A 15th century kidney pouch

With my newfound goal of improving my kit, I decided it was time to upgrade my kidney pouch to a fancier and more period correct version. I was largely inspired by my friend Gregor von Medehem, who jumped right into leatherworking in the SCA and has made a few very nice pouches.

Since I recommend the "what, when, where, who, & how" approach for starting A&S documentation, I'll use it here to help summarize.

• What did I make? A leather belt pouch.
• What's it used for? Carrying stuff! For me, it's to carry my phone, money/checkbook, car keys, tokens, & business cards. Anything longer than a checkbook won't fit into the main pouch.
• When & where was it used in history? Western Europe, 14th to 16th centuries.
• Who would have had one in period? This style of pouch was only used by men. It shows up in lots of contemporary art and archaeological finds, so its use seems widespread. Due to the fittings and level of workmanship, this particular pouch would have been worn by someone who is fairly well off.
• What sources did I use? "Purses in Pieces" by Olaf Goubitz, & Gregor von Medehem's expertise and pattern.
• What was my process? Read on...

Finding my joy again

Those of you who know me and have been reading my blog know that I've been struggling the last couple years with depression and other issues. In general, things are now a lot better thanks to medication, therapy, good communication with my lady, and more. But part of it being better is finding new things that bring me joy to work on.

In particular, my current SCA/reenactor focus is working toward as authentic a "kit" as possible, and I’m having a blast!

Apprenticeship Indenture for Adrienne d'Evreus to Isabel Chamberlain

Project:	Apprenticeship Indenture for Adrienne & Isabel
Words:	Mistress Alys Mackyntoich & Mistress Isabel Chamberlain
Calligraphy:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Paper:	9" x 12" Parchment by David de Rosier-Blanc
Script:	My own Secretary Hand
Pens:	Mitchell #6 and #4
Inks:	Ian the Green's Iron Gall Ink
Inspiration:	Multiple, see below

Bureaucracy, red-tape and forms filled out in triplicate: not things most people think of when they think of beautiful documents. But in reality, almost as soon as humans invented writing, we started using it to record legal agreements between people. Medieval contracts are just as verbose as our modern day legalese. But in those days before carbon paper and ball point pens, they had a much more artistic way of handling the need for each party to a contract walking away with a copy: the Indentured Chirograph.

Anna Ophelia Holloway Tarragon - Tyger of the East - a.s. l

Project:	Tyger of the East for Duchess Anna Ophelia Holloway Tarragon
Words:	Lady Adrienne d'Evreus
Translation:	Master Steffan ap Kennydd
Calligraphy:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Illumination:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Paper:	9" x 12" Parchment by David de Rosier-Blanc
Script:	Gothic Quadrata main text, Gothic Secretary Interlinear gloss.
Pens:	~1mm Goose Quill for primary text, pointed metal nib for gloss & outlines.
Inks:	Ian the Green's Iron Gall and Brazilwood inks.
Inspiration:	folio 144v of MS Typ 0193 at the Houghton Library.

Adrienne d'Evreus - Order of the Silver Brooch - a.s. l

Project:	Order of the Silver Brooch for Adrienne d'Evreus
Words:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Calligraphy:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Illumination:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Paper:	11" x 14" 230 GSM Natural Pergamenata
Script:	Gothic Textura Prescisus
Pens:	Mitchell #3.5 for the Calligraphy, Pointed for the outline.
Inks:	Walnut ink for the calligraphy, and Ian the Green's Iron Gall for the outlines.
Inspiration:	f. 36v from the Luttrell Psalter

Aneleda Falconbridge - Order of the Laurel - a.s. l

Project:	Order of the Laurel for Aneleda Falconbridge
Words:	Mistress Aildreda de Tamworthe & Master Lucien de Pontivy
Calligraphy:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Illumination:	Doña Camille des Jardins - Her gallery of the painting process
Paper:	12" x 16" Parchment made by David de Rosier-Blanc
Script:	Gothic
Pens:	Goose feather quills for text & lines, Mitchell #3 for the musical notes.
Inks:	Ian the Green's Iron Gall & Brazilwood.
Inspiration:	14th Century Chansonnier, dit Chansonnier Cangé, f. 144v

Astryda Borowska - Order of the Laurel - a.s. l

Project:	Order of the Laurel for Astryda Borowska
Words:	Master Harold von Auerbach
Calligraphy & Layout:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Illumination:	Doña Camille des Jardins
Paper:	8x10" Parchment by David de Rosier-Blanc
Script:	A somewhat sloppy and condensed Gothic Bookhand
Pens:	Goose feather quill
Inks:	Ian the Green's Iron Gall, Kolner Miniatum Ink & Gold Leaf, Winsor & Newton Scarlet & Blue Calligraphy Ink.
Inspiration:	The Sankt Florian Psalter.

