| Wittsend Library |
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| Wittsend Library |
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elcome to Wittsend Chained Library!
(Well, at least, there are links) Here in the Library, you will find all of the
online reference materials that I have produced for classes and workshops I have taught
in the SCA, articles that I have written, and artwork I have created for various
publications in the SCA. I do not make any claims of being an authority on any
particular subject, but each topic at least has some basic research or experience to
support it.
If you see anything that is in error or you would like more information about please contact me at DragonAzure.
These materials are ©1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,
2001, and 2002 by Eldred Ælfwald / J.T.Thorpe.
In general, unless otherwise noted, the articles and class notes found here
may be used free of charge within the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
as long as their source (me) is acknowledged. A note sent to me indicating
that you have made use of my materials would also be greatly appreciated.
Likewise, permission to use the artwork is freely granted to official publications
of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and to artisans working on behalf of
the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. Use outside of this context is
prohibited without the express written permission of the artist (me).
The Legal Stuff:
CARD CATALOG |
|
|---|---|
Art & Architecture
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Calligraphy & Illumination
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Humor (SCA)
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Clip-Art
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Heraldry: Armory
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Heraldry: Misc
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Heraldry: Names
| History
|
Woodworking
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| ART & ARCHITECTURE | ||
|---|---|---|
Class |
Event |
Synopsis |
| Medieval Architecture: The Rose Window |
06/02/2001 University of Atlantia #53 Augusta, GA
07/28/2001
06/10/2000
|
Stained glass and rose windows in particular have been a source of great beauty and inspiration throughout the centuries. What are the origins and meaning of the Gothic Rose Window? How were they made? Learn about one of the most beautiful and inspirational aspects of medieval architecture. See how this art form can be interpreted and used in the context of the current Middle Ages. |
|
Gothic Religious Architecture in Paris - Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris - Basillica of St. Denis - Royal Chapel of St. Chapelle |
The Nottinghill Quill
|
At the end of June, 2000, I made a brief pilgrimage to the lands of Charlemagne:
France. Business occupied most of my time there, however, I did avail myself of
the opportunity to see and pay homage to a few of the masterpieces of Gothic
architecture in and around the city of Paris. Inspired by the beauty of these structures, I wrote three brief articles accompanied by photographs to share what I found. Please request permission from me before using the photographs that accompany these articles. |
| CALLIGRAPHY & ILLUMINATION | ||
|---|---|---|
Class |
Event |
Synopsis |
| Introduction to Calligraphy |
03/14/2002 Canton of Falcon Cree A&S Night
11/1996 |
This is an introductory class to provide an historical overview of calligraphy in period, and to introduce basic calligraphy techniques. |
| Introduction Scroll Layout and Design |
07/20/2002 Nottinghill Collegium Greenville, SC
06/02/2001
|
This course introduces period methods and styles of page layout for
manuscripts and addresses adaptations of those styles for the modern
SCA scribe. The notes for this course have been updated are published in the 2002 Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium. |
| Illuminations for the Artistically Challenged |
06/29/2002 Runestone Collegium Winston-Salem, NC
06/01/2002
03/14/2002
|
Think you can't draw? Believe that you could never produce (or reproduce)
those beautiful illuminations from period? If you can write your basic
letters, then you have all the ability you need to get started.! This is a hands-on workshop for people interested in illuminations but who are intimidated by looking at the complexity of medieval illuminations. Basic floral forms and easy scroll layouts are presented for the beginning illuminator. By the end of the workshop each student should have an illumination ready for painting. |
| A Survey of Illuminations |
7/28/2001 St. Jerome's Study Tampa, FL (Trimaris)
7/14/2001
1/15/2000
2/27/1999
10/3/1998
7/18/1998
|
This is a survey of medieval illuminations from the scriptorium of Durham Cathedral and Lindesfarne Monastery. The evolution of style and illumination is discussed. Color slides and B&W class notes. |
| HUMOR (SCA) | ||
|---|---|---|
Title |
Publication |
Synopsis |
| Cartoons: |
The Duct Tape Diaries Issue #1, Volume #2, Issue #1, Volume #2 The Proceedings of the 2001 Known World Heraldic Symposium |
These cartoons are, of course, satirical in nature, but are not intended to offend specific individuals or groups of people. Any similarity to actual living persons is a mere visual coincidence no matter what YOU think. |
| The Iron Tailor: A Parody | January 2002 |
This is an edited compilation of a parody that I developed on an
email list. The inspiration? "The Iron Chef" and a Laurel's trip
to the fabric store where he found one square yard of material
of a really cool brocade he wanted....Oh, the humanity!
