The College of St Monica

Heraldry Links

Karl Faustus von Aachen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:14:08 +0000

sca heraldry page
http://www.sca.org/heraldry/welcome.html

heraldry primer
learn descriptions of arms
http://www.sca.org/heraldry/primer/

The Academy of Saint Gabriel
Useful resources for Name and Device research, or they will do it for you if you dont mind waiting!
http://www.s-gabriel.org/

Garb links

Karl Faustus von Aachen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:13:22 +0000

your first garb:
the t-tunic
http://www.virtue.to/articles/tunic_worksheet.html

Reconstructing history.
Research into Celtic Scottish, Irish, Japanese clothing and a good beginers section Good starting point for the hard to research celtic areas and the beginners section has a good chemise pattern, ideal for italian ren, and also a couple other items.
http://www.reconstructinghistory.com

Some clothing from the middle ages
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/cloth/bockhome.html

The Costumers Manifesto
A million and one garb resources including how to articles and documentation.
http://www.costumes.org

Elizabethan costuming page
If you are interested in Elizabethan garb this should be your first stop. an excellent resource by a historical costumer laid out in an easy to follow style. This site contains patterns, instructions, research for many diifferent areas in the period, and even information on hats shoes and makeup. Also has much information about Tudor clothing and styles.
http://costume.dm.net/

Arts and Sciences Links

Karl Faustus von Aachen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:12:28 +0000

blackwork patterns:
simple period embroidery that looks great
http://www.blackworkarchives.com/

kingdom of atlantia arts and sciences page
a great index to all arts and sciences.
http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/topics.htm

Stormscroll

Karl Faustus von Aachen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:05:50 +0000

Stormscroll is the newsletter of the Barony of Stormhold. By becoming a member of the SCA you can subscribe to the paper version and have it sent out regularly or you can subscribe to the electronic version for free and have it sent out as a PDF each month. These files are in PDF format -if you dont have Adobe acrobat or acrobat reader you will need to download the plugin – dont worry its free!

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader

Subscribe to Stormscroll

View most Recent Stormscroll

The girdle

Karl Faustus von Aachen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:05:08 +0000

The Girdle is the Newsletter of the SCA at Saint Monicas College, Stormhold.

After discussion with the council it was discovered that many of the College members are not paying members of the Society and this meant that their information about what was happening within the Society at a Local level and a Baronial level was almost non-existant. At the regular Tuesday meetings, what was happening was discussed, but out of semester these meetings no longer occurred. Thus the Girdle was born.

April’s Girdle
October’s Girdle

Feasting Gear

Lisette — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:02:41 +0000

Why do I need Feasting Gear?

Most Feasts require you to bring your own feasting gear. this is so autocrats dont have to arrange place settings for everyone but also so you can customize your table setting to your persona. I personally have had two personae and both of them had very different place settings and manners. Ingridr was a norse warrior woman, had rough wooden and earthenware bowls, a selection of knives to eat with and very little else (Hey! knives and fingers work just fine!) my new persona Lisette is more refined. she is late period and very froofy, therefore she has dainty cutlery silver bowls and plates and as much lace and filligree as one can handle. but I digress. my point is that feasting gear helps you carry across a persona and create a medieval atmosphere.

What are the bare essentials I can get by with?

ok, you need at least one plate, bowl (or two different bowls) a knife, a fork, a spoon, a tankard or goblet, a tea towel, and a candle. lets go through these one by one.

Plates and bowls: these can be wooden, metal or earthen ware. NOT plastic! try to go for materials which were around then. within reason of course! if your plate is aluminum rather than silver no one is going to care as long as it doesn’t look modern. go for things that look medievalish. the wooden mix salad bows that they sell in safeway are fine for starting out!

Knifes and Forks: your standard butter knife wasn’t really around in early period – if you want to go earlier try getting a fixed bade knife (not folding) from the local army disposals store and pick up a fairly standard straight blade with a wooden handle. forks were generally two or three pronged. you can get a normal fork and remove two of the center tines to make a period fork if you are good with your hands or you can pick up something similar at an op shop.

