gurdymonkey | Not your typical SCA A&S nerd

Really. I don't think of what I do as "A&S" the way most people in the SCA think of "A&S". Competitions are not only a non-motivator inspirationwise, they make me insane, and not in a good way. (You spend 20 years riding green-broke horses in shows, you get all competetive instinct ground out of you because you're there to give Baby mileage, not to win.)

Display? And deprive myself of the use of something I slaved to make in the first place by sticking it on a table? I love music but don't enjoy being in the spotlight, which is why the one-on-one of street performance appeals to me a lot more than standing up on a stage, be it feast hall or bardic circle.

And yet, I just emailed the A&S coordinator and asked for a spot at the Artisan's Display at Estrella. Yes. I am voluntarily chaining myself to a spot for 3 hours to see if anyone in attendance gives a rat's backside about the Tosenin Kosode project. Why? Well, it's a little thing called giri. There are probably thousands of people in our Society doing fingerloop braiding. Or tablet weaving. Or calligraphy and illumination. Or blackwork embroidery. The big fad craft in the West is/was making lampwork beads for Viking treasure necklaces. I even made one damn bead at risk to life and limb and then told the person who insisted I give it a try that I was going back to paper and glue and getting the hell away from that oh so period hothead torch, thank you. (Ooh, note to self, pack kite-making supplies....) Anyway, my point being that there are a lot of people producing a lot of like works.

How many are doing painted fakes of Asian textiles? How many of those are doing it because they saw mine first? Trust me, they're out there, but there are not thousands.

As some of you may remember from my adventures last year, there are people in Our Fair Society who believe that non-Western personae have no place in it. As Saionji, I represent a minority. I have a duty to my fellow SCAsians to portray my persona in a positive light. I am obligated to be at that table a week from Sunday doing so.

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That kosode should be displayed, because you're right, almost no one does that kind of work. Especially since it's a time and place where painted/printed textiles used in clothing is a period practice, AND it looks damn fabulous.

Have fun at Estrella!

If you make kites, can I join in? The only thing I'm obligated for are the breakfasts on Fri-Sun.

I don't know when/where/if we will and I'm way across the war from you, but maybe we can figure something out. BTW, I make CRAPTASTIC kites. ;-D

Well, I went to the showcase last year, with my big inkle loom to work on my Pentathlon project, and with the Roman Chamfron v.1.0 - along with my little loom to let people try the leather cards.

I got some response to all the items - but then I got people who passed right on by, and our corner of the pavilion didn't get all the visitors, either.

Don't be surprised if people just wander passed and not notice - but don't be surprised if you get someone who is 'traditional' (an Elizabethan, or Norse with oodles of beads, etc. - you know, the standard type of costumer/fiber geek) - who will spend a lot of time with you.

Having something to work on was great for me - it actually gave me some uninterrupted time to do some weaving, which I hadn't had the entire war. Having documentation for anything you have is good, too - along with a pen and paper (or somesuch) so people can write down the parts they want to research. In your case, having info about the various groups and resources you have available may come in very handy.

But have fun - I'm sure you'll look great! And don't be surprised if people are taking your picture, because there were very few 'on the body' displays last year that I saw.

And if all else fails - bring out the hurdy gurdy and George :)

I completely expect people to walk by and not notice or even better, give me the old Euro-Stink-eye. That is their problem. Not mine.

I also completely expect total strangers to run up to me while I'm walking around in wafuku screaming "Makiwara-Sensei!" because it's happened.

And I ALWAYS carry business cards with my website URL on 'em.

Saonji -

You are the Mother of honor.

All who know you, live.

If I was anyone's mother, I'd be insisting you go eat some soup or something, Sick Boy.

Don't pay any attention to him. No one else does. Quiet, retiring, shy guy that he is, you know....

Luighseach

BTW, Sasha, glad to hear that you're doing better.

This is an odd question I suppose, but how often does a really great instructor press a particular style/era/culture? I didn't get into making beads because of a desire for that culture but rather for an easy and period craft that I could make. I bet you have a dozen you haven't presented. Just saying.

