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Populace in Focus – Baroness Amalie Reinhardt

21 Sunday Nov 2021

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SCA Name & title: Baroness Amalie Reinhardt, OP

Years in the SCA: 14

How did you find out about the SCA? When I was in college at the University at Buffalo, I had a friends in my co-ed service fraternity (both local and scattered throughout Æ and the East) and Baron Fergus, a friend of my housemates. While in grad school, the Hael’s fight practice was a few floors down from my office on campus (as a computer lab supervisor), and I’d hang out and watch the fighters & fencers. Yet, I did not play at the time nor became a member of the SCA because of my heavy involvement in Alpha Phi Omega.

Where did you start, what was your first event? My official start in SCA was in 2007, when I moved to a very rural part of Coppertree for a teaching job. I knew practically no one in the area, my involvement with APO was winding down after being a section chair for 5 years, and I needed something to do. As SCA had been an long-time, back-burner interest, it was time to check it out. I would travel to Coppertree to watch the fighters at practice and have some social time. Before leaving the Shire, A&s nights had restarted, too.

When I returned to Syracuse, I sought out the Barony and started attending their weekly A&S meetings. The first Æ event I attended was an Æthelmearc Æcademy in Coppertree in the summer of 2008. I was only there for 1/2 the day. I remember taking a kennings class from Master Fridrikr and a bardic sharing class from Sir Haakon. There was a quiet moment before leaving when I saw a monarch butterfly flutter across a grassy field between buildings, which was the impetus for my poem “Butterfly on the Battlefield” —written 2 days later while proctoring a Regents exam.

What is your persona? My persona is Sinti, circa 1350-1400 in Southwestern Germany.

Why did you pick this persona? Partially honoring some family stories, I remember growing up and partially because nomadic people could pick up customs and culture from the areas in which they traveled/settled.

Do you have any group or household affiliations? I am currently the landed Baroness for the Barony of Delftwood. I was a member of a household for a few years, which disbanded in 2014. Now, my SCA family is Master Alaxandair and Mistress Maria — my SCA parents — and all of my siblings, aunts, uncles, and all the other strange combinations of our awesomely tangled family web.

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA. In everyday life, I help teachers with educational technologies in their schools and classrooms. I also am a merit badge counselor for Scouts BSA and was an advisor for APO at SUNY Oswego prior to COVID. Oh, and of course, I spend time playing games and watching movies with Ixac and spend lots of cuddle time with Elmo and Jupiter!

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in? Arts & Sciences, including some fiber arts (kumihimo & inkle weaving), copper enameling, bardic arts, and calligraphy & illumination. Marshal Activities, including thrown weapons and archery. Webministry. (more below) Heraldic arts – helping others with name and device submissions.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)

At the Baronial level, I am currently Delftwood’s Baroness, and have been a former webminister, Minister of the Lists, unofficial scribe (taking minutes for 7+ years), did an extremely brief stint as Chronicler.

At Kingdom level, I am currently the Historian and was the Kingdom Webminister for 5 years.

I am also the current webminister for Their Royal Highnesses Byron & Ariella, the Historian (as it’s easy to be one’s own webminister 🙂), the Kingdom Earl Marshal, the Kingdom Thrown Weapons Marshal, the Kingdom Chatelaine,  ÆLeads, the Kingdom’s Moneyers Guild, and Blackstone Raid. In the past I also have been webminister for the Kingdom webminister’s Office (again, it’s easy to one’s own webminister!), Kingdom Arts & Sciences, TRMs Tindal and Etain, and Blackstone Mountain.

So, as Kingdom Historian, I am currently working on a few different projects. One is creating a Book of Lists, which with the help of Baroness Antoinette and Lady Genevieve, we are working on creating officer lists dating back to the beginning of Æthelmearc. Another major project will be updating the Kingdom’s history paper, so it is brought to the current time. It currently ends in AS LI (2016). (If anyone has anything they wish to be included, please send me an email!)

As Kingdom webminister, I did many things, including keeping the site up-to-date. Under my tenure, the site was revamped, moved twice, kept the email forwarders in order, received officer reports and in-turn sent reports to the Society webminister, created the icon system for the Kingdom Events Calendar with THN Rhys and Mistress Aine (the other 2 Musketeers!), created and maintained the Pennsic Periscope, set up ÆTube, created the pictoral timeline of our Royalty, helped train and mentor webministers (and anyone desiring to learn to build a website), helped institute Zoom with THL Sumayya when the Great Plague came to our lands, assisted with ÆLive and Æthereal Courts, and instituted Google for Æ. I also have a new Zip Code finder ready to go once there is data, as this is one of the most requested features that was lost from our old website.

Also, during the kingdom’s jaunt into Zoom, Sumayya and I were training people to use Zoom and helped with consults from other Kingdoms, answering questions about Virtual Courts and how to effectively use and moderate Zoom rooms (as Æ was first!!).

As the Earl Marshal’s webminister, I also maintain the marshal database. In general, once a website is created, it needs to be maintained. Each site has it’s own personality, so what “goes into it” is based on the site, but the maintenance of these other sites takes only a few minutes here and there. The main builds, though, can range from a few hours to a week or so, depending on how much data is needed to be posted.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? To learn. Everything and anything — absorb it all… just like a sponge!

