Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Blanks for ID

There was a call out for blanks from the Signet of Insulae Draconis in Drachenwald. 
 I sent her 4 blanks.  

 A stained glass pattern from one of my medieval stained glass books.  The rest of the history is unclear.  I was researching patterns to try if I ever decided i did want to try stained glass. 

This is a late period Italian Initial set from a musical piece I was sent by a friend of mine. 
 Celtic knotwork beastie. 
Yes it really is that small.  :D  I've been experimenting with tiny. I didn't like the naked saint tied to the column so I changed it to two teeeeeny heraldic shields.  I need more practice with this, because its fun.
 Book of Hours of BĂ©nigne Serre.   Cod. 103 fol 21r  Dijon, 1524


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Marie la Fauconniere Pelican

Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the wonderful world of peerage scrolls. 




So...Marie got put on vigil the day that Maire got made a Pelican, so we all understand the slight confusion that these two wonderful ladies might have inspired on that day.  I might not fit in my hats if too many more awesome people ask me to do their peerage scrolls.  Anywho-  The scroll.  She said to 'have fun with it'  and fun was definitely had.  I've always wanted to paint something from this book of hours, but I hadn't had enough lead time to do so for someone with a French Persona. Heh. Heh. Heh.

The Source:    Grandes Heures d'Anne de Bretagne was commissioned likely between 1503-1508.  It is held in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France as Ms lat. 9474.  The two angels with the nesting chalice seemed like the most appropriate full page illumination for Marie, given her persona's personal history.  I am sure that both angels were present at her elevation, and just as joyously happy as everyone present. 





The Scottish thistle, those that know her know why I chose this image.

THE SKETCHING



 THE PAINTING







 THE ANGELS:





THE WHOLE THING:
THE DETAILS:




 Buggeh!

The Thistle!


 Butterfly.  Not sure why its turned the wrong way. 

 Initial "I"

Chalice with the Palace, the bears, and the baby pelicans.  

I didn't keep track very well of how long this took me.  It was roughly 3 weeks of every evening work.  I would get distracted and flutter off and then come back to it.  The lettering I pulled the letter shapes from the various pages of text i had, choosing the letter I liked best for each one. 

Materials:  Pergamenata, Gouache, Drawing Ink and my trusty Desk lamp. 


Wording by Master Cerian Cantwr

In the SCA we do many different things.  Some of us fight glorious battles, others craft wondrous works of art, and finally some organize and administrate.  Those in the last set are not the deeds of which the bards do sing.  Which is a pity.  For without someone to set things up, make schedules,and take on paperwork; all the other cool things we do in the Society, don't happen.  Though these tasks are vital, they are also all to often thankless.

But not today. Marie la Fauconniere is a lady who makes things happen.  She has managed more events and held more offices than one can shake a reasonably sized stick at.  If you need a demo done, an event planned,or cats herded - talk to Marie. She can, with a seeming wave of her hand, cause these things to take place -and she makes it all look easy.  This is indeed a rare and precious gift, and one to be treasured. With that in mind do We, Cameron and Amalie, King and Queen of the Middle Kingdom, make Marie a Pelican this day.  Done this 13th day of September while sitting on our thrones in our Shire of Ravenslake.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Maire's Pelican Scroll

So, this is another one of those scrolls that rests close to my heart.  When I saw her get put on vigil, I was just another of the crowd of people crying tears of joy for Maire.  I had to find an exemplaar worthy of her.  I looked and looked for later period Irish Manuscripts but they were all so boring that I didn't think them worthy of being a Pelican scroll.  So at that point I expanded my search terms to late period Irish Artifacts.

I found: The Shrine of Miosach

This ornate book shrine comes from Clonmany, Inishowen, Co. Donegal, where the O’Morrison family were its traditional keepers. Associated with Saint Cairneach, the oldest parts of the shrine appear to date from the 11th century AD.

