It was brought to everyone's attention yesterday that there is a page missing from the Pennsic site book for this year.  Certain events are STILL happening, and the list of those can be seen below.  These include the A&S Display and also the annual and amazing Clan Blue Feather Ball and Fashion Cotillion.

Fortunately, the A&S Display still has a full page dedicated to the event, it just will not be in the printed schedule (it is, however, still listed in The Thing).  

​Another item that sadly got missed is the Clan Blue Feather Ball & Fashion Cotillion.  The Facebook event page for it can be found here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1352843131538865/www.facebook.com/events/1352843131538865/

From the event description: The annual Clan Blue Feather Ball & Fashion Cotillion will be held at Pennsic XLVIII on Tuesday night, August 6, at 9:00 p.m. in the Great Hall (immediately after Aethelmearc court). As always, the theme is, "You don't have to wear your best garb, but wear the garb that makes you look your best!" Music, dancing, revelry, prizes, food and drink for everyone to enjoy at this open and family-friendly event!

Do you want an excuse to dress your best or simply to enjoy an incredible evening?  I highly recommend checking out this event if you have a chance.

Below is the list thus far (I will continue to up date it here as well).  Each item is clickable for the full post!

As part of my Pennsic Improvements posts (found here - https://www.facebook.com/awanderingelf/ ) I talked today about coolers and how to keep them colder (and how to know when it is time to swap them out for a new one).  I figured that post was worth a re-share here as well.

​Yesterday I brought up one of my new favorite boozy beverages, and today I am going to talk about my test over time to keep the ice cold for my Pennsic cocktails.  I will note that you can actually do Pennsic without a cooler at all (assuming you do not have medications you need to keep at a certain temperature), and some people do indeed do this.  Duke Cariadoc has an article about doing Pennsic without a cooler here that some folks might be interested in: http://daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Articles/Camping%20without%20a%20cooler.html
 
Personally, the only food I take to War is a few snacks for land grab.  After that, my cooler is for ice only, and maybe a re-used water bottle full of leftover coffee or tea for a cold beverage at a later point.  Mostly I am just keeping ice for drinks, and possibly a small container of fresh fruit purchased at the Coopers store.  My camp has a meal plan, and I love to eat in the market, and I certainly am not going to Pennsic to cook so one of the ways I have pared down the things I take with me is to cut out the food items (that often were going to waste).
 
I am, however, very picky about coolers, and doubly so if food is going to be stored in them.  Coolers are not immortal.  They have a lifespan, and often the cheapest coolers have a very short one.  The easiest way to tell if your cooler is on the outs is to open the lid.  If it lifts with no resistance at all, it is no longer air-tight and, therefore, it is no longer doing it’s job.  You will go through much more ice at this point and it is time to consider purchasing a new one.  (Do not worry though, that old cooler can be used to store your dry goods now, because old coolers are a fantastic way to keep bugs out of your food and rain off of it!)
 
For the past decade, I have used Coleman Xtreme coolers and really do like them.  They last longer than some others I have had and tend to keep things cold for a decent amount of time.  I have, however, been researching newer high-end coolers for almost two years now, because I am due for a new cooler and because I also want a smaller one as I really just need it for ice.  After reading many reviews, I decided that I wanted to try a Grizzly cooler, with which my wonderful mother recently surprised me.  I honestly cannot wait to test it out this year (and will definitely post my thoughts after the fact)!
 
Even if you are not ready for an upgrade just yet, I do have some tips for helping to make the best use of your current cooler.

Each year I repost two of my older articles that have tips for surviving Pennsic and also for enjoying it.  Last year I included a compilation of my summer wardrobe tips as well.  All three of these will be linked below.

New for this year is a running list on my Facebook Page, with (almost) daily tips based on things I have learned over the years that make my best two weeks of the year even better.  I would love for anyone interested to come join the conversation!

https://www.facebook.com/awanderingelf/
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My Pennsic Prep List:  http://awanderingelf.weebly.com/blog-my-journey/pennsic-prep-and-my-list-for-newcomers

Tips for Enjoying your First (or Tenth) Pennsic:  http://awanderingelf.weebly.com/blog-my-journey/tips-for-enjoying-your-first-or-tenth-pennsic

Summer Wardrobe: http://awanderingelf.weebly.com/blog-my-journey/summer-wardrobe

#PennsicImprovements

Below is a missive from the coordinator for the Pennsic Fiber Arts Pavilion:

One of the joys for many people, as they anticipate Pennsic and their annual pilgrimage, is the knowledge that they can locate any activity there, from fighting to dancing to classes on every topic imaginable. As fiber artisans, we noticed that the fiber arts lacked a home at Pennsic. Fiber classes are scattered all over the schedule, often fill quickly to overflowing, and students leave with no place to come back together and work with each other to practice their new skills. We were missing a single place where fiber people could find each other and work together on a variety of possible fiber crafts.