What are your goals now? To continue learning. To continue teaching. To continue being of service and fostering others to do service. (& to not have helium hand) and to continue having fun with what activities I participate in (and encourage others to try them out!)

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?

The webminister position was open in the Barony and I submitted a Letter of Intent (with the encouragement of many of my friends) to be the next Baronial officer and was turned away (coupled with a second retracted offer) in a fashion that would make many people leave forever. I am ever thankful that my friends were there to lift my spirits and that I did not walk away.

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? I would like to attend some larger events outside of Æthelmearc, like Gulf Wars or Birka.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?

1. Don’t be afraid of people in shiny hats or people with titles like Duke, Duchess, King, Queen, Sir, Master, or Mistress. Every single person in our Society started playing at one point and were in the same place you are today.

2. Ask ALL the questions.

3. Ask the same questions to multiple people to get a well-rounded view of your answer.

4. Try ALL the things.

5. You don’t need to be good at all the things.

6. Only do the things that you enjoy doing.

7. If you are able, help with set up and tear down. You will make friends and many hands make light work.

8. Ask about / know the rituals for elevations. Be aware of what takes place so there are no surprises to you while watching one for the first time.

9. Always say thank you.

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Pattern drafting. I could then make “all the garb” (and other really awesome fabric-inspired projects)!

If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why? 1980s. I have this vague recollection of seeing fighting somewhere in Thescorre as a kid. I wish my family had stopped to see it that day, rather than rubbernecking in the car. I think I’d have been a member 30 years earlier if that had happened. Then instead of hearing all the stories of what happened in these years, I’d have seen some of it first-hand.

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? A Peli… ahem, wait a moment…

A Fleur. I have been doing arts and crafts my whole life. Now, I have learned new art forms because of playing in the SCA and have found some niches — like micrography.

If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be? Openmindedness.

 

 

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Populace in Focus: Baron Tassin Tresseaul

25 Monday Oct 2021

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Real Name: Shea Transue

SCA Name & title: Baron Tassin Tresseaul

Years in the SCA: 8 years

How did you find out about the SCA? / Where did you start, what was your first event?

I actually found out about the SCA via my 8th grade history teacher. She was a civil war reenactor and since I was interested in more medieval pursuits she told me about the SCA. I did find the SCA at that point but being in Middle School I couldn’t drive yet so it made it hard for me to go to practices, meetings or events. I ended up going to a few meetings in Eisental and went to the East Kingdom War Practice at the Ukrainian Homestead but after that I stopped going since there wasn’t anyone my age and it was so hard to get there. Fast forward to college, I was at Penn State and my friend Sarah Perelli (Lady Serena Milani) invited me to this medieval thing which ended up being an event put on by Nithgaard. I ended up working the second half of that event in the Kitchen washing dishes. That was a pretty good indicator of my path in the SCA.

What is your persona? / Why did you pick this persona?

My persona is currently kind of fluid, when I initially started in the SCA I wanted to be from Northern France in the 1300’s. This is where my family was able to trace our oldest recorded ancestor too so I was very interested in learning more about that place and period. Recently I have become more of a mishmash of times and cultures. I do Viking, Landsknecht, and 1300’s English. It all really depends on who I’m with and how much I need to help out because who wants to get their nice garb all sweaty and gross setting up tents?

Do you have any group or household affiliations?

I am not officially associated with any Shires or Baronies, I am an Expat. I mundanely live in Allentown, PA which some might recognize as the East Kingdom. That being said, my heart still resides in the Shire of Nithgaard because that’s where I really came into the fold and still have many friends. As far as households go I am a part of The Duchy of Arindale.

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.

I have always been a huge Sci-Fi nerd and lover of everything associated with that. I think that is one of the main reasons I went to school to be an Engineer. In 2017, I graduated from Penn State with a Bachelors in Electro-Mechanical Engineering. I currently work as a Manufacturing Engineer for a Medical Textile company, we make woven, knitted, and braided products that are used in everything from sutures and heart grafts to medical meshes. On a day to day basis I work to design and improve the machinery and implement new and better processes. I troubleshoot and facilitate repairs to electrical and mechanical systems. I also do a lot of work validating the machinery and processes. I own my own home and enjoy playing board games and video games as well as camping and Kayaking. If you looked at my you tube history you’d see a lot of SCP content, how to make this or that, comedy sketches, and currently how to make cocktails.

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?

Most recently I was honored to be the consort of Cormacc Mac Gilla Brigde at Crown Tournament. A&S wise, I love to do pewter casting, woodworking, and most recently Machine Embroidery. By the way, if anyone wants something embroidered let me know and we can talk. I’m just itching to use my machine! If I had to pick, I’d say my biggest passion is helping however / whoever I can, whether that is being the Autocrat, working in the kitchen, retaining, taking watch shifts at Pennsic, holding Kingdom Offices or just setting up tents. That’s what I really like doing.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)

I am currently the Kingdom Chamberlain, Kingdom Events Coordinator, and Kingdom Exchequer Archival Deputy. I have autocrated several events and always want to do more… just sayin in case anyone needs an autocrat.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? 

