<html>
Bri opined:<br>
<br>
(snip)<br>
<br>
>The handbook should include kingdom standards for paper and
ink. <br>
<br>
While I can understand your wish for maintaining quality materials, I
disagree with mandating a Kingdom standard of materials for all
scribes. Every scribe has their own preferences for inks and paper
- what works for them. <br>
<br>
>As well as wording for scrolls.<br>
<br>
That is already in existence and is available throughout the Kingdom and
from Star Signet. <br>
<br>
(snip)<br>
<br>
>When I moved to Anseorra I had a friend who already lived
there. She told >me that no original scrolls were ever given
out. <br>
<br>
I hope you have learned differently. : D<br>
<br>
>She referred to it as the Ansteorran Coloring Book. I lived
there for a year >and was asked to one original scroll.<br>
<br>
Did you make your availability known to Star Signet and as many people as
possible? Did you show examples of your work to these
individuals? <br>
<br>
There is nothing barring anyone from submitting an original scroll for
use for a grant or lower award in this Kingdom (i.e. for a friend who is
receiving an award in an upcomming Court). Have you considered this
option?<br>
<br>
>A laurel was supposed to do the illumination and I the
calligraphy. What I >received instead of an outline sketch was a
photocopy of the inked sketch >on linen paper. <br>
<br>
This sounds very odd and totally unlike the process used by other C&I
Laurels and scribes in the Kingdom for original work. <br>
<br>
>I was expected to color it in as well as callig it. <br>
<br>
That is a topic that is usually discussed prior to the project - i.e.
what each person is comfortable with doing on the project - it has been
my experience that these things are not "expected" but
discussed.<br>
<br>
>I commented on the fact that the symbol for the award had not been
put on<br>
>the illumination. <br>
<br>
That is an SCA creation and not found in period.<br>
<br>
>I was told by the illuminator that the colors of the award weren't
used with >the original used for documentation. So the person
receiving the award >didn't have the symbol on their scroll.
<br>
<br>
I've re-read this several times and I sincerely don't understand
this. Was the illuminer saying that they decided to use alternative
color choices other than the documentation - if so, that doesn't
correlate to the fact that a heraldic badge is not on the design.<br>
<br>
>This is bogus.<br>
<br>
This is very confusing and, again, unlike anything I have ever heard from
a vast majority of scribes in the Kingdom.<br>
<br>
>Completely original scrolls should be done individually <br>
<br>
I'll respond to this a little later....<br>
<br>
>on hard pressed watercolor paper.<br>
<br>
I would say that paper choice depends on personal experience. One
person may like hard pressed, another cold. One may like 2-ply
smooth Vellum from Strathmore, one may like Arches paper with a low tooth
content. Individual experience is a great teacher.<br>
<br>
>They should be sketched or outlined, then calliged, then guoached and
>inked.<br>
<br>
Again, it's personal experience. I much prefer to callig first
because it is a heartbreaker to get all the way through with the
illumining only to have a unsalvagable problem with the
calligraphy. <br>
<br>
>SCA wording and heraldry should take precedence over
documentation.<br>
<br>
I must disagree. That is a defining difference of our Kingdom -
great care has been taken to research and create appropriate text - that
includes intensive research into period legal documents. Our
Kingdom (and this Barony) is home to gentle who has three times been
Laurel Soverign of Arms, and who has and is assisting with the production
of texts which are (with slight modification) direct interpretation of
extant legal documents. Our Barony is also home to a Mistress of
the Laurel who is in charge of developing period scroll text (and trust
me, she is a true champion for the cause of utilizing period legal
documents). <br>
<br>
As for "SCA wording" taking precedence, in my honest opinion, I
must respectfully counter that it does not fall into the auspices of
pre-17th Century recreation.<br>
<br>
>I received my AoA in another kingdom and it was completely original
on >watercolor paper with no documentation. <br>
<br>
Although I am a native Texan, I began my SCA life in the East\AEthelmarc,
a Kingdom that is noted for its use of all original scrolls. Upon
return to Texas, where I became an Ansteorran, I was surprised to find
that we did not give original scrolls. For a time, I was one of the
strongest voices for the implementation of this process. As I
progressed as a scribe, I began to actually look at the situation with
honest eyes. Yes, we are a huge Kingdom which gives out a large
amount of scrolls, but the defining reason that we do not give out all
originals right now is that we have significantly fewer scribes who can
do original scrolls than other Kingdoms. Far, far significantly
fewer. I would even hazard a guess of less than 10 total - that's
not counting skill level. We are teaching new scribes, but that
will take time. <br>
<br>
>It is of much finer quality then anything I saw while living in
Ansteorra. <br>
<br>
First, I would ask when you were in Ansteorra, and where you went to look
in order to make a fair judgment. We have come a long, long ways in
recent years. As for comparison to other Kingdoms, I would offer
that every Kingdom has its qualities which should be appreciated.
<br>
<br>
But I have seen a substantial amount of work from three Kingdoms, and in
my honest and singular opinion, some of this Kingdom's Charters are far
finer than many original scrolls I have seen in other Kingdoms, and some
of our original scrolls are some of the very finest in the Known
World. <br>
<br>
It is a misnomer that this Kingdom does not produce <u>any</u> original
scrolls. In fact, they are some of the finest. It's just
unfortunate that many would believe an old myth than take the time to
look.<br>
<br>
{snip}<br>
<br>
>Copies are good for practice and when scrolls are short, but they
should >never be the standard for awards!<br>
<br>
That is a system that worked for the Kingdom you were in, and at this
time it will not work here. This is a realistic solution that
works. This is an enormous Kingdom with a large amount of scrolls
being given out (sometimes as high as 400 - 450 per reign), and
surprisingly few scribes to do original work. <br>
<br>
My lady, there isn't a bone of malice in anything I have said
above. I was a strong objector to this system when I moved here,
but my heart and mind have since been moved by what I have seen. It
is an excellent teaching tool and introduction to many new scribes.
We are consciously growing new scribes and we do see down the road that
we will have enough scribes to support a system of preseting all original
scrolls. <br>
<br>
In the meantime, a lot of good people are doing a lot of good work, and I
will support them.<br>
<br>
That's just my long, rambling opinion, however.<br>
<br>
~aslyn<br>
<br>
</html>