From: owner-scribes@castle.org (scribes digest) To: scribes-digest@castle.org Subject: scribes digest V1 #12 Reply-To: Sender: owner-scribes@castle.org Errors-To: owner-scribes@castle.org Precedence: bulk scribes digest Tuesday, January 27 1998 Volume 01 : Number 012 In this issue: [scribes]: Re: Exemplars for New Scribes Re: [scribes]: Re: Caid Scribes handbook Re: [scribes]: Anyone still up? 12:05 Sunday morning. Re: [scribes]: What about the words Re: [scribes]: Tumble-polished burnishers Re: [scribes]: inexpensive gold/silver substitute Re: [scribes]: On Exemplers [scribes]: What to do . . . Re: [scribes]: inexpensive gold/silver substitute [scribes]: translation [scribes]: Re:What to do . . . [scribes]: re: what to do ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 14:30:38 -0800 From: guineth@juno.com (Emily SD Thompson) Subject: [scribes]: Re: Exemplars for New Scribes On Mon, 26 Jan 1998 14:44:45 EST RenScribe@aol.com writes: >We started our library with _A History of Illuminated Manuscripts_ by >Christopher De Hamel. It is a very broad range book with lots of good >reading >as well as nice exemplars. However it may be a bit pricey for a >novice. Around >$50 US. $35 at Borders last night in Hillsboro, OR. (Large, but softcover) I just wish I had found this book years ago. I'm early period (9th c.) and I started my collection with George Bain's _Celtic_Art_ and then Degering's _Lettering_. (This was before the publication of Drogin's _Medieval_Calligraphy_.) Softcover price these days $10-$12 each, I am told. There are a lot of books available these days for $15 and under. Come to think of it, probably the best solution is to relax to the necessity of spending $50, more or less, on books, and save up and set it aside while practicing your calligraphy, then go to a store which has a good selection on Art History, and choose one or two books with as broad a range and as good illustrations as you can afford and find. University and college libraries are one place to look at books which might not be available through your county library system. You can't usually check them out unless you are a student, but often just spending a few hours looking, sketching ideas, layouts and motifs, etc. can help. When I was playing with Madrone (Seattle, WA) one of the SCAdians who was familiar with it took a group of us on a tour of the medievally- interesting portions of the University of Washington library, so that we would know where to come to find out what we wanted to know. (This is a hint for you institutes- of- higher- learning people.) YIS, Sister Guineth the White _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 00:41:31 -0800 From: sophia king Subject: Re: [scribes]: Re: Caid Scribes handbook EowynA wrote: > > In a message dated 1/24/98 12:31:12 PM, RenScribe@aol.com wrote: > > > > >>Would anyone happen to know if the above is available online? I'd be > >>willing to put it online, if I could find a copy to transcribe. HTML > >>spoken here. :-) I would like to see ones from all the different Kingdoms > >>available somewhere for reference.. I think there's value in learning how > >>other Kingdoms do things. Might be just the thing for a spark of > >>inspiration sometime. :-) > > > >I am not aware of Caid having this information online. > > All things will come in time. > > The Caid web page Webmasters are willing to include this. However, I haven't > seen the Scribe Armarius since New Year's, and he is not on-line. Give us a > little time, here. > > Eowyn Amberdrake, Caid I just got the handbook from Baron Bruce Draconarius.He's in Artemisia-he'll be back home after the 28th. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 02:00:11 -0800 From: sophia king Subject: Re: [scribes]: Anyone still up? 12:05 Sunday morning. Kenneth Stoner wrote: > > Is anyone still up at this hour? > > Cystennin I usually check my mail after work(i.e.11pm to 3am),too busy during daylight hours. Sylvia Dragomani Starkhafn,Caid ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 08:42:54 EST From: FITCHYBEAR Subject: Re: [scribes]: What about the words In a message dated 98-01-27 01:37:11 EST, roylance@corplink.com.au writes: << The oldest document has a photograph and there are no dimensions. Some of the documents do not have Library or catalogue numbers. As ever Thorfinn, Lochac, West Melbourne, Australia >> Oh poop! thanks anyway......JimBear ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 08:42:47 EST From: FITCHYBEAR Subject: Re: [scribes]: Tumble-polished burnishers In a message dated 98-01-26 18:37:02 EST, meistern@iquest.net writes: << . Well, actually, it would never bother you unless you tried to do direct burnishing. But, if you clean it off before the burnishing, it will be OK. Might I recommend a piece of silk to clean it off...for some reason, it leaves no fiber residue and is wonderful for polishing stuff again. Not only is it wonderful against your skin to wear, but it is invaluable to the illuminator -- wonder fabric!!! >> To truly get all the oils off though you might want to consider acetone as it will cut the oil (for those of us lucky individuals who have oily skin) and leave no residue. -JimBear ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 08:42:52 EST From: FITCHYBEAR Subject: Re: [scribes]: inexpensive gold/silver substitute In a message dated 98-01-26 20:08:51 EST, EBHarbord@AOL.COM writes: << A wood setting does sound rather nice. :-) >> I've always found a wood setting to be nice.......JimBear ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 08:42:54 EST From: FITCHYBEAR Subject: Re: [scribes]: On Exemplers In a message dated 98-01-27 01:17:38 EST, 70521.3645@compuserve.com writes: << However, I must warn you that I will not be able to be as prompt as usual in returning letters, as I am currently out of Wisconsin, dealing with a major family crisis. >> hope everything's ok....JimBear ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 09:08:25 -0500 From: ab873@jepms4.jep.cummins.com