When I first started I knew helping people was going to be a big part of what I wanted to do. I also thought I wanted to do marshal activities like heavy fighting and I was very interested in siege combat.

What are your goals now? 

My current goals are to become more involved at the kingdom level, since I don’t have a home group, find more events that people want me to autocrat, and refine my pewter casting skills. I’m also working on the creation of an online database for the kingdom regalia and the creation / implementation of a new digital submission system for exchequer warrants. I’d also like to get all of the exchequer paperwork Rhys sent me scanned and archived.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? 

I remember thinking that for my first couple events the “SCA” signs along the road were just so sketchy, it was very intimidating following them to an unknown location.  Now I’ve grown rather fond of playing spot the sketchy SCA sign.

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA?

I’d really like to teach more pewter casting classes. I recently did a demo and it went so well that I am excited to spread my knowledge to others.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?

I would say don’t be afraid to ask people about what they’re doing, whether that be A&S, marshal, or service. Usually, if you show the slightest interest in someone’s passion they will bend over backwards to help you get involved.

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?

I wish I could be a voice herald or Bard. Being able to think on the fly like that or really be able to sing or play instruments would just be so cool.

If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why?

I would have liked to join the SCA in the late 80’s or early 90’s at the inception of Æthelmearc. It would have been so cool to be able to help build and influence a new kingdom. I also feel like based on the stories I hear that there were a lot more shenanigans. Now 50 some years in, I feel like many of the questions have been answered and the formulas have been set.

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?

Since I joined the society I have wanted to become a Pelican. I think at my first event when I was working in the kitchen someone mentioned that I’d be one someday and that notion just kinda stuck in my head. Almost all of the figures that I admire most in the society are Pelicans, and if I am honored with that distinction someday I feel like I will have really made a difference, just knowing the sacrifices and hard work others have done before me to be recognized by that same order.

If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be?

I’d like to see more people my own age (26) and more time devoted to revels and hanging out. I feel like the time you spend around the fire singing songs and having an adult beverage or two are some of the times that will be remembered most.

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Populace in Focus! Participants needed

17 Sunday Oct 2021

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Greetings!! Lady Thalia Papillon here, Gazette editor and proud inhabitant of the Kingdom of Æthelmearc, continuing with the tradition of populace in focus. Our Kingdom is a vast and wonderful place filled with many great people, but how many of these people do you see event after event and have never met, or maybe wondered more about?

This is open to the entire Kingdom and is not limited by rank, position, or time in the SCA. There is no deadline, when I have articles I will post articles. I am also interested in interviewing couples, households, fighting units, or any other element that makes up the Kingdom. Even if you don’t live in the Kingdom any more, but still call Aethelmearc home in your heart? We would love to hear from you too.

If you are interested in being interviewed please contact me (information below) and I will send you a series of questions to answer. When completed return the answers to me. Please include at least three to four photos to use in the article. One should be a good profile picture. Answers with no photos will not be published.

I hope to hear from as many of you as possible and look forward to learning more about everyone

Read previous Populace in Focus articles here

Lady Thalia: email

Facebook: Vanessa Hayes

Populace in Focus Yuengerz the Oblivious

11 Sunday Jul 2021

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Me and Ducky McDuckface Clovenshield’s unofficial travel mascot

Real Name: Mark Yingling

SCA Name & title: Yuengerz the Oblivious. Siege Master of House Clovenshield. Crafter of the Chronicle, Creator of Kitchens, Captain of the Cortege, Transcriber of Legends, Exalted Nudge, Mook 3rd Class.

Years in the SCA: 13

How did you find out about the SCA?  I was trying to captain a Scenario Paintball team, but 2 of my team mates kept ditching various big games for some crazy events where they got to hit people with sticks. They tried to get me into it, once, by putting me in ill-fitting armor and using me as a human pell… It didn’t take, as you can imagine.

Where did you start, what was your first event? Where my *ehem* friends failed, my future wife succeeded. She convinced me to go with her to Pennsic 37. It seems that big brown eyes and a come-hither look work much better than being beaten by 2 goons with sticks. As it happens, she was friends with one of my aforementioned buddy’s wife and they were all camping with Clovenshield. So, hello mercenary life.

I had to get armored up and authorized pretty quick, which I did. I didn’t have any garb when I showed up at troll. My future wife had purchased a tunic for me. I wore the crap out of it.

Now I curse my friends for not being better salesmen and getting me involved sooner.

What is your persona? I am an early 8th century Frankish mercenary aiding the Carolingians in consolidating their power in Francia.

Why did you pick this persona? Everybody goes Viking, and, come on, Charles the Hammer! That’s a warlord to fight for. Plus, when you have no experience and slightly less money, you don’t really pick a kit to match your persona, you pick a persona to match the armor you manage to piece together. It seemed to fit and “Why stop now?”

Never a more wretched hive of scum and villainy

Do you have any group or household affiliations? I am a minion of House Clovenshield. We are the premiere mercenary household of the known world. Clovenshield has over 2 centuries of combined bushwhacking experience. Experts in hit-and-run, ambush, dry-gulching, fast attack, deviousness, underhandedness, deception, and general mayhem. We bring an essential element of lethal maneuver firepower to any army.