WARNING: There are definite "in-jokes" throughout, so if you are an SCA member, have seen the Iron Chef, and have a clue about sci-fi and fantasy conventions, you'd better put down your drink before reading this..... |
| CLIP-ART These images are free for use by chroniclers and artisans of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. For permission to use them outside the context of the SCA, please contact me at the email address noted above. |
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|---|---|
Genre |
Usage Requirements |
Award and Order Badges
|
These links will take you to pages containing images I have created
of the heraldry for various groups, awards, and Orders.
|
| Labours of the Year | This link will take you to the Atlantian College of Scribes' webpages where images of the Medieval Calendar Year can be found. These images were originally published in 2001, one per month, in the Nottinghill Quill, the newsletter for the Barony of Nottinghill Coill |
| HERALDRY: ARMORY | ||
|---|---|---|
Class |
Event |
Synopsis |
|
Introduction to Heraldry (aka: Basic Blazonry) |
1/10/2002 Holiday Revels Greenville, SC
12/11/2001
?/2000
7/18/98
11/8/97
7/19/97
2/22/97
2/24/96
2/17/96 w/Baron Peter Hawkyns
?/1994, ?/1995, ?/1996
|
This was once Eldred's most popular course, mainly because it
Introduces SCA heraldry and blazonry to the student. Veterans
of the SCA enjoy it as well. The basics of blazonry: tinctures,
Ordinaries, charges, why dexter and sinister are where they are,
how to arrange charges, and a plethora of other heraldic
terminology and how it all is supposed to go together.
The lecture includes random armory courtesy of Uncle Eldred's Fuzzy Felt Heraldry (inspired by Baroness Anne LeCoeur), which very effectively illustrates basic heraldic principles--e.g., why we don't allow blue on green. |
| Animal Blazonry |
10/6/01 University of Atlantia #53 Boone, NC
2/27/99
11/8/97
7/19/97
2/22/97
2/24/96
2/17/96 w/Baron Peter Hawkyns
|
This is what I consider an "advanced blazonry" class as there is an
entire menagerie of beasts to blazon, and each type of animal has
several different positions and minor adjustments that it can be
heraldically portrayed in. Just what is the difference between rampant
and salient anyway? By no means a comprehensive course, but it will
get you through 95% of the possible blazons for the heraldic zoo.
