Persona explanation

I have been asked, Why 1360?

Because of Charles the fourth, Holy Roman Emporer.

He remains to this day a Pater Patriea to the Czech Republic and I wanted Eleonora to be a Lady during his reign of intellectual, creative and economic prosperity.

My time is also right before the birth of Jan Hus, the first Czech Protestant, who later had a direct influence on Martin Luther, which means I'm right in the middle of religious reformation.

In 1360, I have missed the Black Plague that swept through Venice (my mother's hometown) twelve years earlier.


Eleonora is the a daughter of a wealthy merchant, who plied his wares from Constantinople to Paris.  This backstory allows me to wear pretty much anything I want in European fashion in the mid 14th century.

I was really stuck on the name Eleonora, and started out as Eleonora z Praha (Eleanor of Prague) but the Herald (God bless her!) advised me that Eleonora is an Italian name.  I couldn't find an Eleonora in the Bohemian countries until well after her time, so I was forced to go Italian.  And since I had an Italian first name, I had to have an Italian lastname.  So I chose Pragensis, which is Latin for "from Prague".  Now that I'm an SCA Lady (big L), technically, to be in line with my Italian name, I SHOULD be "Signora Eleonora Pragensis" but I'm INSISTING on Dáma ("DAH-ma"), which is the Bohemian (Czech) version of Lady. 

The end result is that I had to explain why I had an Italian name if my father was a Czech merchant based in Prague.

Simple: my mother.

My mother was the daugher of a Senator on the Great Council in Veniti (Venice).  Wiki says:

With the elimination of pirates along the Dalmatian Coast, the city became a flourishing trade center between Western Europe and the rest of the world (especially the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic World).

The route my father took on his travels from Constantinople to Paris and back.

Wiki: 

In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Venice was a major centre for commerce and trade, as it controlled a vast sea-empire, and became an extremely wealthy European city, a leader in political and economic affairs and a centre for trade and commerce.

Meanwhile, over in England in 1360, Edward III was signing the Treaty of Calais.

Household

I just wanted to mention (since this IS my SCA blog and I've been horribly, horribly bad with keeping up with it, something I'm intending to remedy) that I am officially part of the House of Sullivan (vivat!) and said House's design is provided below and has been sent to Kingdom for approval.

Love you guys!

Vnuška's blanket

I have a grandchild.  First of the bunch.  Her name is Harmony, and she has so many grandparents I wanted to come up with a name for myself that she could use and there be no confusion.  So I chose the name Babiška.  (Pronounce that "bob-EESH-kah".)  It's Czech for grandmother.  So I have taken to calling her, in turn, vnuška. (It's pronounced "vuh-NEWSH-kah".)  Czech for granddaughter.

I started it when they were here on Labor Day weekend (when we had no Air Conditioning).
Finished it last night.  That's exactly one month.  Now I just have to finish Jared's blanket, Bryan's blanket, and redesign the two "jackets" I was making, since I can't figure out how to make the pattern work.    I tried making TWO of them, because I thought I might have messed up the pattern, but it was wrong on both of them, so it's not me.  So no jackets for joo!  I'll make something else out of them.  What, I don't know.  I have plenty to do.  I'll post pics when I'm done.

Promised pictures of projects

Old Newspaper articles

So I found some newspaper articles that were written when I was in Drachenwald 12 years ago. I have re-typed the text on the color photo one, since it's hard for me to read.


Enjoy!!




HUNTINGDON WEELKY NEWS
Thursday, January 16, 1997
22p where purchased

Society steps back in time.

HISTORY fans took a step back in time at the weekend for a medieval celebration to mark Twelfth Night.

Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism dressed in period costume for the event at Great Stukeley Village Hall.

The group, founded in the United States 30 years ago, is dedicated to researching and recreating the period 1066 to 1600, including its weapons, clothing, and crafts.

Nikki Smith, who has taken on the persona of Kiarah, a woman from the Isle of Man in the early 1300s, said: "We sew our own garb and we do medieval cooking, we make our own meads, ales and wines and study arts and crafts. Anything they did then we do now."

The group's local "shire" runs from Cambridge to York, and has both American and British members.

~Nikki is pictured being defended by Rudolph Ramsey (real name Randy Rainbow) against Fritz the peasant (Ted Zimmers). Also pictured is Beth Porter, playing Alexandra the Eclectic.

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MIDDLE MEN: The Society for Creative Anachronism recreated the Middle Ages at Great Stukeley Village Hall last Saturday for a special Twelfth Night Celebration. Tid Zimmers (bottom), is seen here with Rudolph Ramsey (Randy Rainbow), Kiarah (Nikki Smith) and Alexandra Eclectic (Beth Porter).

The Society is a non-profit making educational organization dedicated to the researching and recreating of the customs, combat, courtesy, and arts of the middle ages. Local events include fighting practive, parades, and medieval tournaments.

CONTACT: For more information telephone Nikki Smith on (01480) 497388.

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ST IVES TWON CRIER
FRIDAY, Jan 17, 1997
MEDIEVAL REVIVAL by Veronica Webb

How would you like to belong to a society where you can work your way up from peasant to become the king or queen of a country the size of Europe?

As good citizens of Drachenwald it is within your grasp to climb those dizzy heights, as long as you join the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA).

So I was informed by Kiarah, the historian of the Shire of Pont Alarch, alias Nikki Smith, of Virginia Way in St. Ives.

