From: owner-scribes@castle.org (scribes digest) To: scribes-digest@castle.org Subject: scribes digest V7 #30 Reply-To: Sender: owner-scribes@castle.org Errors-To: owner-scribes@castle.org Precedence: bulk scribes digest Monday, October 29 2001 Volume 07 : Number 030 ======================================================================== 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]: Shells Re: [scribes]: Shells Re: [scribes]: Shells Re: [scribes]: Shells Re: [scribes]: Shells Re: [scribes]: Shells Re: [scribes]: Shells Re: [scribes]: Shells Re: [scribes]: Shells [scribes]: Very very sorry [scribes]: CODEX AMIATINUS Re: [scribes]: Shells Re: [scribes]: Shells [scribes]: Parchmentine Samples -- a short delay ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 23:59:39 -0300 From: "Martin Higgins" Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells *snicker* of course! Don't you feel glad to be on this list? Griet > Well, tonight I was eating out with my family. As I was watching my husband > eat oysters it hit me that it had been mentioned about using shells for > period pigment. So what do I do? I embarrassed him by getting a bag to bring > them home in. The seeds you all planted. > Donnel =================================================================== 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: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 01:10:35 -0500 From: "Margareta vanden Velde" Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells I did that with mussel shells in a really fancy restaurant once, and the server actually asked why I wanted them..... I figured the explanation was too complicated, and I ended up saying "a crafts project" which seemed to satisfy her, but I must admit I was a little embarassed too. God only knows what kind of crafts project she thought I was doing with mussel shells which are not intrinsically beautiful. I filled up all the shells right away and now I need more, but I don't know if I want to do that again..... I'm thinking take out food, or grocery store... Margareta vanden Velde Barony of Skraeling Althing, Ealdormere - ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 9:21 PM Subject: [scribes]: Shells > Well, tonight I was eating out with my family. As I was watching my husband > eat oysters it hit me that it had been mentioned about using shells for > period pigment. So what do I do? I embarrassed him by getting a bag to bring > them home in. The seeds you all planted. > Donnel > =================================================================== > 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. > > =================================================================== 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: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 02:50:13 -0400 From: Randy Asplund Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells Donnel, You probably don't want oyster shells, or for that matter the black mussels, ridged scallops, or any other colored, brittle, or textured shells. Fresh water mussels come white, and also come in many sizes from small for shell gold to large for great amounts of oil or yolk bound paint used on panels, coloring furniture, or whatever. For heavy duty jobs, or for working color into fresh plaster, small ceramic bowls were often used The best shells are the white clam shells. They are smooth, thick walled, and very white inside. I get them all the time because I buy stuffed clams, but yes, I also get them at seafood restaurants. Here's a tip. Bring a small margarine tub or a sandwich sized Tupperware container when you go to a nice seafood place. If you order a dish that serves shellfish in the shell, you are all set to come home without mess and smell. RanthulfR DonnelShaw@aol.com wrote: > > Well, tonight I was eating out with my family. As I was watching my husband > eat oysters it hit me that it had been mentioned about using shells for > period pigment. So what do I do? I embarrassed him by getting a bag to bring > them home in. The seeds you all planted. > Donnel > =================================================================== > 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. - -- VISIT RandyAsplund.com To see a Universe of art ranging from Magic: The Gathering to Star Trek and Medieval Manuscripts Randy Asplund (734) 663-0954 Science Fiction and Fantasy Illustration 2101 S. Circle Dr., Ann Arbor, MI. 48103 =================================================================== 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: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 02:22:56 -0500 From: "Corinna Taylor/Al Frank" Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells Why not just phone a couple of seafood restaurants and ask if you could have some shells they're planning on throwing away. "Craft project" is a perfectly adequate explanation, and you'll probably get a lot more than if you had to eat the contents first. If you have friends on the coast, perhaps they could find you some on the beach. I recall when I was in Atlantic City (long time ago) the beaches were littered with clam shells. Corinna - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margareta vanden Velde" To: Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2001 1:10 AM Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells > I did that with mussel shells in a really fancy restaurant once, and the > server actually asked why I wanted them..... I figured the explanation was > too complicated, and I ended up saying "a crafts project" which seemed to > satisfy her, but I must admit I was a little embarassed too. God only knows > what kind of crafts project she thought I was doing with mussel shells which > are not intrinsically beautiful. > > I filled up all the shells right away and now I need more, but I don't know > if I want to do that again..... I'm thinking take out food, or grocery > store... > > Margareta vanden Velde > Barony of Skraeling Althing, Ealdormere > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: > Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 9:21 PM > Subject: [scribes]: Shells > > > > Well, tonight I was eating out with my family. As I was watching my > husband > > eat oysters it hit me that it had been mentioned about using shells for > > period pigment. So what do I do? I embarrassed him by getting a bag to > bring > > them home in. The seeds you all planted. > > Donnel > > =================================================================== > > 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. > > > > > > =================================================================== > 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. > =================================================================== 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: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 10:12:19 EDT From: BRNDALSTON@aol.com Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells - --part1_a.14ae3dda.290c1ac3_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 10/27/2001 3:26:26 AM Eastern Daylight Time, uncial@ix.netcom.com writes: > Why not just phone a couple of seafood restaurants and ask if you could have > some shells they're planning on throwing away. "Craft project" is a > perfectly adequate explanation, and you'll probably get a lot more than if > you had to eat the contents first. > I got a bunch when a whole group of us went out to eat after an SCA event and ended up at a seafood buffet bar. I asked everyone who was eating them to give me their shells. I had to ask a waiter for a couple boxes to take them home in. He had to ask the manager if it was ok - you know you are not supposed to carry food home from an all you can eat buffet... In the end I had to go into details about what I was doing with the shells and after that the manager said, sure, no problem. I went home with four boxes filled with clam shells and have been giving them away to people since then. It was a bit embarrassing at first, but I got over it. > If you have friends on the coast, perhaps they could find you some on the > beach. I recall when I was in Atlantic City (long time ago) the beaches > were littered with clam shells. > I live near Virginia Beach and there are so many tourists here that the beach is picked clean all year round. However, there are a number of tourist-trap stores along the waterfront that carry baskets of shells for sale. Most of the shells inside come from the Carribean and many are the wrong type or too small to be practical. I got my initial set of clam shells off the railroad tracks behind my trailer many years ago. They put clam shells in with the rocks when they build the railroad beds around here. You might check out your railroad beds in your hometown. Also, when I got the shells home I boiled them in some salt water for ten minutes to clean them up. When they were done boiling I washed them in the dishpan with dishsoap and hot water, just to make sure there were no more microrganisms in them. Anyone else have any suggestions on cleaning them up before you use them? I may just be paranoid, but I thought they needed something to sterilize them before I started using them for paint cups. Brandy - --part1_a.14ae3dda.290c1ac3_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 10/27/2001 3:26:26 AM Eastern Daylight Time, uncial@ix.netcom.com writes:


Why not just phone a couple of seafood restaurants and ask if you could have
some shells they're planning on throwing away.  "Craft project" is a
perfectly adequate explanation, and you'll probably get a lot more than if
you had to eat the contents first.


I got a bunch when a whole group of us went out to eat after an SCA event and ended up at a seafood buffet bar. I asked everyone who was eating them to give me their shells. I had to ask a waiter for a couple boxes to take them home in. He had to ask the manager if it was ok - you know you are not supposed to carry food home from an all you can eat buffet... In the end I had to go into details about what I was doing with the shells and after that the manager said, sure, no problem. I went home with four boxes filled with clam shells and have been giving them away to people since then. It was a bit embarrassing at first, but I got over it.


If you have friends on the coast, perhaps they could find you some on the
beach.  I recall when I was in Atlantic City (long time ago) the beaches
were littered with clam shells.


I live near Virginia Beach and there are so many tourists here that the beach is picked clean all year round. However, there are a number of tourist-trap stores along the waterfront that carry baskets of shells for sale. Most of the shells inside come from the Carribean and many are the wrong type or too small to be practical. I got my initial set of clam shells off the railroad tracks behind my trailer many years ago. They put clam shells in with the rocks when they build the railroad beds around here. You might check out your railroad beds in your hometown.

Also, when I got the shells home I boiled them in some salt water for ten minutes to clean them up. When they were done boiling I washed them in the dishpan with dishsoap and hot water, just to make sure there were no more microrganisms in them. Anyone else have any suggestions on cleaning them up before you use them? I may just be paranoid, but I thought they needed something to sterilize them before I started using them for paint cups.

