The Order of the Golden Poppy

What was the most difficult thing you encountered in your run? --
Making sure there were enough entries to have a contest. The rules at the time were unclear and it was possible not to have a poppy only because there were not enough entries to have a contest in order to fulful the requirements. This has since been changed, for the better I believe.

What was the most surprising thing about your run? --
I was surprised at some of the judging. In some cases the judges were knowledgeable and fair, in others they were vindictive and rude. Had I not been a veteran of the arts and sciences judging system I would have left the SCA and never returned after reading some of the comments. I read some aloud in the Laurels meeting without identifying the judge, and the Crown and Laurels were shocked and this became some of the fuel for changing the judging as Kingdom Artisan the following year.

How did you handle doing the research? Did you use libraries? The Internet? Where did you find your primary resources? --
Any and all sources. Internet, Books, Primary, Interviews with recognized experts. The beauty of this is that the projects are so diverse as to require nearly every available resource you can lay your hands on.

What was the average length of your documentation? --
This varied by project. In some it was citing a few well known sources, in others it required detailed photocopies and text.

About how long did it take for you to do an entry, including the research and documentation? --
Again, this varied. I think my shortest was a few days, a research paper, written in the form of a narration of a man at the time.

If you remember, what were the competitions and what were your entries? (If you have webbed any of your entries, please provide the URL.) --
Let's see'..I recall the research paper on surgery. I wrote it from two perspectives that of the intended patient and the other of the surgeon. While presented in a humorous manner, it got the research across, both from common belief of the average person and the more "knowledgeable" belief of the surgeon. There was also a storytelling. It was about Saladin and Sir Huge. I started the first few sentences in French, as if it was from Sir Huge's point of view, told most of the story in English, and returned to French in the last sentence. To my surprise, one of the judges spoke fluent French and was the only one truly jarred by the change in language, everyone else thought it flowed well. On the other hand, I learned my French pronunciation was not all that bad. We had one on Cooking tools, I'm a weaver, so I made cheese cloth. Oddly, it was harder to weave than it looked, since most weaving is done far tighter.

Did you start out planning to do the run or did it just happen? If it was planned, how did you handle the psychological side? -- Very much planned. There were some contests I simply could not do, such as musical instruments or Middle Eastern dance, so it was important to make sure that I could meet all of the criteria needed in subjects that I could make a reasonable entry in.

What advice would you give someone who wants to make the run? --
Plan it out. Have an idea of what you want to make and how you want to go about it. Start early on the projects, some will take far more time than you expected.

Would you do it again? --
Yes, it was fun. Grueling at times to make sure you could do a good job on the entries and get them in on time, but fun and rewarding nonetheless.

Anything else you would like to add about the experience? --
The benefits are in the diversity and required quality of entries. This requires an expansion of talent and abilities, for just about anyone. Enjoy that!

Thinking back to the following year, did you do anything special as Kingdom Artisan? --
I unfortunately did not know that winning also meant you became the Kingdom Artisan, oops. What I ended up doing was concentrating on making the judging more fair and among other things had the entrants names removed from the entry sheets and had the judge's names added, and had them sign their comments. I think I also ended up as the tie breaking judge on occasion. I believe I was asked to write a couple of articles, which I did on silk banner making, and taught a few classes on the same.

What was the most difficult thing you encountered in your run? --
I think the hardest part and the most frustrating was finding books on any of the subjects at the local library. I ended up using Bookfinder and buying many of the books I used for my research so I now have a library of books on many different subjects.

What was the most surprising thing about your run? --
How much I learned about myself. I found that I would not make a good potter or shoemaker... actually I found that I can be a very patient person when its needed.

How did you handle doing the research? Did you use libraries? The Internet? Where did you find your primary resources? --
I used the internet to get a basic idea of where to go for better documentation The Florilegium, was particularly helpful in suggestions of books for further research which sent me to Bookfinder to find the books.

What was the average length of your documentation? --
The written part of my documentation averaged about a page and half. I then added photocopies of the pages I used as my primary sources.

About how long did it take for you to do an entry, including the research and documentation? --
It depends on the project. My gold work project took me three months of every available minute I had. Other projects took less time like the hand dipped candles took two days one to make the candles the other for research and documentation. I think I averaged about a month to a month and half per project.

