I was talking to a new-ish person today who is concerned about having "good enough" or "accurate enough" garb for Pennsic.

I have this conversation pretty regularly with folks and most who know me know that if you want to talk accuracy, because it is something YOU want to pursue, I will likely hit you with way more information than you ever wanted.
However, I also realize that most newcomers aren't looking for research or actual accuracy right out of the gate. The real concern is often having something that they personally like, that will also allow them to be accepted.

That is a very, very important concept.  Acceptance.  For many folks, the SCA is something totally new.  They see amazing photos on line, or hear friends in the Society talk up the magic they see at events, and they want to participate, but they are intimidated.  Worried they will not do it right, or well enough.  For some people, this worry can be so intense it might even hold them back from jumping in.

Beyond the idea of acceptance, so many people come into this having this vision of The Dress and really, really are hoping it is OK to start their journey in the SCA with The Dress, even though they suspect it might not really be "right".  For many, The Dress (or strapping on armor and swinging a sword) is really one of the things that drew them to the SCA in the first place.  It is a chance to realize some internal mythic ideal, often fueled by Hollywood or Ren Faires.  They come to the game with the idea that AT LAST they can make and wear The Dress.

You will never hear me disparage the wish for The Dress. I had it it (though my personal version of The Dress might differ from yours). There were certain costume elements that I longed for when I started - lace up "brocade" bodices, bellydancer bling, the Ren inspired "Irish dress", poofy pirate shirts, princess dresses with bell sleeves... I could go on and on. 

I made everyone of those things and loved them all. I learned to become a better seamstress while making all of those very acceptable, if not terribly (or at all) period costumes. And I have very fond memories the many adventures I had wearing them. Having those garments, that made me feel good while wearing them, allowed me to play the game while I had time to develop the research and textiles skills to do the things I do now. NOT getting overly hung up on what others thought about my accuracy let me grow at my own pace, and eventually help others to do the same.

So yes, I will gladly help push you in the deep end if you want to take the next step, but I am also not adverse to giving you my personal tips for making The Dress as well. ;-)

(One of The Dresses that I had below.)

Registration link is here:  http://www.pennsicwar.org/penn46/DEPTS/AANDS/DISPLAY/index.html

Recently someone asked me if they should teach a class at Pennsic.  I said to this person (who is highly knowledgeable and skilled), "Yes, you should absolutely teach at Pennsic."


But in case anyone else is wondering the same thing, here are my thoughts:

1. Do you have a class you already teach that you love to share with others? Then yes, teach at Pennsic.
2. Do you have a class in a subject that might only have a handful of people totally geeky over it? Oh yes, teach at Pennsic. Wars are likely the best place to find those others that have a common interest. It is also the best place to try to lure new folks in to your art or research.
3. Do you have things you want to share but are not ready to lead a full class? Perhaps you should consider a roundtable instead for War. Ask others with the shared interest to meet with you and have group discussion on the topic.  Another option is to set up your work at the Pennsic A&S Display or be involved in Artisan's Row where you can engage with others who share your interest.
4. Do you have a class you want to teach, but have never taught before? Well, if you have a solid base in your craft (see link to my article below), and have taken loads of other SCA classes (so that you know what to expect). Then, yup, teach at War!
5. Do you have a firm base but are not terribly familiar with classes in the SCA? For you I suggest trying to get to some local events and check out what classes are like. Talk to the Laurels and teachers around you for personal advice on this topic. Think you are ready? I recommend testing the class out on your friends or local group, get feed back and then, teach at Pennsic (maybe this year, maybe next, but yes, at some point Teach at Pennsic!).

Pennsic is not some sort of exclusive place to teach.  Classes are needed for all levels of participants from beginners at a craft to expert artisans.  We all have things to share and there are 9000 people there, many of whom might be waiting for that very class that you are sitting on, worrying about whether or not you should teach.