Brandy - --part1_a.14ae3dda.290c1ac3_boundary-- =================================================================== 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: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 12:41:49 -0300 From: "Martin Higgins" Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells I don't know about that... (not useing black mussle shells) I use them and have not any problems with them. The outside of the shell does not figure into the paint and the shape makes it a very handy container to work with, though clam shells with a good 'bowl' seem to work well too, I just prefer mussels. But again, as long as it is clean inside, the outside shouldn't matter in the least. Griet =================================================================== 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: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 12:41:49 -0300 From: "Martin Higgins" Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells I don't know about that... (not useing black mussle shells) I use them and have not any problems with them. The outside of the shell does not figure into the paint and the shape makes it a very handy container to work with, though clam shells with a good 'bowl' seem to work well too, I just prefer mussels. But again, as long as it is clean inside, the outside shouldn't matter in the least. Griet =================================================================== 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: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 12:41:49 -0300 From: "Martin Higgins" Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells I don't know about that... (not useing black mussle shells) I use them and have not any problems with them. The outside of the shell does not figure into the paint and the shape makes it a very handy container to work with, though clam shells with a good 'bowl' seem to work well too, I just prefer mussels. But again, as long as it is clean inside, the outside shouldn't matter in the least. Griet =================================================================== 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: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 12:41:49 -0300 From: "Martin Higgins" Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells I don't know about that... (not useing black mussle shells) I use them and have not any problems with them. The outside of the shell does not figure into the paint and the shape makes it a very handy container to work with, though clam shells with a good 'bowl' seem to work well too, I just prefer mussels. But again, as long as it is clean inside, the outside shouldn't matter in the least. Griet =================================================================== 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: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 14:19:19 -0300 From: "Martin Higgins" Subject: [scribes]: Very very sorry Stupid stupid stupid mail.... not sure why it insists on doing that!! grrrrrrr Very Very Sorry Griet =================================================================== 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, 29 Oct 2001 00:25:44 +1030 From: Jon Grotto Subject: [scribes]: CODEX AMIATINUS Hello all...are we recovered from that ridiculous ranting yet?? I'd like to get back to appropriate postings, if that's okay....I'd like to ask if anyone knows of a good website and/or books regarding the Codex Amiatinus, one of the Wearmouth/Jarrow manuscripts. I'm wanting to see not the illuminated pages, but some of the text...as far as I can tell, it is one of the only Anglo-Saxon codexes that uses gold and silver ink - in the calligraphy, no less! I would like to use it as a source for an original scroll - any information would be much appreciated. Many thanks. In Service, Cainnear. =================================================================== 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: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 20:07:18 -0400 From: Randy Asplund Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells I've always just washed my shells in hot water with dish soap and I've never had a problem at all. RanthulfR - -- VISIT RandyAsplund.com To see a Universe of art ranging from Magic: The Gathering to Star Trek and Medieval Manuscripts Randy Asplund (734) 663-0954 Science Fiction and Fantasy Illustration 2101 S. Circle Dr., Ann Arbor, MI. 48103 =================================================================== 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: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 20:12:16 -0400 From: Randy Asplund Subject: Re: [scribes]: Shells I'm not in the least bit concerned about the outside color. If the inside color is white instead of dark purple or blue it is easier to tell when you have mixed a color tone properly. If you aren't affected by that, then a dark mussel shell will work just fine. RanthulfR Martin Higgins wrote: > > I don't know about that... (not useing black mussle shells) I use them and > have not any problems with them. The outside of the shell does not figure > into the paint and the shape makes it a very handy container to work with, > though clam shells with a good 'bowl' seem to work well too, I just prefer > mussels. But again, as long as it is clean inside, the outside shouldn't > matter in the least. > > Griet > > =================================================================== > 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. - -- VISIT RandyAsplund.com To see a Universe of art ranging from Magic: The Gathering to Star Trek and Medieval Manuscripts Randy Asplund (734) 663-0954 Science Fiction and Fantasy Illustration 2101 S. Circle Dr., Ann Arbor, MI. 48103 =================================================================== 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, 29 Oct 2001 20:46:58 +1000 From: Christine Robertson Subject: [scribes]: Parchmentine Samples -- a short delay To all those who asked for parchmentine samples or mailing costs: I was going to do all this on the weekend, but there was a small problem -- about 10" long and covered with black down, 1 1/4" beak, SHARP big talons, tail feathers about 1 1/2" long, and wingspan already about 15". Here in Australia we have Currawongs, which are nearly the size of a crow, bright yellow eyes, mostly black with some white in body, wings, and tail. Omnivorous, but mostly predators (I have seen an adult take a sparrow, for example). Wingspan a good 2 1/2 feet. 3" beak. Talons. "Wahaaa wahoooooo" call, quite melodius. Well, we had a pair nesting at the top of one of our eucalypts, a good 25-30 feet up -- kind of scrappy nest of sticks. Two 3-week old chicks. Got home very late Friday, went out Saturday morning, found one chick dead on the ground below the nest. Very sad. An hour or so later, realised chick no. 2 was in the neighbours' backyard, and they had no idea what to do with it. Apparently they were blown out the nest sometime Friday, our cats killed one, and the neighbours saved the other. But all they had given the poor lttle thing was water! My, that was one hungry baby!* The number of worms, snails (shell-less -- "Stop shrieking, I'm taking the shells off your lunch"), slugs, moths, and pet meat that went into it on the Saturday was quite amazing. And on Sunday, suplemented with mealworms and crickets. And it's rather touching when this fierce little baby predator hops out of its basket and snuggles into your elbow, making little meeping noises... And I swear more came out its back end than we ever put in its front end. Anyway, we're handing it over to the local wildlife care people tomorrow, and our life will return to normal. (Waaah! I have to give up my new baby!) We tried hoisting it back up the tree in a basket, but it'd just been too long -- the parents checked the old nest several times, but they'd already quit searching up and down the tree by the middle of Saturday, alas. So all the parchmentine will happen later this week, and I'll put a photo of the baby Currawong up on my web site for anyone who's interested to see it. - --Yseult * I think it was pretty close to starving -- I could feel the entire backbone under the down. Much more padding on the Sunday, besides which, the babys visibly *grew* in the last 2 days. Must be getting something right :-) Wing feathers just bursting forth -- every time it fluffs its feathers, there's a positive shower of feather casing, like a little snowstorm. - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Robertson http://goldgryph.virtualave.net Yseult de Lacy, OL Wentworth Falls, Sydney Barony of Rowany NSW Australia Lochac (West Kingdom) =================================================================== 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 V7 #30 ****************************