Category Archives: Arts & Sciences

Musical Jam Session, Thursday October 9

Arts & Sciences

Join Þorfinn Hróðgeirsson for a hands-on medieval music session next week, on Thursday November 9, 7:00-9:00 PM.

Our next medieval music jam session will be on Thursday, in Manhattan!

We’ll gather at a home on the Upper West Side, at 255 W 105th Street, Apt 21. (Northwest corner of Broadway, above the Ellington Restaurant, two blocks from the #1 train at 103rd St.)

I’ll curate what music we jam to based on interest of the attendees, but expect to do some mix of improvisation practice, reading of the greatest hits of the 13th and 14th centuries, and maybe even some polyphony! Minimal musical skill needed: please bring an instrument (or your voice) that you’re comfortable playing a tune on.

Please let me know if you’re planning to come so I can prepare.

All are welcome to join us. No Society membership or previous SCA experience required. Modern attire; come as you are. Feel free to RSVP or just show up. No fee. This site is ADA-accessible, although large mobility devices might need to be folded to fit through the narrow elevator door.

Royal Largesse Workshop, November 12

Arts & Sciences

The Canton of Appleholm invites you to join us for an afternoon of crafting! 

Their Majesties Matthias and Feilinn have asked the craftsfolk of the East to create and donate small items that they can in turn give as tokens or gifts to the populace. (These can include any small SCA-related item such as pins, rings, or other jewelry; trim, cords, or bags; caps, cups, or craft kits, or a hundred other things.)

We’ll gather at 3:00 PM on Sunday November 12 at the home of Madwen Gam to variously stitch, braid, hammer, and otherwise create items to help fill the royal coffers. 

Bring your crafting supplies, or just show up and help other people with their projects. (And if you’re going on the Fabric District outing the Saturday before, keep your eye out for a small piece of material you could use to make something with us on Sunday.)

All are welcome to join us. No Society membership or previous experience required. Modern attire; come as you are. Feel free to RSVP or just show up. No fee. Unfortunately this site is not wheelchair-friendly.

Goldsmiths at work. Detail from “Atelier d’orfèvres” (1576). Engraved by Etienne Delaune.

Wednesday May 10, 7 PM – 8 PM: Introduction to Mead Making

Arts & Sciences


Wednesday May 10, 7 PM – 8 PM, with socializing time on either end of that.

Introduction to Mead Making

Learn how to make the quintessential medieval drink, mead! We will focus on modern mead-making, and also discuss historical context and practice. A small number of one gallon take-home kits will be provided for interested students.

Instructor Lorefather Þorfinnr Hróðgeirsson focuses on historical beverage research, and has been a modern homebrewer for over a decade.

Historical Crafts Workshop, Thursday, March 16: Weaving Writ Large

Arts & Sciences

The Crown Province of Østgarðr invites you to join us for a weeknight crafting workshop to explore pre-modern skills in a hands-on setting.

On Thursday, March, 16, at 7 PM we’ll gather at a home on the Upper West Side, at 255 W 105th Street, Apt 21. (Northwest corner of Broadway, above the Ellington Restaurant, two blocks from the #1 train at 103rd St.) This month’s activity is a make-and-take weaving workshop:

Weaving Writ Large: Using twentieth-century sock-loop potholder looms as swatching tools to explore the weaving structures found in pre-modern historical fabrics.

The study of weaving presents us with a blizzard of terminology used to describe weaving structures, and when we look at examples of woven fabric, the small scale of the threads can make it difficult to see how they’re interlaced. But by weaving jumbo fibers on a small peg loom, we can produce giant-scale swatches that replicate the structure of fabrics produced in the pre-historic, classical and medieval periods, allowing us to more clearly see and understand the differences produced by various tabby and twill patterns.

We’ll examine samples, look at the weaving charts used to produce them, and then everyone will have an opportunity to use those techniques to weave 7″ or 10″ potholders of your own to take home, using the same stretchy loops and metal peg looms you might have played with as children.

The venue requires masking. There will be an open window and an air filter running. A passenger elevator is available to reach the second floor.

The session is expected to last for about two hours. Some folks may choose to go to dinner in the neighborhood afterwards.

This event is free. All are welcome to join us. No Society membership or previous experience required. Modern attire; come as you are. Feel free to RSVP or just show up.

