Classes at Golden Swan 2013
This year there is no candidate for Golden Swan, so we have classes, most taught by Swans. This is a preliminary list. A complete list with course descriptions and class fees will be posted as soon as possible.
Registration for classes will take place at the event, beginning Friday evening. Fees will be paid to the instructor of each class.
There will be a Golden Swan Question and Answer session hosted by Swan Walburga (aka HL Magdalen of Haphazard Manor, also known to many as Mags, a versatile woman of many talents!)
Confirmed classes are:
Anya the Gypsy (Swan) (aka Baroness Anastasia Alexandrovna Andreeva (OL) – History of Perfume A look at scent through the ages and cultures. This class will include a nice handout with recipes for making your own perfumes. We will be making a solid perfume, the oldest form of scent. Please no allergies! I cannot accommodate and still bring period oils etc. Fee $5.00 includes handout and all materials for making a perfume of your own
Lucy Pogson (Swan) – Block Printing All materials will be provided, and fun will be had, as well as learning how to print from blocks in a simple but effective technique.
Fee TBA
Aelana Cordovera (Swan) – Islamic Books (3 hours - 2 hours on Saturday, 1 hour on Sunday) Islamic books come in many styles, but we will make the envelope flap book that preceded the modern case binding. Paper quires will be sewn and pasteboard will be used to support a leather cover. Islamic decoration may be studied and some simple decoration could be applied before the book is finally covered and dried.
Fee $10
Tanikh bint Farida (Swan) – Complete Banquet Kitchen (includes hands-on work helping prepare and serve the Saturday feast) Setting up the kitchen space, supplying it, staffing it, and feeding from 20-200 from it. Choosing appropriate foods for large scale cooking, (some recipes will be discussed), how much to make, how to estimate portions, safe storage of foods, and how to make a budget. Scheduling, staffing requirements, garnishing and serving will also be covered.
Fee $2
Alicia le Wilfulle (Swan, OL) – Introduction to Fingerloop Braiding: Fingerloop braiding is a technique for quickly making strong decorative cords (often called 'laces') that was extremely common in the middle ages. They were used as drawstrings on pouches ('pursestrings'), edging on hairnets, and ties/lacing for clothing. This hands-on class will teach you to make the very useful five loop round braid. If time permits we will look at some of the variations on this braid. Some manual dexterity is required.
Students should bring optional small scissors; reading glasses are recommended if you need them for close-up work.
Fee 50 cents.
Intermediate Fingerloop Braiding
Are you familiar with making the standard five loop braid and its variations and looking for more advanced fingerloop braids? In this class you will learn how to do 'a lace bend' and 'grene dorge'. Note: this is not a beginning level class; students must already know basic fingerloop braiding. This class is not suitable for someone who has just taken the Intro class - more practice is required. If it's been a while since you last did fingerloop braiding, it is strongly recommended that you review the steps prior to class.
Students should bring optional small scissors; reading glasses are recommended if you need them for close-up work
Fee: 50 cents
Introduction to Pewter Casting Using Soapstone Moulds This class will introduce students to the instructor's method of making and casting in multipart soapstone moulds. Students will carve and cast their own two part mould, but the instructor will discuss three part moulds as well. Students may wish to bring a drawing of a simple design they wish to cast. Included will be discussions on choosing good stone and making your own tools.
Students should bring reading glasses if you need them for close-up work. Optional: small carving tools (not ones you intend to use for wood carving later as the stone will dull the edge); heavy gloves that fits your hands; dust mask and safety glasses. The instructor will have some of the optional items available for loan.
Fee: $5
Evangelina du Lac – Coldstone Lodestone (fridge magnets) – 2 hours: one session for adults, another session for children
Using magnetic paper and vinyl overlays, students will make attractive magnets for their fridge or vehicle. Imagination is recommended! All materials provided.
Fee $8
Rose Cam-beul (Swan) – Hoodmaking – Students should bring 1 metre of 60 inch wide fabric, wool preferred.
A brief runthrough of some of the easiest different types of hoods, from Norse to the dagged hoods of the 14th century. Students will select the hood they'd like to make and with the instructor's help, will construct and create a hood. There will be samples to try on and compare. A sewing machine will be available to sew the long seams, other work will be done by hand. Instructor will be available throughout the weekend if students want to try making more hoods.
Fee $2
Elaine Mallory (Swan) – Coptic Embroidery and Textiles - Textile designs are used in both woven fabric and embroidery in the Coptic period of Egypt. Many of these styles and techniques are also suitable for Islamic textiles. This class will be an overview with some hands-on work. Other details TBA.
Fee: $1
Olwen Pen Aur – A Whirlwind Introduction to the History of Islamic Civilization 600-1600 – The difference between Omayyads and Ottomans, and why it matters! The history of Islamic civilization is littered with strange names: Abbasids, Samanids, Aghlabids, Fatimids. It takes place over a vast area of the globe, form Spain to India, and involves people we have trouble keeping straight: Arabs, Turks, Persians, Mongols, Berbers and Bedouins. How to make sense of it all? This class is aimed at people doing research for a persona in the SCA, who want to know which dynasty ruled over a certain area at any given time. There are no general resources for orienting yourself, unless you already know where to look and which questions to ask. This will be a whirlwind tour of Islamic history covering the basics and the most important periods of time and dynasties from roughly 600 to 1600 AD. By the end of two hours, you should have a rough idea whether your persona would have been Sunni or Shi'ite, what the main ethnic groups might have been in your part of the world, and who were the people in charge.
