Zhou Needs Wrap Plates! Tuesday, Feb 28 2006 

fighting Lisette la Mandeta 2:16 am

100_2244.JPG
Bruise
Image by Jennie (c).

And this is why wrap plates are good things. Zhou is back into heavy fighting with gusto having participated in a demonstration at St Monica’s for O-Week on Thursday and a tourney at the Summer Twilight Tourney on Friday Night.

This mangled mass of bruising is the result of four separate hits to the upper thigh round the back. exactly where wrap plates would cover it. All hits were attributed to Baron Gwynfor Lwyd I believe. On thursday Zhou and Gwynfor have planned to make body armor and wrap plates. Which will be a good thing.

In the meantime, Zhou is in very high spirits and is dropping his pants to show off his bruise to anyone who wants to see it. it hurts but I think overall he is very proud of his magnificent bruise.

 

Flemish Technique Friday, Feb 24 2006 

Documentation and Period Painting Lisette la Mandeta 1:20 pm

I have documented the flemish technique and historical oil painting including techniques, color mixing and materials. It is my intention to start selling some miniature portraits over ebay. I have a trial one to work with and will document the steps here and on my art blog.

Tonight is the Twilight tourney and it has been suggested that I teach a round. I might keep one in mind, and maybe bring the songbooks as well incase we do any choral work. I will sing a solo piece as well but I am finding it hard to choose something. I probably need to just go on a music learning spree.

 

Dummy Dummy Dummy Wednesday, Feb 22 2006 

Garb Lisette la Mandeta 3:21 am

I have a dressmakers dummy finally. wow its amazing. It has already justified its whopping $25 price tag. It was in an op shop and looked a bit busted but anyone who has played with one for a while would know that the screws and stuff can pop out easily but it easy to fix it.
It is O-Week at St Monica’s this week and I am going to go with my husband tomorrow. I don’t have any specky garb to take but I might be able to quickly adjust something. maybe.

I have some new early period garb I made up for small events and easy wear. it is very red. very very red. it still needs to come in a bit but it will suffice. it is hard to adjust garb on yourself – thankfully I have a dressmakers dummy now!

The main issue is that I have lost about 4 inches off my hips and waist. my bust however has only lost 2. I also need everyday garb, as I have been concentrating on evening wear and specky garb (its more fun!) so I now have a basic early period dress and will be making two gathered kirtles. fortunately I have all the fabric for this! but I think no time to make something new for tomorrow, or for the Twilight tourney.However.. with my new dummy, I may be able to quickly take in a corset and dress! or I will be lazy and wear Early Period.

 

Chinese Weaponry Friday, Feb 10 2006 

fighting Lisette la Mandeta 1:30 pm

Ooo Sexy Store Traditional Chinese Weaponry House

I have been trying to figure out a good way to convert chinese weapons into useable SCA weapons. Many of the items are not useable as they have articulations. Some weapons may have to be just for show or for forms, but it would be nice for Zhou to have a chinese weapon to match his chinese armor.

We have an expert in Japanese weaponry close by and he is looking into using some of the modification techniques for Chinese. Many SCAdians will have heard of Mungo at the very least, I believe his name struck fear into many hearts for quite a while. We had quite a good discussion on armoring and weaponry and I am hoping to pick his brain some more. At first we will be looking at modifications to Chinese Broad Sword or Butterfly Sword. from there we will possibly look at some of the more fun weapons.

Zhou wants to get back into training in Kung Fu (as our School had an excellent weapons program) but they were quite expensive and there is no way of knowing how our Sijo would react to him coming back. For my part I won’t be able to train, but I am hoping that I might be able to go back to Tai Chi. I know that they were planning a System for older clients and I am hoping that it might be possible for me to take it up when my health improves a little. Chain and rope weapons, Hook swords and anything articulated are out. However we can still look into spear and long weapon techniques, sword techniques, the short double weapons such as bonbori and Staff techniques. in fact, I have found rather attractive rattan bo, but I am not sure if SCA regs will allow painted or carved rattan (even if it were covered in tape – clear of course!)

