From: owner-scribes@castle.org (scribes digest) To: scribes-digest@castle.org Subject: scribes digest V5 #39 Reply-To: Sender: owner-scribes@castle.org Errors-To: owner-scribes@castle.org Precedence: bulk scribes digest Monday, February 26 2001 Volume 05 : Number 039 ======================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with unsubscribe scribes-digets in the body of the message. Leave the subject line blank. Do not include any additional text. Re: [scribes]: Paper preferences [scribes]: The Cloisters Link [scribes]: Paper [was] Re: Hummmmm [scribes]: visit to New York ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 18:21:20 -0500 From: "Sally Burnell" Subject: Re: [scribes]: Paper preferences > OK, now we've done paper, anyone want to debate nibs? Ooooooh, me!! I'll go first! I swear up and down by my Brause nibs! They are just the best thing going, bar none! I've tried Speedball, I've tried Mitchell, I *love* Brause! Nothing works better for me. I've not tried Rotring or some other nibs that I've heard y'all mention in past conversations, but boy, I'll keep using my Brause nibs because I just find they are so superior in quality compared to what I've used in the past. The ink flows so smoothly off of them! Lady Katarina Peregrine gave me her set of Brauses because she did not care for them, but it could just be a difference in how we tend to do calligraphy. I use a rather light touch when I work and that could be why the Brauses work for me and did not work for her. She says that she thinks that she has a heavier touch than I do and had far too many problems with them, so she gave me her whole set, for which I must say that I am eternally grateful! But like any other piece of equipment, YMMV.........................! ~Saradwen Midrealm =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 18:27:57 -0500 From: Ed Roehre/Patresha Zeoli Subject: [scribes]: The Cloisters Link Ok I found the link. this place is wonderful. Its like walking back in time through a old monastery. There are alot of wonderful medieval art and relics on display. http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/department.asp?dep=7 enjoy! I did!! GenRose - -- Lady Geniveve Rose D'Glendalough GenRose Baronial Childrens' Guild Leader of Andelcrag Deputy to Pentamere Regional Minister of Children Middle Kingdom Head of House Shadow Dragon ICQ# 51429722 =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 18:49:36 EST From: RenScribe@aol.com Subject: [scribes]: Paper [was] Re: Hummmmm Before anyone starts feeling too bad about using paper and not vellum for scrolls... Paper is period too :-) OK, what we use isn't exactly the same, but it's not as far off as you might think. 140# hot press watercolor paper is a popular choice for SCA scribes, but anything over 100# will work.... especially if it's all you can find. > It is also very forgiving to "mistakes" ...or should I say the correction > techniques used to fixed mistakes. It is also the type of paper the is used > in most of the classes at Pennsic War, where almost everyone will tell you, > is one of the most unforgiving environments to do the Scribal Arts ( > especially for guilding). I teach gilding at Pennsic :-) It's really not that much harder at Pennsic than at home with heaters or fans going (depending on the season). I've even taught it in my encampment in an open pavilion as a storm was blowing in. I'm not sure I could have done it without using Master John's Cennini weight gold, but since I did, we didn't experience any trouble.... but I digress Last year my daughter's tent leaked... unfortunately her illumination in progress was caught in the flood. She was in tears and I wasn't sure we could do much to save the piece, but I had to try. I placed it in a clean, dry, fabric covered, cardboard portfolio and placed weight on top of it. After a couple of days the illumination was flat enough to allow it to air dry. Most of the paint smudges got blotted into the portfolio, those that remained were cleaned up with a sharp craft knife. > To explain the difference between hot pressed and cold pressed paper, I will > have to defer to my brother and sister scribes in the East Kingdom and > Aethelmarc. I fear that I could not give an appropriate explanation between > the two. Think of it in terms of ironing. If you use a cold iron (cold press) you are going to end up with more wrinkles. Use a hot iron (hot press) and the surface will be smooth. Most scribes, especially the calligraphers, prefer the smoother surface to work on. As for other papers... I have a pad of Bristol board and I don't like it at all. I have been told, is made of layers of paper pressed together. When a mistake is scraped off it is harder to get the fibers to go back into a natural looking finish. Repairs often leave obvious divots in the surface. I don't recommend it for beginning scribes, but if it's all you can find or that's what fits your budget, it will work. I've been testing a piece of pergamenta for lightfastness. Western PA is not known for it's sunny weather this time of year, but I stuck a piece of pergamenta - half of it is covered by heavy brown paper- in a window 2 months ago. I pulled it out just now to check it. The rich, creamy yellow color is already beginning to turn grayish. When I want something a little better than paper, but can't quite afford vellum, I like to use "spam vellum". It's made of pieces of vellum boiled down and processed like paper. The color is beautiful, it acts just like real vellum only there is no "hair" or "greasy" side to worry about and best of all it's ready to use. :-) I'm not sure if anyone's ever done much testing of it though. I have a piece that's held up for about 4 years without showing any fading or brittleness. Will it hold up for 10 years? 100? I don't think anyone really knows for sure. I hope my missive has answered at least some of your questions. Eibhlin ni Chaoimh AEthelmearc =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 18:55:19 -0500 From: "adrienne seel" Subject: [scribes]: visit to New York If you love books I would recommend the Strand bookstore (used remaindered and rare). Their website is http://www.strandbooks.com . They have an incredibly wide selection of books at reasonable prices. During the day Central Park is nice. I wouldn't miss the Cloisters and the Metropolitan museum (don't plan on doing all of the museum but I would _highly_ recommend the intarsia rooms). The walls are murals of wood, done to demonstrate skill in the technique and a full understanding of persepective aand shadows. There are benches that you think you can sit on and objects you reach for. - -Cerridwyne _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ End of scribes digest V5 #39 ****************************