Fee $1
Crystal Rose – Handmade Covers for Modern Devices – Our modern devices can be a necessary part of life but they need to be decently covered at an event so they don't offend with their modernity. Learn a simple and attractive way to cover these things, and have fun learning it. Mainly for children and teens, but all are welcome -Details TBA
Registration for classes will take place at the event, beginning Friday evening. Fees will be paid to the instructor of each class.
There will be a Golden Swan Question and Answer session hosted by Swan Walburga (aka HL Magdalen of Haphazard Manor, also known to many as Mags, a versatile woman of many talents!)
Confirmed classes are:
Anya the Gypsy (Swan) (aka Baroness Anastasia Alexandrovna Andreeva (OL) – History of Perfume A look at scent through the ages and cultures. This class will include a nice handout with recipes for making your own perfumes. We will be making a solid perfume, the oldest form of scent. Please no allergies! I cannot accommodate and still bring period oils etc. Fee $5.00 includes handout and all materials for making a perfume of your own
Lucy Pogson (Swan) – Block Printing All materials will be provided, and fun will be had, as well as learning how to print from blocks in a simple but effective technique.
Fee TBA
Aelana Cordovera (Swan) – Islamic Books (3 hours - 2 hours on Saturday, 1 hour on Sunday) Islamic books come in many styles, but we will make the envelope flap book that preceded the modern case binding. Paper quires will be sewn and pasteboard will be used to support a leather cover. Islamic decoration may be studied and some simple decoration could be applied before the book is finally covered and dried.
Fee $10
Tanikh bint Farida (Swan) – Complete Banquet Kitchen (includes hands-on work helping prepare and serve the Saturday feast) Setting up the kitchen space, supplying it, staffing it, and feeding from 20-200 from it. Choosing appropriate foods for large scale cooking, (some recipes will be discussed), how much to make, how to estimate portions, safe storage of foods, and how to make a budget. Scheduling, staffing requirements, garnishing and serving will also be covered.
Fee $2
Alicia le Wilfulle (Swan, OL) – Introduction to Fingerloop Braiding: Fingerloop braiding is a technique for quickly making strong decorative cords (often called 'laces') that was extremely common in the middle ages. They were used as drawstrings on pouches ('pursestrings'), edging on hairnets, and ties/lacing for clothing. This hands-on class will teach you to make the very useful five loop round braid. If time permits we will look at some of the variations on this braid. Some manual dexterity is required.
Students should bring optional small scissors; reading glasses are recommended if you need them for close-up work.
Fee 50 cents.
Intermediate Fingerloop Braiding
Are you familiar with making the standard five loop braid and its variations and looking for more advanced fingerloop braids? In this class you will learn how to do 'a lace bend' and 'grene dorge'. Note: this is not a beginning level class; students must already know basic fingerloop braiding. This class is not suitable for someone who has just taken the Intro class - more practice is required. If it's been a while since you last did fingerloop braiding, it is strongly recommended that you review the steps prior to class.
Students should bring optional small scissors; reading glasses are recommended if you need them for close-up work
Fee: 50 cents
Introduction to Pewter Casting Using Soapstone Moulds This class will introduce students to the instructor's method of making and casting in multipart soapstone moulds. Students will carve and cast their own two part mould, but the instructor will discuss three part moulds as well. Students may wish to bring a drawing of a simple design they wish to cast. Included will be discussions on choosing good stone and making your own tools.
Students should bring reading glasses if you need them for close-up work. Optional: small carving tools (not ones you intend to use for wood carving later as the stone will dull the edge); heavy gloves that fits your hands; dust mask and safety glasses. The instructor will have some of the optional items available for loan.
Fee: $5
Evangelina du Lac – Coldstone Lodestone (fridge magnets) – 2 hours: one session for adults, another session for children
Using magnetic paper and vinyl overlays, students will make attractive magnets for their fridge or vehicle. Imagination is recommended! All materials provided.
Fee $8
Rose Cam-beul (Swan) – Hoodmaking – Students should bring 1 metre of 60 inch wide fabric, wool preferred.
A brief runthrough of some of the easiest different types of hoods, from Norse to the dagged hoods of the 14th century. Students will select the hood they'd like to make and with the instructor's help, will construct and create a hood. There will be samples to try on and compare. A sewing machine will be available to sew the long seams, other work will be done by hand. Instructor will be available throughout the weekend if students want to try making more hoods.
Fee $2
Elaine Mallory (Swan) – Coptic Embroidery and Textiles - Textile designs are used in both woven fabric and embroidery in the Coptic period of Egypt. Many of these styles and techniques are also suitable for Islamic textiles. This class will be an overview with some hands-on work. Other details TBA.
Fee: $1
Olwen Pen Aur – A Whirlwind Introduction to the History of Islamic Civilization 600-1600 – The difference between Omayyads and Ottomans, and why it matters! The history of Islamic civilization is littered with strange names: Abbasids, Samanids, Aghlabids, Fatimids. It takes place over a vast area of the globe, form Spain to India, and involves people we have trouble keeping straight: Arabs, Turks, Persians, Mongols, Berbers and Bedouins. How to make sense of it all? This class is aimed at people doing research for a persona in the SCA, who want to know which dynasty ruled over a certain area at any given time. There are no general resources for orienting yourself, unless you already know where to look and which questions to ask. This will be a whirlwind tour of Islamic history covering the basics and the most important periods of time and dynasties from roughly 600 to 1600 AD. By the end of two hours, you should have a rough idea whether your persona would have been Sunni or Shi'ite, what the main ethnic groups might have been in your part of the world, and who were the people in charge.
Fee $1
Crystal Rose – Handmade Covers for Modern Devices – Our modern devices can be a necessary part of life but they need to be decently covered at an event so they don't offend with their modernity. Learn a simple and attractive way to cover these things, and have fun learning it. Mainly for children and teens, but all are welcome -Details TBA