Mercedes Vera de Calafia - Augmentation of Arms - a.s. xlix

Project:	Augmentation of Arms for Mercedes de Calafia
Words:	Mistress Alys Mackyntoich
Illumination:	Doña Camille des Jardins (her album for this project)
Paper:	9x12" Parchment by David de Rosier-Blanc
Script:	Spanish Rotunda
Pens:	Wide metal & pointed nib for first line, goose quill for the smaller text.
Inks:	Ian the Green's Iron Gall & Brazilwood inks
Inspiration:	Letters Patent by King Charles I, 1524

Master of Defence - Frasier MacLeod - a.s. l

Project:	Master of Defense for Frasier MacLeod
Words:	Mistress Alys Mackyntoich
Paper:	17 x 14" Parchment by David de Rosier-Blanc
Script:	German Fraktur
Pens:	Turkey & Goose feather quills
Ink:	Ian the Green's Iron Gall
Paints:	Holbein Artist's Gouache & Finetec metallic
Inspirations:	W and general layout from Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Abt. Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart, J 250 Nr. 14 and Wappenbrief der Gemeinde Blindenmarkt. The Fraktur hand for the text is from various pages in Werke der Schönschreibmeister - Staatsbibliothek Bamberg JH.Msc.Art.88. This book also inspired the shell gold highlights on the text, gold margin lines, and flourishes. The central image is based on the October Calendar page from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry.

Bronwen Rose of Greylyng - Order of the Laurel - a.s. l

Project:	Order of the Laurel for Bronwen Rose of Greylyng
Words:	Mistress Mylisant Grey
Paper:	Arches Cold Press Watercolor
Script:	English Secretary Hand
Pens:	Turkey Feather Quills, pointed metal nib
Ink:	Kuretake Sumi
Inspiration:	Cadel based on this image, which I can't find firm details on the specific document it is from. It is similar to many other cadel H's from documents during Henry VIII's reign. Text based on Lilly Library at Indiana University, Ricketts 259, a letter from Henry VIII to Andrew, Lord Windsor.

Ian the Green - Award of the Purple Fret - a.s. xlix

Project:	Award of the Purple Fret for Ian the Green
Latin Translation:	Master Steffan ap Kennydd
Scroll:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Paper:	9" x 12" Parchment made by David de Rosier-Blanc (his Etsy store)
Script:	Proto Gothic
Pens:	Hand cut goose quills, pointed metal nib.
Inks:	Ian the Green's Iron Gall; John Neal's Walnut Crystal; Winsor & Newton's Crimson, Blue, Green & Yellow inks; Purple Gouache; Garlic Juice.
Inspirations:	Early 13th century English law treatise - Balliol College MS. 350 Opusculum de ratione spere - Bodleian Library MS. Digby 83, f58r Facta et dicta memorabilia - Burney 212, f1 (found at the Puzzle Initial Index)

Estrella War Gift Scroll - a.s. xlix

Project:	Estrella War Gift Scroll; from the East to the Outlands
Words:	Theodora Bryennissa called Treannah
Scroll:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Paper:	8" x 10" 230 gsm cream colored Pergamenata
Script:	Fraktur
Pens:	Hand cut goose quill with 1mm tip, pointed metal nibs.
Inks:	Ian the Green's Iron Gall, Winsor & Newton's Scarlett, Minatum Ink
Inspiration:	Drei Register Arithmetischer ahnfeng zur Practic by Andreas Reinhard, 1599

Aildreda de Tamworth - Laurel Writ - a.s. xlix

Project:	Writ for the Order of the Laurel for Aildreda de Tamworth
Words:	Master Lucien de Pontivy
Latin Translation:	Master Steffan ap Kennydd
Scroll:	Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre
Paper:	8" x 10" Parchment made by David de Rosier-Blanc (his Etsy store)
Script:	Proto Gothic
Pens:	Hand cut goose quills. Tips are 1.0mm, ~0.7mm and ~0.5mm wide.
Inks:	Ian the Green's Iron Gall, Winsor & Newton's Scarlett
Inspiration:	Codex Buranus

