Many will be at Pennsic in the Debatable Lands of AEthelmearc during Peace Week at this posting, but I hope those whom I mention will be told that they are being acknowledged.

There were five entries in the third Magistra Isabeau d’Orleans Novice Day Arts & Sciences Memorial Prize display. Each of these deserve mention:

Brigit Ingen Eogan presented a lovely illuminated scroll blank, based on a page from the Da Costa Hours (circa 1515), created on 11″ x 14″ Bristol paper with gouache:

Franz the Executioner made a knife sheath with sterling silver beads, bronze and silver embellishments with lapis lazuli and moonstone set in bronze, with a sterling silver clasp. He hand sewed and stitched the sheath, the design inspired by knife sheaths throughout history:

Hawk graced his table with “Birka Bread” out of a recipe from the book An Early Meal, a hard bread that would stand up to the elements and not get moldy or maggoty, made of barley, dried peas, and salt water. He also presented dried sage, parsley, and basil, which he had organically grown and harvested:

Nabiya Bak’s first ever display entry was of the edible variety, of the history and recipe of a Korean pocket dumpling called mandu, complete with a sauce for dipping. This entry was enthusiastically sampled by the populace. She did use a modern empanada press for it, but she documented the history of the recipe, and why she had to make adaptations in its construction:

This entry won the Laurel/Artists Prize, beating the board game entry below by merely one vote.

Osanna Schade presented a thoroughly documented reproduction of a 1583 game board of the popular dice game Glückhaus (the lucky pig). It was her first time working with the medium of wood. For good measure, she presented some dice and a bag of “gold coins.” This entry won the Populace Prize:

The third Magistra Isabeau d’Orleans Novice Day Arts & Sciences Memorial prize was taken this year by Osanna Schade, and a scant overall five votes was between her entry and the lady Nabiya’s.

I also wish to thank the instructors for their classes taught:

The Life of an Executioner — taught by Franz the Executioner
Garb from Simple Patterns — taught by Abu-Duruz Ibrahim al-Rashid
SCA Food and Medieval Food — taught by Hawk
A Basic Cross-Stitching Class — taught by our newly-minted Noble Valentine Ambrose, who also recently was bestowed the Silver Brooch

The Fourth Thursday Arts & Sciences gathering for July was billed as the Quiet Pennsic Pity Party, since Pennsic land grab was the next day. Our intrepid Seneschale Sapphira the Navigator showed up to finish the Queen’s favor she was making, new shire member Lady Ceara MacKeiran was working on jewelry, and I was repairing one layer of an Asian gown.

NOTE: There will be no second Monday or fourth Thursday gathering in August, because people will be recovering from Pennsic. I strongly suspect that this Pennsic will be a rough one in terms of heat, so please be careful if you are going. Drink plenty of water and juices, and keep to as much shade as possible.

I look forward to seeing you all again in September.

At the service of your honors,

M. Ana de Guzman, OL
Arts & Sciences Minister, Shire of Rusted Woodlands