Japanese stuff in the SCA is a small and often misunderstood niche. I've been to three Japanese themed events in three different kingdoms and it never fails that someone teaches a class or displays an item or sets up a competition involving a traditional craft or art that cannot be documented to before the 17th century. Sure, this happens in the mainstream too, but the skewage on Japanese is WAY off. Our knowledge base is growing, but it's got a long way to go. I committed to broadening that knowledge base four years ago when I wrote a web page on Japanese garment construction in answer to cries from people that what was out there wasn't good enough. And like it or not, I have a rep that crosses kingdom borders - you saw that comment from sasha_khan. Jehanne doesn't get that for making cotehardies, though she does for tramping around with an 8 pound hurdy gurdy. Don't get me wrong, I like making cotehardies, but there are thousands of people making 'em and mine are only special to me.

Saionji said, "What if?" and as result a Estrella will have a Japanese themed camp with members from three kingdoms living in it. Renown is a funny thing and it imposes duties of its own.

I have been in SCA so long I can say this... I remember back when anything Viking was seen as edgy and kind of boring. It was before good instructors were out there spreading their talents. My observation is that the explosion came when people were educated in how to make the clothing (which was easy) and the accessories. The accessories are generally easy (such as beads) and you can afford to save up for a few precious items that send your garb over the top. I think the thing that made it seem easy was that there were a few great instructors out there. That is what created the fad.

I guess you have your work cut out for you, because you are in the perfect position to get a fad going. I don't think mine will ever take off.

Things become fashionable in different places for different reasons, including everything from appropriateness to climate/event venues, ease of obtaining research information/materials/accessories, and of course, What The Cool Kids Are Wearing. I'd never SEEN Viking stuff in the part of the East I was playing in - though we had early GeneriCelts in abundance. No 16th c. Germans, but plenty of Elizabethan. And a handful of Japanese and even a couple of pretty good Mongol impressions.

It is what it is. Doing Japanese in the West Kingdom sometimes feels like being the Littlest Sumo Wrestler. You throw yourself at an opponent three times your size who yawns, scratches his balls and pushes you effortlessly back out of the ring. If I am poised to start a fad, it's more likely going to be via the 'net and spread out of kingdom than here. Then again, you never know....

Ok, fair enough. My reason for not doing Japanese is that it looks like it is going to cost me an arm and a leg to get into it. I want to do it at the level you are doing it at. Heck, I can even fake the Japanese. Can my budget afford 16 layers of cloth? If I wanted to do a proper outfit, how long will it take? Will you help? What do I need to go with it besides the black teeth?

Lesson Number One: Small steps. This goes for walking elegantly in Japanese dress and for wearing it.

I started with an informal court outfit, four garments total: nagabakama (trousers), kosode, hitoe and uwagi. I estimate about 23 yards of fabric went into that. (For semi formal, add five layers at 6 or 7 yards each, for full formal karaginu mo add another 4 for the karaginu and six for the mo.) I wish I had more opportunities to wear this stuff, but it's not exactly practical. Know that going in.

Cosmetic-wise, I use a paint-on tooth black (which tastes vile for a couple of minutes when it's going on), a white theatrical foundation, and good old drug store eyeliner, mascara and lip color. I would LOVE to get my hands on real geisha/kabuki cosmetics, but I cannot rationalize the expense in doing so on my budget when I only do the makeup at indoor events.

I did the wig thing too for my first outing, but my hair is long enough and dark enough I can mostly get away without it now.

Another option is the later period samurai-class things, which what you'll see me in at outdoor events. That might only be two or three layers - and I fake under-layers with false collars in hot weather. ;-D

If you really are interested in doing this, let's chat when I get back from Estrella. In the meantime, go take a spin through the Kyoto Costume Museum and see what in there makes you go, "I wanna look like THAT!" http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/

Not your typical SCA A&S nerd

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