If you are new to teaching in the SCA, I have an article that might help you decide if it is time to take the plunge:  http://awanderingelf.weebly.com/blog-my-journey/time-to-teach
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Don't want to teach? Can't do it now? Then GO to classes and learn pretty much anything that could interest you!  The Pennsic University system is one of the very best things about War!

I will be teaching my "Deeper Look at Textiles & Trim of Viking Age Dress" class twice this year at Pennsic.  It will be at 9am on Peace Week Friday and 9am on War Week Tuesday.  Both sessions will be in AS13.  This will be the same class as last year, but will also include a bit more information on head coverings (as well as some new samples).  This class is 2 hours long.

I also am working on finishing some research and prepping a new class on Women's Viking Age Transitional Dress.  This class will cover what happened to the aprondress as the Viking Age progressed to the Middle Ages.  This also will have information on changes in textiles during that time, as well as information on headcoverings. I am guessing this will be a one hour glass with lecture and samples.  I hope to teach that once during Pennsic, and possibly once somewhere prior to that.  

I was very honored this past Pennsic to be invited by THL Reyni-Hrefna, from the Midrealm, to attend her Icelandic feast.  I have long admired her work, and was quite excited to be part of this event. 

Reyni-Hrefna not only experiments with cooking period dishes (no easy thing, given that recipes from this time do not exist), but she also experiments with period preservation methods.  She also frequently cooks in iron kettles and soap stone pots, both of which are period.

For this feast she not only laid out a beautiful spread (with each item served in a period container) but she explained to us the food itself, how it was cooked or preserved, and often why someone would choose to eat these things (because honestly, most were strange to an American palate).

Included in the feast was beef and kale with juniper berries, preserved in whey; goat and sheep hearts; kettle worms (a type of sausage); grasmjolk (icelandic moss cooked in milk); barley flat bread; skyr; a whole cooked head; roasted duck; an ocean stew with fish broth and shellfish; cultured butter; and a kale that is made the way one makes sauerkraut.

I have to say that I loved the preserved beef and kale, despite the fact that it is very bizarre to eat what is essentially a fermented meat product.  The moss was amazing, and I did not even know that item was edible.  The skyr was fantastic, as was the bread and butter.  I am not normally a fan of sausage but this was excellent and had a bit of a forest taste (more juniper?), and likewise, I do not usually care for duck, but this was tastey.  I liked the kale, but the texture was quite rubbery after preservation.  The fish broth and mussels were nice as well, but I did not help myself to either head or heart.

I loved that this was both educational and tasty, but I have to say that the atmosphere provided really allowed for this to be one of those true "medieval moments" that one occasionally gets to experience in the SCA.  Her attention to detail in setting up the table and preparing this meal was superb, and I was greatly honored to be included.

I was honored this year at Pennsic to be elevated to the Order of the Laurel.  I think at some point in the future I need to make a post about what that means to me and how I hope to best emulate the amazing Laurels who have inspired my own journey.  For now though, I have to share the photos taken by my friends and campmates of the beautiful vigil that happened in our camp at War.

My campmates/Thunder family, did an AMAZING job with the vigil. I can absolutely say that I have never seen one so well and so beautifully decked out. All of the work is so much appreciated, including that from Xenophon Vaughn, Meabhdh and Rosamund du Grasse (who baked bread and made cheese) doing food, Isabella, Petra and Amy who doing the plating, Amber for being the person who was always there with a helping hand and Luiseach and Galyana for the awesome decor.

Thanks to Master Morien MacBain, Lord Dietrich Saphir and Lady Karin for managing the list and keeping things running smoothly. And thank you Morien also for the beautiful book for the list and the reminder of Walden Books! Thank you Paulette Lashley for procuring the lovely vigil book. Thank you to Ivan who opted to by my guard almost the entire night.

