Here comes 12th night

I've never been to a 12th night event and I'm really looking forward to it. I am not sure what all the activities will be, but I always enjoy socializing with the SCA crowd and learning new things. I have to remember to bring some knitting needles and yarn because Kendi said she'd teach me how to knit some socks or slippers.

Fun, Fun, Fun!

It's Simply Marvellous!

I enjoy the sketching and painting of Illumination, but I was running out of material to learn from. I borrowed one small book from Belle and then was using the internet. I wasn't very happy with using the almighty Google so often though. So on my Christmas wish list I put some books that will help show me more about it. My mom got me one. Yay for me. I have the Marvellous to Behold book! Now I can play around with a completely different style set of illuminations and learn from them. I'll have pictures of my new works soon!

Grotesque Flutist - French Illustration

I have got to get more vellum! I'm out. Right now I'm working with Bristol paper but I think I'd like to give the perg a try. I just haven't found it in any of the stores so may have to turn to the almighty google for help.

Here is the original:


Here is my free hand sketch:




Now he just needs some color!

Heraldic Device - The Crow

I have mentioned that I'm working on my last name and then the device I'd like to register when I get everything together. Now, Tobin is a common Irish last name during my century in Ireland. And since Masatsugu's real name is Tobin, there is something cool about using it. However, Una Tobin by itself doesn't flow well. Una O'Tobin is only slightly better.

On my device I was thinking of using Oak Leaves as that ties to the history of the Tobin family. Then I was thinking of a Phoenix since I feel like I'm on my second life, after escaping some nasty metaphorical flames. However, in researching the mythological beasts were much less common than the every day creatures. So, now I'm actually thinking of a crow. I'm reading two sources that make me feel a sense of kindred spirit with it.

Birds in Celtic Lore:

"Crows and ravens were birds of death, because of their scavenging habits, and the Irish war goddesses with whom crows are associated prophecy death, disaster, and defeat for those to whom they appeared."

Medieval Bestiary:

"Crows live a long time, and are monogamous. If the male crow dies, the female will never take another mate (compare this to the story of the turtledove). Crows take responsibility for feeding their offspring, and escort their young in flight. The crow's voice predicts rain, and the crow is said to be able reveal ambushes and foretell the future. Crows lead flocks of storks when they cross the sea to Asia. When the crow finds a corpse, it first pecks out the eye."

I have a lot of experience with death and disaster. Referencing the first. Let's just say there is a bit of an inside joke for me by using this.

For the second reference, I'm a mom so definitely escort my young through life.

So then I was playing with what it might look like, Sable background, silver Chevron, oak leaves and crow. Now, I know these may not be the "real" heraldic symbols of these items. I'm just playing and seeing how I like it.

What are your thoughts

Call to collect inventory

I recently sent an email to the yahoo group of the shire. I have received a couple of responses and I thank you for sharing that information with me. I have a link to a form that is online and simply to use, but you can also just email me.

If you have any items for Shire use which should be listed in the inventory, please let me know.

This is the link to go to the submission form! <-- click on that.

What Child's Day Are You?

Monday's Child (Nursery Rhyme)
Author: Unknown
Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child must work for a living,
But the child that's born on the Sabbath day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

Can't remember what day you were born on... This Site will give you the day!

I was born on a Monday. Well, I have no grace... and I'm pretty positive so I knew I wasn't a Tuesday or Wednesday. And who wants to be a Saturday?

Shire Business

Because I've been enjoying my time so much with the group of Silfren Mere, I had told Belle that I really wanted to get more involved and be a contributing member to the group. After all, I'm getting plenty from all of you, so I want to give back.

I attended my very first Shire Business meeting last night and had a lovely time. It was interesting to hear what's been going on and what is coming up. The demo for the girl scouts next year definitely sounds fun and I want to make sure that I volunteer to help or participate in some way. I know my girls would also love to attend.

I found my opportunity to help when the crickets leapt into chorus when Gevehard mentioned a Quartermaster. Because I tend to like to do anal little things like making forms and graphs, I thought perhaps this would be a task I could perform to help my new friends and family members, without poking out an eye with an axe or crochet hook.

I'm now a member of the yahoo group and will send out some group emails that way... And so here we go... WEEEEEEEEEE