Goblets and tankards: both are easy to come by in op shops and pawn shops. generally metal is best but I have seen earthenware and crude glass. many tankards have the bottom made of glass dont worry about that – it is really hard to get them without.

Tea Towel: you usually do your own washing up at feasts so unless you are like me and take dirty stuff home for the dishwasher you are going to want to take a tea towel to dry it with, detergent and stuff are supplied but unless you want a soggy towel that does more harm than good bring your own!

Candle: SCA feasts are not lit with electric lights – this would be poor for the mood! instead each person brings a candle stick and candle. some people bring full floor candlearbras some people take small trivet style candleholders. pillar candles are best and usually unscented although fragrances that are period are acceptable (lavender, rose etc..). metal candle holders are best and something relatively medieval looking if you can find it!

Some things you dont have to have but are useful are:

a bottle to disguise your coke or whatever and that you arent ashamed to have on the table. the more period looking the better, a blottle with a stopper and a leather band are the best kinds;

a basket to carry it all in looks much better than a plastic safeway bag! wicker baskets work well – you may have to shop around to find one big enough; a cushion because those seats get mighty hard – plus you can sit on them during court!

a cushion is also a good chance for you to show off your embroidery (if you are any good – I’m not!) and is yet another thing you can put your device on! speaking of devices you can also bring…

a banner showing your device to hang on the wall and show off to everyone!

Where can I get this stuff?

Most Feasting Gear can be found at Op-Shops for prices ranging from about 10 cents to a few dollars. I have found a set of goblets for $15 at an op-shop but they are silver and really nice – that would be the most expensive thing I have seen be prepared to dig around, op shops are often clumped together and it is a good idea to check them all out often all of their cutlery is chucked into a basket and you have to weed through it but you do get some gems that way! Pawn shops are also good although more expensive but you can also get very good quality stuff. Occasionally there will be SCA market days at events like festival and newcomers, these are good places to get handmade things that are very period but will often cost you still more. Market days will be listed on the Events page.

Ok, I’m convinced what more can I do?

Feasting gear can be as much or as little as you put into it. I have seen people with full table areas complete with tablecloths, cushions, vases, chairs (dont make it bigger than the B&Bs though otherwise you might have to swap!) everything. like everything in the sca you can put as much or as little effort into it and play to your strengths!

Finishing Tips

Lisette — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:56:28 +0000

I have a confession to make: I am a typical corner cutter. When it comes to sewing I tend to take the easy way out. or I should say I used to because I now believe what they tell me in patterns! it comes from making a very complex pattern – I needed to follow the instructions precisely because there were too many places to go wrong. now I take my time with sewing because nothing ruins a garment more than a bad finish. these are my tips for getting it right fist time.

Wash your fabric

do you know how dusty fabric gets in the stores? do you know if the fabric will shrink or if there are chemicals on it? will the color run? always pre wash your fabric – it gives old fabric new life, makes new fabrics more supple. it also pre shinks it and gets any excess dye out of it.

Pressing

Iron your fabric before cutting, it helps get straighter lines and stops mistakes from using crumply fabric. Always press your seams flat after sewing. you wont believe how much nicer it looks and it helps you sew better when it comes to attaching pieces. it helps to press hems up before sewing as well and creates a much better finish without rolling.

Read the instructions first!

Make sure you are familiar with the instructions before you start and refer to them often. if you are using a selection, collate them and perhaps paste them into a scapbook before you start so you dont miss a step.

Seam finishing

finish your seams with an overlocker or a zigzag stitch to stop fraying. this will make your garment more hardy. for seams with more than one fabric layer trim the layers with the top one the smalles and each one slightly longer – this will help them to stay flat.

Clipping

always clip or notch curves. it needs to lie flat – if it isn’t then notch it more. if it lies completely flat with no puckering, then it is right. for outward curves just snip little lines up to the stitching line (dont cut the thread!) at about 90 degrees from the stich line. for inward curves cut little tringles out instead.

Order

make pieces in a logical order, if a bodice needs to fit over a skirt make the skirt first and take time fitting the bodice over it. take time hemming too, to make sure that layered skirts and such are the same length.