One of the things that I really wanted to have for my vigil was to have my Laurel cloak woven on site.  Historically, in many places, weaving was a communal activity.  It was also highly symbolic and played heavily into early myth and legend.  This was not going to be an easy thing to pull off, but with the help of many excellent friends, my cloak was woven on site and so very many new people have also been introduced to the art of weaving as they helped to add length to my cloak.  Lady Rosamund du Grasse has also beautifully produced a laurel wreath applique that will be sewn onto the cloak.  I have so much joy that this happened and that so many were willing to step in and make it so!  And to Alexande, from my household, I have to give special thanks because he so loved weaving that he finished the cloak for me after the vigil!

I was also honored to have her Excellency of Highland Foorde, Glynis, play her harp for the vigil, and interestingly enough, she also played for the vigil of Mistress Molly, who was my own Laurel.

Thank you also to those who came out that night to share their wisdom with me, and to their Majesties who trekked clear to e17 to hold Court. I am beyond honored.

(And thank you to Morien for the rather hysterical end to the vigil. lol)

Vigil photos by Heidi Muller Petty, Sharon White Hove, Beth LaScola and Annie Hamel.

Court was quite possibly the hottest, and most humid day, that occurred while I was at War.  Despite that, it was wonderful to see so many receive well earned honors that night, especially to Duke Timothy, who received his Pelican.  Their Majesties looked regal, as did the numerous others who put on a display of pageantry as only AEthelmearc can. We had someone new to Court in our group and it was adorable to see how delighted she was to see others getting awards.

My household clearly loves me so much that many of them actually put on pants twice during one Pennsic on my behalf!  I am hoping that at some point photos of the procession will surface because I would love to capture that moment with my household and my e17 family. 

And was beyond honored that Duke Timothy spoke for me as a member of the Chivalry, Mistress Rhiannon y bwa spoke as a member of the Order of the Laurel, Master Orlando was not present but sent his words as a Master of Defense with another member of his order, the graceful Countess Kalista Morganova speaking as Royal Peer, and dear Master Morien MacBain, I am sorry to say that I think everyone in the Kingdom will want him to speak for them after his eloquent and hysterical performance on my behalf. I am honored to have known you for my entire life, and to have been inspired and encouraged by you and Joe from a very young age (with assistance, of course, from Master Ral Partha, LOL).

And my own Laurel, Mistress Mary Isabel of Heatherstone, I cannot thank this amazing woman enough for being a huge part of my journey.  It meant the world to me.  As if honor enough was not heaped on me this Pennsic, I was weeping when I learned that the medallion that she delivered was from Duchess Elisheva.

Master Fridrikr provided one of those beautifully transporting moments that happen from time to time in the SCA.  Moments where we can believe that for that span of time, we can see into the past.  I do not think that I will ever have enough words to convey proper thanks to you for serving as my herald and for wordsmithing my scroll. For those not there, this was done in Old Norse.  I heard it and was swept away. The time and care that went into this astounds me and I am humbled that this was done would just to do this for me.  I understand that there will be an AEthelmearc Gazette article coming out about the crafting of this piece.  I will definitely be sharing that link when it happens.

In addition to the members of my household, I was also surprised and honored (yes, I keep using that word) to see many friends from out of Kingdom had come to Court for this occasion.  It was an absolutely magical night that I will carry with me forever.

My Pennsic this year was pretty busy and rather hectic with having to run off site a number of times to take care of Nimar.  However, we both still got to be at War and the cat does very well in the RV (and the campground was nice), so I consider it all a massive win.

Below are some of the things that I loved about this particular Pennsic, and another post will follow with photos of my vigil and elevation.

My household and neighbors are awesome, and are part of what make every War so completely fantastic.  Campmates singing late at night, the fantastic folks at Gabe's, who ran out into the flash storm on land grab weekend to save the largest pavilion in camp from collapsing, the fantastic meals prepared in camp, mimosas every morning, it is all part of what makes Pennsic my Home.

