Person
Interests
Although my primary focus in on Indian research, I originally joined the SCA out of an interest in costuming, and I still dabble heavily in European costuming of various eras. I have a secondary persona, Maestra Imigla Venture, to explore the trade connections between India and Venice during the 13th and 14th centuries. I have also experimented with Roman, Mycenean, and late North Indian clothing.
In addition to costuming I am interested in just about every craft you can imagine, and have tried several. Some of my endeavors can be seen on my Creations page.
Heraldry
I am only an amateur student of Heraldry, but I do have a strong love for heraldic display and pageantry. As well as my primary device, I have two badges registered, one for my personal use and one as an Inspiration badge to be worn by those who would fight for me.
Device - Argent, a trident sable a bordure vert semy of lotus blossoms affronty argent (Nov 03 LoAR)
Inspiration Badge - (Fieldless) A maiden's head cabossed azure crined sable (Mar 99 LoAR)
Personal Badge - (Fieldless) On a lotus affronty argent, a trident's head sable. (Unregistered)
Classes Taught
Sari Draping / Draped Garments of India
Great Northeastern War 2006
Great Northeastern War 2007
Pennsic 35
Pennsic 37
Pennsic 38
Indian Beauty (Co-Teacher w/ Lalitadasa)
Pennsic 38
Pennsic 39
India for Beginners
Pennsic 36
Beginning Indian Costume (Panel Member)
Pennsic 31
Draping the 1640 Choli
July 2008 Workshop
March 2010 Workshop
Pennsic 31
Padded Garment Roundtable
EKU Oct ? 2006
Service
Creator and "List-Amma" of the SCA_India List
Technical Services Staff, Pennsic 27 and 28
Indian Track Class Coordinator for Pennsic University, Pennsic 36
Set Decorator for East Kingdom Court, Pennsic 36
Zoning and Planning Department, Buildings and Construction (Land 3) Pennsic 39
Retainer to Darius I and Roxane I
Retainer to Darius II and Roxane II
Retainer to Robin and Isabeau (AEthelmearc)
Retainer to Darius IV and Alethea
Seamstress/Artisan to the Crown for Roxane (East), Chamayn II (Caid), Brenwen (East), and Alethea (East)
Awards
08/11/2010 Mistress of the Laurel
01/28/2006 Lux Caidis (Caid)
01/28/2006 Grant of Arms (Caid)
01/26/2008 Companion of the Manche (East)
04/11/2009 Court Baroness (East)
05/23/1998 Award of Arms (Æthelmearc)
07/20/2002 Companion of the Burdened Tyger (East)
04/06/2006 Sigil of Æthelmearc
10/31/2009 King's Order of Excellence
Copper Plate Laurel Scroll - One of the most amazing gifts I have ever received.
Palm Leaf Manuscript KOE - Lady Kananbala created a truly amazing manuscript, complete with wooden covers, for my King's Order of Excellence.
My Court Barony - The fabulous accouterments made for me by Mistress Nicolette.
Burdened Tyger Scroll - Mistress Lakshmi has a page on the research and creation of my OBT scroll.
Personal History
For good and for ill I have spent a great deal of my life moving. The upside to this is that I have had an opportunity to experience the cultures of many different places, Mundane and SCA. No matter where I have gone the SCA has provided me with an "instant community". Each one has its own character and characters. I've been fortunate to meet some truly fantastic people in my travels, and my only regret is that we must all, of neccessity, live so far apart. Since I am asked fairly often where and when I have lived, the following is an elaborated timeline of my movements in the Known World.
It was early 1993 that I was first introduced to Mary, known in the SCA as Mairi the Slightly Improper. A mutual friend of ours knew of my interest in Costume Design, and put me in touch with Mairi, who had similar interests. We hit it off fairly well, and she took me to my first event, An Tir's May Crown Tourney, 1993. I don't think I'll ever forget it, it made such a strong impression on me. The friday night we got there, I watched a Knighting ceremony, and the very next day, had the pleasure of watching that brand-new Knight win Crown. It was all just a little too fairy-tale to be true.
Mairi and I drifted apart after a while, but I was able to get in touch with the local Seattle group, the Barony of Madrone, and made a few friends there who I started going to events with. Shortly thereafter I started learning all sorts of important SCA skills, such as how to survive an all night Tablero de Gucci game. While living in An Tir I took the persona of LassarFhina ni Tigernan (A 13th century Irish woman.) I briefly became involved in a small household but it ended up not working out and with the exception of my "sister" Cainder I have lost touch with them.
Æthelmearc, Thescorre & Kyngesbridge (1997-1998)
I lost touch with the SCA after I moved away from Seattle, and with all the moving around and being poor that I did for the next 2 years, most of my involvement was confined to doing online research and reading the rec.org.sca newsgroup. Fortunately, I met Portia in a Perkins one night and she helped get me back involved in the SCA in the Kingdom of Æthelmearc, and I started to meet some really fantastic people.
Some of them became my close mundane friends after a time, and it seemed only natural that we should form our own Household.
Unfortunately, my constant pursuit of a Better Career moved me to Chicago, and although I am not the most active member of Kyngesbridge, the members are still family to me. I still camp with Kyngesbridge at Pennsic, where we can be found in W16 at the foot of Runestone, across from the lower bath house.
Middle & Tree-Girt-Sea (1998-2001)
On June 5th 1998, I moved from Rochester, NY to Aurora, IL, and hence, into a new SCA group, The Shire of Rokkehealdan. Then in the middle of August, I moved again into Chicago proper, and into The Province of Tree-Girt-Sea. For various reasons, my experience in the Midrealm was rather disappointing, and I never truly got involved with any of the local groups. Most of my SCA activity involved going to Pennsic and other large events that Kyngesbridge was attending. This was also the time period during which I started the SCA_India list and compiled a huge amount of research. It's amazing what you can get done when you're not constantly getting ready for events.
East & Carolingia (2001-2004, 2006-Present)
Upon moving to the Barony of Carolingia in October 2001, I quickly discovered a group of SCAdians I really like. It may just be my own perception, but the combination of forthrightness and dedication to research most Carolingians seem to have is right up my alley. Although it is still a work-in-progress, I am gradually coming to consider the East my "Home".
Caid & the Barony of the Angels (2004-2006)
I relocated to yet another Kingdom, Caid, in September of 2004. Caid treated me very well and I made some truly amazing friends in my time there. I also had the honor of being inducted into the Order of the Lux Caidis, the Grant-level Arts & Sciences award of Caid. Sadly I didn't enjoy Southern California near as much as I enjoyed Caid, and returned to the East Kingdom to pursue my mundane education.