Halima al-Rakkasa: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
|||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
| style="text-align:center; background: #ffffff;" | [[File:HalimaalRakkasa-badge3-H-crescent.png|150px|center]]<small>''Badge:(Fieldless) Within and conjoined to an isolated Arabic letter ha' in Naskhi script a crescent argent.''</small> | | style="text-align:center; background: #ffffff;" | [[File:HalimaalRakkasa-badge3-H-crescent.png|150px|center]]<small>''Badge:(Fieldless) Within and conjoined to an isolated Arabic letter ha' in Naskhi script a crescent argent.''</small> | ||
|} | |} | ||
</div> | |||
=[[Persona]] History= | |||
Halima al-Rakkasa thinks she still dwells on the outskirts of Dimashq, during the franji year 1085 (CE). She is the sole support of her dar, dancing and telling fortunes to travelers and wearers-of-slippers alike. She has been known to frequent the company of the franji [[Charles le Verdier]], a bard of surpassing voice. She was born near the shores of Lake Van; she lost her tribe when the horsemen came, and only by great good luck did she survive the killing. Over much time, she found herself with a caravan, heading to Dimashq; there she found a place where a woman of limited resources (and unprovable heritage) could survive. | |||
=Whereabouts= | |||
Currently residing in the Shire of [[Hartwood]], on [[Insula Magna]], [[Principality]] of [[Tir Righ]], Kingdom of [[An Tir]]. | |||
=SCA History= | =SCA History= | ||
| Line 64: | Line 72: | ||
'''Textiles''' - Started with spindles, and still there; happy with just '''spinning''' with medieval spindles and a distaff, but must do something with the yarn/thread. Warp-faced plain-weave bands on a '''backstrap loom''', tablet-weave bands; rigid heddle which is adaptable to balanced weave and weft-faced weave. Love to '''net'''. As a project, spun purple wool to net a hairnet, then spun rose yarn to make a fingerloop braid for the band; fits extremely well over dressed hair; same method for fish-nets and rabbiting nets. Love '''fingerloop braiding''', and since making a long gown lace in silk cord, I want to do more in silk; I saw a woodcut (no provenance; possibly late to out of period) showing an Near Eastern man making a braid with the use of a frame... which would be -very- useful for when you need that other hand. Impatient with embroidery (carpal tunnel syndrome doesn't help), but do some basic stitches, a bit of blackwork. Still working on needlelace project. Hate to sew, but it's the only way to get clothes I like; best with rectangular construction and natural fabrics (Bishop Timotheos left clothes behind as examples...). Love '''språng'''; made a remarkable number of linen pouches for largesse, and have more underway in wool; researched a språngwork Coptic hairnet for Tir Righ A&S (Oct 22, 2011), made it and earned most points for a single entry; on-going passion with much more to learn. '''Update''': In 2021, participated in Athenaeum online (https://athenaeum.baronyofmadrone.net/exhibits/the-sprang-journey-of-halima-al-rakkasa/) | '''Textiles''' - Started with spindles, and still there; happy with just '''spinning''' with medieval spindles and a distaff, but must do something with the yarn/thread. Warp-faced plain-weave bands on a '''backstrap loom''', tablet-weave bands; rigid heddle which is adaptable to balanced weave and weft-faced weave. Love to '''net'''. As a project, spun purple wool to net a hairnet, then spun rose yarn to make a fingerloop braid for the band; fits extremely well over dressed hair; same method for fish-nets and rabbiting nets. Love '''fingerloop braiding''', and since making a long gown lace in silk cord, I want to do more in silk; I saw a woodcut (no provenance; possibly late to out of period) showing an Near Eastern man making a braid with the use of a frame... which would be -very- useful for when you need that other hand. Impatient with embroidery (carpal tunnel syndrome doesn't help), but do some basic stitches, a bit of blackwork. Still working on needlelace project. Hate to sew, but it's the only way to get clothes I like; best with rectangular construction and natural fabrics (Bishop Timotheos left clothes behind as examples...). Love '''språng'''; made a remarkable number of linen pouches for largesse, and have more underway in wool; researched a språngwork Coptic hairnet for Tir Righ A&S (Oct 22, 2011), made it and earned most points for a single entry; on-going passion with much more to learn. '''Update''': In 2021, participated in Athenaeum online (https://athenaeum.baronyofmadrone.net/exhibits/the-sprang-journey-of-halima-al-rakkasa/) | ||