One of my highlights was two of the lovely ladies in my camp winning the music competition at Chalkman this year.  :-)

I also love seeing the random acts of Chivalry that occur at Pennsic. This year I was heading to one of my classes with my over laden cart and a man in armor, hot from the field passed me on the road, just as I was starting to pull my cart up the hill. He turned around and came over to offer assistance with the cart (even though I was headed in the opposite direction).

Another man insisted on holding my basket for me as we stood chatting in the market place. And I have campmates who are willing to jump up and lend a hand with pretty much anything at any moment to help out.

I was offered a seat and a tasting cup at the lovely Icelandic dinner I attended. I was honored there also to hear tales of long ago told by none other than Duke Cariadoc. I also saw one person give another a couple dollars in the market when the individual was buying an item and realized they left their credit card in camp and did not quite have enough cash to cover a purchase. I saw folks clearing a path for a woman with a walker. I saw another woman with a walker who did her best to cover it to make it stand out less in a medieval atmosphere. (Oh, and kudos to the runners who went out of their way to run in garb this year, you all looked GREAT!)

I saw kindness and courtesy when my class tent was over full and there were no more chairs and Sadb Ingen Chonchobair gave her chair to another gentle who badly needed a seat and choose to sit on the floor of the class. I had a cramped second class and everyone made sure that there was space for everyone to sit so that they could see.

THIS is what the SCA is about to me and it is an honor to be part of it.

A&S and Classes

With the craziness of having to run off site so much, plus the need to finish cloth that was in camp, on the loom (more about that later), I did not have the time to go to many classes.  I did however take one very interesting one on practical Viking clothing by Vicountess Ísgerðr Gulkárr.  She did a great sort of "how to improve your Viking kit" class last year so I was looking forward to this one and I was not disappointed.

For my part, I taught my new class: A Deeper Look at Deeper Look at Textiles & Trim of Viking Age Dress twice.  This class is not a beginners piece that describes the layers or has basic information about wearing wool and linen rather than cotton (there are SO many wonderful beginning Viking classes that I decided to approach costuming differently).  I am really happy with how this class is developing and look forward to teaching it again.

My own classes were full. By full, I mean FULL. I had 25 hand outs, and nearly double that number for the first class. Thanks to one of the lovely ladies at Stierbach who went right to the University tent and arranged for a larger space. (I think that class had 45 in it, though a few more popped in part way through it.) Despite the wind and the heat, it went well. 

I tried arrange for a larger tent for the War Week class, but there was not one available. Fortunately, people rounded up chairs, took seats on the ground and were generally amiable about mashing into the tent (and out into the walk way). Handouts were shared around and it seamed to go well despite the cramped quarters.  I love research, and love finding ways to share that information with others. Thanks both to those who have helped me with my research and for those who come to classes.

I was asked afterwards by a friend what I was going to tweak before teaching it again (because my classes are living things and change daily based on my own research and perceived needs of the next group to take the class) and the answer is that I will likely do a survey of frequency of stitch types and add that to the discussion.

Of course, it is Pennsic so fantastic A&S geeking is everywhere.  I love all the casual conversations I have with people about their arts!  We also had spinning lessons in camp and loads of new folks got to learn to weave cloth this year!  The A&S display was lovely, but I am very sad that I missed the Champions display (we had to leave that day as our time at the other campground was up).

I did get to stop in at Clanne Preachain's annual Early Period A&S Day in their encampment.  It was AMAZING this year.  Many classes were happening and lots of open demos.  I very much look forward to this next year and recommend that if this is a time period of interest that you check it out as well.

I also got to partake in a period Icelandic feast that was incredible.  It was so good, in fact, that I will be making a post entirely about that event.

Enough for now!  I have a few more Pennsic posts and pics coming this week.

The Pennsic A&S Display is awesome. If you are going to War, you should plan to go (Middle Sunday in the Great Hall starting at 1pm). There will be things that are mind blowing in a massive way. There will be pretty things and tasty things and things with lots of documentation. There really IS something for everyone to see and be inspired by.

