For the past couple of weeks members of the Shire of Castlemere have been working on painting tapestries based on miniatures of the "Tres Riches Heures de Duc de Berry". These tapestries will be used for decoration at the upcoming Scriptorium Event on November 18th, 2006. [ for more information follow this link : http://tinyurl.com/m64rh ]
The linedrawings were provided by M'lady Martine and Lady Maeva Eiriksdottir.

After beginning to paint the tapestries at the biweekly A&S Night a number of Shiremembers met for a Saturday workshop at the home of M'Lady Martine and Lord Innis on the 12th of August, 2006. There was much merriment, much more food and even more lively chatting all the while paints were being mixed and industrious painters layered colors to create stunning pieces of art.

Thank you to Aimee, Jen, Cara, Kenet, Darlene, Svana, Tamara, Iain, Martine, Milica and her daughter Kate for doing a fantastic job ! The tapestries aren't done yet - there's still work left to do - but they are looking GREAT !

HL Iain took pictures so : Enjoy !


one of three tapestries


Busy Bunch !


Painting the day away

Another year, another Pennsic - Members of the Shire of Castlemere helped again fill the coffers for our Majesties Gregory and Maisie who will be travelling along with our Crown Prince Martin and Crown Princess Islay tp Pennsic to represent our Kingdom of Trimaris.

The royal gift basket coordinator Mistress Hyrrokin and I send out a heartfelt Thank you for the wonderful contributions to the gift baskets that will be given to the other visiting Crowns of the Known World representing the wealth of the Kingdom of Trimaris and the skills of its artisans.

Everybody is invited and encouraged to help fill the gift baskets for our Crown. Your contribution is really appreciated and needed so our Crown can show the largesse that befits their station. If you don't know what you could contribute please see your Minister of Arts & Sciences !

Here are pictures of this year's contributions by the Castlemere Workshop of Scribes [ leatherbound books with calligraphy and illumination and the lyrics to "Vivat the dream" by Mistress Warjna], M'lady Milica od Soli [assorted jewelry and pouches] and M'lord Penda of Fishwick [bone needles, bone beads, viking earspoon, etc.] .

Enjoy !

Who are you in the SCA ?
In the SCA I am Lord Ennea Catha an Duna, well everyone knows me as Innis or "the guy in the kilt". Innis being the first name I took when I joined the SCA. I am an early 8th c Scottish lord currently on the isle of Iona protecting the interests of the church to re-establish churches sacked by Norse Pirates.

Since when have you been in the SCA ?
I have been in the SCA since 1996. I started out somewhat slow, only going to fighter practice and hanging out with the people I knew. Now I know so many people I spend most of my events being a social butterfly and meeting new people all the while.

How did you learn about the SCA ?
Although I knew the SCA existed, I did not know it was local. I first heard about it while serving in the Army in Germany. As a soldier I had very little time to pursue such things, so I missed it then. One day after I started working for AOL during a break I heard a conversation about fighting between 2 guys. Those 2 I now call brother. Well I spent the next few months talking to Tanis and Shea learning all I could. The fighting bug took me and I have had the fever ever since, well ok it has spread some, maybe I should call it a rash....

What are your interests ?
My interests? What can I learn? Other than the fighting, that's a given, my main interests are in leather, metal, woodworking and brewing. The leather and metal working started because I wanted to build my own armor. I have brewed almost exclusively beers, why? Well I like beer and I like to share beer with friends. The woodworking although I have been doing it for a long time as only recently been in the mainstream. I really enjoying seeing pictures of museum furniture or something in a medieval painting, then going to the garage and build what I see. I also like to teach what I have learned so that others can try their hand at something new. I am interested in creating many things that to make my camp and persona fall right into place in the middle ages. The more I do the more I learn and can create a world of my own to share with each of you. I would also like to point out that I enjoy serving my fellow SCAdians, in doing this I can perhaps help everyone enjoy the event they are attending a little more
Tell use a bit about your art [what do you like about it, how did you learn it. who taught you, etc.] ?

