Author: Solveig Bjarnardottir, Bard and Teacher

#Bard #Troublemaker
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Love for my Laurel-Ican

Several months back, my Pelican reached out to me and asked if I wanted to create tokens for my Laurel as she was going to be asked to join the Order of the Pelican. At that time, I was unable to complete the project so I said no. More covid struck the world and the event was moved to a much later date. I wanted to do something more special than just tokens. I wanted to do something that meant something to Sabine. Her full SCA name is Sabine de Kerbriant and she is a 14th century french woman. What better way to capture that than to do a 14th century brooch. Her badge that she marks all of us is a heart. So, I found a heart shaped brooch. I wanted to something truly accurate to her persona. Luckily, l found this. See the below link:

Link to museum where brooch is housed

The original brooch said “Without being parted” which wasn’t what I really wanted to convey, so I did some research and found a 14th century french phrase which seemed to be more fitting. “Here I am Yours” IOSV IEI ATI VCI.

From there, I did my work. I 3D modeled this in fusion 360

This is the image after many many hours of modeling

From there, I made a mold out of high temperature silicone and cast it

After it was cast, I cut off the sprue, cleaned it up, ran it through a rock tumbler.

To make the brooches functional, I took silver plated copper, cut them to length, wrapped them and filed the edges to make them sharp. I made 75 of these for Sabine’s elevation. My hands were cranky.

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A More Challenging Assembly

You would think after the 3 prior years of running this event, it would be easy as cake. The problem was that the 3 previous years had all been different. Covid-19 is still raging on and that lends itself to many other challenges.

In the first year of the challenge assembly’s inception, it had a large location in an area that was well accessible by many of the performers in the region. Bringing it up north had it’s own challenges. EKCOP has no money of it’s own, so we would need to find a sponsoring location. Luckily, Stonemarche had some extra money in the coffers and could offer us a sum to run this event. Finding sponsors for the challenges was another item as folks were unsure how their challenges were going to be taken and how they would view them.

This year, I was able to have 18 sponsors of 20 unique challenges. Next, getting folks to travel to New Hampshire and be willing to perform. We still had the requirements of masking indoors and performing outside would pose a challenge as there was a baseball game booked on the same grounds we were using. Can’t really complain considering the site was only charging us 75 dollars for the day. In addition we had to figure out how much food to feed people for day board and how we could encourage folks to teach.

The performance community in Stonemarche is decently sized, however, covid was making this all difficult. All in all, we had 43 attendees and actually made a profit of a little more than a hundred dollars for the day and this with charging folks the least amount we possibly could. We also had 12 amazing classes ranging from singing, story telling, history of stories and insturmental. The videos will be up soon… I hope.

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Words for Onana Frizzell- Lamp of Apollo

Words for Onana Frizzell- Lamp of Apollo
By Solveig Bjarnardottir
Inspired by Oedipus

Auspicious Onara Frizzell, stretch the skilled hand
The delicate digits, until they embroider and paint for us
Fine Tapestries and illuminations
Athena, Artist
Make with prism of colors upon the fabric!
Oh, amethyst virtuosa, O fine crafter of brush and needle
O Stonemarchian-Rhapso not be belittled to Nike
Inspire on and share with all you can
Come with outstretched palm as you raise
yourself and others
Baron and Baroness of Stonemarche
Keziah and Deidre, inspired by your skill
Elevate you, an order to join
Apollo, Lamp, golden bright
This Palio, Anno Societatis 57

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Words for Spyridon Tou Nkrizou Lykou- Lamp of Apollo

Words for Spyridon Tou Nkrizou Lykou- Lamp of Apollo
By Solveig Bjarnardottir
Inspired by Oedipus

What is Dionysus singing in his profound
Pytho of burgundies and brown
Until now, we were strangers to the taste
As we have been strangers to water
Could we enjoy but the fine tastes that he presents
Without knowing how refined they were
But now, friends
As we are no strangers to this land
Make this proclamation
If any person knows by whose tongue have but tasted
The brews et all
Knows the finery they share
Let it stand as promised to those before him that he too be noticed
Spyridon Tou Nkrizou Lykou, Brewer of fine beverages,
That the Baron and Baroness of Stonemarche
Keziah and Deidre, inspired by your skill
Elevate you, an order to join
Apollo, Lamp, golden bright
This Palio, Anno Societatis 57

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Demo at the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire

One of my jobs, as it has been for the past year is to serve as the Chatelaine of the Barony of Stonemarche. For the previous year, it has really just been an administrative job due to the nature of events and COVID. However, at the Aisles of Marche, I had set up a mini demo for any possible new comers to be able to see what we had besides shopping. I wanted something that was more visually pleasing than just some folks, standing around in garb and answering questions. I wanted something interactive.

For the NHRF, I started off with a new, revamped booklet, which was not as intense as what we have on the SCA website, but has some key information that a new comer would need walking into their first, second or third events.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1quyibfNwdMUSnwOxnH4hwkdgSateUS5r/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=105255312117189439983&rtpof=true&sd=true

From there, I also created a form with pictures of all the main folks in the Barony, as well as the Royals. This was accurate at the time of it’s inception. This will get updated as officers and royals change.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mND-AeuMKRuFKDMQosknxJdEkfRBMiFy/view?usp=sharing

From there it was grabbing weapons, crafts, books, arts and SINGING! I cannot have an event without singing. I brought a few copies of my rounds book and as folks had time, would encourage them to sing. We also had live crafting demonstrations and board games. I picked a few of my favorite medieval board games and set them out to teach people. On the games, there was a copy of the barony and sca information as well as the rules. I figured this might be a better alternative to business cards. Also, for the hip crew, we had a QR code to scan so I could email folks directly. I know I don’t want to carry a card with me if I don’t have to.

The rest of the day I spent answering questions for new comers, herding my amazing volunteers, scheduling breaks and just having a blast welcoming new comers.

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Sung Scroll for Amalie von Hoehensee

Embroidery- Pastime with Good Company, Accredited to Henry VIII
Words for Amalie von Hohensee- Order of the Laurel

Pass the time with fine embroidery
My needle sews until I die
Grudge who will, but none deny,
The goldwork flows, continue will I.
For sustenance
tatt, lace, and dance.
The strings now I see:
All threads are drawn
From morn till dawn,
Who shall stop me?

Spangles add to a garment’s shine
The crafter’s heart and passion divine
Add brocade methinks it best,
to sew all night until I must rest.
Edges adorn
fine garments worn
Cunning work to see
‘Tis viewed by all,
Entranced enthralled,
A skilled crafter is she.

Amalie has a specialty
Opus angelicanum is key
with the fine and detailed decree
She brings even the most skilled to agree:
No idleness,
A new mistress
adorned shall she be.
The Consules say
to join today
and wear a Laurel’s leaves.

Sung Scroll for Amalie von Hoehensee