If you remember, what were the competitions and what were your entries? (If you have webbed any of your entries, please provide the URL.) --
hrmmm to be honest I am not sure which projects go with what year...I would have to find the folder with all my old documentation to tell for sure of the year I won. I do know that my Gold work Dragon was the last entry for the year. I plan on eventually webbing all my entries I do have some of them in my picture gallery.

Did you start out planning to do the run or did it just happen? If it was planned, how did you handle the psychological side? --
I was using the A&S competitions to give me a boost, so to say on learning things I wanted to learn about within our period of study. I would look at the list in the beginning of the year and plan what I would study based on what the competitions where for the year. I had never even heard of the Golden Poppy until the A&S ministers told me I had missed it by one point. I had to look it up to even find out what it was. It didn't change things I continued to do what I had been doing and the next year I won.

What advice would you give someone who wants to make the run? --
Plan it out. Have an idea of what you want to make and how you want to go about it. Start early on the projects, some will take far more time than you expected.

Would you do it again? --
On purpose most likely not, but I do still look at the calendar of competitions for the year.(I just haven't had time as most of my time right now goes to scribing).

Anything else you would like to add about the experience? --
It was a lot of fun and I not only learned a lot. I learned a lot about myself as well.

Thinking back to the following year, did you do anything special as Kingdom Artisan? --
I presented the Kingdom with a Known World Tree made of wire and hand painted leaves. Every branch and kingdom up to that point was on the tree. Each leaf was hand painted in the respective kingdom colors and hand lettered with the name of a group within each Kingdom of the SCA. It is currently residing in my house as Kingdom regalia was afraid it would get broken in the storage unit. I bring it to 12th nights when we are having a display. The seated royalty at the time each received a smaller version of the tree as well.

What was the most difficult thing you encountered in your run? --
Balancing the time I needed to work on the projects spent away from my family. Some of the fields were completely new to me and required weekly classes for months. Even though it is a year long competition, the 8 competitions I entered were all in the first 5 months. Also, I challenged myself by imposing a "try to make all your entries fit 16thC England" . This made it much more difficult to stay within my selected time period but also helped narrow my scope. Also, in areas that I was already competent in I tried to add extra elements to.

What was the most surprising thing about your run? --
I had so much fun.

How did you handle doing the research? Did you use libraries? The Internet? Where did you find your primary resources? --
I have a degree in history so I am accustomed to research and utilizing resources. Two boons was that I had access to U.C. Berkeley's library and the Arts Officer, Sabrina de la Bere had a website for the competitions with links to great sites online.

What was the average length of your documentation? --
3 pages, including graphics, not including title page and bibliography. One judge complained about the length, but they complained on everyone's documentation length. The research paper was longer.

About how long did it take for you to do an entry, including the research and documentation? --
I started most of the entries in January, and the competitions ran from March through July. A few areas were completely new for me so I worked on them continuously (like illumination and maiolica). I sometimes spend way more time on the research and documentation than making the actual item. The thing is to know when to stop researching and start making!

If you remember, what were the competitions and what were your entries? (If you have webbed any of your entries, please provide the URL.) --
Unfortunately, my computer was stolen after I was done competing but before the announcement of the winner so I lost all my documentation and saved websites. I do have hard copies of my entries:

1. Headgear - I made an Elizabethan tall hat. I also embroidered the badge and dressed the feathers.

2. Make a Fine Spice - I made a pouder forte. I also used the pouder in two dishes, sausages and mustard.

3. Instrumental Piece - I used recorder to play a Tudor ballad attributed to Henry VIII. I also made a period sheet of music.

4. Gloves & Mittens - I made an silk and metal thread embroidered gauntlet.

5. Illuminated Capital Letter - I made an L .

6. Research Paper: Layouts and Plants of the Medieval Garden - I researched an Elizabethan knot garden. I also drew and schematic drawing of a knot garden and painted the plants in a reference guide.

7. Hawking Gear - I made an Imperial (ornamental) style hood.

8. Tablewear - I made two maiolica bowls. One of the bowls I molded and the other I threw.

Did you start out planning to do the run or did it just happen? If it was planned, how did you handle the psychological side? --
I always wanted to participate in the Poppy, I have read the annual competitions and sometimes really wanted to do it but I did not have the time or money. The year I competed the competitions were either stuff I already did or stuff I had been wanting to learn, and I just carved out the time to do it.