 

Found! Documentation Tuesday, Feb 7 2006 

Documentation and Garb Lisette la Mandeta 1:30 pm

I have found my files of documentation and will be scanning some of them in soon. Based on this exciting find I ran through my fabric boxes to see what I had. A long time ago – when I got my fabric boxes, I was mocked for setting up a database and creating a list of fabric, that I could sort by color, length and fabric makeup. in a flash of anal retentiveness I also cut swatches to keep with a printed list with the boxes.
Well, who’s laughing now? I had a look through my swatches and list and got several ideas. It turns out that I have some great wool blends to make some gathered kirtles from for me. and more brocade than I thought, both chinese brocade for Zhou and a beautiful gold silk brocade for me that was far better than I remembered. I also have about 6 meters of a cotton drill that I might make into something. or two somethings.

I am looking forward to making up some gear for everyday wear. The Guild Ascension day reminded me that I didn’t have anything for everyday wear. I am making an early period gown for easy-wear but I want some good french gowns that are appropriate for my persona. I am excited by some robes I found on a great chinese site too – when i work out the patterns for the chinese garb I will put them up.

 

Introduction Sunday, Feb 5 2006 

About Lisette la Mandeta 1:34 pm

This blog is an ongoing diary of two SCAdians. It will serve a couple of purposes. as a garb diary, documentation and pattern-making resources and hopefully as a diary for other aspects of the SCA including music, cooking, event management and more!
My persona is Lady Lisette la Mandeta. I am apprentice to Master Cormac Lenihan and specialize in singing. In the past I have been known to traffic in mens affections and, although I am married now, I still am..affectionate, shall we say, if the circumstances are correct. even though I have had an interesting and varied past I am working hard to reform my character and not bring shame upon the Laurel who was so kind as to take me on.

My husband’s persona is Zhou Long Xi Xian Sheng. He is one of the very few Chinese personae in the knowne world and, as such, much of this diary and documentation will be devoted to him. There is very little documentation on Chinese garb, costuming, naming and everything for the SCA and, while we are doing the research anyway, I figured I should put it all up here! That way it will be easier for the next person. We will be looking at Garb, accessories, tableware, armor, weaponry and how everything can be applied to the SCA as well.

I have interests in painting, singing, and scribing, Zhou is interested in fighting and armoring and has dabbled in brewing.

We live in the Shire of Krae Glas in the Kingdom of Lochac.

 

Chinese Naming Conventions Sunday, Feb 5 2006 

Documentation Lisette la Mandeta 1:33 pm

Zhou had a difficult time getting the research for his name. It took several years for the Academy of St Gabriel to get back to him. The wait was worth it! The Full report is here It is exceptionally long.

A basic Summary:
These names are all from the Chinese (Han) ruling dynasties as opposed to the mongol ruling dynasties (this is important as there is an enormous differentiation in naming, garb and everything). There are three names historically that were used for any one man. There was the name his parents gave him that was only used by very close family. The, there was the name adopted for the next level, outer family and close friends. The final name is the public name and was based around the families name. The family Name (in this case Zhou) came before everything else, including title. In the SCA this would mean that He would be addressed as Zhou Lord Xi Xian Sheng.

This is my interpretation of the report anyway – I could be wrong, it has been a long time since I read the whole thing.

the report also goes into pronunciation, which is very handy. There are several good guides online also on pronunciation, sometimes with soundbytes to help. It is important when looking for character information and pronunciation guides to make sure you are looking for Mandarin rather than Cantonese as Cantonese is too modern.

 

Chinese Heraldry Sunday, Feb 5 2006 

Documentation Lisette la Mandeta 1:32 pm

Heraldry is one of the most difficult aspects of integrating a chinese persona into the SCA. I would like to put up more information on this with some references to the Pic Dic and corresponding ideas but that will have to wait for now.

Basically, SCA heraldry conventions prevent characters from being used as devices. as characters were most commonly used in China for flags and such this makes it quite difficult.

So, how do you register a Chinese device when they didn’t have devices? The key is that you don’t need to display your device in European style. Many pictorial elements have corresponding symbols in Chinese designs (often with their own meanings). If you design it in chinese colors and paying attention to basic Chinese design (ie vertical elements, divisions etc) Then you can register it in European conventions but display it in Chinese style.

I know, it doesn’t make much sense now. I will go into further depth later with examples. everything is easier with examples!