To fill this need, we have created a Pavilion devoted to the Fiber Arts, and available for the duration of Pennsic. Their Majesties of Atlantia have graciously created an Artisans Easement within Their Royal Encampment, where artisans are able to erect pavilions for specific Arts, and practice their crafts together every day. We have taken advantage of this location, and made it our home.

Join us in Atlantian Royal Encampment in Block N40, two blocks down from the North Gate along the Long Way toward the Parking hill. Come meet other fiber artisans, take a class, teach a class, or just bring your fiber toys over and relax with like-minded folk for a morning or afternoon. We also have fiber toys available in the pavilion, if you'd like to get acquainted with new equipment before you invest. This pavilion can be whatever you want to make it.

If you want to join the discussion before Pennsic, go to Facebook and search for the "Pennsic Fiber Arts Pavilion" group. Ask to join, and you can see what we are doing this year. We look forward to meeting you at the Pennsic Fiber Arts Pavilion. Come join us there!
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There are several articles on my blog that get heavy traffic, including those where I discuss hot-weather garb options for Pennsic ( http://awanderingelf.weebly.com/blog-my-journey/summer-wardrobe ).  I want today to share a friend's blog posts about Archaic Greek Chitons so that folks have even more low-bulk, summer-weight clothing options (and since it is only September, you have plenty of time to get things made before next year). Baroness Anna Dokeianina Syrakousian's work is always lovely and this chiton is no exception (and she is professionally a researcher/historian, so I highly recommend checking out the rest of her blog as well, especially if you have any interest in Byzantine clothing).

annasrome.com/2018/08/30/the-archaic-chiton-requires-an-archaic-himation/

https://annasrome.com/2018/08/30/the-archaic-chiton-requires-an-archaic-himation/

Who is ready to start Pennsic prep???

I am really pressed for time at the moment, but wanted to get some photos up of the big display this year.  There were SO many impressive entries.  I plan to talk about a few of them in more depth later, but for now, here are the pics.

This is a notice that the time and date for this tournament are listed WRONG in the Pennsic book.  Full, correct, information is below:

Topic: Martial: Heavy Weapons,
Culture: European
Mon Aug 6, 5PM-7PM at the Castle

This tourney is part of an ongoing celebration of the 800th anniversary of The Marshall’s death in 2019. Fought in the style of the 12th-century ransom tourneys of France, teams of fighters in armor, appropriate from 1000-1250 AD, will fight to gain ransom and glory. Detailed rules will be posted at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1928749080691736/

All SCA authorization, armor and weapons standards apply to the tournament. All combatants must conform to the weapon and armor standards of the tournament. The tournament will consist of three rounds of melée, 15 minutes each, with a 5 minute break between to hydrate or settle ransoms. Dress: 1) No visible plastic, including and not limited to baskets hilts. 2) No visible sneakers or modern footwear (i.e., Crocs). 3) Armor should be from 1000-1250. Surcoats highly recommended. 4) Middle Eastern and European armor only. No Japanese, Chinese, etc. Weapon restrictions: 1) No flamboyant duct tape (i.e., Hello Kitty duct tape). 2) Pole arms must be six feet or under, and must have a head or a proper profile (subject to approval), i.e., no unpadded pole arms. 3) Shields must be painted, heraldry recommended. (Don't take this as a personal challenge; this is also subject to approval.) 4) Spears, daggers, axes, maces and greatswords are welcome. No madus permitted.

Combat and Ransom: All normal SCA combat rules apply. Example: telling blow to limbs loss of the limb. TEAMS: To be chosen at the beginning of the tournament. We will attempt to make the sides even and fair, as well as attempt to keep whole units together. Changing of sides is permitted. RANSOMING: Once killed, combatant takes a knee, and counts to 30, (This does not have to be out loud.) , and: 1) is escorted by opposing team to the Resurrection point for ransom. Or: 2) Time runs out and they return to their own resurrection point to resurrect. 3) Closed face helmet ignore face thrusts.

