas mark 7 when you’re using a 17th century bread oven?                  Why did people 400 years ago save up their urine to help with the laundry?                    Why did farmers in Britain traditionally plough with oxen and not horses? These are just some of the questions five historians … Continue reading Much better than Colonial House…

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Wooden Swords

Greet Gijsberts

I’m probably not going to get a rapier out of this Instructable.  Still very cool. "Why buy your kids a cheap, soon to break toy when you can make them a great hardwood sword that will be durable, fun to play with, and even look good? This should not be considered the only way to make a nice wooden sword, but it definitely makes a nicer one than you can usually find. Most of the work can be done with hand or power tools. The blade itself requires the use of a tablesaw." Don’t these kids look great?  Some of … Continue reading Wooden Swords

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Soper Lane

Greet Gijsberts

Soper Lane is a group of women who have studied the working lives of fifteenth century silkwomen. Courtesy of Elspeth, and much thanks to her for referring this great resource.  Verily neateth, huh?  (I’m practicing speaking forsoothly in preparation for wrapping gifts at our local Barnes and Noble this weekend.  It’s a fundraiser for the Shire.) Soper Lane (the site) features a newsletter, forum, database, links, and lovely pictures like the one below in the gallery. Everthing above is beautiful – credits are due the photographer, Mark Griffin, for seizing the opportunity to imitate portraits of the period. Gorgeous. I … Continue reading Soper Lane

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Sara Margaretha’s trousseau

Greet Gijsberts

Not that medieval Hungarian maidens assembled trousseaus, but here’s a collection of stuff I intend to clothe her with: Shirt-collar decorations and ancient Hungarian women’s clothesLove the long braids and headdress. *11/29/06* – Okay, I’ve made a substitute for the cap, and have wool for braid extensions. Lots of embroidery links, but not many pictures of typical motifs from before 1600 – from descriptions apparently red was the preferred color, representing joy. Mary of Hapsburg’s gown – maybe this is good for a Twelfth Night? but also perhaps too late, at 1520. Continue reading Sara Margaretha’s trousseau