tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25658805769102112732008-03-31T19:29:12.582-07:00Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-6226428872096800922008-03-21T13:41:00.015-07:002008-03-21T14:53:52.722-07:00

by Gael Stirler This Sunday March 30th the hit series, the Tudors with Johnathan Rhys-Meyers will air the premier episode of Season 2. This is not your typical retelling of the story of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. It is a lusty, sexy, dangerous version filled with passion. The characters are young and impetuous. The King in season 1 was barely out of his teens and beginning to feel his

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-55846267159757767692007-09-04T14:41:00.000-07:002007-09-04T15:01:29.222-07:00

by Kim Matzke Looking very nervous as I begin to walk down the aisle with my sons Last issue I wrote about the origins and popularity of Halloween as a spooky time to think about those things that scare us. This week I am going to talk about something that is so scary that most men can't even bring themselves to speak its name out loud. Marriage! So, what could be more natural than combining a

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-15700465013050143072007-09-04T14:20:00.000-07:002007-09-04T15:06:46.664-07:00

Witches and black cats were feared in superstitious timesHalloween is the second biggest commercial holiday in America. Millions of people celebrate the holiday each year, but its origins are obscure. Some view Halloween as simply a time for fun with friends and family. Others see it as superstitious in nature because of its symbols of death and supernatual horror. Some religions even view it as

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-50993096830518836432007-08-14T11:13:00.000-07:002007-08-14T12:03:02.705-07:00

Elizabeth ReturnsCate Blanchette as Elizabeth I in The Golden Age Elizabeth: The Golden Age takes up the story of Elizabeth I where the 1998 movie Elizabeth: the Virgin Queen left off. Elizabeth has remade herself from a tender young princess into a formidable iconic figure, a goddess Queen. Acadamy Award® winners Cate Blanchette and Geoffry Rush reprise their roles as the Queen of England and

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-83343109430869549382007-06-27T15:22:00.000-07:002007-06-27T15:52:26.977-07:00

Renaissance Magazine* has announced the publication of it's Special Directory Issue. This special issue will include Faires, Guilds, Merchants, and Performers in the Renaissance, SCA and other Medieval related communities. If you work in anyway with the Renaissance market, they are asking for you to provide them with your correct listing by filling out the form at www.renaissancemagazine.com/

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-30059011012278688982007-06-27T14:26:00.000-07:002007-06-27T15:20:57.180-07:00

For Fun and Comfort at the Festival by Kim Matzke It seems that every year there are more and more people who dress in costume when they attend their local Renaissance Faire. Is it really more fun? What do you need to make your costume great? Well, let's find out. I attended my first Renaissance Faire about 11 years ago. I took my two boys (then ages 6 and 8) with me. We all had a blast!!

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-18611656644140228252007-06-12T19:14:00.000-07:002007-06-12T19:23:35.719-07:00

by Gael Stirler Lady Anne Boleyn by Lucas Horenbout a Tudor fashion trendsetter Last week I had the pleasure of attending a talk by the authors of the The Tudor Tailor (item CFP62556) at the Phoenix Museum of Art. Ninya (pronouced NIH-na) Mikhaila and Jane Malcolm-Davies kept an audience of costumers and reenactors stitched to our seats for two hours as they interpreted the lives of two women of

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-11853367175450706582007-05-31T15:09:00.000-07:002007-06-12T19:30:43.280-07:00

The Buccaneer was a Picturesque Fellow, Howard Pyle (1853-1911) From "The Fate of a Treasure Town," Harper’s Monthly Magazine, December 1905 An essay by Gael Stirler (AKA daughter of the Great Pirate) As some of you know I am the owner of Chivalry Sports and a reenactor myself. In that world I am Mistress Dairine mor o'uHigin, which is old Irish for Pirate! I have had a love for pirate lore

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-10250836774166447252007-05-01T15:36:00.000-07:002007-05-01T18:28:32.724-07:00

You may have noticed that we have been working on our website lately. Well, we installed new software and a new server to make the site run faster and more securely. The changes are all done and the whole site is running smoother. In the process we have added some improvements and new features. 1) The items with multiple variations, like color and size, now have a drop down menu right beneath

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-59329155295414907242007-04-20T17:08:00.000-07:002007-04-20T17:49:08.842-07:00

Believe it or not this Spring bouquet by Scott Clark Wooley is made of sugar! During medieval feasts it was customary to serve a soteltie as a part of the entertainments. Today the tradition of decorated food is carried on with elaborately decorated bithday or wedding cakes, molded patés and vegetable carving. Sotelties can be foods of one kind made to look like another kind, or to look like

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-67053518410977291732007-04-20T16:55:00.000-07:002007-04-20T17:30:13.664-07:00

A humorous look at love by Sir Guillaume "There's No Adults Here" de la Belgique Today's notion of romance goes something like this: Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan (or, possibly, Sandra Bullock if neither of the other two are available) receives a mis-routed, anonymous e-mail from a sensitive, misunderstood espresso bar proprietor who is searching for his soul mate to help him raise his darling

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-4002466452034156902007-04-20T16:47:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:54:03.507-07:00

by Patricia Purvis Recipes edited by Gael Stirler We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse a-far Field and fountain Moor and mountain Following yonder star! Twelfth Night or Twelve Nights, as it is called in some places, celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings to the birthplace of Christ. It is observed on January 5th, the night before Epihany, and marks the end of the

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-1818546026247248762007-04-20T16:30:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:55:34.341-07:00

