A place to talk about people I’ve met and places I’ve gone
Take classes.Learn dances and do them.Sketch.Do handwork brought along.Shop for sword stuff.Shop for protective gear.Learn about tablet weaving.Learn about feather pens.Learn about tempera painting.Look at other people’s sunshades for use in future sunshade construction. Continue reading Objectives at War
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
"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
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
Elspeth, Edwin, and Greet at Gulf Coast Rennaissance Faire, March 2007 And Banjo, the jester puppet, who says "Tie those tippets in the back next time, lady, and don’t wear a black dress! You look like a nun!" (in a very high voice) Continue reading Gulf Coast Renn Faire Pic
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
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
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
This is a new category – but not the last, by any means! (I have SO many interests…) I am not sure what gave me the idea that fencing was not only cool (self-evident, really!) but something that I should try. I know I was taken along to watch my uncle Tom teach fencing in the Cleveland area when I was a small child. I recently found out my aunt Amanda (other side of family) competed in fencing while in college, and she’s also a ballet-trained dancer, like me. I was Very Impressed by the femme fatale that Madonna played … Continue reading Fencing
I’ve added a new list of links on the left, called "Equippage." Generally, it’s a list of shopping sites I’ve used or plan to use. Much thanks to Ann, and Honnora for the reccs, and if anyone has a particular rec for fencing gloves that are brown and in a women’s size 7, I’d be obliged. Continue reading More links on the sidebar