What advice would you give someone who wants to make the run? --
Make sure you discuss this endeavor with your family before you commit. At times, it consumed all my available time and my family didn't see much of me. Think less about it being a competition and more about being a challenge.

Would you do it again? --
If I had the trifecta of time, money and interesting competitions, yes! I think there should be a "Tournament of Champions" competitions for members of the Poppy to run against each other.

Anything else you would like to add about the experience? --
I entered the Poppy to expose me to new arts and give me deadlines to work with. It was so much fun and two of the new arts (illumination and maiolica) I have continued with and still enjoy.

Thinking back to the following year, did you do anything special as Kingdom Artisan? --
Mostly I worked with the A&S officers and assisted in the competitions, either judging or finding judges. At one event, both the A&S officers were not there and only one deputy who had not run any competitions. Luckily my intimate experience with the competitions and how they are run came in handy and I was able to walk the deputy through the whole thing.

What was the most difficult thing you encountered in your run? --
It was a very time consuming task. Time needed to be set aside for research (luckily I was working a quiet night shift that gave me computer access), project planning and execution...then you have to spend the time needed to pull together your notes and sources and produce the documentation. It took alot of time away from my family and at times caused alot of stress.

What was the most surprising thing about your run? --
How much I actually enjoyed it! It really helped hone my skills for research and documentation. And I kinda got on a roll. Along with the Kingdom A & S competitions I participated in, I was also entering Wooden Spoon and a few Principality competitions simultaneously. I learned ALOT and really pushed myself.

How did you handle doing the research? Did you use libraries? The Internet? Where did you find your primary resources? --
I usually started out using the internet... reading what was available there and looking beyond what was printed over and over but trying to find an articles primary sources. I bought alot of books, (I like books). and borrowed alot of books. I used alot of art. Pictures of actual artifacts available on line or in books. I used the internet to teach myself alot of techniques but also relied on my friends with certain skills to teach me too.

What was the average length of your documentation? --
Usually 3-5 pages with lots of pictures. I liked pictures. I know alot of people have hard fast rules for documentation but I tried real hard to include all aspects of the research and execution that I felt was important. And tried to make them an interesting read...with pictures.

About how long did it take for you to do an entry, including the research and documentation? --
It varied. Most of the time was spent on research. Then I would usually schedule in the time projected to complete the project... usually a day or two. Then a few hours spent pulling it all together for the documentation. Although I did spend about 1,000 hours on a beaded glove project I did.

If you remember, what were the competitions and what were your entries? (If you have webbed any of your entries, please provide the URL.) --
I have pictures and copies of all of the documentation I did if you'd like...let me know...but off the top of my head I believe these were the competitions I entered:
Cheese Making: Cow's Milk Farmer's - type cheese
Heraldic Display: Heraldic Sideless Surcote
Wooden Feast Gear: Child's Trencher and Spoon
Musical Instrument piece: 13th Century Piece Attributed to Richard the Lionheart on Recorder
Heraldic Shields: 11th Century Kite Shield
Beaded Embroidery: Suede Glove with Beaded Embroidery on the cuff
Pins & Brooches: 10th Century Horse Brooch
Pouches & Bags: Archery Quiver
Cold Holiday Food: 12th Night / King's Cakes

Did you start out planning to do the run or did it just happen? If it was planned, how did you handle the psychological side? --
I was inspired by the list that was posted for the year's competitions. Several were Arts that I had either done some reading and research on or had peaked my interest. I pretty much had ideas for projects for every competition on the list. I entered both the Arts and the Sciences Competitions starting at March Crown, thinking that not all of my entries would score high enough to qualify let alone win...but they did.

I was extemely pleased and proud with the outcome of my run and even though no one ended up doing the run with me, I continuously pushed and challenged myself to to the very best I could. By the end of A&S I had completed and qualified with 8 entries. I had already started the research on the 12th Cakes entry in which I became a bit obsessed with and decided to enter that as my final entry at 12th night.

I won five of the nine competitions I entered for Kingdom A&S, won 3 wooden spoons, one silver spoon that year.

