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.

Welcome!

Uncategorized

Welcome to the Canton of Appleholm — formerly known as the Canton of Whyt Whey!

We are the Manhattan chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an organization dedicated to exploring life before 1600 by re-creating activities and crafts of the period. There are tournaments and classes, feasts and finery (and occasional foolery), royal courts and courtly dancing. We encourage you to come and find out what interests you!

Continue reading Welcome! →

Get Involved With Whyt Whey!

Officers

Folks — As we approach the end of the calendar year and start thinking about the year to come, I wanted to invite anyone who might be interested in getting more involved in the SCA to consider volunteering as an officer or deputy for our canton.

We currently have a full slate of the necessary officers, but I know some folks have served in the same positions for many years and might be ready for a change, and it’s always good to see some fresh talent rotating into our ranks.

One of the best ways to work your way into being a branch officer is to start by volunteering as a deputy to an existing officer, allowing you to learn the ropes and make connections with other folks in leadership roles so you can understand what’s required before committing to a longer term.

And our canton makes a great place to get started, as things are relatively quiet and peaceful in our little corner, but there’s plenty of room for growth at the local or provincial level if you decide you enjoy the role.

If you’re interested in volunteering as a deputy or serving as an officer, please email me at seneschal@whytwhey.eastkingdom.org — we’d love to find a place for you on our team!

— Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin
— Seneschal, Canton of Whyt Whey

December 18: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Brewing Basics

Arts & Sciences, Class, Solar

Join Jon Chesey of Calontir for this live demo! In this class, we’ll explore the basics of what all brewing has in common then walk through the process of making a simple mead, beer, and wine in a live demo.

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

Mundanely, Jon Voisey has a BS in Astronomy. Bringing that passion into the SCA as Jon Chesey, he has worked to understand astronomy as it existed before the telescope, reconstructing period instruments, and working through Ptolemy’s 2nd century Almagest.

He also regularly brews tasty things and enjoys sharing them with friends!

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.

December 4: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Common Sauces in Western Medieval Court Cooking

Arts & Sciences, Class, Solar

Come join the Canton of Whyt Whey with Friderich Grimme as we discuss the common sauces in Western Europe in the 14th and 15th century!

This brief survey of the common sauces represented in the Anglo-French tradition in 14th & 15 century manuscripts (with some Italian Sauces as well) will give newcomers to medieval cooking a glimpse into the tastes present on the tables of well-to-do diners.  Examples of the various recipes will be provided notes on preparation, and possibly a cook-along at the end of class.

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

Friderich Grimme has been cooking in Østgarðr and helping in kitchens in the East Kingdom for a decade.  His main areas of research are Western European cuisine of the 14th and 15th century, and archery in the same period.  

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.

November 13: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Documenting 14th and 15th C. Armor

Arts & Sciences, Class, Solar,

Come join the Canton of Whyt Whey with Boris Tuman of the Barony of the Roaring Wastes in the Midrealm as we discuss the fundamentals of documenting 14th and 15th century armor, and other stuff too, for fun and reenactment!

This class will give you a core understanding of the most important principles of armor documentation, which are also applicable to general garb documentation as well. It will also provide the background knowledge you need when dealing with snooty gatekeepers.

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

Boris has been involved with the Barony of Roaring Wastes for a little over a decade, and is a consistent practice attendee at the Legio Draconis fight practice. One of his specialties is the documentation of armor from roughly the 13th to 15th centuries. He has looked over far too many medieval manuscripts for funsies so you don’t have to!

You can find Boris’ slides here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZXrLzTlOO4Aq3j0HkPygjuF0BW4ZCI5IFyJ2cMFt9Qk/edit?usp=sharing

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.

**Please be aware that there will be no Solar the weekend after Thanksgiving, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.**

Sunday at the Cloisters with Whyt Whey

Events

Please join local members of the SCA in a visit to the Cloisters museum on Sunday, November 28.

(If you’re new to the Cloisters, it’s New York City’s immersive museum of medieval art and architecture, constructed from several medieval European buildings which were purchased piecemeal a hundred years ago and relocated to upper Manhattan, then filled with a variety of period artworks.)

We’ll meet in the park right across the street from the main entrance and enter at 1:00, and plan to stay for three or four hours. (If folks are in the mood afterwards, we might also walk down the hill and get a bite or a drink at a local restaurant.)

[Update:] Unfortunately, museum policies prohibit visiting in historical clothing; this policy is not consistently enforced, but to avoid problems we encourage modern dress.

To reach the Cloisters by transit, take the A train to 181st Street, then use the elevators to exit on Fort Washington Avenue and transfer to the uptown M4 bus which ends at the Cloisters. (Sadly, the otherwise-convenient 190th Street station is closed for repair work.) Alternately, take the A or 1 trains to Dyckman Street and be prepared for a very, very steep climb up the 180-foot hillside.

If coming by car, I believe you should be able to find parking spaces within walking distance in or around Fort Tryon Park.

Online reservations are required to enter the museum. Please RSVP ASAP to seneschal@whytwhey.eastkingdom.org so that we can reserve sufficient spaces. 

The “general admission” price is $25, but residents of New York State with a valid ID may pay what you will. (If the cost is a barrier, please contact the seneschal for assistance.)

Face masks must be worn throughout the visit. Like many New York City venues, the Cloisters requires visitors aged twelve or over to show proof of vaccination. The East Kingdom requires participants aged twelve or over to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result from the prior three days. Both organizations require photo ID for those aged eighteen or over. 

Although the SCA complies with all applicable laws to try 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.

(Cloisters photograph by Christopher Down licensed under Creative Commons.)

October 30: Whyt Whey presents the Saturday Night Solar: Outreach and the SCA

Arts & Sciences, Class, Solar

Come join the Canton of Whyt Whey with Catelin Straquhin, Armiger, of Brokenbridge to learn marketing practices and outreach skills for your local SCA chapter!

Do you want to make your local SCA group more visible to the public? Are you having trouble marketing the society to members of the public? Walk with us as we go over best practices in non-profit & social media marketing and how it is relevant to you and your SCA chapter.

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

Catelin Straquhin is a resident of the Crown Province of Østgarðr within the East Kingdom and is the Webminister of the Canton of Brokenbridge as well as the Chatelaine for Østgarðr. When they are not committed to shenanigans you’ll find them teaching or performing (sometimes both) at an SCA event.

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.