This scroll went through 3 iterations with the calligrapher/illuminator encouraging me to keep adding more! Knowing that the scroll was going to be embroidered, I initially aimed very low on the words. With Eleanor’s encouragement I worked on through three iterations until I was at 151 words!.
The style I worked with is a traditional scroll format. Loosely based on treatises and charters in the SCA time period. As such I don’t particularly have a source or writing style that I was basing it on. An excellent source for this style is On Writing an Award Scroll.
House 3 skulls stands on a solid frame. Those who fight with skill and vigor. Those who play with dance and song. Those that serve with guidance and care.
The number 3 is a part of the house’s name, and so I reflected that in 3 sentences that represented them.The last sentence represented the recipient and why they were receiving the award.
When We hear of one who gives up her time and skills without thought of worldly benefit. One who toils in the hottest sun for the benefit of those much smaller than herself.
This includes a personal reference to the many times I had worked with Hugoline at Pennsic Children’s Activities.
We are moved and with great alacrity announce to all:
That we, King Kennric and Queen Avelina in our most quoggy of lands,
I absolutely adore being able to use quoggy or whatever iteration of the word in reference to an event held in Settmour Swamp, especially Mudthaw.
Reveal to all that Hugoline for her service of years and most specially this common thread,
“Common thread” was my reference in the words to the embroidered nature of the scroll. I managed to stitch it into the piece, while not dégradé-ing the meaning.
I’m punny.
The care and nurture that we hold most dear, the young of our tremendous Kingdom of the East.
Since I am writing this blog 8 years in the future, as it were, it is a treat to see that the recipient received her Order of the Pelican in 2021 in part for her work as Chancellor Minor of the East Kingdom.
Unto Hugoline the Delicate we endow Arms that she may wear with joy from this juncture forth.
Done this Mudthaw, in the Barony of Settmour Swamp on March 22, AS XLVIII
I didn't get as many personalized details in the words,as I would have liked. However, because I was the one feeding the artist information about the recipient, there are quite a lot of personal touches in the embroidered illumination. Hugoline loves pandas, the color green and loves board games! All of this is represented in the beautiful scroll.
Having the opportunity to put so many personal references into a scroll is something I treasure. It’s part of why I got interested in writing scrolls to begin with.