'''Book arts''' - Color! | '''Book arts''' - Color! Worked on the Grete Boke project (calligraphy, painting, gilding). Calligraphy when my hands allow. Can do an Uncial, a French-style Blackletter, and a variation of [[Mahee of Acre|Mahee of Acre's]] Illusionary English-Arabic. Created a faux font for 11th C Byzantine from a lectionary, which is now in use. -Love- gilding and would do more. Have made a few custom scrolls and a charter. Made some Nag Hammadi style notebooks with soft leather covers; learned to make parchment-bound ("limp parchment") books, and have tried that with cardstock; parchment is better. e Coptic-bound books and Oriental-style books. Contributed 15 of the "100 books" project by Hartwood, given for Tir Righ largesse. Binding wee books of my own haiku poetry. Regularly make journals of soft leather with long-stitch binding, cardstock journals with double-pamphlet stitch, Haiku poetry in stab-binding, and re-thinking Coptic binding. | ||
'''Plants''' - Mostly herbs for food and medicine, | '''Plants''' - Mostly herbs for food and medicine, and developing a subsistance garden (dry beans, squash, preservable fruits and vegetables. If I could, I'd include a couple of tubs of mint and parsley for camping events. Have been known to use wild plantain for poultices, and have plucked berries at event sites. | ||
'''Pewter''' - | '''Pewter''' - Soapstone molds. Made buttons for my yelek, and sold some, too. Made a lot of pendants: Cragmere Silver Swan tokens, prize tokens (dumb to waste soapstone on only a dozen), Tir Righ badge pendants. Also made flat coin-things: event "money", game pieces (X, O). Tokens for Their Highnesses Alden and Lenora. Tir Righ's Etoile d'Argent token. | ||
'''Food''' | '''Food''' - Not much of a cook except for some Near Eastern recipes for potlucks (I'm the one with food seasoned with sumac, rosewater, etc.); French recipes, too (mead, ypocras, roasts). Fresh flatbread is a camping staple, and rosewater-scented dates are always on the table. Rooting through 'Annals of the Caliphs' Kitchens'. | ||
'''Games''' - Not much. Wari. Want to learn Arab chess (shatranj?) because I should know it. Have been known to play other board games, but not often. | '''Games''' - Not much. Wari. Want to learn Arab chess (shatranj?) because I should know it. Have been known to play other board games, but not often. | ||
'''Bardic''' - Dabble. Still like the Shakespearean-style sonnet I wrote; I must've been inspired. Sing a little; can carry a tune but not far; prefer period bawdy songs. Have told a tale or two, but much better (I think) with writing. | '''Bardic''' - Dabble. Still like the Shakespearean-style sonnet I wrote; I must've been inspired. Sing a little; can carry a tune but not far; prefer period bawdy songs. Have told a tale or two, but much better (I think) with writing. I go through spates of haiku and senryu; sometimes my haikus become a hokku. | ||
I dabble a lot, like making open clay oil lamps still in use during Halima's time, like creating a painted cloth strip with "address" badges for the tent (the story I tell: "If you find me drunk in the ditch by the roadside, here's my address..."), like making a kubb set in foam so we can play it indoors, like making a "fake leather" cooler so it doesn't stand out and yet is still easy to lug. | I dabble a lot, like making open clay oil lamps still in use during Halima's time, like creating a painted cloth strip with "address" badges for the tent (the story I tell: "If you find me drunk in the ditch by the roadside, here's my address..."), like making a kubb set in foam so we can play it indoors, like making a "fake leather" cooler so it doesn't stand out and yet is still easy to lug. | ||
| Line 80: | Line 88: | ||
The dabbling can be attributed to a general goal of covering life: what do I sleep in/on, what happens when I wake up, what do I put on and why (weather, rank), how was that made, when do I eat and what, what do I do with my day to earn my keep, how do I interact with people/animals, what is my entertainment, what is my shelter, who surrounds me, etc. | The dabbling can be attributed to a general goal of covering life: what do I sleep in/on, what happens when I wake up, what do I put on and why (weather, rank), how was that made, when do I eat and what, what do I do with my day to earn my keep, how do I interact with people/animals, what is my entertainment, what is my shelter, who surrounds me, etc. | ||
I'm part "research until it chokes" and part "blend it into the medieval atmosphere". I | I'm part "research until it chokes" and part "blend it into the medieval atmosphere". I tend to be low tech; the more equipment that is involved, the less I'm interested. | ||
