Winter Missive from the Baron & Baroness

Hello Debatable Lands!

As we write this, the weather is cold, but the days will soon be getting longer, and we are all enjoying the warmth of our hearths and homes. As our King and Queen have said, we know that this season can be difficult for some. Know that our thoughts are with you, you are valued, and you have friends to lean on; please do, if you need to.

Thanks to all our retainers, champions, scribes, those who make tokens, and everyone who has helped make our Courts this year fun and easy, particularly Lady Rivka, THL Rachel, and THL Jorundr. THL Jorundr has stepped down as Comet Pursuivant (Herald), and we thank him deeply for his years of fruitful service to the Barony. Welcome to Master Kieran, new Comet Pursuivant!

We are now looking forward to Baronial 12th Night on January 21st. The day is full of revelry, joy, fun activities and it is FREE! Ever wanted to introduce a friend or coworker to the SCA? Baronial 12th Night is the ideal event to bring them to! Read more here.

We are very excited to say that our new A&S Champion will be chosen at 12th Night. No theme, but bring your best! The Debatable Lands A&S Champs is a point of pride for us, as we do have the best artisans in the Knowne World after all….  All levels are encouraged to enter, and works-in-progress are welcome. There will be a display area for those not wishing to enter and thereby de-virginize their projects (Ice Dragon, it’s a thing…).

We’ll also be choosing the new Baronial Bardic Champion that fine day. The theme for the Bardic Champs is “Make Us Laugh, Make Us Cry, or Both!” Songs, stories and all bardic forms welcome!

Steltonwald 12th Night is coming up soon, too, on January 28th. A fun and unique event, a party at a restaurant. Read more here.

Additionally, we are very low on Comet award tokens. If anyone would like to donate some, we would appreciate it very much. We would very much prefer to give pouches as tokens, or other usable items, but medallions or belt favors are welcomed with gratitude. We also do need medallion/pouch strings. Let us know if you’d be able to help us with this, and we can give you more details.

Thank you all so much for being vibrant and integral to this amazing hobby of ours, that is so much more than a hobby. If you ever have and questions or comments, please do contact us by phone (See the Dark Pages) or email (baron@debatablelands.org, and baroness@debatablelands.org), or by social media (Hilda on Facebook, Brandubh on G+). We will see you soon!

In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers,
Baron Brandubh, and Baroness Hilda

Scriptorium This Wednesday: Holiday Card Spectacular!

Unto the Barony, greetings from Kameshima, Scribal Guildmaster! This is your reminder that the monthly Scriptorium will be held this Wednesday.

Scriptorium is the monthly gathering of calligraphers, illuminators, wordsmiths, and anyone interested in taking up and learning more about these creative arts. We welcome all skill levels, from the most accomplished Laurels to those that have never picked up a pen or a brush. Become part of creating the atmosphere and visual splendor of the SCA!

This month, join us on Wednesday, December 21st, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at Kameshima and Isabel’s house in the North Hills. (Our address is listed in the Dark Pages, or you can contact us at scriptorium at debatablelands dot org for more information.) We will be celebrating the winter holidays by hosting a Holiday Card Spectacular!

We will be providing blank cards, some basic patterns, and materials — though experienced scribes are encouraged to bring your own as well — for the creation of illuminated cards! These cards can be used to celebrate the holiday season, as a special “thank you” card for the giver of that perfect gift, or just made to keep in reserve for that surprise occasion where nothing can express the sentiment quite like a hand-made piece of art.

Please be aware, our house contains a cat, a dog, and an infant: medicate or otherwise prepare yourself as necessary.

In Honor and Service,
亀島
Kameshima Zentarō Umakai
​男爵領の律法学者の組合の指導者
Baronial Scribal Guildmaster

The Fiber Guild at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum

fiber-arts-guild

From Luceta on the unofficial BMDL Facebook Group:

The Fiber Guild had demo in the children’s museum last Thursday (8 December 2016), and it went smashingly well. Many many thanks to Rivka for spinning, and carding ,and making dozens of fluffy sheep with the youngest museum goers, and to Rufina for getting in touch with the museum at the Makers’ Faire, which started this whole thing. (Also many thanks to Angus for printing and cutting out all those sheep.)
The museum was very happy with us, and would like to have us back! So those of you who started their clearance paperwork, but couldn’t have it processed in time – there will be more opportunities!

We had a great space the studio, and a very official poster (in pictures) and lots of visitors! It was wonderful to talk to the kids and their parents about wool, and seeing their eyes light up when they get to touch the wool and spin the wheel, and pet the sheep puppet. (Greatest epiphany of the day:” Mom, look, they have the same glue as us!”) here are some pictures!

The sign outside of the demo room.
The sign outside of the demo room.
Luceta di Cosimo and Rivka bat Daniyal
Luceta di Cosimo and Rivka bat Daniyal
Luceta showing a museum patron how to spin fiber on a wheel.
Luceta showing a museum patron how to spin fiber on a wheel.

Winter Fencing Practices

Greetings,

We have now switched to our winter site for this year, the Pittsburgh Chinese Church and will be there through the winter months from 2-6 on Sundays.

We will not be holding practice on Sunday December 25 and Sunday January 1, as a poll of the regular attendees said that most people would be inexplicably busy or recovering from the night before on those days.

Jorundr