Laurel
An Exploration of Twisted Placenta Ceramics
Follow my adventures as colored clay forms shapes, and twists into a quest for excellence and an analogy for character.
Exhibit Category: Research
Fruit of the Womb: Prenatal Food in Renaissance Italy
One of the crucial tenants of Renaissance Italian humoral theory is the belief that females are of a colder and wetter disposition than the hotter, drier nature of males.
The Bounty of Information You Can Learn from Period Letters
Love, business, plague – parts of the every day lives of the middle ages experienced by both commoner and king. And captured in the letters they sent. Reading medieval letters unveils so much incredible information about day-to-day lives and the people who wrote them. This article samples quotes from a variety of topics to show you how rich these letters are in sharing information about the people of the Middle Ages.
Against Sunburn
Some more research in medieval medicine. “An ointment that the Salernitan women make that is very good for sunburn and fissures of any kind….”
A Mongolian Case Study: Functionality and Proportions
Explores the functionality of clothing and proportional measuring systems in the context of a Mongolian clothing project.
The Art & Science of Throwing
A continuation of my research into the construction and use of the plumbata with a new conclusion on how best to throw them.
Laurel
Rus’ Arched Plate Ochelye
Image overview of Pre-Mongol Arched Plate Ochelye (Headbands) of the Kievan Rus’ and Artist’s interpretations.
Beyond the Mediterranean Triad: Reimagining a Middle-Class Roman Meal
An examination of what is known about the diet of middle-class Romans with an eye to recreating a middle-class meal.
All’s Fair in War and Intellectual Property
How does copyright work? Fair use? Creative Commons? What kind of content can we- as SCA artisans, researchers, and lovers of history- use as we create our own works? Can we protect the work we make under mundane law? An ongoing project aimed at creating IP resources tailored to the SCA.
Adventures in Indigo
When you’re struggling with your own projects….Try to answer someone else’s question! A few experiments about creating blue ink with indigo to answer a question from Athenaeum 2020.
A Recreation of the University Curriculum of the Middle Ages
An exploration and recreation of the curriculum of the medieval university system.
Exploring Architectural Elements in Opus Anglicanum
Is there iconographic significance in the architectural elements of the splendid embroidery work known as Opus Anglicanum?
This question intrigued me and led me down a path that included studying Opus Anglicanum images and learning about the iconography of medieval architecture.
While I didn’t find the answer I was looking for (yay science!), I found a treasure trove of potential paths for my research – especially around three Opus Anglicanum pieces featuring unique architectural elements.
Art From a Year in Seclusion
A selection of my work in Scribal Arts, Research, Costume and Accessories.
Beekeeping through the Ages
An overview of beekeeping from antiquity through modern times. Looking at hive designs, tools, methods, myths and theories.
An Everyday Italian
Marcella di Cavallino’s 16th century Florence (and other ideas).
Oil Techniques of the Italian Masters
Study and process of the Italian masters: Canvas and Oil Paints
The Art and Science of Throwing
Research into and experimentation with a thrown weapon that was designed to be used in combat situations: specifically a weapon that the Romans used in the 3rd – 5th centuries AD, called a plumbata.
Toothaches, Anesthesia, and Fertility Control – pre-1600s European Medicines
Some research in medieval medicine.
Reconstructing a Roman Dish: Putting Together the Puzzle Pieces of “Beans, Another Way”
An in-depth examination of a reconstruction of a Roman recipe.
Applying Image Analysis to an Original Design in Opus Anglicanum
As I begin the journey to a Kingdom A&S entry, I would value feedback on my most complex entry, focused on analyzing Opus Anglicanum images.
I am just beginning and seeking insights on my concept, feedback on my planned process and early research, and tips for moving forward.
A Medieval Medicine Chest and A Garden of Herbs
Tools of the healer’s art, remedies, and bringing an herb garden to a Crown event.
How I Spent My Spring Pandemic
A sharing of some of the woodworking projects I have undertaken in the past year. Covering online classes, furniture making, and a walk through of bentwood boxes from log to finished box..
The Arts and Sciences of Isabella da Firenze
An overview of the various arts and sciences I research including alchemy, indigo dyeing, shibori, and linguistics
Practical Research into San Gong Chuangzi Nu, the Three Bow, Little Bed Crossbow
San Gong Chuangzi Nu appears in a Song Dynasty document. There is a good bit of talk about it but no consensus as to how it worked. This project seeks to remedy that.
Fairy Tales, Frame Stories, and The Quarantamaron
An overview of research into the history and evolution of fairy tales; a brief study of frame story narratives; and an introduction to an original project, Quarantameron.
Scandinavian Cuisine During the Vendel and Early Viking Age
In 2013 I decided to do a year of Viking food for events to match my persona. A short time later, after digging into research I realized this was not going to be a short term project. There are very few primary sources, arguably there are none. Everything that we have is secondary or tertiary and undoubtedly wrong. This presentation is my evolving work at becoming steadily less wrong.
Disability in the Middle Ages and other projects
Disability in the Middle Ages research and other projects.