Nikki (26) is a lady from America whose husband, David, is in the USAF at RAF Lakenheath. Both are enthusiastic members of this intriguing society, which was founded in the United States in 1966 and has since become a worldwide organisation.

Nikki explained that the society is basically an educational organisation, dedicated to 'researching and recreating the customs, combat, courtesy and arts of the Middle Ages.'

The merry band build weapons, armour and shields and enjoy many a battle at their medieval tournaments and revels. Nikki said, "Our guilds study and practise brewing, calligraphy, needleowrk, armoury and many other 'lost' arts."

Incidentally, the world is divided into Kingdoms. There are 13 at present and her in Britain we are ing the Kingdom of Drachenwald, which encompasses Europe. Apparently we just are not big enough yet to qualify as a kingdom.

Advancement

Nikki - as Kiarah - is hoping to eventually raise her status from lowly lady historian to the higher nobility. it is not easy, but it is possible for advancement in the heirarchy by wielding a sword well, embroidering superbly or designing and making bodkins, wimples and dresses and so on.

Nikki described the whole process as being "lighthearted but authentic". Incidentally there are equal opportunites for both sexes on the field of honour, so ladies don't have to sit embroidering. They too can become champions alongside the chaps.

Nikki and David (Othello the Wanderer) were married in Arizona two and a half years ago. They had a full medieval wedding with swords and oath of fealty to the bride - the works. I know, I watched the video.

About 25 people in the Huntingdon and Cambridge area 'play' - 'both Brits and Americans,' said Kiarah. They meet on the fourth Thursday of every month to discuss business and forht coming local events, such as parades and feasts.

The Shire of Pont Alarch historian said, 'It realy is more than just a hobby, it has become a great part of my life. If for any reason we had to leave it for a while, it is nice to know it will be the same when we return."

The Smith family, who are expecting a new baby soon, will be leaving our shores this year to return home. However, ther are happy to know another medieval kingdom awaits their arrival.

If anyone would like to join the SCA they can ring Nikki on 01480 497388.

Update

I've been a baaaad girl. Last post was in July. Let me update you.

First: A&S challenge went off, and I got a $25 gift card for Hancocks. That was nice.
I made mittens, and I still have to put fur or other trim around the cuffs.

Second: I did not make anything besides the salwar for Midnight at the Oasis, so I didn't go. *shrug* I'm sure I'll get to it eventually or use the fabric for something else.

Third: Angus has been drawn into the fold. We made him a pair of salwar out of the hunter/burgundy plaid fabric. He likes them. He's not sure if he's going Scottish (Angus) or Viking or Russian or what. We'll see.

Fourth: We hosted and I autocratted University, where I learned to Knit and Nalbind. Now to get a nalbinding needle!! I finished my first knitting project: a cream colored hotpad. I'll snap a pic and post it.

Fifth: The butterflies band on the sampler was completed last night. I'll post another pic tonight.

Sixth: going to work on finishing some crochet projects (steve's blue/black block blanket, bryan's spider red/black blanket) and finish the beast before I start anything else. I need to set up another band design for the beast. I'll prolly work on that today.

Seventh: I'm holding a "learn how to crochet" class tomorrow night at my home. It's not SCA period, but it get's people interested in yarn/fibre arts. Interest is one step toward learning new and more.

Hot A&S challenge

So!

Lady Masina has posed a summer A&S challenge: to make an accessory for winter wear. (Whenever I hear "winter wear, I think "Ymir", but I'm going to try to attend War of the Wings in October, and that COULD get pretty dang-gone cold.) I've narrowed it down to either an embroidered coif or mittens. I think I'm leaning towards mittens. I have some upholstery fabric that I can make for the outside, then line them with fleece to keep my hands toasty warm. (I can only use fabric from my current (meager) stash, plus a max of $10 for trim, etc. The severely limits my options, since I don't have that much fabric "stashed".) This makes mittens not only do-able, but practical. The challenge for me is to get them done before Mid-August.

I've also thought about cutting the pointy ends of my parkas off and making THAT the outer layer of my mittens, and lining them with fleece, so they will be as waterproof as my parka, (and match!) but I'm not so sure I want to be mucking around with that, especially considering how much it would cost to remake them. (OY!) AND I have to take the hood off and sew it on the right way anyways (I sewed the hood on with the circle part out, rather than the flat part out. I switched Steve's hood over and it works SO MUCH BETTER.)

Anyway, I've also been asked to make two wrist bands (about 10" each) of blackwork embroidery on linen bands, for use by a dear friend who is going to become a preacher on August 9. She said she doesn't have to have the bands by August 9, but it's another project I will be working on once the A&S thing is completed, before I continue on with the beast.

Beast update

So both butterfly outlines are complete and the first butterfly is 3.5/5 complete on the fillwork. I have also designed my next band that goes underneath them. Will post pictures when I can.

Beast update

Even though I'm working on crochet squares for the expansion of my daughter's afghan, I did get a chance to finish the outline of first butterfly and get the upper wing portion and head done on the second. I think once the whole crochet thing is out of the way I'll be able to get it finished pretty quickly. Then I do the fillwork on both butterflies, and start the interlacing borders around each.

The Beast

The first butterfly has been centered and I have most of the outline stitched. Just need to finish one wing, then do another butterfly on the right side.

They will both have an interlaced border. Go me! Pics when I can, moving this week.