The photograph below shows some of the samples to be discussed. Top Row: 3/1 ribbed twill; 2/1 twill; 3/1 broken twill. Center: 2/2 houndstooth twill; 2/2 broken chevron twill; 2/2 chevron twill; 2/2 diamond twill. Bottom: plain weave with doubled warp; gauze; 3/3 twill.

Although the SCA complies with all applicable laws to ensure the health and safety of our event participants, we cannot eliminate the risk of exposure to infectious diseases during in-person events. By participating in the in-person events of the SCA, you acknowledge and accept the potential risks. You agree to take any additional steps to protect your own health and safety and those under your control as you believe to be necessary.

June 18: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Researching Your Bardic Pieces

Arts & Sciences, Class, Solar

As events swing into high gear, we gather ’round the bardic fire to regale each other with song and tales once more! How can you polish up your pieces for competition, performance, or entertainment?

Researching your bardic pieces can add greatly enhance your performance! Why do the “extra work” of researching more about your piece? Why do you want to tell this story? What is YOUR story? Why are you telling it? Why is it important to you? When you know your “why” your enthusiasm for the piece can give you another source of energy to pull from. Being passionate about your art shows. Knowing your inspiration or goal will help you find the drive to practice and prepare.

Join The Honorable Lady Agnes Marie de Calais as she goes over the rationale for researching a piece and its time and place, how to organize the research and things to consider, and going over an example together. Participants can also discuss their own work and examples in the discussion portion afterwards.

Please join us here: https://meet.google.com/otq-vnjr-qfk

Agnes is a spoken word bard and storyteller, a researcher whose personae is from Calais, France before the year 1600. She first joined the SCA in the early 2000’s. Recently, she has been sharing her research, bardic interests, retaining, and service wherever and whenever needed. She has taught, run bardic circles, and judged, and teaching youth and adults, and sharing research, is an important part of who she is. She is a Maunche, Silver Wheel, Troubador, Golden Lyre, and recently stepped down as the Queen’s Bardic Champion. You can read more about her on her EK wiki!

The Saturday Night Solar occurs every other Saturday night at 8:00 PM ET. The Canton of Whyt Whey in the Crown Province of Østgarðr hosts teachers and topics from all over the Known World so that even when we are apart, we can learn together.

March 26: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Getting Ready for Archery Season

Arts & Sciences, Class, Solar

Spring has sprung – get ready to go outdoors and loose some arrows!

Join Østgarðr’s own Friderich Grimme as we discuss how to get ready for archery season after a long winter! Though warmer weather brings thoughts of good times on the archery range, the vagaries of winter may well have played havoc on your bow and arrows.  For the new archer, this class will provide suggestions for how to check and prepare your equipment for the archery season to come.

Please join us here: https://meet.google.com/otq-vnjr-qfk

Friderich Grimme lives with his wife, Lile Dubh, in the city of Köln at the end of the 14th century.  In the SCA, Friderich’s interests include archery and cooking.  He is the current webminster for the Crown Province of Ostgardr and an archery marshal at large.

The Saturday Night Solar occurs every other Saturday night at 8:00 PM ET. The Canton of Whyt Whey in the Crown Province of Østgarðr hosts teachers and topics from all over the Known World so that even when we are apart, we can learn together.

March 12: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Documentation Do’s And Don’ts!

Arts & Sciences, Class, Solar

If research and documentation is keeping you from entering an Arts & Science competition or display, this class will help take some of the mystery and stress out of the process.  Learn how to evaluate a source, gather research, and do basic documentation – including sources.  Also learn how to take the next step and bring your documentation into the intermediate level and really make a splash!

Please join us here: https://meet.google.com/otq-vnjr-qfk

HL Ysabel de la Oya is from the Barony of Forgotten Sea in Calontir.  She is Currently head of Calontir’s Cooks Guild and A&S minister for the Barony of Forgotten Sea. She also has a GoA in cooking and research and entered many Kingdom-level Arts & Science competitions, and while she has only won one once, she always does very well on the documentation component.

The Saturday Night Solar occurs every other Saturday night at 8:00 PM ET. The Canton of Whyt Whey in the Crown Province of Østgarðr hosts teachers and topics from all over the Known World so that even when we are apart, we can learn together.