By Lady Lisette la Mandeta

Bargain Hunting

Lisette — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:55:41 +0000

If you are like me you are probably looking on the web for garb ideas, getting excited by different designs, then getting depressed because it seems like you wont be able to make it for under $400! dont worry! the important thing is to know where to go and how to find a bargain. I made my last feasting gown for under $100 (with the cost spread out over several months) with some thrifty shopping.

Places to go

Op Shops: Ok, I know i suggest this everywhere – get used to it, op shops are an SCA players friend! Op Shops often have a bin (or four) of fabrics. now it is a bit of a drag going through them but you can pick up some real gems for excellent prices. when looking at remmies make sure the fabric is suitable and open it up to get its full width. I usually sit on the ground in front of the bins and rummage for as long as it takes. I recommend taking a small tape measure or something to see how long the fabric is – there is nothing worse than going home and finding its the wrong size! ignore the looks that other people give you (you have to get wierd looks in the SCA!) and PLEASE! fold or roll the fabric back up neatly when you’re done! this is better for the poor volunteers who are working in the Op Shops but also for other fabric hunters. Dont worry too much about color, at the prices we are talking about youcan usually dye it and still come out at a very good price! dont forget the used linens and curtains either, curtains are often made of useful material (and if you are lucky you can get a deal like mine where the curtain was pencil pleated and fitted exactly around my waist making a ready made skirt!) you can get good velveteens and satins like this. old sheets are really useful for making undergarments and linings with. whatever you get from an op shop – make sure you wash it first, especially from this section – often curtains etc arent washed first which is a bit ick but it also means they come up trumps when they are done! op shops are also good places to pick up things like garb jewellery.

Little fabric stores: I dont mean Lincraft or Spotlight, go to your local fabric store in a strip shop or somewhere, you can often find fabrics at clearance prices because they have to keep up with the competition.

Markets: Carribean, Dandenong and Vic markets have fabric sections and you can often pick up a good deal as they have less overheads and often sell direct from manufacturers or warehouses. I love the uphostery fabrics!

Just Buy it!

if you come across a good deal at any place, sale time or whatever, buy it. dont worry about whether you have a project on or something planned for it, if the fabric is good and you can use it at some point then pick it up because you may not get another chance – live for the now! I have missed out on some good deals because I have hemmed and hawed. I often buy remmies at op shops or fabric on sale that I have lying around for ages but when I decide what to make I usually have the fabric lying around somewhere. I would suggest buying a good plastic box for storing it in! (I still need to do that…)

Be prepared to look

Make a mental (or physical) list of good places to search and go back to them regularly. just because they may not haveanything you want this week doesn’t mean you wont get it next week!

Plan

When you are ready to make some garb, note down everything you will need before you start shopping, down to the amounts, notions, braids everything. if you have some fabric at home that you are going to work with take a small snippet with you so that you can match it or contrast with it. this will not only save money (as you wont have to buy too much of some things, or the wrong color or something) but will allow you to plan out a schedule for buying things in lots to ease the burden on your bank account.

Be organized

I know, I need to follow my own advice here! if you have your fabric, patterns, notions, threads and so on all sorted out and conveniently accessible you will be able to find what you need, if you have something in stock that you need, and you wont buy doubles. you also wont lose something you paid good money for.

Local Listings

A list of places in the monash area that are good for bargain hunting (hopefully this will be added to as I find more!)

Clayton Rd Shops

Salvation Army Op Shop: a small but decent fabric selection, good lace and trimmings collection, linens section, mediocre. Remmie prices around $3

Smith Family Op Shop: a big Op shop at the end of the Clayton Rd Shops really good fabric selection and big upholstery section. not much in the way of trimmings. Remmie Prices between 50C and $3

Power Fabrics: this place is always having an opening or closing sale but I’m not complaining! the fabric selection varies greatly but usually has some nice linens and satins from around $3 per meter. no notions or braids.

Oakleigh

Salvation Army Op Shop: Big Op shop with a growing fabric range. The upholsery range is pretty good too! also good for feasting Gear.

Smith Family Op Shop: reasonable size but no fabrics to speak of, some upholstery – pretty good for gambesons usually.

Kim Anh Fabrics: reasonably priced fabrics and a really good button, braid and bias binding selection.