I would not normally call my things art because the work I do is for my personal use or the use of someone I present the item to. What I do is think about what I would like to have..i.e. a new helm that would be for my persona. As a fighter this is very important to have nice "bling". To save myself a lot of money, the helm I wanted costs around $500, I contacted Roland the Younger. He agreed to show me what I need to know to build a really nice helmet. I knew the basics, but I was working on "bling". I have always learned best by doing it right after I get the general idea. Those whom are planners cringe when I do this, but I learn best if I am allowed creative license and room to learn ways that do not work well.

I have really enjoyed working with furniture, more so than anything else. I have found it gives me a release from the every day stress of life. It all started because I wanted a place to sit that was period for my persona. Next thing I knew I was starting to carve and liked it very much. I really have to say, their is something about spending a few hours in the garage with tools, the smell of saw dust in the air, the creation of something out of what used to be a tree..(insert primal noises) Sorry I get carried away when I get a chance to work with tools, if you want to know more about tools let me know. Perhaps we can build something together.

At last week's A&S Night Lady Tamara of Castlemere taught a small class on how to make beaded fibulas. Beads and wire were generously provided by her and many other Shiremembers.
In just a few hours with snacks and drinks and lots of chatting we managed to make 37 beaded wire fibulas for the royal giftbasket.

Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy !


Hard at work :o)


beaded fibulas

Who are you in the SCA ?
Persona ?? How about late 11 century ? A neighbor wanted my father's land and raided the castle. My nursemaid and family retainers managed to spirit me away and since it was before my christening I was given the name Darlene in remembrance of my parents - Dar for my father Darnel and Lene for my mother Elena. While living in the village I learned to decorate eggs. In traveling to my father's overlord to try to justice for my family I met a woman who taught me to dance...
Since when have you been in the SCA ?
I belive it was in 95 just before TMT. Lord Blunt was the Seneschal. TMT was my first event and the first time in my life I went camping at the young age of 45.
How did you learn about the SCA ?
Sharon, my daughter, aka Vigetta the Red aka: Buttons Ann A'Beau
wanted to go to the Ren Faire. We heard about the SCA and meant to look into it when they were meeting at JU but time went by
and I didn't have any round tuit's. Then one day while shopping in Wal-mart Sharon and I meet Monica known in the SCA as Beldthora ... and the rest is history.
What are your interests ?
Well, I started with Belly dancing (my first interest, Xena is a great teacher and friend), then HL Cara started me on Pysanki, now Lady Mæva is getting me into illumination and Lady Lala is trying to teach me Flamenco. There just isn't enough time to do everything I would like to. I try to be open for new things and am willing to try almost anything at least once .
Tell use a bit about your art [what do you like about it, how did you learn it. who taught you, etc.] ?
It's more like play than art for me. I learned by asking. I would recommend looking around and when you see something that tickles your fancy asking the person about what they are doing, or do. Go to all the classes offered (you never know until you try) and above all have fun. If you don't enjoy it don't do it.

Darlene's Pysanki Art


Darlene's illumination

Here is your chance ! Every other month I would like to present one Shire artisan to the populace. For that I need a picture of the artisan in garb and up to 2 pictures of projects along with answers to the following questions :

Who are you in the SCA [name, maybe a bit about persona] ?
Since when have you been in the SCA ?
How did you learn about the SCA ?
What are your interests [crafts, research, combat, etc.]
Tell me a bit about your art [what do you like about it, how did you learn it. who taught you, etc.]
Are there any books, webpages you can recommend / cannot be without ?

Thank you so much !

Maeva Eiriksdottir,
MoAS

Greetings my fellow Castlemerians !

This is going to be one of the places where I would like to showcase the amazing talents and skills and creativity of the members of the Shire of Castlemere. Every other month I hope to introduce a Shiremember and a craft to the populace along with pictures.

Stay tuned !