From: owner-scribes@castle.org (scribes digest) To: scribes-digest@castle.org Subject: scribes digest V2 #29 Reply-To: Sender: owner-scribes@castle.org Errors-To: owner-scribes@castle.org Precedence: bulk scribes digest Thursday, May 28 1998 Volume 02 : Number 029 In this issue: Re: [scribes]: Lectern or Table-long [scribes]: ? on work surface angles [scribes]: Re: [Mid] Looking Desperately for a Book [scribes]: Nibs [scribes]: MIDLAUREL: Fwd: Re: A Laurel answering you call.. Re: [scribes]: Lectern or Table-long Re: [scribes]: List problems & name contest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 19:06:21 -0400 (EDT) From: Susan Lynn Arthur Subject: Re: [scribes]: Lectern or Table-long At 02:40 PM 5/27/98 -0400, you wrote: > By the way,I have just added a picture I did a long time ago. It is >a Theophilus text on making Spanish Gold. The minim height of the letters >is about a sixteenth od an inch and the little brown man is 7/16 " high. My >calligraphy is not so hot, but it was the first long piece I ever did with >a bird quill. Greetings, good gentles, I have a question. I am relatively new to C&I. I am trying to master modern tools and materials before I tackle making my own quills, etc. I have been using Speedball nibs for my callig, and like them pretty well. I tried another brand but found it too soft; my line widths varied in the wrong directions! The problem arises with the relatively few choices of nib sizes. I have used a C5 on the last couple of scrolls, and am fairly comfortable with the resulting letter size. However, at least one reviewer/juror commented that my letters were too big; she reminded me that many of the reproductions are enlarged for better detail and suggested that I work smaller. When I have tried a C6, however, I don't get much contrast between the thicks and thins. I have been using Higgins waterproof ink to date. Is it possible the ink is a factor, as in too thick? I just purchased some Sumi ink (in the recommended green bottle) but haven't had a chance to test it yet. If the problem is more likely the nib, can you suggest alternatives? As noted above, I do like a fairly stiff nib. I will appreciate any help you can provide; based on previous inquiries I'm sure it will be terrific. Thanks, Lucia Bellini ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 20:01:48 -0400 (EDT) From: Della Hutchison Subject: [scribes]: ? on work surface angles To prevent slippage, I use that newfangled rubber stuff that comes in rolls or coasters. It's kind of squishy, but it holds like a champ! You can find it in the Rubbermaid section of your local household goods department. Alicia AEthelmearc ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 May 98 17:23:22 PDT From: Dyan Boven Subject: [scribes]: Re: [Mid] Looking Desperately for a Book At 01:29 AM 5/26/98 EDT, your wrote: >>I am on a quest to find a copy of the Luttrell Psalter. (snip) If anyon= e knows where one could be had, please, please let me know.<< The only place I've seen it advertised is in the Paper and Ink Books cata= log: "The Luttrell Psalter by Janet Backhouse, 64 pp, 37 color plates, 37 b&w = illus, $16.95, paper. Luttrell Psalter, written and illuminated in Engla= nd early in the 14th century for Sir Geoffrey Luttrel of Irnham in Lincol= nshire," etc. Their website: www.geocities.com/Eureka/Park/7680. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 23:29:50 -0400 (EDT) From: randyaf@provide.net (Randy & Melody Asplund-Faith) Subject: [scribes]: Nibs RESPONSE FOLLOWS REMINDER & QUESTIONS > >> By the way,I have just added a picture I did a long time ago. It is >>a Theophilus text on making Spanish Gold. The minim height of the letters >>is about a sixteenth od an inch and the little brown man is 7/16 " high. My >>calligraphy is not so hot, but it was the first long piece I ever did with >>a bird quill. > > >Greetings, good gentles, I have a question. > >I am relatively new to C&I. I am trying to master modern tools and >materials before I tackle making my own quills, etc. I have been using >Speedball nibs for my callig, and like them pretty well. I tried another >brand but found it too soft; my line widths varied in the wrong directions! > WHEN I CREATED THE PIECE CITED ABOVE, THE QUILL I USED GOT VERY SOFT AFTER A WHILE. RATHER THAN GRABBING A FRESHER ONE OR A BETTER TEMPERED ONE, I JUST FOUGHT WITH IT. IT SPLAYED A LOT, BUT I LEARNED THAT IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO PRESSURE. I NEEDED ALMOST ZERO PRESSURE TO GET THE INK TO FLOW. AS LONG AS I WAS LIGHT TO THE TOUCH THE SCRIPT WORKED OUT FINE. SPEEDBALL NIBS ARE NOT THE BMWs OF THE CALLIGRAPHY WORLD. THEY AREN'T EVEN VOLVOS. THEY ARE MORE LIKE FORD PINTOS. THE FORMED ON RESERVOIR GETS CLOGGED AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED FOR CLEANING. THE TIPS ARE NOT SHARP ENOUGH AND