The core of the artifact consists of a single piece of yew wood that was hollowed out to receive a relic, most likely a religious text. The wood was then adorned with a series of decorative panels. On the sides these consist of bronze plates of late 11th century date, that have been inlaid with silver and enamel.  The back of the shrine is embellished with another bronze panel that contains a striking pattern of crosses, highlighted with red enamel. The elaborate front was added by Brian O’ Morrison in 1534. It is decorated with silver foil and large rock crystal jewels. The crucified Christ is centrally placed, as are four panels containing images of the crowned Virgin and Child. A further four panels also adorn the front of the shrine and these depict three figures, who probably represent Saints Bridget, Patrick and Colm Cille. (Irish Archaeology.ie)

It was PERFECT.  And thus the scroll began.

Materials:
Mechanical Pencil
Pergamenata 230 gsm
Schminke brand Gouache
W&N drawing ink
1mm coppercoated nib

Times are on my whiteboard at home, and I am not currently at home.  Will fill in later. 
Facebook Stalking for Pictures:
Layout:
Painting: 
Calligraphy:
Total Hours:

I lost the penciled full pieces when my camera gestured rudely at me.  Sorry if anyone wanted to see my layout before I began the painting process.  I started at the bottom and sides, simply for ease since it was painter's taped to my glass topped desk to reduce rippling. 





 At this point, I knew I had to throw in some color, because if it were monochrome gold for the entire thing with only rock crystals, I would go mad.  So, the jewels got colors, and fancier shading.




Final Product:


Upper Left Box:    Alexander, Cerian, Shield of Illiton, John, Platapus.

 Lower Left Box:  Dahrien, Marie, Davydd and Saraswati's Lotus, Lorelei, Lucia


Lower Right Box:  Viv (her SCA name escapes me at the moment), Simon, Rapier Rat, Evil Dietrich, Zanie


Upper Right Box: Duncan (who's SCA name I don't even know) , Ix and Nihthawk buckler, Seto, Mikalynn (who's SCA name I don't even know)

Middle Panel:  HRM Cameron, Jesus, HRM Amalie, Pelican in her Piety, and Bob.

The Text was written by Master Cerian Cantwr and it reads as follows:


Oh, the things I could tell you, you would not believe
Of the lady, bold Maire ingen Dauith.
For her stories are many - one scroll is not ample.
So I'll say this instead - by way of example:

Listen good rapier rats from near and from far
To the tale of Maire, from the Land of the Star.
How north, to the cold Tre-Girt-Sea shores she came,
Where Dragons didn't play any rapier games.

This fact made her sad, this fact made her glum
"This kingdom we've come to, it just is no fun!
They don't dance the duello or prance with cold steel
We must help them to know of the joy that we feel."

"We'll teach them of parries, of thrusts, and of blocks -
Release rats to carry the rapier pox.
We'll teach them of tourneys and melees so grand,
'Advance, slay them all!'  - that's my favorite plan."

 From a lone pair of rats in a darkened ship's hold
She's helped change our game in ways manifold.
By being the Swashbuckling Plague's diplomats
She became the Godmother of all rapier rats.

Yes, there've been a few changed she first arrived,
Good things tend to happen where The Maire has strived.
She supports, she inspires, makes sure things get done -
Sees to it that all those around her have fun.

Today is for all those who quietly serve
Their toils so tricky to note and observe.
Though subtle, they're vital to this game we all play
That's why We make Maire a Pelican this day.

For she wears many hats, but these most of all:
Wife, mother, and friend - she inspires us all.
The Mid-Realm can't function without such as she
So say We, King Cameron and Queen Amalie.

Done this 23rd day of August, AS 49
while sitting on our thrones in our Shire of Swordcliff.


Monday, August 11, 2014

Pennsic Scrollage- Bronze Ring

The second scroll is special to me, primarily due to the recipient.  It was one of those where I was asked if I'd like it, Squeed, Said Yes,  Squee'd again and then promptly looked for how to re-arrange my life so that I could get it done.  I had a little over 2 weeks of lead time for this, so not a lot of time to research and play around.

So this scroll is based upon images from the Codex Borbonicus.  I don't know what the meanings of the pictograms are that I used, but they look pretty together so I am hoping that they don't tell a tale of murder and mayhem.  

