Elewys Cuylter of Finchingefeld

Pronounced "Eloise Quilter of Finchingfield", this is now a heraldically passed name! Formerly known as Helene de Navarre, I decided it's time for a change (which I do about once a decade now), and a change that can easily be documented and passed by the heralds. Still waiting on the device, though...we'll see how it goes. It's a 13th century English name, Elewys (for no reason other than I liked it), Cuylter to indicate a personal passion of mine, and Finchingefeld, a town in Essex where textiles were a huge industry in the 13th century, including drapers, fullers, quilters, weavers and more.

I began playing in the SCA in about February 1990 after meeting some gentlemen dressed in kilts at Western Washington University's club fair. I attended my first event that spring, Sir Edward's Tournament, which was held on the grassy fields near the rock rings and in the brick walkway of Fairhaven College. Their Majesties, Thorin and Angharad were in attendance for the day and the evening feast. My second event was May "Drown" in Grant's Pass, where it rained sideways for the entire weekend. I was completely unprepared for eventing, but learned some very valuable lessons. One being you should always keep a set of dry clothes in the car for the ride home.

Beginning in about AS XXV, I held the office of Seneschal of Wisdom's Keep, and upon its dissolution, held offices in Shittimwoode, including Chronicler, Chatelaine, Stock Clerk, Gold Key, and Exchequer (a position I held for three years, including the turbulent Avaloc reign), and autocratted a couple of events, including Sir Eddie's Tourney, Town Faire, and Crown Council during Hwolf's reign. I also began assisting Baroness Amanda Kendal with Ithras in Shittimwoode, which led to requesting to be trained as a Chancellor of Ithra for a new campus, Borderlands.

Borderlands Ithra campus was officially formed in January 2004 and from that time until fall 2008, I have successfully run 13 sessions and have one more coming up (Warren War, Sept 2008), and another in the planning stages for Mid-Winter 2009.

I have recently taken the office of Minister of Arts and Sciences in the Barony of Aquaterra. It's a new challenge and I hope to inspire others to do more, teach more, and learn more.

EC