Clovenshield is an equal opportunity mercenary group; we discriminate solely on the basis of bribe tendered. Harness the forces of CHAOS (or at least point them away from yourself). Available for wars, border raids, incursions, revolts, and special projects throughout the known world.

Reasonable rates, Satisfaction guaranteed.

* End Sales pitch*

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.  I am a married father of two. I grew up as a Sci-Fi/ Fantasy geek, which translates well into the SCA, for obvious reasons. I also played soccer from 5th grade through college and a bit beyond, which also translates well to the SCA. I love being a part of something bigger than myself. You get that on a sports team and you also get that when you are in a fighting household; or just surrounded by hundreds of people with similar interests.

I am also the owner of a dozen rental properties around PGH. So, I am an actual Landlord…None of my tenants call me “My Lord”, though. I should probably put that in the lease.

Me and the ballista crew

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?  Heavy fighting. Combat Archery, Siege. As a landlord, I have realized how easy it is to teach myself simple household repairs. Plastering, painting, replacing toilets, fixing stoves, installing a fence…. This realization has given me the confidence to tackle some of the many crafts in the SCA I once thought were beyond me. Leather carving, book binding, pewter casting, brewing mead, making my own armor…

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.) Picture the 2015 Pittsburgh St Patrick’s Day Parade. I’m watching it with my family dahntahn and I see a group of Jedi go marching down the street. Shortly thereafter I see a motley gang of drunken Pirates. I think to myself, “Pirates? Jedi? Why not Vikings and Knights? Why isn’t the SCA represented in this parade?” So, I asked in the BMDL FB page. I sent a couple of emails to the local Barony officers.

St Patrick’s Day Parade 2019

In my household we have a rule (or more of a guideline), “Your idea, you’re in charge”.  Well, it seems that others have this rule as well, because several emails later and I am the new Parade Autocrat for the Barony Marche of the Debatable Lands. We’ve done 3 St Patrick’s Day Parades, 2 Memorial Day Parades and 1 Thanksgiving Parade. We even took Runner Up for Best Non-Commercial Float in the 2019 Pittsburgh St Patrick’s Day Parade. It is an incredible rush to be standing on Grant Street, in front of the Pittsburgh City County building, fighting in full armor, to the cheers of hundreds of parade spectators.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?  I just wanted to have a fun time with my friends. Little did I know that I would pick up a slew of new skills and become part of a family.

What are your goals now?  To become a better singles fighter. I’ve pretty much been focused on melee fighting.

Damascus and Yuengerz

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?  Standing across the battlefield from fighters that have been doing this for years and expecting to hold my own against them. But you’ll never get better if you don’t face that fear.

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? I just want to get back to having good times and hitting some of the best people in the world with sticks.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA: The SCA is an incredible hobby to have. There are so many different aspects to it and there is so much to learn. And the people in it are very willing to teach what they know. Don’t be afraid to try something new.

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?  Developing talents on your own is a lot of the fun, but if I had to choose one it would be playing the Bagpipes. The way it can simultaneously entertain and annoy people.

If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why?  I really have no answer to this as I don’t know the differences. But what I can say is that I wish I would have discovered it earlier.

Daimler von Benz was the envy of every lord having the only personal standard bearer at the Combat of the Thirty

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?  My first event was Pennsic 37 in ’08. I had a blast and was hooked. I even dragged some of the guys to events they hadn’t been to before, just to get more of the adventure. I was looking forward to my first Blackstone Raids that Spring. Come the first week of April ’09 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease Stage 1B. My doctor set me up for a summerlong course of chemotherapy. I pushed off my second treatment so I could go to Blackstone. I had a great time. I also become a sort of Bludgeon of Shame. “Ying has cancer and he’s still fighting! What’s your excuse!” By the time War Practice rolled around, the chemo was taking its toll. I think I got through 2 battles before I collapsed.

My last dose of chemo was the Friday before War Week, Pennsic 38. And yes, I started every battle that week and even finished a couple. The Woods Battle that year is a story unto itself. The household christened me “Cancer Boy” and I was awarded the Clovenshield Congressional Medal of Bacon.  I’d like to think I got it for showing dedication to the game and the Household, but the word “Idiot” was used in the dedication ceremony.  I don’t really remember… chemo haze. Either way, that little badge means more to me than any other award I might ever earn in the SCA.

St Patrick’s Day Parade 2017 in stolen armor

Why am I a mercenary? Simply put, my friends were there when they got me hooked. Our Merc house was founded by two mooks that were best friends who suddenly found themselves living in different kingdoms. In order to fight together, one of them had to be disloyal to their crown. Instead of dealing with that sticky situation, they decided, “Hey, why be loyal to any crown” and thus, House Clovenshield was created. There is a certain enjoyment of being outside of the normal fealty structure of the SCA, but still being a part of it. There are people that have started as mercs and made the switch to kingsman, and some that have started as kingsman and made the jump to merc. We’re all here to have fun.