There will also be newer artisans displaying. You do NOT have to be a Laurel to display. You do not need to be a master at your craft. You need to have a love of what you do, have a piece you want to share, and hopefully get feedback on, and have the guts to put it out there. That is it.


My first experience with the display was in 2012. I had never, ever displayed before at that point (despite having been in and around the SCA for 20 years). I was not new to sewing, and was not new to documentation or teaching. I had only done one small competition in my Shire. All I had to show that first year was a hand sewn aprondress, which is quite possibly the simplest garment one could make.


Further, that garment (and its documentation) had (still has, lol) some flaws. But I was very proud of my sewing and I opted to put it out there.


The entire experience was fabulous. I made friends with those who had displays near mine. I met SO many people. I had fantastic conversations with several people about not only the dress I was showing, but the one that I was wearing at that time (which was the first Viking garment to which I had added silk trim). I spoke to Laurels from my Kingdom and I can say that those women were so very nice that if I ever even thought of having "Peer fear" that the very notion would have diminished on the spot. Mistress Rhiannon y Bwa even took pictures of my documentation to read later. I was completely flattered that she actually wanted to read it. Mistress Hrefna gave me her email address and I contacted her later and she gave me leads on some additional research (even mailed me a copy of an item I had not been able to source on my own). I somehow even ended up talking excitedly to Mistress Tseevia (I am sure I botched the spelling there) about linen mangling and it was suggested to me that that might make a good article for an AEstel AExtra (and while it never made it there, it did end up happening eventually and did end up an article on my blog and a winning competition entry). That was all at my very first display! I also came home with a handful of little trinkets and beads and favors that people leave as tokens when they like something. I did not even know that was a thing, but even today I look at my little bling box and am touched at all of the favors people gifted me with over the years.


I said there are things wrong with that dress, and I will also say that no one pointed them out as being glaring mistakes. It simply did not matter. People shared my geek and I walked around and shared theirs. I got advice, and compliments, and ideas on new directions.


I have gone to classes and demos run by people I met at displays, simply because I got a taste of their art and wanted more. Most importantly, it started me on building a network of other artisans with whom I can share ideas, share research, or refer others too if they come to me with questions on something out of my field.


I cannot encourage people enough to not only attend the display, but to engage with the artisans. You never know what you will learn or who you can help. Gasp in awe at the master works, but also take time to encourage the novices (as it takes far more courage for them to lay it out there than a more seasoned artisan).


And if you want to display at some point, start putting those ideas together now. If you want help making it happen, I will try to aid you or find someone who can. It really is an encouraging, incredible experience and it was, honestly, game changing for me.


THIS what A&S is the SCA is REALLY about.


Hope to see y'all at the display this year!

Teacher and class registration is OPEN! 

http://www.pennsicwar.org/penn45/DEPTS/PENNU/

For the second time in the history of the event, there was an A&S War Point at Pennsic this year.  The premise is that AEthelmearc/Allies and the East/Middle each would put together a team of artisans who would display their goods in a competition.  Members of the Order of the Laurel and those who have received grant level Kingdom arts awards were encouraged to go to the display and vote for the best entries.  At the end of the day the points for each team would be totaled and a winner declared.

I was beyond honored to be chosen by the Crown of AEthelmearc to be one of its Champions on this "field of battle".  The experience was incredible and I hope that this competition will become a permanent part of future wars. 

Our team had a Facebook group that allowed the artisans to collaborate, assist each other and give feedback in the months that lead up to Pennsic.  Working collectively like this was wonderful and allowed everyone to best present their wares during the competition.  I think that there should be more opportunities for artisans to work collaboratively like this because it really does encourage growth and give you ideas to help strengthen weak spots.

The East/Middle won the war point, but all of the entries were quality.  A few things really blew my mind to see them.  I already look forward to seeing the offerings of next years chosen Champions!