What advice would you give someone who wants to make the run? --
Wait til there is a list that inspires you. Pre-plan and don't wait til the last minute.

Would you do it again? --
Possibly, if I was inspired and had the time. I truely enjoyed it and felt a deep sense of accomplishment upon its completion.

Anything else you would like to add about the experience? --
This experience put a lot of strain on my relationship with my significant other (husband) and took quite a bit of time away from my family. And even though it was not him doing these projects, with out his understanding and help by picking up where I unfortunately couldn't (we have two kids), I would not have been able to complete these projects. There was also quite a bit of expense involved that you don't realize. I wanted to use quality materials and spent quite a bit on books and supplies.

Thinking back to the following year, did you do anything special as Kingdom Artisan? --
As Kingdom Artisan I judged competitions when ever possible, offered a class on Documentation for 'A & S Competitions' at a Crown event, purchased the cloak clasps being used for the Golden Poppy cloak and made the Arts & Sciences Banner that is still used over the entrance of the A & S pavillion.

What was the most difficult thing you encountered in your run? --
Time management. When you add in doing the research, the writing of the documentation and the making of the item, times 8 into a "normal" life, time management becomes key to meeting the deadlines and mental/physical well being.

What was the most surprising thing about your run? --
How much fun it was.

How did you handle doing the research? Did you use libraries? The Internet? Where did you find your primary resources? --
I usually started with the internet and then obtained the key books; usually through purchase. With the time constraints, Inter-Library Loan (ILL) was usually impractical. For the 3 prior years I had been Principality and then Kingdom Arts Minister. As such, I had created information resource sheets for the competitions offered those prior years. This gave me a starting plan for research. However, I owe a nod to my graduate school training for doing effective and insightful research, as well as, how to write a tight piece of documentation.

What was the average length of your documentation? --
Most were 4-6 pages with pictures, footnotes, and bibliography.

About how long did it take for you to do an entry, including the research and documentation? --
While this varied, the shortest was about 100 hours and the longest 1000 hours.

If you remember, what were the competitions and what were your entries? Sabrina's Run --
For my run the year's entries were as follows with eight competitions, 11 entries, and 6 wins (*).

• March Crown - Tinctures - Tannic Acid Dye: Walnut*, Tannic Acid Dye: Berry Vine, Ink: Black Walnut

• June Crown - Underpinings - 16th C. Embroidered Women's Hose*

• A & S - Poem - Sestina*, Heraldic Banner - Painted 15th C Banner*, Horse Barding - barding for a Rocking Horse, Preserved Foods - Elizabethan Brined Artichokes, Roman Pickled Cheese

• Purgatorio - Broaches - 4 wire Broaches*

• October Crown - Bone or Antler - set of cloak pin, sewing needle, naalbinding needle, seam smoother, and 2 needlecases*

I also won for most points for an individual at the A&S Tournament.

Did you start out planning to do the run or did it just happen? If it was planned, how did you handle the psychological side? --
The run was planned. While I had nothing to do with the choice of competitions, I was intrigued by the choices. I was looking to spend some time and energy testing myself in new creative ways within the organization and the run looked like a good option. Psychologically, it was hard sometimes to just get going on an entry. Having a wonderful supportive husband and partner made the run much easier. Of course it probably didn't help that I also taught 16 classes during 2005; over half of which were new.

What advice would you give someone who wants to make the run? --
Be inspired by the challenge and the competitions. Pace yourself. Take a good look at the competitions and choose what you will enter. Begin entering as early in the year as possible in case you don't have qualifying entries or life intervenes. View each entry as a "win" because it mean you have challenged yourself to do something and you have completed it. Lastly, but not least, be sure your family understands and supports your commitment to the run.

Would you do it again? --
Maybe. It made me stretch and that was a good thing.

Anything else you would like to add about the experience? --
Personal growth is never comfortable, but this was fun.

Thinking back to the following year, did you do anything special as Kingdom Artisan? --
As Kingdom Arts I had revised the judging sheets to give guidance to the judges, which had been a major objective when I took the office, so the main objective of my year was to be a general support to the Arts and Sciences. I made myself available to judge whenever needed at every event I attended and at whatever level. I offered classes on entering competitions and taught 3 classes at the A&S Tournament event.