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Populace in Focus THL Marrin O’Kealy

04 Sunday Jul 2021

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Real Name: Maureen Payne, nee Benfer 

SCA Name & title: THL Mairin O’Cadhla registered name THL Marrin O’Kealy 

Years in the SCA: 16 glorious years 

How did you find out about the SCA?  In 2004, during my junior year in college. There was a fighting focused demo, where I met a few Scadians in the late spring semester. Which was neat, although the fighting arts were not my forte. Consequently, I was intrigued about this group and wanted to learn more.  Another demo about a month later, the local shire had an encampment in a park on the edge of a festival. At this demo, the full accompaniment of the gentle arts were on display. This time, I was better able to ask questions and see all that the SCA had to offer. For the next 16 years, it has been an inquisitive pursuit of knowledge with an insatiable appetite for learning ever since that demo. 

Where did you start, what was your first event?  My first event was Summers End in the Canton of Beau Fleuve. This was also my first kingdom level event. 

What is your persona?  My persona is a 16th century Irish woman living in Tudor England. She emigrated after the English invaded Ireland, to learn more about this strange land across the Irish sea in 1529. Marrin made her living as a needleworker doing embroidering and making accessories for the millinery arts. In addition, she has knowledge of spinning and weaving from her native land. Marrin’s social status is a middling craftswoman who is a childless widow. She makes dolls for her community’s children and is never lonely with many wee visitors. Marrin is also constantly occupied by her cats, her garden, and prospering needlework career.  

Why did you pick this persona? I wanted to explore my maternal ancestry through experimental archaeology. Marrin dresses in more of an English middling style with nuanced touches of Irish, in pattern or decoration. Touches of knots or clovers are there amongst the Tudor roses. I also have English and Welsh ancestry so this seemed a sensible way to discover them too. Each does have notable differences in language, geography, culture, and dress. Haven’t gotten bored of the Isles even after 16 years of varied research.  

Do you have any group or household affiliations? I am from the Shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais, a member of the Haus WeisserLowe. Apprenticed to Her Grace Mistress Illish O’Donovan. 

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.  I work in the insurance industry, after the pandemic a permanent position working from home. While I love working from home, I have the best furry office coworkers.  It’s a high stress demanding role that possesses challenges that I enjoy pursuing. Besides keeping up with any SCA related creations, I write a blog called Tudorosities that has been on the internet for 10 years, updated bimonthly. In addition, I also create videos for my YouTube channel bimonthly.  My channel topics range from vintage sewing notions, vintage sewing machines, sewing pattern book reviews, fashion doll making, fiber arts, Tudor clothing, and much more!  

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?  I tend to be a wallflower at events, so come and say “Hi” if you see me. I attend A&S related events mostly, I have been known to enter Ice Dragon or teach a class occasionally. You can also find me at demos or events with my local shire. 

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.) I was the local Chancellor Minor in my shire for 7 years. Other than that it’s random helping at events here and there. 

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?  To learn all the needle arts, which is still ongoing but I am far better at hand sewing and clothes making than when I started in society.  One scadian pursuit led to another, I also spin, weave and create clothing out of my created cloth in addition to decorating and making accessories.  

What are your goals now? To turn my years of research into a book, on the History of Medieval Fashion Dolls through the 18th century. 

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? Having one’s research and requisite A&S project judged. It’s not easy to let other people look at something you worked on for a long while to critique it.  Although I find that this is much improved with other formats that now exist in the A&S community. It’s much more enjoyable to share my art and discuss it with others. 

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? To show my latest creation; Dorothy a ½ scale (36”) Millinery Mannequin/Doll in the flesh so to speak. Pictures might be worth a thousand words but some things you just have to see in person and Dorothy is one of those people. 

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?  Pace yourself, this is a marathon not a sprint. You do not need all the things all at once, take your time to craft your persona first and you get the things over time. Get one good outfit under your belt the rest will fall together eventually.  

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? I don’t really have an answer to this question, certain there is a skill or talent I am not thinking of at the moment. The one that comes to mind is not SCA specific, an eidetic memory would be useful.  

If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why? I would have liked to have joined in the mid 90’s when Aethelmearc was just forming into a Kingdom from a Principality of the East. Change is scary at first but it’s also good because the possibilities are endless when there isn’t any set precedent. Would have been exciting times in a new kingdom. 

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? Service to the kingdom in its many forms has been something I deeply admire. It’s where one gives of their time, talents and treasures. Although fortunes have not leant me to steady employment and reliable transportation to pursue this in a serious manner. A Court Barony may not seem humble from the outside. Although when I see someone wearing a circlet of pearls, I know they are one of the helpers. After all, we are to keep an eye out for the helpers in tough times. It would be a great honor to be counted amongst them.    

If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be? Kindness exists in good abundance in the SCA but I am talking more for a mankind type of scope. I think if we were more thoughtful, understanding and empathetic to our fellow humans and the world at large. Circumstances for all would be vastly improved. 

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Populace in Focus! Participants Needed

27 Sunday Jun 2021

Posted by in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

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Greetings!! Lady Thalia Papillon here, Gazette editor and proud inhabitant of the Kingdom of Æthelmearc, continuing with the tradition of populace in focus. Our Kingdom is a vast and wonderful place filled with many great people, but how many of these people do you see event after event and have never met, or maybe wondered more about?