How the Ransom works: There will be two people on either side to record the Ransoms. Suggested ransom is an item between $5 - $20 in value and should be fitting of one's station. The terms must be agreed upon by both parties.

Eleanor of Aquitaine Clause: A member of the gallery can provide Ransom and is encouraged to do so, especially if they deem the combatant worthy

This post is in reaction to a blog post a friend made about a very bad experience she had at the Pennsic A&S Display a few years ago.  You can read that post here:  https://annasrome.com/2018/07/05/remember-the-human-dont-be-that-guy-at-as-classes-and-displays/

She made great points about the people displaying, but I want to add onto that.  When you attend an artisans display at Pennsic (or anywhere else) you should keep in mind that those presenting are likely to be a variety of levels in terms of skill.  Some might be new to the SCA and are jumping into the deep end and displaying during their very first year.  Some might be veterans who are exploring a new art.  And, most importantly, some might actually be displaying something entirely other than what you think you see.

Usually the first two categories will become apparent once you engage with the artisan and you can handle advice accordingly.  That last category though, can be tricky, but you should always ask yourself - and the artisan, if necessary - what it is they are showing.  I can use myself as an example, I study Viking Age Norse textiles.  I have a nice display of wool, textile tools, a small scale loom and books that house my research.  What I was NOT actually displaying was my woodworking skills on the loom that I made for the display.  What I was NOT displaying was woodwork or pottery for my spindles (which I did not make at all).  I was also not displaying weaving or spinning (though I had woven samples and spun wool there as well).  What I was sharing was my knowledge of Norse textiles, how they were made, and also the context in which they existed in period.  I know that people do not take time to read piles of papers at events, so I illustrated every item with something tangible on the table.  (Realistically, you could say Research, and Illustrated Research, as well as Experimental Archaeology, are my actual A&S "things" in the SCA, not weaving or costuming or any of the other things I do.  My geek is in the research and experimenting with what I learn.)

I also have a couple of friends who make and display textiles tools.  These people are, in fact, geeked up over making period tools, though they may or may not actually be interested in spinning and weaving full lengths of cloth for garments.  This is actually a very period practice (especially as you get into later history where there was a greater division of labor and people were more apt to specialize, meaning that a Renaissance era woman would labor to spin fibre, but would be procuring her spinning wheel from an adept craftsman who specialized in that trade).  If someone builds a loom and displays it, it is fine to ask if they have woven the cloth for a garment on it, but it is also fine if they say they tested it to see if it works, but they have little interest in weaving 5 yards of cloth.

If you are attending a display, please keep in mind that what you see in front of you might not be what it seems on the surface.  Remember that just because you prefer to do things from sheep-to-shawl (including making all of your own tools), please remember that not everyone has an interest in doing every tangental aspect of their craft themselves (and it might not be period for them to do so).  This is NOT a competition where you get more points for each item one fashions by hand.  You will learn more about someone and their art if you are willing to walk away from assumptions that you might initially make when you learn that those assumptions were off base.

And please, please, remember that many people love the research aspect more than any other and their displayed craft might just be to test theories, it might just be to help illustrate the folder of papers sitting in front of them.  If you are interested enough in their work to stop and talk to them, you should be interested enough to accept that they might be more interested in sharing their research with you rather than the fine details of a machine sewn costume that is only there to help people visualize a paper they composed.

And for the artisans, I recommend that if you make modern substitutions (let us say buttons for your costume), but you have no interest in metal casting to make your own, that you still learn (and include in your documentation if it is a competition) the historic source of the buttons.  Would they have been locally crafted or imported?  Was there a guild for this?  Were they expensive?  (This type of knowledge can also help you better place your garment into historic context.)  

I look forward to seeing this year's display.  It is an amazing day of geeking out with others and learning from them!

This is absolutely one of my favorite parts of Pennsic.  This event is a fantastic chance to take a step into the past and explore various arts as they were done then.  Some of my favorites from past years were lampworking beads over coals, early period embroidery, spinning, bronze casting and, my favorite, was last year where I got to make a coin!   Some classes will be organized with specific times, but even if you miss that thing you really wanted to take, here tends to be artisans down there all day doing demos.  

This is absolutely worth putting at the top of your Pennsic To-Do List!
Preachain's 26th Annual Early Period Arts and Sciences Day

• Wednesday, August 8 at 1 PM - 4 PM
• Clanne Preachain's camp, E-23, across from the Raven's Spittle in the Bog