Access the handout here!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dMK7zJDCyx7UkyPTHrHfImkig-7jHpiyLMjOA6vT0mk/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dMK7zJDCyx7UkyPTHrHfImkig-7jHpiyLMjOA6vT0mk/edit?usp=sharing

February 26: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Stained Glass of Chartres Cathedral

Arts & Sciences, Class, Solar

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Chartres, France, was built in the 13th century and has some of the best preserved medieval stained glass in the world. Come learn about how the purpose of the stained glass, how the orientation of the cathedral mattered for sunlight and religious symbolism, how stained glass was used to convey stories to illiterate parishioners, and more!

Please join us here: https://meet.google.com/otq-vnjr-qfk

Epy lives in Highland Foorde. You can find them most often with the equestrians, but they also greatly enjoy performing music in ensembles. They are a member of Laydes Fayre (since Fall 2019), and likes to play in the pit band for dances/balls when able. Currently serving as the Minister of the Lists of Highland Foorde, Epy also tries to stay active as an Equestrian Marshal or Autocrat of an event.

Epy’s name came from a lost bet, and they saw it through by registering the name. It is a Cornish name, from the 10th – 12th c. They do not strictly adhere to this region or time period for a persona, but do tend to dress in the looser-fitting clothes of this era.

The Saturday Night Solar occurs every other Saturday night at 8:00 PM ET. The Canton of Whyt Whey in the Crown Province of Østgarðr hosts teachers and topics from all over the Known World so that even when we are apart, we can learn together.

February 12: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Cheese Making With Joshua

Arts & Sciences, Class, Solar

People have been making cheese for thousands of years across almost every culture where dairy has been consumed. 

Let’s get together, hang out in the kitchen, and talk about how cheese is made while Joshua shows you how to make your own!

Please join us here: https://meet.google.com/otq-vnjr-qfk

Joshua has been in the sca for about 30 years. He created the first East Kingdom web page and was the founding seneschal of the Shire of Ma’ale Giborim (Israel, Kingdom of Drachenwald) 

Joshua took up cheese making during the pandemic and currently lives in The Barony Beyond the Mountain ( greater Hartford, CT area).

The Saturday Night Solar occurs every other Saturday night at 8:00 PM ET. The Canton of Whyt Whey in the Crown Province of Østgarðr hosts teachers and topics from all over the Known World so that even when we are apart, we can learn together.

January 15: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Finger Loop Braiding Make and Take!

Arts & Sciences, Class, Events, Solar

Join Scheiny of Dalhraidia to learn how to make a five- bowe [five loop] braid. This can be modified to three or seven based on personal preference. 

Students will need: 

-At least three yards of yarn in two colors each. Two skeins of embroidery floss is more than enough. 

– scissors

– ruler/ measuring tape [no big deal if you don’t have one] 

– A shoe on one of your feet

Please join us here: https://meet.google.com/otq-vnjr-qfk

Finger loop braiding is a historical way to make cords that can be used as decorative trim or favors, or practical applications such as lacing, drawstrings, button loops, purse straps, seals on documents, etc. Finds date back at least to the Bronze Age Hallstatt Salt Mines. 

Finger loop braids can be made by individuals or collaboratively by pairs or even groups of people. It is done by manipulating loops, called “bowes”, through each other rather than wrapping individual strings around each other as in typical braiding. 

More information, including patterns, can be found at sites such as www.loopbraider.com and www.fingerloop.org.

Scheiny of Dalhraidia is an Iron Age Insular Celt. She enjoys [swearing at] card weaving, finger loop braiding, and sprang. Scheiny has been medievally LARPing since 2009, and has been wading deeper into the SCA since her first Pennsic, Pennsic 41, especially drawn in by the expertise available in fiber arts. At events she especially enjoys attending classes, teaching belly dance and finger loop braiding, and eating. She’s card woven as Least Weasel Weaving since 2015 and finger loop braided since 2016. She also leads Port wine tastings, and enjoys unicorns, puns, and cheese. 

http://Instagram.com/LeastWeaselWeaving

https://facebook.com/LeastWeaselWeaving

Whey in the Crown Province of Østgarðr hosts teachers and topics from all over the Known World so that even when we are apart, we can learn together.