A midwinterhoorn is an instrument, used in the eastern part of Holland, called Twente. People play it between the first Sunday of Advent and Epiphany. Go to Midwinterhoornblazen for audio of the horn and to see how they are made. A midwinterhoorn is crafted by splitting and gouging out a curved piece of timber. (mostly birch, alder, willow or poplar). A hole is drilled at the smallest end for

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-56323148798794263602007-04-20T15:21:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:54:21.592-07:00

by Gael Stirler Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green Here we come a-dancing so fair to be seen! Love and Joy come to you and to you your wassail, too! And God rest you and bring you a Happy New Year And God bring you a Happy New Year! Like many lasting customs, wassailing is associated with an ancient legend. A beautiful Saxon princess named Rowena offered Prince Vortigen a bowl

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-42901929185216958292007-04-20T15:03:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:21:12.982-07:00

by Vallawulf Rurikson in the style of The Life of St. Cuthbert (c. 634-687), by St. Bede (673-735). (This is a true story told in the style of a fairy tale or legend. It is written by Vallawulf Rurikson, Ambassador of Atenveldt and Atenveldt Disaster Relief Coordinator and Moderator of the SCA-911 Yahoo Group.) WHEN Radu and Broinnfinn, Lord and Lady Heir of Gleann Abhann, had passed several

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-29267038317592914602007-04-20T13:15:00.000-07:002007-04-20T15:03:48.687-07:00

by Gael Stirler Plain to Fancy in just a few hours Figure 1 English Lace-up DoubletFigure 2 Customized English Lace-up Doublet Here are instructions on how to take a plain English Lace-up Doublet and make it into a nobleman's vest (Figure 2). Once you know the tricks for adding trim to finished garments you can easily customize all of your wardrobe. Materials and Tools: English Lace-up Doublet

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-6076594755199182572007-04-20T13:07:00.000-07:002007-04-20T13:14:52.937-07:00

September 26, 2005) Rick Hight of The Louisiana Renaissance Festival (LRF) wrote to say, "Hurricane Rita did not do any additional damage to the Louisiana Renaissance Festival site. A few more trees, damaged by Katrina, finally fell over, but no new damage was caused. The Louisiana Renaissance Festival is most definitely opening on schedule with a full lineup of entertainment!" The opening day

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-51369790450359066502007-04-17T20:57:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:22:57.073-07:00

by Gael Stirler Have you ever dreamt of celebrating Octoberfest or Christmas in Germany in a Medieval castle? It may be more affordable than you thought. Though Octoberfest is over for 2005 (it runs from mid September through the first weekend in October) it's not too soon to start planning for next year. There are many castles in Germany that have been converted to excellent boutique hotels and

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-68601868351070301532007-04-17T20:40:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:24:10.133-07:00

The Pagan Book of Halloween by Gerina Dunwich Gerina Dunwich's favorite night of the year is Halloween, and for good reason—it is the Witches's New Year's Eve. As a high priestess in the Universal Life Church and professional astrologer, she has dedicated her life to dispelling rumors, myths, and negative stereotypes surrounding the Old Religion. Her book on Halloween is filled with

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-26853039608084090632007-03-28T10:18:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:25:59.466-07:00

Originally published October 2005screen resolutionsize800 x 600A1024 x 768A1152 x 864 A1280 x 768B1280 x 960 A1280 x 1024 C1600 x 1024D1600 x 1200ADecorate your computer with a background of Renaissance Art. This selection of 10 backgrounds is from Italian paintings and frescos of the 14th, 15th and 16th century. Instructions on how to set up the desktop image and how to make a screen saver are

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-14119933809352303252007-03-27T17:10:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:27:13.214-07:00

Originally posted September 2005 by Gael Stirler (September 9, 2005) Even before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, Lord Colin of Tighan began efforts to help those displaced by the weather by founding a Yahoo Group called SCA-Disaster. Within days hundreds of people joined the list and began offering their time, homes, money, and supplies. Outside of New Orleans in Georgia, the outgoing King and

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-2466062710757357052007-03-27T14:01:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:28:22.977-07:00

Originally posted September 2005 by Gael Stirler Dice have been found depicted in the tombs of ancient Egypt and were mentioned in the Old and New Testament. Nearly every culture in the world has developed some form of random number tool for divination or gambling. Cube dice are the most popular but over the centuries around the world they have taken many shapes including cylindars, cubes, straws

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-76446510510784161292007-03-27T12:47:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:29:34.664-07:00

by Gael Stirler Felix Cartagena's "Fairy Spheres" are mystifying and beautiful as they float on the breeze, capturing light on a fragile film, glistening with all the colors of the rainbow. "I see bubble making as performance art, but as one step removed. It is not the making of the bubbles but the bubbles themselves that is the performance." says Cartagena' who loves watching bubbles and

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-69811246311571765982007-03-26T16:04:00.000-07:002007-03-27T13:32:48.342-07:00

by Gael Stirler Make this into this! Here are instructions on how to make your own Celtic Coat. You will need about four yards of 45" cotton broadcloth for the lining and a full-size (88" by 106") printed cotton tapestry throw with a Celtic knotwork border. The one used here is Celtic Unicorn Tapestry. Wash and dry the lining and the printed tapestry throw to stabilize shrinkage. Cut the

Gael Stirlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11091029973903008154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565880576910211273.post-74851113806040585142007-03-26T15:57:00.000-07:002007-04-20T16:30:35.333-07:00

A re-telling by Cynthea Cameron In the waters that surround Knockdolian Castle in Strathclyde, Scotland, there used to come a mermaid after the sun sunk below the sea and the air was filled with darkness. The mermaid loved to climb upon a rock near the shore and fill the starlit night with song. The Lady of Knockdolian had a wee bairn (infant). The mermaid's singing wakened the bairn, and

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