This is open to the entire Kingdom and is not limited by rank, position, or time in the SCA. There is no deadline, when I have articles I will post articles. I am also interested in interviewing couples, households, fighting units, or any other element that makes up the Kingdom. Even if you don’t live in the Kingdom any more, but still call Aethelmearc home in your heart? We would love to hear from you too.

If you are interested in being interviewed please contact me (information below) and I will send you a series of questions to answer. When completed return the answers to me. Please include at least three to four photos to use in the article. One should be a good profile picture. Answers with no photos will not be published.

I hope to hear from as many of you as possible and look forward to learning more about everyone

Read previous Populace in Focus articles here

Lady Thalia: email

Facebook: Vanessa Hayes

Populace in Focus – Master Morien MacBain

30 Sunday May 2021

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Real Name: Stephen Vandevander

SCA Name & title: Master Morien MacBain

Years in the SCA: 36

How did you find out about the SCA?

I first read about the Society in Dragon magazine, back when it was THE Dragon. That was pretty sweet.  Mid 1980’s.  Then I read about the Estrella war in a multi-age spread in Smithsonian, and I was really hooked.  I was only thirty miles west of Pittsburgh, but without wheels of my own, I figured I was stuck.  Then a guy invited me to a demo in the park at Bethany, WV.  They put me in armor and smacked me around, and the rest is a beautiful love story!

Where did you start, what was your first event?

I was in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, and my first real event was a Shire halloween party in October, 1986 in Wheeling.

What is your persona? I’m a 15th-Century Scottish squire with a minor gift for poetry fighting in the Hundred Years War, except when I’m a 14th-Century forester chasing poachers on the Welsh border!

Why did you pick this persona? I saw Highlander in 1987.  That was that!  I wore a kilt for the next two years.  I didn’t have garb that involved pants until maybe 1990.

Do you have any group or household affiliations? I fight with the White Company, and I camp at the Lusty Wench Tavern at Pennsic. I’m also a regular at the Chalk Man Pub, and I’m  a member of the Forester Guild.

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA. I am a high school English teacher who loves to ride his horse, run tabletop roleplaying games, learn new skills, and get to Europe as often as I can (when there isn’t a plague on).

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?

Armored combat, rapier, cut and thrust, combat archery, equestrian, teaching, poetry, a bit of brewing, period wilderness skills, and stuff like that.  I also started the Paladin’s pantry program, which I’m pretty proud of. I also teach a lot of classes, write poetry, and do research on a ton of different topics.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)

Over the decades, I’ve done lots of different jobs at the shire and kingdom level.  I was regional warlord one year and deputy for a couple more, which was pretty cool!  I do work with the Watch at Pennsic up through point commander and deputy on duty.  I’ve done most of my service in the marshallate, however, that’s what I got my Pelican for, I guess, along with the pantry stuff.  I’m kingdom Earl marshal right now (which is cool, because William Marshal, the most famous Earl Marshal in history, is a distant ancestor.)  I’m also working hard to get Aethelmearc its own branch of the Forester’s Guild (if you haven’t looked them up online yet, I really suggest it.  It’s awesome stuff!).  I’m a deeply lazy person, actually, but the SCA has so much good stuff to do I keep pretty busy!

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? I wanted to be a knight, to have a totally insane suit of Gothic plate armor, and to own a percheron.  My horse’s lineage is debatable, but I count her as a win. I got the armor!

What are your goals now?

Now I’d like to be a Laurel, a Master Forester, a Ranger (a specialized type of Forester focused on period wilderness survival and navigation skills, and making journeys over land and water), to keep Paladin’s pantry rolling, and to grow the Aethelmearc Forester’s Program into the best one in the Known World!  I’d also like to get an experiment rolling for quarterstaff combat.  It’s really kinda nuts that we don’t do that, I think.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? Talking to women?  I was a pretty sheltered Ohio Valley nerd… Honestly, I didn’t find the SCA intimidating.  It was finding my tribe and the place where I fit, and it was wonderful. It still is.

If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be? Get to Pennsic! Good Lord, I miss that.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?

My advice would be to do everything.  Do absolutely everything you want to do that looks cool.  This is a perfect fit for a jack-of-all-trades person.  Specialize later if you want, but first try all 39 flavors! (In the SCA there’s WAY more than 39, so this may take a while…)

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Leatherworking, maybe?  Ooooo….making fire with flint and steel.   I suck at that.  Target archery?  Dang, I still have a lot to learn!

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?

I’d like another peerage.  Laurel (for poetry, teaching, and wilderness skills) maybe,  or the Omnibus Martial Peerage, if we ever get one!  (I think we should call it The Chimera or The Manticore, because it’s an amalgam of dangerous stuff, and because the badge would look amazingly cool!

Please add additional comments as you see fit.

I have to say that the people in the SCA are a blessing.  Overall, I’ve been dazzled by the rich variety, immense generosity of spirit, and essential decency of people in our game.  VIVAT!