Sabine de Kerbriant - Laurel Writ - a.s. xlix

Project:	Writ for the Order of the Laurel for Sabine de Kerbriant
Words:	Dame Brunissende Dragonnette
Paper:	Natural 230 GSM Pergamenata
Script:	Early Gothic
Pen:	Hiro Rond #4 & #5
Ink:	Sumi Bokuju, Windsor & Newton Crimson and Blue
Inspiration:	Recycled Vellum Book Cover from the Folger Shakespeare Library

Leon d'Saint Aubin - Tyger's Cub - a.s. xlix

Project:	Tyger's Cub for Leon d'Saint Aubin
Words:	Lady Adrienne d'Evreus
Illumination:	Lady Adrienne d'Evreus
Paper:	Strathmore 300 Bristol Board
Script:	Proto Gothic
Pen:	Mitchell Round Hand #4
Ink:	Walnut Crystal
Guidelines:	AMES 2:3 @ 7
Size:	Margin Guidelines are 5.5" wide by 9.5" tall.
Inspiration:	13th Century Bestiary, British Library Royal 12 C XIX f.40

Deormund Wulfscyld - Grand Master Bowman - a.s. xxiv (presented xlix)

Project:	Grand Master Bowman for Deormund Wulfscyld
Words:	Lady Adrienne d'Evreus
Illumination:	Design, gold & paint by Lady Adrienne d'Evreus; Whitework by me (Alexandre).
Paper:	Strathmore 300 Bristol Board
Script:	Gothic Textura Prescisus
Pen:	Hiro Rond #4
Ink:	Walnut Crystal
Guidelines:	AMES 2:3 @ 6.5
Inspiration:	The Luttrell Psalter, British Library, Add MS 42130

Miron d'Allaines-le-Comte - Award of Arms - a.s. xxxxviij

Project:	Award of Arms for Miron d'Allaines-le-Comte
Words:	Lady Adrienne d'Evreus
Illumination:	Lady Adrienne d'Evreus
Paper:	Strathmore 300 Bristol Board
Script:	Gothic
Pen:	Hiro Rond #4 or #5 - Oops, I didn't keep good notes on this one...
Ink:	Blots Iron Gall Ink & Winsor & Newton Scarlet Calligraphy Ink
Guidelines:	AMES 2:3 @ 6
Size:	Calligraphy space is 4.25" x 5.75".
Inspiration:	The Hours of Catherine of Cleves, The Morgan Library MS M.917

Labours of the East - 2015 Scribal Art Calendar

Some of my fellow scribes & artists have been labouring for the past months to create some original artwork for a fundraising effort: a 2015 calendar! The calendar is on sale until November 1st at http://eastkingdombookofdays.mbouchard.com/ 

This is a fabulous example of East Kingdom scribal talent that you can own and hang on your wall. It's also a great way to introduce family and friends to some of what we do in the SCA.

Engracia de Madrigal - Order of the Silver Rapier - a.s. xxxxviii

The completed scroll after Camille finished the paint and gold.

Project:	Order of the Silver Rapier for Engracia de Madrigal
Words:	Mistress Alys Mackyntoich
Illumination:	Lady Camille des Jardins
Paper:	White Heavyweight Pergamenata
Script:	Batardé
Pen:	Hiro Rond #3.5, filed down (I didn't have the correct size nib, so I modified one!)
Ink:	Blots Iron Gall Ink & Winsor & Newton Scarlet Calligraphy Ink
Guidelines:	AMES 1:1 @ 7
Size:	Calligraphy space is 6" x 7.75".

Christian Woolfe - Order of the Pelican - a.s. xxxxviij

Project:	Order of the Pelican for Colonel Christian Woolfe
Words:	Baron Jean du Montagne
Painting:	Mistress Ro Honig von Sommerfeldt
Cord:	Baroness Mylisant Grey
Seal:	Mistress Kayleigh MacWhyte
Paper:	Calligraphy Prepared Goatskin Parchment from Pergamena.com
Pens:	Cadels: Hiro Rond #1 with reservoir attached. Text: ~1mm & ~2mm goose quills that I cut myself. Line Drawing: Pointed Niko-G nib.
Ink:	Cadels: Miniatum Ink mixed with Winsor & Newton's Yellow Calligraphy Ink, covered with 23k Transfer gold from lagoldleaf.com. Text: Blots Iron Gall Ink.
Guidelines:	The visible guidelines on the finished piece were drawn on with a lead-tin plummet made by Randy Asplund. While working, I used pencil guidelines 3 nib-widths (~3mm) apart in a 1:2 ratio of minim-height to interlinear space.
Size:	The 'O' is 5" tall, the 'G's are 4", the rest of the gold letters just over 1". Finished size of the area filled with ink & paint is about 16.5" by 10".