We have asked the Kingdom’s Laurels to provide challenges for those willing to stretch their skills and learn something new.

This year’s Laurels’ Challenge will be hosted at Panteria this Memorial Day Weekend.  We have four challenges that we invite you to participate in.  You may participate in one, several, or all of them.  These are meant to be fun and inspirational.  If you have any questions, please reach out.  More information regarding logistics at the event will be provided as we get closer to May.

Would you like to play a game?

Sponsored by Fearghus Mac Cailin and Embla Knutrdottir

“Period gaming challenge! My challenge can take many forms, but the basics are as follows:

1. Look up what period games your persona would have played. If you struggle with finding one, you can find me online (especially Facebook) and I can help.

2. Research the history of the game. Learn about how it was discovered by archaeologists, what the rules are (as far as we know), how the rules were reconstructed, what sorts of extant pieces exist, and how this game relates to other games (eg predecessor to backgammon, or evolved from backgammon, etc).

3. Create a copy of this game, bring it to the event, and teach it to people. Tell them about its history and what you learned from your research.

You don’t necessarily need any documentation for this. Notes to help you out for facts would probably be good. The game you create does not need to be fancy whatsoever, as most games in period likely weren’t. They used what was available.”

Kythe’s Homebrew Challenge

Sponsored by Krzyslaw “Kythe” Szubielka

Create a period beverage (documented recipe) and replace one ingredient with an ingredient local to your Province, Barony, Canton, Shire. Extra points if it can be documented as a period ingredient from new world.

Block Printed Art Exploration

Sponsored by Embla Knutrdottir

“This challenge is to guide the artisan in exploring the art of block prints. You can choose one or all of the parts of this challenge – whatever you find most interesting and rewarding. 

1) Carve a medieval inspired piece of art on linoleum and print it on a piece of paper or fabric. This piece can be any size and can be in the style of historical block printed art or it can be inspired by any medieval elements found in period. Consider how your art changes after printing. Are there parts of your art that you hoped would be carved out but still showed up? Did you make any changes after your first print (additional carvings) and reprint? I would challenge you to bring your linoleum and all prints / attempts to our discussion!

2)    Try carving a piece of art into wood and printing this onto paper or fabric. In this part of the challenge, we are moving towards more period materials and tools. An easy swap to wood is birch or cherry plywood but feel free to explore any options that you find! In this challenge, make whatever art that you are inspired to create but also investigate what was inspiring medieval woodcut artists. What were they printing and why? Think of the challenges of working in wood and ways it may change how you create. I would invite you to bring your wood block and any prints / attempts to our discussion.

3) Research! In this part of the challenge, I would encourage you to explore printing through the time. You can do this part of the challenge in conjunction with the other parts or alone. Come to talk about your favorite artists, pieces of art, techniques, tools, or materials in the realm of printed art. 

For any part of the challenge, I am happy to talk techniques and materials, work through challenges you may have faced, and celebrate your successes! Please bring anything that may be helpful in guiding our discussion including any tools, materials, resources, and the drafts of your art throughout your journey. 

And most of all – have fun with it!”

Time to Get Around To Trying The Thing

Sponsored by Aurelia Colleoni a’Buccafurno

Is there something you’re been wanting to try but haven’t quite gotten around to doing yet?  Well, my friends, now is the time.  Bring your attempt(s) at that project that has been sitting on the back burner stewing for way too long.  This can be a finished attempt, in progress, or even abandoned.  I want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly.  What resources did you use to learn this: youtube, a friend, a handout, a museum display?  What went well? What didn’t go so well? More importantly, what did you learn?  Would you try this again? Or was it just not for you? I can’t wait to see what you make!