 

 

 

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Populace in Focus! Participants Needed

04 Sunday Apr 2021

Posted by in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

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Greetings!! Lady Thalia Papillon here, Gazette editor and proud inhabitant of the Kingdom of Æthelmearc, continuing with the tradition of populace in focus. Our Kingdom is a vast and wonderful place filled with many great people, but how many of these people do you see event after event and have never met, or maybe wondered more about?

This is open to the entire Kingdom and is not limited by rank, position, or time in the SCA. There is no deadline, when I have articles I will post articles. I am also interested in interviewing couples, households, fighting units, or any other element that makes up the Kingdom. Even if you don’t live in the Kingdom any more, but still call Aethelmearc home in your heart? We would love to hear from you too.

If you are interested in being interviewed please contact me (information below) and I will send you a series of questions to answer. When completed return the answers to me. Please include at least three to four photos to use in the article. One should be a good profile picture. Answers with no photos will not be published.

I hope to hear from as many of you as possible and look forward to learning more about everyone

Read previous Populace in Focus articles here

Lady Thalia: email

Facebook: Vanessa Hayes

Populace in Focus – Avelina del Dolce

21 Sunday Feb 2021

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Real Name (optional): Amanda Mulder

SCA Name & title: THL Avelina del Dolce

Years in the SCA: 19

How did you find out about the SCA?

I grew up in Butler, PA and my parents and I always drove past Pennsic. I fantasied and wished I could get involved, it looked so fun! When I was 17 years old, I met someone who knew someone involved with the Shire of Sunderoak. I attended shire meetings and my first Pennsic that same year, and I’ve been active since.

Where did you start, what was your first event?

Good gentles from Sunderoak encouraged me to attend an SCA event called, “The Fool’s Event” around April 27, 2002 so I could experience a small celebration before my first Pennsic War. A chatelaine, the individual who lends garb and helps SCA newbies get started, gave me a beautiful, flattering dress. I asked her to tell me more about the style, and she explained the dress was modeled after 15 c. Italian Renaissance clothing. From the moment of my very first event, I fell in love with Italian gowns, and they are still a garb style I frequently wear in the present day. I still feel the glimmer of adventure from this lovely day. In short, A young fencer named Sir Jeffrose Stiller came over to myself and my group. He bent down on one knee and inquired, “My dear ladies, I travel from afar without a consort. I humbly beseech one of your greatness to be the lovely consort I may fight for during this tournament.” I stepped forward to join the magic! Following that event, I became enthralled with the SCA. I attended a few smaller events, such as a Sylvan Crusade, because I needed my SCA fix. Pennsic couldn’t come soon enough that year but when it did, it was worth the wait!

What is your persona? Lady Avelina del Dolce lives in 16th Century Florence, Italy. She is a well-educated and sophisticated dancer and commedia dell’arte actress and with talent and knowledge in many different arts and sciences. She loves learning new skills too.

Why did you pick this persona? The arts and garb I enjoy in the SCA connect well to my persona as Avelina del Dolce.

Do you have any group or household affiliations?

I don’t belong to a household. I am known in the commedia and dance communities across the known world. I reside in the Shire of Stormsport (Erie, PA).

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.

I have my bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education with a master’s degree in special education. Outside of the SCA I work as a student support coordinator at a university to help individuals with autism maintain with their academic, social, independent living, and emotion functioning in college. I’m also a licensed Zumba instructor and teach many dance fitness classes for adults and children.

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?

I teach dance with a focus on the fifteenth and sixteenth-century Italian cascade dances. I also am heavily involved in commedia dell’arte theater with many different groups across the known world. I also sew, play the violin, sing, lucet, and write.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.):

I’m part of the Pennsic staff and serve as stage manager for the Performing Arts Pavilion. I also actively teach dance and commedia dell’arte theater classes at Pennsic and sca events in and outside of the kingdom. I helped with the planning of Known World Dance and Music Symposium 12 in Timonium, MD, including running the closing ball. I’ve managed commedia dell’arte troupes, I’m former capocomico of Vagando Stolti (Atlantia).

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?

When I started in the SCA I wanted to learn as much as I could about everything. I started with renaissance dance, storytelling, commedia dell’arte, sewing and I still learn and practice. I learned enough to sew my own garb, which was exciting! Then my goal was to start teaching as much as possible when I lived in Atlantia, so I signed up to teach for many university events and Pennsic.

What are your goals now?

I want to continue to learn about the topics I enjoy above, especially garment construction and techniques. I’d also love to try my hand at illumination too, but with no prior experience, I’m not sure how to begin! An important goal at this stage of my life is my focus on service in the society. I’m delighted about my opportunity to serve right now as a member of the Pennsic Staff. The SCA has given me so much throughout the years, I take joy when I can help the magic happen for others.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?

The few years before I started teaching classes at Pennsic I had a bout with imposter syndrome. I decided with encouragement of my friends to sign up anyway. I taught at Pennsic for the first time, and I found all my students to be kind, thoughtful, and received a lot of positive feedback. I loved the dialogue we shared and when students contacted me to tell me how my classes inspired them.

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA?