Subject: [scribes]: What to do . . . I have another "what is your opinion" type question. What do you all chose to do when your signet clerk calls with a hint of desperation in his/her voice, needing a scroll RIGHT NOW. You know you can get *something* done, but it isn't really the quality of work you would like to send out for that project. I know that I can't do my best at my highest level of complexity for every scroll or I would only get two done a year, but there is a limit! Is it better to get a better scroll late, or to get one at the time you get the award??? (I wonder if the response to this will vary by Kingdom). Thanks for your opinion. Dorinda Courtenay (Dorinda Courtine-White) Shire of Heronter, Kingdom of AEthelmearc (Jamestown, New York) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 09:32:05 EST From: EBHarbord Subject: Re: [scribes]: inexpensive gold/silver substitute In a message dated 98-01-27 08:42:52 EST, you write: << << A wood setting does sound rather nice. :-) >> I've always found a wood setting to be nice.......JimBear >> Well, now here's another project I just have for my hubby................ Arrienna McP ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 09:43:02 -0500 From: ab873@jepms4.jep.cummins.com Subject: [scribes]: translation The illumination in the Visconti Hours has the family motto "a buon droyt" or "a droyt" worked into it in about a million places. Does anyone have a translation for this? Thank you. Dorinda Courtenay (Dorinda Courtine-White) Shire of Heronter, Kingdom of AEthelmearc (Jamestown, NY) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 10:03:00 EST From: RenScribe Subject: [scribes]: Re:What to do . . . In a message dated 1/27/98 9:22:56 AM, ab873@jepms4.jep.cummins.com wrote: >What do you >all chose to do when your signet clerk calls with a hint of desperation in >his/her voice, needing a scroll RIGHT NOW. You know you can get *something* >done, but it isn't really the quality of work you would like to send out >for that project. I know that I can't do my best at my highest level of >complexity for every scroll or I would only get two done a year, but >there is a limit! Is it better to get a better scroll late, or to get one >at the time you get the award??? (I wonder if the response to this will >vary by Kingdom). > > Thanks for your opinion. > >Dorinda Courtenay OK...you found one of my pet peeves... I have a rule...if I can't get an award to the event, I don't take the assignment. I hate the disappointed look on the recipients faces when they go back to their seats empty handed. Knock on wood...I have never missed an assignment deadline yet, even though I have gotten assignments with less than a week's notice. It was *my choice* to take an assignment on short notice (and believe me, it's not one I often make). IMHO, once I take an assignment, I am on my honor to get the finished scroll to court. Yes, this means I usually don't have the luxury of doing my best work. It's not a complete waste of time because I learn something from every scroll, no matter how rushed. I always do the best work I am capable of. With a one or two week deadline it is impossible to do a masterpiece. When I do have the time to spend on a scroll, the only difference is the complexity, not the quality. There are ways to compromise. I have a lovely two page scroll for my Sycamore. The Illuminated portion was done over several months. When the assignment came down, another page was added containing the calligraphy and minor illumination to tie it to the more heavily illuminated piece. I have also seen very simple, but elegant pieces that brought gasps because of the apparent skill of the scribe. Talisidhe of the Green Wood for instance can do stunning work in what seems like half a heartbeat. Eibhlin ni Chaoimh AEthelmearc Butler PA ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 10:42:59 -0500 From: Donna Kenton Subject: [scribes]: re: what to do At 09:08 AM 1/27/98 -0500, you wrote: > > > I have another "what is your opinion" type question. What do you >all chose to do when your signet clerk calls with a hint of desperation in >his/her voice, needing a scroll RIGHT NOW. You know you can get *something* >done, but it isn't really the quality of work you would like to send out >for that project. I know that I can't do my best at my highest level of >complexity for every scroll or I would only get two done a year, but >there is a limit! Is it better to get a better scroll late, or to get one >at the time you get the award??? (I wonder if the response to this will >vary by Kingdom). I have a couple of really nice, simple designs that I can do in about three hours -- for instance, calligraphy, initial letter, and ivy with white vine work. If I can do it with one of my "stock" designs, I'm more likely to take it. If it requires a whole new layout, it would depend upon what kind of time I had, and whether or not I felt up to the challenge of pushing my envelope. One of the things I've started doing is keeping some paper with a basic layout already pencilled in. This way, when there is an emergency, I can eliminate the time for marking margins and drawing the text lines. I can do the ivy in my sleep, so that doesn't even get pencilled -- I start right in with a technical pen. Some day I'll make an easy reference for my initial letters, so that will move along faster, too. And as Eibhlin said, if I can't get the scroll finished and delivered to the event, I won't take the assignment at all. As for the quality of the work, if I don't think I have the time to do the job right, I won't take it. It's not fair to short-change the recipient that way, nor is it fair to me to be forced to produce a obviously sub-standard piece of work. Rosalinde ____________________________________________________________________________ Rosalinde De Witte/Donna Kenton * donna@dabbler.com * http://www.dabbler.com ------------------------------ End of scribes digest V1 #12 ****************************