That's off the top of my head. Now I -really- want to know how many people read to this point! | That's off the top of my head. Now I -really- want to know how many people read to this point! | ||
| Line 88: | Line 96: | ||
Halima | Halima | ||
= | =Recognitions= | ||
Latest revision as of 14:57, 24 August 2024
Persona HistoryHalima al-Rakkasa thinks she still dwells on the outskirts of Dimashq, during the franji year 1085 (CE). She is the sole support of her dar, dancing and telling fortunes to travelers and wearers-of-slippers alike. She has been known to frequent the company of the franji Charles le Verdier, a bard of surpassing voice. She was born near the shores of Lake Van; she lost her tribe when the horsemen came, and only by great good luck did she survive the killing. Over much time, she found herself with a caravan, heading to Dimashq; there she found a place where a woman of limited resources (and unprovable heritage) could survive. WhereaboutsCurrently residing in the Shire of Hartwood, on Insula Magna, Principality of Tir Righ, Kingdom of An Tir. SCA HistorySalaam aleikum ( Edit, June 10, 2013: On June 8, 2013, I was raised to the Order of the Pelican at the Tir Righ Coronet in Lionsdale, by UlfR and Caoimhe. Those who spoke words of support included my work behind the scenes, the work that makes it fun for everyone. If you wanted to be -very- formal with my title, you'd use "Mu'allima Halima", with the ' being a glottal stop. ) I have a Goutte; that's for service. I began life in the SCA in 1995. A group of people wanted to start a branch and was a newbie who didn't know to answer, "Do you want to be Chatelaine?" with "No." So I became a founding officer of the Shire of Cragmere; the shire has since repatriated to its mother branch, Hartwood. I've run small events and demos, was dance mistress for Cragmere and published the newsletter for several years. I have been branch exchequer (until May/13, and again in 2016) and a webminister for the Shire of Hartwood. (I've also served on royal retinues in a small way; possibly the most fun I've had getting run off my feet!) I have a Jambe; that's for the arts. I -love- learning about stuff, which means I have a basic working knowledge on a broad variety of topics. And I love to teach others the basics (and give them the tools to delve deeper) so they can come back later all full of excitement on how they took the plunge!
As for Sayyida Halima's Jambe, it is a well earned award. It is true what Sayyida says about her love of learning "lots" of stuff. But, she has much more than a basic working knowledge, as evidenced by the excitement and learning success of her many students (I am one of them!), and by the beautiful and detailed works of hers which can be found adorning many, many members of the populace. Halima's weaving projects are consistent in their exemplary workmanship, yet varied in design and color. Her pewter tokens adorn many a proud Cragmerian and former Cragmerian, and her pewter buttons are charming and beautifully created. The Lady's calligraphy is among the tidiest I have seen. These are but a few of her skills. They go well beyond a working knowledge, and each work of Sayyida Halima's that I have seen is an example of her dedication and perfectionism.
Interests:Dance - From branles, to ECD, to the -old- peasant dances where everyone can dance without needing training. In modern life, I teach and perform belly dance (Egyptian orientale and balady), so I'm looking for more resources than an excerpt from 'Golden Meadows' by Mas'Udi to lead me into historical Near Eastern dance. (Too bad Tango Argentino isn't period...) Textiles - Started with spindles, and still there; happy with just spinning with medieval spindles and a distaff, but must do something with the yarn/thread. Warp-faced plain-weave bands on a backstrap loom, tablet-weave bands; rigid heddle which is adaptable to balanced weave and weft-faced weave. Love to net. As a project, spun purple wool to net a hairnet, then spun rose yarn to make a fingerloop braid for the band; fits extremely well over dressed hair; same method for fish-nets and rabbiting nets. Love fingerloop braiding, and since making a long gown lace in silk cord, I want to do more in silk; I saw a woodcut (no provenance; possibly late to out of period) showing an Near Eastern man making a braid with the use of a frame... which would be -very- useful for when you need that other hand. Impatient with embroidery (carpal tunnel syndrome doesn't help), but do some basic stitches, a bit of blackwork. Still working on needlelace project. Hate to sew, but it's the only way to get clothes I like; best with rectangular construction and natural fabrics (Bishop Timotheos left clothes