To all and singular unto whom these presents shall come, know that this writing comes by way of scribe direct from the soverigns of the Middle Lands.  We Cameron and Amelie, do here with recognize Ixtilixochitl de los Indios as a Companion of our Order of the Bronze Ring.  Know that he has proven right worthy in honor and service, cunning and swift of the swrod and gentle enough to offer goodly instruction in this noble art.  We grant him the right to bear the badge of the Order: Gules two rapiers in saltire argent within an annulet or.  Upon which we set our hand: 8 August AS 49.  






Pennsic Scrollage- AoA

So I did 2 scrolls that went to Pennsic this year instead of me.  I am sad, but next year...Next year I will take my scrolls my own self. 

 

The first scroll: an Award of Arms for Hildigunnr.  She's a new player in our local area and she's very enthusiastic about the Society as a whole.  It was my pleasure to do this tiny little AoA for her.  I don't have a source for it at this moment, because I don't recall/didn't record what book in my library it came from.  I'll come across it eventually. 

-Gouache and Drawing ink on Bristol.




Monday, April 21, 2014

Roberts Knighting.

I was asked, by the Knight of a dear friend if I would be willing and able to make for his Squire Robert Downey of Forfar a scroll befitting his elevation to the Knighthood.  This is the highest honor that you can grant me as a scribe, being chosen above all other scribes in the kingdom and even knowne worlde.  'Tis a heady feeling.  Making this scroll from start to finish was an act of purest joy.  For I can think of no-one more worthy of belt and chain than Robert, and he is truly an inspiration for all.

The research process was interesting for me because at first I tried to research something that would be period appropriate for Robert.  Finding a Scottish text that would do justice to the grandeur that this needed to have was impossible, so I fell once more to my books.  It was difficult for I found myself trying to capture everything that I know Robert IS in a scroll, and earthly pieces are lacking so much in character.  I narrowed it down to two, The Hours of Henry VII and the Neopolitan Luxury Bible (1390).  At this point I corresponded with Robert's Knight, Sir Bardolph, who made the choice of the Italian Bible, over the English Book of Hours.  Then the fun began.   

Research: 4 hours
Scroll Mapping: 1.5 hours
Facebook stalking for pictures: 2 hours
Sketching: 6 hours
Calligraphy: 14 hours
Guilding: 5 hours
Painting: 20 hours
Whitework: 12 hours

TOTAL: 64.5 hours
MATERIALS:  Gouache, Composite Gold Leaf, India Ink.
I worked in stages around the edges, turning my table as I went along to make it easier to paint and work without having my arm across work I'd already done.  

At about 42 hours into this scroll, I was involved in a fairly serious car accident. I was not injured, with the exception of some soft tissue damage to my lower back.  It left me unable to seat myself so the entirety of the finishing work of this scroll was done with me the scribe upon my knees in front of my table (which was incidentally at a perfect height to do this).  Wether this is dedication to the craft or sheerest folly I have not yet made up my mind. 

Wording edited to SCA proper and legal by Master Cerian Cantwr but based upon the Grant of arms of John Alfrey, 1459/60

To all those who shall see or hear these present letters do we Cellach
otherwise called Dragon King of the Mid-Realm and Vukasin, Our Queen,
give greetings and all humble recommendation. Equity requires and reason
ordains that men virtuous and of noble courage be rewarded for their
merits by renown that they may be in all places of great honor
perpetually shining before others by certain signs and shows of honor
and gentility. That is to say of white belt and golden chain in order
that by their example others may the more endeavor to spend their days in feats of arm and other virtuous works to attain renown of ancient gentility. And therefore do We, who not only by common renown but also by the report and testimony of other nobles worthy of credence, are informed that truly Robert Downey of Forfar has deserved and is well worthy that henceforth may be known as a member of Our Order of the Chivalry.  And for the remembrance of this gentility assigned to the said Robert is the blazon ermine, a tower and on a chief embattled vert two fiddles fesswise necks to center argent to have and to hold for him for evermore. In witness whereof We have signed with Our hand and sealed these present letters. Made and given the nineteenth day of April in the year of
the society forty-eight while sitting on our thrones in our Marche of
the Unicorn.

EXEMPLAAR:




FINAL PRODUCT:



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