I moved back to AEthemearc only two years ago, after spending nine years in Atlantia prior, and I didn’t really have the time to become more involved with AEthemearc when I settled into my house and job. I’m not even sure if everyone knows I’m back (hopefully they do now, after reading this, lol). It’s hard for me to get involved via ZOOM right now, but I am looking forward to attending more in-person events in AEthemearc when the shutdown ends.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?

Beginning as a newbie in the SCA can feel overwhelming. Don’t forget that all of us started somewhere. We have made mistakes but taking the first step is the only way to learn and grow. The SCA has a lot of supportive, nice people willing to help you on your journey.

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? I’d like to sing and write beautiful poetry for bardic circles.

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?

I’d eventually like to receive a laurel or pelican service award. I work hard and believe fervently in bringing the dream and magic of the SCA to others. If I never receive this opportunity, I will still participate and continue doing what I love in the SCA.

If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be?

I’d like to see more service opportunities where we reach out to our greater non-sca community. We need to be accessible for schools, artist collectives, living history, festivals, colleges, and events. I started to advise a college club at my university, and it is wonderful to see young adults dive in and discover the love for what we do. We need guest virtual speakers, so if anyone wants to share an art, please contact me at the following email address.

Populace in Focus – Gwydeon ap Arden

17 Sunday Jan 2021

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Real Name: Shane Phipps

SCA Name & title: THL Gwydeon ap Arden, Order of the Gage

Years in the SCA: 35 Years

How did you find out about the SCA?

Growing up in Alaska is the last place you would probably think to find the SCA back in the eighties. Originally my mother wanted to go to a renaissance faire when I was very young. After some time, Dad said okay, and we all loaded up in the car and went to my first ever faire. I fixated on everything, the sights, the smells, the acting, and as we walked around the local Barony of Eskalya was doing a fighting demo, which immediately caught my eye. I stood there beside my mom entranced watching Heavy fighters clash each other and fight. The sounds, the movements, the shiny metal helmets, the applause to the victor. I looked at the heraldry on the shields, and then, as my mother and father were talking to one of the Chatelaines, I watched my first fight ever between two Knights, Sir Kylson Skyfire, may he Rest in Peace, and Sir Brendan Shimmeringstar. As I watched something just clicked, and I excitedly began to interrupt my mom and dad. When my mom finally pried my hand from her shirt sleeve she bent down and asked me “What is it?”

And with big dinner plate blue eyes I looked up at my mom and said, “I know what I want to be when I grow up.”

Amused the Chatelaine smirked as I excitedly pointed to the field, “I wanna be a Knight!”

With that being said, my dad looked at the woman and said, “So how do we join?”

And the rest they say, is history

Where did you start, what was your first event?

1980s? Summer Coronet in at the time the Shire of Selviergard, now the Barony of Selviergard.

What is your persona?

Originally Arthurian. When I was younger I was heavily enthralled by the Knights of the Round Table. And I chose Gareth as my name. When I was finally old enough to fight heralds would butcher Gareth, and I was be called Garth. So Gwydeon was born. A Welch bastard child of a Viking raid.

Why did you pick this persona? As I grew older my area of interest changed, from Knights to Vikings

Do you have any group or household affiliations?

Well, a few to be honest, Rolling Thunder, Oldcastle, Prydeskeep, and the list just keeps going.

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA. 

I spent a collective eleven years in military service between two branches. The Marines out of high school, and the Army. After which I went to school to become a high school history teacher, but due to job climate I was unable to secure employment. Shortly after graduation I received my complete disability from the Military, which classed me as unemployable, and I retired five years ago. The majority of my mundane life is spent training and tending to my furry compatriots and being a house elf.

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?

Fighting, blacksmithing, blade smithing, leatherwork, fighting, fencing, Calligraphy and Illumination, Queens guard, Bardic…. Did I mention fighting?

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)

I have held various offices in my time in the SCA. Primarily, I am the Knight marshal of the Shire of Sterlynge Vayle, but I have held the offices of Herald, Chatelaine, Constable, Chirurgen, and Baronial Champion.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?

Well, I was a kid, I had one goal at the time I wanted to fight, and I wanted to be a knight. But as I grew up I began to understand the path is more than just putting on armor going out into the list field and fighting.

What are your goals now? Oh I still want to be a Knight, that dream has never changed.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?

Standing in front of people, I play it off well due to past experience, but deep down inside? Quaking in my boots

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA?

Find some of my friends, drag them out of hibernation, put on the armor, beat on each other until we can’t lift our arms. Rest. Go to the forge and pound out a blade.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?

There is always someone with an answer to your question, and if I don’t know the answer, I can point you to the person that does.

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?  Scrimshaw  (scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory)

If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why?  I don’t think I would pick a different era, than the one I came into to be honest.

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?

Well, who doesn’t want to be King? And in time I may even achieve that station. But my one true goal and dream would be to attain Knighthood. That hasn’t changed from the time I was a little kid. And I wouldn’t mind becoming a Laurel or a Pelican either, but my main focus currently is to achieve Knighthood.

If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be?  Camaraderie, there is too much darkness in the world for us not to be friends and enjoy this wonderful hobby and dream.

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