behind as examples...). Love språng; made a remarkable number of linen pouches for largesse, and have more underway in wool; researched a språngwork Coptic hairnet for Tir Righ A&S (Oct 22, 2011), made it and earned most points for a single entry; on-going passion with much more to learn. Update: In 2021, participated in Athenaeum online (https://athenaeum.baronyofmadrone.net/exhibits/the-sprang-journey-of-halima-al-rakkasa/) Book arts - Color! Worked on the Grete Boke project (calligraphy, painting, gilding). Calligraphy when my hands allow. Can do an Uncial, a French-style Blackletter, and a variation of Mahee of Acre's Illusionary English-Arabic. Created a faux font for 11th C Byzantine from a lectionary, which is now in use. -Love- gilding and would do more. Have made a few custom scrolls and a charter. Made some Nag Hammadi style notebooks with soft leather covers; learned to make parchment-bound ("limp parchment") books, and have tried that with cardstock; parchment is better. e Coptic-bound books and Oriental-style books. Contributed 15 of the "100 books" project by Hartwood, given for Tir Righ largesse. Binding wee books of my own haiku poetry. Regularly make journals of soft leather with long-stitch binding, cardstock journals with double-pamphlet stitch, Haiku poetry in stab-binding, and re-thinking Coptic binding. Plants - Mostly herbs for food and medicine, and developing a subsistance garden (dry beans, squash, preservable fruits and vegetables. If I could, I'd include a couple of tubs of mint and parsley for camping events. Have been known to use wild plantain for poultices, and have plucked berries at event sites. Pewter - Soapstone molds. Made buttons for my yelek, and sold some, too. Made a lot of pendants: Cragmere Silver Swan tokens, prize tokens (dumb to waste soapstone on only a dozen), Tir Righ badge pendants. Also made flat coin-things: event "money", game pieces (X, O). Tokens for Their Highnesses Alden and Lenora. Tir Righ's Etoile d'Argent token. Food - Not much of a cook except for some Near Eastern recipes for potlucks (I'm the one with food seasoned with sumac, rosewater, etc.); French recipes, too (mead, ypocras, roasts). Fresh flatbread is a camping staple, and rosewater-scented dates are always on the table. Rooting through 'Annals of the Caliphs' Kitchens'. Games - Not much. Wari. Want to learn Arab chess (shatranj?) because I should know it. Have been known to play other board games, but not often. Bardic - Dabble. Still like the Shakespearean-style sonnet I wrote; I must've been inspired. Sing a little; can carry a tune but not far; prefer period bawdy songs. Have told a tale or two, but much better (I think) with writing. I go through spates of haiku and senryu; sometimes my haikus become a hokku. I dabble a lot, like making open clay oil lamps still in use during Halima's time, like creating a painted cloth strip with "address" badges for the tent (the story I tell: "If you find me drunk in the ditch by the roadside, here's my address..."), like making a kubb set in foam so we can play it indoors, like making a "fake leather" cooler so it doesn't stand out and yet is still easy to lug. The dabbling can be attributed to a general goal of covering life: what do I sleep in/on, what happens when I wake up, what do I put on and why (weather, rank), how was that made, when do I eat and what, what do I do with my day to earn my keep, how do I interact with people/animals, what is my entertainment, what is my shelter, who surrounds me, etc. I'm part "research until it chokes" and part "blend it into the medieval atmosphere". I tend to be low tech; the more equipment that is involved, the less I'm interested. That's off the top of my head. Now I -really- want to know how many people read to this point! Ma'asalaama Halima Recognitions
(missing records)
Classes taught(to come, from An Tir's Ithra, and from Tir Righ's TUTR)
(Tir Righ classes when database is online)
Contests enteredLearning to record activities, and not just do them (more info to come) contest name - entry title, if any - where, when
Other Creative Endeavours(needs dates and details)
Events as organizer(Incomplete list; more info to come)
Offices held(latest to oldest; more to come)
Infamy  Caught! The contest was a Persona Picnic, Cragmere, May 6, 2006. The setting was upon a carpet, with a small saddle and saddle blanket upon which to lean, and the food arrayed on low tables with trays. Brass and wood bowls held a variety of prepared (period recipes) and dried foods. Sekanjabin was in the bottle, and a silver jug held water. A tray of nammoura was distributed for dessert. Notice that the -right- hand was used for selecting from the dishes...
|
