Raffaella di Contino

Raffaella currently resides in the Barony of Blatha an Oir after having grown up in Madrone / Wyewood and lived in Aquaterra. Interests include: Cooking/food history, all aspects of Venetian life in the 1570's (food, clothing, popular culture, courtesan culture, literary salons, Venetian coin making, needle work, hair styles and shoes, religious and civic ritual) and a living history take on persona development. She loves to teach, and will talk anyone's ear off about anything related to Venice. In 2008 Margaret Elwald and Raffaella co-autocratted Margaret's brain child, the Culinary Symposium. There were teachers and students from all over AnTir, and 2 other Kingdoms as well. This event is now in the planning stages of its third year, last year having been hosted by the Shire of Wyewood.

Current projects include on going historical food research (both academic and hands on), promoting the Sergeantry in all its forms and community bonds with its members, encouraging more community bonds within the Apprentices/ Artisans of Antir, largess projects, clothing for herself, her Lord, and much beloved girl-child, and settling into a new home.

A brief list of offices, duties, and projects (just the big ones):

1999-2000 Practiced and performed with the Madrone madrigal singers

1999-2002 Gold Key officer for the Barony of Aquaterra

2000 Co-autocratted Aquaterra’s All Champions

2001 Successfully tested for Courtier to Baron Julian of Aquaterra

2002-2008 Arts & Sciences deputy for the Barony of Aquaterra

2005 Co-autocratted Banner War

2006 Italian food booth at Bite of AnTir

2006 Venetian dinner at Boar’s Hunt

2006 Created the AnTir Apprentice/ Artisan list

2007 Organized the ball (food, dancing, decorations, and a mask contest) for 12th night

2007 Co-autocratted AnTir’s Kindom Bardic Championship

2008 Co-autocratted the first AnTir Culinary Symposium with Margaret Elwald

2008 Created the Sergeantry list

2008-2010 Contest Coordinator for the Kingdom Costumer’s Guild

2009-Current Kingdom Guild Deputy to the Kingdom Minister of Arts and Sciences

2010 Co-autocratted the third annual Culinary Symposium with Countess Elisabeth de Rossignol

Classes offered:

Introduction to Italian Renaissance clothing 4hr

Clothing and accessories of Venetian Noblewomen 1500-1600 2-4hr

Period hairstyles 1-2 hrs

Pattern drafting 2-4 hrs

Persona development 1-2 hours

So you want to be a courtesan? Venetian edition 2-4 hrs

Period food for beginners 2-4 hrs

Historical Italian food (intermediate) 1-2 hrs (currently being updated)

They ate that? They didn't eat that? demo-games and discussion

I've done demos in various settings including the closing demo for the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at the museum of flight with food, clothing, and cultural aspects.

Any questions, class or information requests can be sent to raphaellad at yahoo dot com. Many of the offered classes can be legthned or shortened to fit the event's needs.

http://ayeshadream.livejournal.com/

Raffaella di Contino OP Rank 1425

Highest Current Award: Goutte de Sang
Current/Last Known Branch: Aquaterra 

Silver Dolphin (Aquaterra) Jan 27 AS 35 / 2001 
Award of Arms June 16 AS 36 / 2001 
Courtier (Aquaterra) Aug 25 AS 36 / 2001 
Award of Arms Dec 8 AS 36 / 2001 
Golden Estoile (Aquaterra) Sept 28 AS 37 / 2002 
Goutte de Sang Nov 9 AS 37 / 2002 
Plate (Aquaterra) Jan 28 AS 41 / 2007 
Green Bear (Aquaterra) Dec 8 AS 42 / 2007
Jambe de Lion (An Tir)  Sep 28, 2008 (AS XLIII)