Yet to be Sent AoA

It's a bit late, but over the summer I was giving the assignment for an AoA; this was actually the first scroll I'd do for someone that I had met in person previously. And it would be handed out at GNEW (Great North Eastern War), but unfortunately he hadn't made it into court for the scroll to go out.

Brennan & Caoilfhionn's Ducal Challenges: Entry

So, last year I heard about Brennan and Caoilfhionn's Ducal Challenge, Teo made a cloak for it and was all excited about it when he told me. Describing it, I was super bummed that I had missed it, but determined that I'd go this year. And I did. 

What I particularly loved when I heard about it was the combination of martial arts and A&S. I loved that the entry fee was something of your creation (or something you commissioned from someone to make for you to use as an entry) and at the end, everyone would walk away with some amazing piece of art from a varying range of specialties. When I went this year, the prizes ranged between cheese to furniture. 

So, for my entry this year, I did what I love doing. I sat down with ink, paper and inspiration. 

AoA - Katerina Falconer de Lanark

On the heels of the MoD for Remy, comes the AoA for his wife. Katerina Falconer de Lanark. An inspiring warrior woman who I was honored to do this for. Again it was another scroll that I was actually requested for. Remy approached me at the end of Northern Region and actually requested a specific piece that I was in the process of working on.

He had seen it previously and knew it would be perfect for her.

Now, I'm no wordsmith, so I told him he had to get me the words, but other then that, I did the Illumination and Calligraphy. And she received the award at Pennsic 46.

Master of Defense Scroll for Remy Delamontagne de Gascogne

So, I've only been doing scrolls about a year and a half officially. In that time I've done a number of AoAs and a few blanks. Nothing so 'high' in caliber as a Peerage scroll. That being said, you can probably understand my shock, surprise and panic attack at being given a Peerage assignment. But, for me, it wasn't JUST a peerage assignment. It was also for a friend; someone I admire and even look to for help in matters of the martial arts. Furthermore, I wasn't just GIVEN the assignment, I had been requested for it.

Let's just ratchet that panic dial up to 11, why don't we. Because now it had to be even more than perfect.

But there was also the excitement that the first Peerage scroll I did would be for a friend. And I knew what it was I wanted to do. I remembered Remy mentioning like a year ago that he really liked the pen/ink style that I had started doing and just knew that that was the direction to start in.

It was just a matter of some research!

SRWC - Teo's Silver Rapier, Charitye's Maunche and Antonio's Silver Brooch Borders

This past weekend, the weekend of June 10th 2017, was the Southern Region War Camp. This was actually one of the events that I've been anxiously awaiting this summer. Primarily because I would finally be seeing one of my scrolls going out in court. You know, after over a year of doing scroll work I'd finally be able to see one! Three, technically; that is if we're counting scrolls that I worked with my lovely Laurel, Elizabeth, and my Apprentice Sisters. What made it even better was that the first scroll I knew I'd be seeing going out was Teo's Silver Rapier.

Calligraphy: Tola knitýr. Words: Master Frasier MacLeod and Alys Mackyntoich. Illumination by: Mýrún Leifsdóttir (Me!)

Architecture

The key to any art, skill, trade, etc is practice. Practice, practice, and more practice. So, that's what we do. This particular practice piece was focused on architecture. Inspiration drawn from THIS particular piece, in fact:

King's and Queen's Arts and Science Championship

Earlier this month, on February 11th, was the East Kingdom King's and Queen's Bardic and Arts and Sciences Championship. If that isn't a mouthful, I don't know what is. And, as so, my lovely Laurel, Elizabeth, tasked myself and my apprentice sisters with entering the A&S part of the competition. While she tried her hand, or rather her vocals?, at the Bardic part of the competition.

Suffice to say, I was a nervous wreck right from the start. Up to this point I had never even so much as BEEN to an A&S competition, never mind competing in one. And here I was being tossed into the deep end. But, my Laurel and my apprentice sisters had faith in me, so I knew I'd at least remain afloat. I just had to work through the nerves and focus.