What have you been working on? Tell us about it! 

Shire Day in the Park – Held at Sam Michaels Park between Harper’s Ferry and Shepherdstownon on the third Sunday of each month during the warm months.  A shire member will present a class on one of the many topics within the scope of the arts and sciences of the medieval time period. Please see our Facebook page for updates about classes currently being offered.  Martial practice occurs at this time too.

Thursdays at The AbleGamers Foundation – Weekly A&S meetings are scheduled at AbleGamers in Kearneysville from 6:00PM-8:00PM. Cooks guild members will also attend.  Bring what you are working on!

UPCOMING A&S CLASSES – (DATES COMING SOON!)

The following classes will be offered by Bera of Tavestland at our August/Sept/Oct A&S meetings on Thursdays at Able Gamers

  • Make a Market Wallet = In this class we will construct a period tote bag (a hands-free, saddle-bag style, over the shoulder tote bag). The goals of this class are: an introduction to hand sewing, and to produce a practical, period correct tote bag. This tote bag is documented in many religious painting: The flight into Egypt in the Oscott Psalter (Brit. Lib. Add. 50000, fol. 13r), c. 1265-1270; The flight into Egypt in the Luttrell Psalter (Brit. Lib. 42130, fol. 88v), c. 1325-1340; A sack slung in a tree (fol. 3v) and shoulder-sacks carried by hybrid men on fols. 39v and 138r, the Hours of Charlotte of Savoy (PML M.1004), c. 1420-1425; There are many other paintings that document the use of these type of tote bags. Please join us and create your own period tote.
  • Fabric printing = We will be learning about printing with inexpensive modern paints (acrylics and media), and wooden stamps (use mine or bring your own) on fabric. The teacher will bring fabric suitable printing (cotton muslin), but please feel free to bring your own (washed and ironed) as well as a limited supply of acrylic paints. If you wish to experiment with house paint, please bring the paint you want to try (Lowes sells small samples of most of their house paints). If you made a market wallet in the first class, it will perfect for printing. However, students may make items as small as goblet covers, or as large as 60×60. This class will give participants a chance to use those lovely stamps purchased at Pennsic, or online (Amazon). Please join us, and experiment with stamping out boredom.
  • How to write a recommendation letter for an award or elevation = This class will help participants comprehend the “how-to’s, and what-if’s” of recommendation letters, and develop an understanding of the importance of “writing-in” good gentles. Please bring laptops, (I am not sure if tablets will work, but it is worth a shot). Cell phones, are also, a practical option.
  •  Soap crafting = Soap was known and used in the Medieval time period. Its manufacture was a closely guarded secret, and even to this day recipes (both personal and commercial) are protected by legal safeguards. Making soap requires LYE – a very caustic and somewhat dangerous substance. While I can find free recipes, I am not comfortable using LYE in our A&S site. So, we will not be making “from scratch, real soap”. However, we can work with ready made soap. We will make a personal blend using Melt and Pour soaps. In this class/workshop, we will discuss the history of soap, the ingredients needed to make soap, and then we will work with the melt and pour ready-made soap. Each participant will have the opportunity to create their own “secret blend” using several melt and pour soaps. Please note – no fragrance oils, essential oils, or scenting products will be used in this class. Please note – no additives (pumice, oatmeal, milk powders, colorants, ground nuts, etc.) will be used in this class. Please join us, and have some good clean fun.

INKS Guild – This Inter-Kingdom Scribal guild is a group made up of scribes from many kingdoms who paint scroll blanks for various kingdoms to use as they see fit. It’s a chance to practice in a low stress environment. Currently they meet every other Wednesday from 6pm – 8pm at THL Angellino and THL Ylaire’s home. Their Facebook page will have more information.

Cooks Guild – We test out medieval recipes just for fun, as well as to see if they might work for feasts. This group meets monthly. Cooks Guild is currently randomly selecting regions of the known world to highlight and share recipes at weekly Sunday fighter practices.  Contact Lady Arianna Valone for details.  See our Cooks Guild webpage to learn more!

Other A&S meetings – will be announced on the calendar and the Facebook page as they occur.  Be sure to check regularly.