Beginning Fighting

Karl Faustus von Aachen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:54:48 +0000

This is an article by Baron Gwynfor Llwd that provides an excellent introduction to SCA combat

This link will open in a new window

SCA Combat and Training

Victorian Control of Weapons Act

Karl Faustus von Aachen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:54:15 +0000

The Victorian Control of Weapons Act 2000, and it’s related legislation, the Control of Weapons Regulations 2004 and the Firearms Act 1996, was enacted to control the presence of weapons in the hands of the public that might represent a threat to community safety. The Department of Justice recognises, however, that certain historical and cultural groups have a legitimate reason to possess some of these prohibited weapons (steel or other metal swords, spears, axes, pole arms and other weapons deemed to form a part of legitimate re-enactment of medieval life and history – for the purposes of the SCA activities these weapons have to be rebated (deliberately blunted, the standard rebate being a 2mm rounded edge)), and is thus empowered, under the auspices of the Governor-in-Council, to grant exemptions to these groups for specific situations. The Society for Creative Anachronism is one such organisation. The exemption itself can be accessed from http://www.sca.org.au/stormhold/files/exemption.pdf . It is highly recommended that you print out a copy of the exemption, read it thoroughly and understand it, and carry a copy on you when you are in possession of your weapon.Note that the SCA recreated weapons primarily constructed of rattan, with some instances of pvc, rubber and fibreglass, are classified as Controlled Weapons (class – batons). Controlled weapons are weapons that are designed for use for legitimate purposes but which need to be regulated because of the danger they pose if misused. These weapons include imitation firearms, swords and bayonets and all knives that are not classified as prohibited weapons. A person may possess, carry and use a controlled weapon provided he or she has a lawful excuse. A lawful excuse includes legitimate recreational, sporting, collecting or employment activities, but does not include self-defence. Breaches of the Act, whether for Prohibited or Controlled Weapons, carry a maximum penalty of a $6000 fine and/or 6 months imprisonment.

The first thing that should be noted is that, if you are a prohibited person under the Act, then you are specifically excluded from any exemption. (note – clicking on the phrase “prohibited person will take you to the definition as per the Firearms Act 1996). The relevant passage in the Act is Section 3 Definitions (1), listed under “prohibited persons”.

You will note that there are conditions relating to the safe and secure storage of the weapons. These are covered by the Firearms Act 1996, Section 4 of Schedule 4. When transporting the weapons they must be kept in a secure container unable to be accessed readily by anyone other than the holder of the exemption. This means a sturdy wooden or a metal box with a lock. Traveling with the weapon in a bag is NOT sufficient under the exemption (in fact it could be considered a concealed weapon, which is another offence all together).

The exemption ONLY applies for travel to and from an historical re-eanctment event, the use of the weapon at such an event, and the storage of it at a residence or club establishment. If you are carrying the weapon for any other reason, you are not exempt.

At the meeting of the SCA Australia Ltd’s Board of Directors held on 26th March 2006 it was resolved that the only acceptable means of identifying a person as a member of the SCA Australia Ltd shall be a current financial membership card issued by the Registrar of the SCA Australia Ltd. It is recommended that you also carry a copy of the Exemption and photo id. An event flyer if you are on the way to an event (or a print out of an email or webpage announcement of the event or meeting) could also be useful.

Finally, remember the the moment you fail to meet any of the requirements, YOU ARE NO LONGER EXEMPT. Owning and carrying prohibited weapons is very much a privilege, and a privilege that is very easily removed. Your actions may also impact the rest of the group’s ability to continue to enjoy exemption.

IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT AT ALL ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, DO NOT OWN OR CARRY A PROHIBITED WEAPON.

If you have any doubts about what is presented here, consult the legislation yourself, or enquire with the relevant authorities. The advice presented here is not that of a professional lawyer, and is offered as a guideline for those wishing to ensure compliance with the relevant Acts.

It is each individual’s responsibility to comply with the relevant Acts and regulations. The SCAA has no responsibility for any member’s adherence, or lack of adherence to, any of the conditions, requirements, statutes and guidleines with regard to this matter.

Master Gwynfor Llwd