Running a Successful Competition

Posted on April 1, 2018 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

Organizing the competition to find my successor was my last task as the Arts & Sciences Champion of Dragon’s Mist. That happened last weekend, and I’m very pleased with how it went. Here are a few notes that may help you organize a competition of your own. I’ll cover Marketing, Design, Prepping Entrants and Judges, Prizes, and Day Of.

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Details on entrants and their entries are at the bottom of the post. 🙂

Marketing

First of all, nobody can enter a contest they don’t know about. It’s important to start your spamming publicizing of an event early, particularly if it requires documentation or Continue reading →

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Caius and Tullia are getting married!

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

Robert and I are getting married, so of course I’m turning the wedding into an Arts & Sciences project. We’re holding a traditional Roman wedding at Egils, on May 26th. FB for Egils and for the wedding. Please come! I’ll be handing out a brief guide onsite, with a longer paper explaining the history of the clothes, food, rituals, etc. that will be posted here by the end of May.

UPDATE 4/12/18: This thing is going to be AMAZING. I’m making our rings, too. *grin*

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Roman Memes in Modern Day Life

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

Note: This article appeared in the March issue of the Dragon’s Tongue.

meme definition.pngLast August, I was escaping the summer heat by walking in an air-conditioned mall one day and realized I was surrounded by Roman memes (in the original sense of the word).

Gathered Neckline Stola

Gathered-neckline stola

There were logos with big Roman numerals, and stores with red and gold bunting. The shoe places were offering “gladiator sandals,” while Macy’s was selling a shirt that looked like the top half of a gathered-neckline stola. And these were just the obvious ones… Let’s take a peek at some of the ways Roman traditions have survived into the modern era.

First of all – It was August… Renamed for Augustus Caesar in 8 BCE.

Continue reading →

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Dragon’s Mist Arts & Sciences Championship

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

DM Arts & Sciences Championship

ATTENTION ALL ARTISANS! I hereby announce the upcoming Dragon’s Mist Arts and Sciences Championship to be held at Carnivale (March 24th at Schlegel Hall 485 S. Main St Banks, OR, 97106). You do not need to be a DM resident. FB link.

COMPETITION: Single entry, with documentation and oral presentation required. You will have a table space for your display. Your entry will be judged on period methods, materials, and understanding of period context. The entry should contribute to a better understanding of an aspect of period life or material culture. Continue reading →

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Hercules Knot, take 3…

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

My first two attempts are written up here. For this version, I wanted to do silver (instead of brass), and do a continuous loop rather than a curve and a ring. I also decided to use a jig to bend the loops. My goal was to have a display of my progress out for 12th Night, but I got obsessed with my new motorcycle and didn’t spend enough time in the studio.

IMG_20180116_101854.jpgI was cranking away last weekend trying to finish, when I realized that my rushing things was making for sloppy soldering. I figured I was better off stopping than presenting substandard work. Keep an eye out at future events for the finished necklace!

UPDATE: I got some sleep, tried again, and am much happier with the results! 🙂 Full paper here, of course. IMG_20180517_212304

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Tracking down period techniques

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

One of my goals is to learn to make jewelry the way the Romans did, not just duplicate their designs with modern techniques and tools. I contacted my friend Alberto (he’s part of Legio Secvnda Consvlaris, an Italian re-enacting group) to see if he had any ideas. He connected me with his friend who makes Etruscan pieces! I’ve always adored the Etruscan works. They are tiny and shockingly detailed. I’m very excited… stay tuned!

From his website:

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Collegium 2017

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

I graduated from student to apprentice to Eulalia Piebakere! I taught about Roman slavery and manumission! I took a bunch of terrific classes! I got to see *all* of a Bardic championship, which was awesome! Drusa and I had a fantastic time – And my wonderful friend Idonia was put on vigil to become a Laurel. I’m so proud of her!

NOTE: I’m wearing Romano-Brit because it was cold! Also, we are following a medieval model of apprenticeship because Eulalia’s persona is from 13th century York.

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Continue reading →

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2 Upcoming Competitions: Yule & DM Champion

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

Champion’s Choice at Yule: Arts & Sciences for everyone!

12/16 at the Oregon Army National Guard Columbia County Armory, 474 S 7th St, Saint Helens, Oregon 97051, 9am-9pm, no site fee! (FB Event for the Tri-Baronial Yule)

Please join us for a friendly competition! There will be three categories: Place yourself in Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced, with (minimum) a 3×5 card listing your SCA Continue reading →

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Chain-making, Roman style

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

Chains appear as decorative elements in jewelry as well as practical applications (suspended oil lamps, scales, etc). Although the finished products look similar to Viking wire weaving, the method is different.

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Chain for a small oil lamp. I took this at the traveling Pompeii exhibit when it was in Seattle.

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Viking wire weaving bracelet

 

Wire weaving uses a single long wire, threaded back and forth, to create a strand.

Loop-in-loop (the Roman method) uses individual oblong rings. They are bent and hooked into each other. Here’s a modern tutorial.d9d449e8177b56e2d193f0d0e3443801--jewelry-clasps-jewelry-findings.jpg Continue reading →

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Drusa’s Manumission Ceremony

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Sharon Rose, LAc, MSAOM

Slavery in Rome (while obviously still horrible and unethical – I do not condone it in the real world) was not necessarily for life. Slaves could be released as a reward for good service, as a way to show off wealth, or in a Master’s will.

When Drusa earned her AOA at An Tir /West War, I knew I could no longer keep a Lady as my slave! I did a little research and we held a ceremony at Sport of Kings. Utter geek that I am, I provided a documentation handout for our guests. It’s been added to my handout for a class on slavery and manumission, which I’ll be teaching at Collegium next month. Manumission 1.jpg

Fiach was our herald and read the legal document (I strongly recommend hiring him for all your announcing and singing needs).

Baron Finn Grim was the magistrate and touched her with the rod.

I gave her a pair of nalbinding udones (socks -not part of Roman custom, but it set Dobby free and was worth a giggle).  Continue reading →

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