The original version of this course was divided into a series of 9 short articles for the Canton of Falcon Cree's newsletter, The Falcon's Eye and published in sequence from November 1997 through July 1998 The notes for this course have been updated extensively and have been published in the 2001 Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium. |
| Heraldry for Non-Heraldic Cultures |
07/20/2002 Nottinghill Collegium Greenville, SC
?/1998
07/19/1997
|
Originally this was an impromtu course based on Baroness Eliska's course
from UA #41. No notes, it was more of a forum discussing how one would
design arms for a persona from a "non-heraldic" culture. The current version of this course now incorporates information about Japanese mon, Islamic heraldry, and "heraldry" from pre-heraldic cultures. |
| Heraldry for Children |
1/15/00 Nottinghill Collegium Central, SC
11/8/97 w/Lady Rhiannon Ui Neill
11/22/97
|
This course is intended for people performing demonstrations for children at schools or at events. Children are welcome to attend and participate. A demonstration of a demonstration is interesting to watch! |
| Armorial Display/Banner Making |
3/24/98 Falcon Cree Arts & Science Night Greenville, SC
|
This course is intended to be a companion to the banner making workshops hosted by Falcon Cree. It gives a brief overview of the different types of armorial display that are available to people wanting a more period look to their displays of arms. |
| Canting Arms |
7/14/2001 Nottinghill Collegium Greenville, SC
|
Heralds don't pun, they cant. This course is all about how to cant your armory so that it makes a visual pun or allusion to your persona's name or occupation. The random examples from the class make for an extremely entertaining hour. | (Em)Blazonry Quizzes |
The Falcon's Eye February 1997 - June 1998 Herald's Point Vol. 3, Issue 1, January 1998 |
At the request of Falcon Cree's herald, I provided artwork for
a series of quizzes designed to both introduce terms of blazonry
and identify the armory that belonged to individuals of the canton's
populace
At the request of the Triton Principal Herald, I created a quiz consisting of 11 pieces of SCA armory with their blazons. Contestants were encouraged to identify who each piece of armory belongs to, and the first (non-senior Herald) to respond with a complete set of correct answers won a prize. |
| HERALDRY: MISC | ||
|---|---|---|
Class |
Event |
Synopsis |
| Survivng Court |
11/8/97 University of Atlantia #43 Florence, SC
7/19/97
2/1/97 w/Lady Rhiannon Ui Neill |
Nope, not a history or even instruction on how to survive
court intrigue. This course is mainly intended for heralds,
instructing them on how to prepare for Court, what to do
in Court, and how to recover from faux pas, gaffes, tongue
twisting names, and reading beautifully (but difficult to
decipher) calligraphed scrolls.
This course comes with a single page handout (Uncle Eldred's Court Checklist) that covers the majority of items a herald will need to know and do in order to run a successful Court. If you are not a herald, or do not plan to participate in the "behind the scenes" work of running a Court, I suggest you read no further. This course will dispel much of the "magic" we associate with Court and how it all goes together in the SCA. |
| Heraldry in History and the SCA |
?/98 Auxillium and Concillium Charlotte, NC
2/22/97 |
An overview of the role of the medieval herald, and the role heralds play in the context of the Society for Creative Anachronism. |
| HERALDRY: NAMES | ||
|---|---|---|
Class |
Event |
Synopsis |
| Beginning Names |
6/2/2001 University of Atlantia #53 Boone, NC
|
If you are interested in picking your first SCAdian name or you just want a new name, this class will help find the period name that makes you happy. There will be ample time for questions. |
| HISTORY | ||
|---|---|---|
Class |
Event |
Synopsis |
| The Troubled Reign of King Stephen |
2/27/1999 University of Atlantia #46 Albemarle, NC
10/20/1998
10/3/1998
|
Stephen is one of the little-regarded monarchs of English
history. Not a great deal is known about his early life, as
he was never expected to gain the throne of England. Learn about
the English Anarchy of 1135-1154, and find out about the backdrop
for the Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels. The course notes for this class were divided into a series of three articles published in the Nottinghill Coill at the beginning of 1999. My wife, Lady Ealdthryth of Humberstone, maintains a webpage that provides both resources and links to resources about the Reign of King Stephen. |
| WOODWORKING | ||
|---|---|---|
Class |
Event |
Synopsis |
| Board Games |
11/14/2002 Canton of Falcon Cree A&S Night Greenville, SC
|
No formal class notes. This was a hands-on workshop devoted to creating game boards for period games--specifically for chess, draughts, fox & geese, tafl/fidchell, and merrels. |
Disclaimer:
These Web pages are not Official SCA Web pages, and do not delinate
SCA policy or by-laws regardless that I am a card-carrying member
and officer of this Corporation....
Opinion:
Any society that requires disclaimers has too many lawyers....
Last Update: November 19, 2002