HAVE BLUNTED CORNERS. AND, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A SPRINGYNESS IS CONSIDERED GOOD FOR A CALLIGRAPHY NIB. >The problem arises with the relatively few choices of nib sizes. I have >used a C5 on the last couple of scrolls, and am fairly comfortable with the >resulting letter size. However, at least one reviewer/juror commented that >my letters were too big; she reminded me that many of the reproductions are >enlarged for better detail and suggested that I work smaller. > >When I have tried a C6, however, I don't get much contrast between the >thicks and thins. IT IS TRUE THAT A HUGE NUMBER OF BOOKS WERE CREATED WITH MINUSCULE TEXT, MUCH LIKE THE SCALE MY CITED PIECE IS WRITTEN IN, ESPECIALLY BIBLES. HOWEVER, A 1/2 mm NIB OR A 3/4 mm NIB WOULD EASILY REPRESENT THE SCALE IN QUITE A FEW BOOKS. A 1mm NIB WOULD WORK FOR MEDIUM LARGE SCRIPTS AND THEY DID MUSIC IN LETTERS SO BIG THAT REEDS OR METALS HAD TO BE USED BECAUSE BIRDS DON'T GET FEATHERS THAT BIG. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE MAKING. > >I have been using Higgins waterproof ink to date. Is it possible the ink >is a factor, as in too thick? I just purchased some Sumi ink (in the >recommended green bottle) but haven't had a chance to test it yet. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE WORKED WITH SUMI, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT IS POPULAR WITH A LOT OF SCRIBES. I AM HAPPY WITH HIGGINS NON-WATERPROOF INK. THATS ALL I USE, MOSTLY BECAUSE IT WORKS WELL, CLEANS UP EASILY, MY NIBS DON'T RUST, AND I'VE NEVER HEARD OF WATERPROOF HIGGINS OR OTHER USED IN PERIOD. I BELIEVE (BUT DON'T HOLD ME TO IT) THAT OLD FASHIONED INDIA INK WAS JUST LAMPBLACK AND GUM ARABIC (ANYBODY KNOW FOR SURE?). ANYWAY, LAMPBLACK AND GUM IS A MEDIEVAL INK AND PAINT. > >If the problem is more likely the nib, can you suggest alternatives? As >noted above, I do like a fairly stiff nib. I BET IF YOU LEARN TO USE TAPE OR BRAUSE BRANDS YOU WILL BE HAPPIER AFTER THE ADJUSTMENT. > >I will appreciate any help you can provide; based on previous inquiries I'm >sure it will be terrific. > >Thanks, >Lucia Bellini MY PLEASURE. I HOPE IT HELPS. Ranthulfr Asparlundr, OL, KSCA Randy Asplund-Faith 2101 S. Circle Dr. Ann Arbor, MI. 48103 (734) 663-0954 http://www.provide.net/~randyaf ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 23:39:18 -0400 (EDT) From: randyaf@provide.net (Randy & Melody Asplund-Faith) Subject: [scribes]: MIDLAUREL: Fwd: Re: A Laurel answering you call.. >Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 23:08:53 -0400 >From: Beverly Roden >MIME-Version: 1.0 >To: midlaurel@poet.minstrel.com >Subject: MIDLAUREL: Fwd: Re: A Laurel answering you call.. >Sender: owner-midlaurel@poet.minstrel.com >Precedence: bulk >Reply-To: midlaurel@poet.minstrel.com > >Greetings from Alexis! > >The following forward is private email - the gentle asked on the >Middlebridge for the assistance of a Laurel, so I wrote. It seems his >Lady is a beginner at Calligraphy and Illumination and in need of advice >and guidance. I wrote him back, offering to forward this on to Laurels >who could ACTUALLY help her! :) And, yes, the server is really slow >during the peak traffic hours. It gets better, tho... > >Conchobar Mac Gabhann wrote: >> >> Actually, Mistress, I need some help for my lady-love. She is a beginning >> Scribe, focusing on illuminations. As far as I and several other people >> who have seen her work are concerned, she does lovely work. I have put >> some examples of her work on line at this location: >> >> http://www.crosswinds.net/chicago/~conchobar/Aine/portfolio/index.html >> >> The server there is rather slow, but it does work, trust me! :) In any >> event, my lady, Aine has a terrible habit of disparaging her work as being >> at best "okay." I want to know how I can go about encouraging her and >> helping her to make contact with some others who may be able to assist her >> in increasing her skills. Our local area, Rokkhealden, is in a state of >> disarray, and rather segmented, making it difficult to know who knows what >> in our Shire. >> >> If you would be so kind as to assist, I would be most grateful. >> >> Yours in Service, >> Conchobar >> >> At 02:52 PM 5/27/98 , you wrote: >> >So, what do you want? >> > >> >(bad question for a B5 fan, but... :) >> > >> >Alexis MacAlister, Laureled for Fiber Arts by David and >> >Tangwystl. >> > >> >> Pax, Amor, Concordia // Peace, Love, Harmony >> >> +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- >> >> Conchobar Mac Gabhann >> (mka Geordon VanTassle) >> Deputy Pursuivant, Shire Rokkehealden >> >> Check out my lady's Illuminations! >> http://www.crosswinds.net/chicago/~conchobar/Aine/portfolio/index.html >> >> Etheric Missives to: Conchobar.Mac.Gabhann@USA.net >> Electronic Home: http://www.crosswinds.net/chicago/~conchobar (it's small, >> but growing) >> Enscribed missives: >> Geordon VanTassle >> 630 North Ave >> Glendale Heights IL >> 60139 > >Content-Type: message/rfc822 >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >Content-Disposition: inline > >Received: from beta.mcit.com (beta.mcit.com [199.249.19.143]) > by april.dnaco.net (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id QAA28669 > for ; Wed, 27 May 1998 16:13:57 -0400 (EDT) >Received: from ndcrelay.mcit.com (ndcrelay.mcit.com [166.37.172.49]) > by beta.mcit.com (8.8.8/) with ESMTP > id PAA20434 for ; Wed, 27 May 1998 15:17:50 >-0500 (CDT) >Received: from nmta1.mcit.com.mci.com (nmta1.mcit.com [166.37.172.2]) > by ndcrelay.mcit.com (8.8.7/) with ESMTP > id QAA04607 for ; Wed, 27 May 1998 16:17:50 >-0400 (EDT) >Received: from gvantassle.mcit.com ([166.36.192.44]) > by nmta1.mcit.com.mci.com (Intermail v3.1 117 241) with SMTP > id <19980527201749.EFBO25022@gvantassle.mcit.com> > for ; Wed, 27 May 1998 16:17:49 -0400 >X-Sender: conchobar.mac.gabhann@pop.netaddress.com >X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0.1 >Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 15:17:58 -0500 >To: Beverly Roden >From: Conchobar Mac Gabhann >Subject: Re: A Laurel answering you call.. >In-Reply-To: <356C6EE9.1586@dnaco.net> >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Message-Id: <19980527201749.EFBO25022@gvantassle.mcit.com> > >Actually, Your Grace (would that be the proper reference for a Baroness? >Please inform me), I need some help for my lady-love. She is a beginning >Scribe, focusing on illuminations. As far as I and several other people >who have seen her work are concerned, she does lovely work. I have put >some examples of her work on line at this location: > >http://www.crosswinds.net/chicago/~conchobar/Aine/portfolio/index.html > >The server there is rather slow, but it does work, trust me! :) In any >event, my lady, Aine has a terrible habit of disparaging her work as being >at best "okay." I want to know how I can go about encouraging her and >helping her to make contact with some others who may be able to assist her >in increasing her skills. Our local area, Rokkhealden, is in a state of >disarray, and rather segmented, making it difficult to know who knows what >in our Shire. > >If you would be so kind as to assist, I would be most grateful. > >Yours in Service, >Conchobar > >At 02:52 PM 5/27/98 , you wrote: >>So what do you want? >> >>(bad question for a B5 fan, but... :) >> >>Baroness Alexis MacAlister, Laureled for Fiber Arts by David and >>Tangwystl. >> > > >Pax, Amor, Concordia // Peace, Love, Harmony > >+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- > >Conchobar Mac Gabhann >(mka Geordon VanTassle) >Deputy Pursuivant, Shire Rokkehealden > >Check out my lady's Illuminations! >http://www.crosswinds.net/chicago/~conchobar/Aine/portfolio/index.html > >Etheric Missives to: Conchobar.Mac.Gabhann@USA.net >Electronic Home: http://www.crosswinds.net/chicago/~conchobar (it's small, >but growing) >Enscribed missives: >Geordon VanTassle >630 North Ave >Glendale Heights IL >60139 > Randy Asplund-Faith 2101 S. Circle Dr. Ann Arbor, MI. 48103 (734) 663-0954 http://www.provide.net/~randyaf ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 22:02:28 -0700 From: ken stoner Subject: Re: [scribes]: Lectern or Table-long Lucia Belinni writes: > The problem arises with the relatively few choices of nib sizes. I have > used a C5 on the last couple of scrolls, and am fairly comfortable with the > resulting letter size. However, at least one reviewer/juror commented that > my letters were too big; she reminded me that many of the reproductions are > enlarged for better detail and suggested that I work smaller. > > When I have tried a C6, however, I don't get much contrast between the > thicks and thins. The FAQ has a couple of excellent articles on Pen Nibs and reccomendations. It is at http://freya.elgar.com/scribesfaq.htm Cystennin Sends ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 15:14:12 +1000 From: Steve Roylance Subject: Re: [scribes]: List problems & name contest. Ken Stoner wrote: > > Some of you may have noticed that the list is behaving somewhat > strangely. Also, more of you noticed that the web page is behaving > strangely. I am not sure what is up with the list, but CT is working > on it. The Web Page was down becuase my company switched service > providers and placed my machine behind a firewall. It seems to be > fixed now. > > I will be migrating the page to a new location in the next couple > of days. I am going to register a domain name for it (and us) and > would like suggestions on what to call it. Any ideas? Hi, I would suggest scribes.org as ever Thorfinn, Lochac, West Melbourne, Australia ------------------------------ End of scribes digest V2 #29 ****************************