Elewys Cuylter of Finchingefeld
Pronounced "Eloise Quilter of Finchingfield". Formerly known as Helene de Navarre, Elewys is a 13th century English name, 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. Device passed earlier this year: Per bend sinister vert and lozengy vert and argent, in chief a pair of scissors fesswise reversed argent.
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 the reign of Hwolf & Louisa. 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.
University of Ithra's Borderlands campus was officially formed in January 2004 and to date, I have successfully run more than a dozen Ithra sessions in the Shire of Shittimwoode.
I moved to the Barony of Aquaterra in fall of 2007 and within a few months, took the office of Minister of Arts and Sciences. Surrendering the office a little more than two years later, I have aimed to improve my skills and support the Arts and Sciences from outside the office.
Resume & OP In an effort to keep track of my SCA accomplishments, and at the request of Molly Modine on the various lists, I have created this resume and posted it here. Some dates are estimates, as this was rebuilt using my memories and back issues of newsletters.
OP Listing Elewys Cuylter of Finchingfield - Highest Award: Goutte de Sang Branch: Aquaterra
- Acacia (Shittimwoode) 3-Apr-1993 AS 27;
- Award of Arms 16-Jul-1994 AS 29;
- Goutte de Sang 19-Apr-1997 AS 31;
- Lector Ithra 18-Apr-1998 AS 32;
- Bunny's Crook (Shittimwoode) 24-Apr-1999 AS 33;
- Golden Acacia (Shittimwoode) 20-Apr-2002 AS 36;
- Red Flame 9-Apr-2005 AS 39;
- Silver Dolphin (Aquaterra) 20-Sep-2008 AS 43;
- Jambe de Leon 7-Nov-2009 AS 44;
- Plate (Aquaterra) 19-Dec-2009 AS 44;
- Golden Etoille (Aquaterra) 29-Jan-2011 AS 45;
Fealty
- Senior Apprentice to Mistress Ariel de Courtneay, OL, 1996 - present
Offices Held
- Seneschale - College of Wisdom's Keep - 1990 - 91;
- Chatelaine - Shittimwoode 1991 - 1994;
- Gold Key - Shittimwoode 1991 - 1992;
- Registrar for Ithras in Shittimwoode - 1994? (98 for sure) - Jan 2005;
- Chronicler - Shittimwoode Sep 1994 - Summer 1997;
- Stock Clerk - Shittimwoode Nov 1998 - Jan 1999;
- Exchequer - Shittimwoode Apr 99 - Feb/Mar 2002;
- Farspeaker Publisher - Dec 1997, Jan 99, Oct 2000, 2001;
- Tir Righ Census Administrator, Shire of Shittimwoode, Feb 2001;
- Tir Righ/Northern Principality sub-committee; calendar committee, 2001;
- Shittimwoode Baronial bid committee 2001;
- Chancellor-in-Training for Ithra in Shittimwoode (Lions Gate Campus) - 2001 - 2005;
- Chancellor of Ithra - Borderlands campus (18 sessions) - Jan 2005 - present;
- Arts & Science Minister - Barony of Aquaterra - Feb 2008 - Apr 2010;
Autocratting
- Town Faire II - College of Wisdom's Keep - September 1989;
- Sir Edward's Tourney - Shire of Shittimwoode - early 90s;
- Crown Council - Shire of Shittimwoode - during the reign of Jarl Hwolf & Countess Louisa, Fall 1995;
- Sixteen Ithra sessions as Chancellor of Ithra, Borderlands Campus (2005-2009)
Teaching
- Bobbin Lace - Shire level class - July 22, 1996;
- Hat Making - Shire level class - Nov 19, 1998;
- Make Yourself a Bog Coat - 4 cr. - 9.10.05 at Medieval Village Ithra II;
- Bog Coat Construction - 1 cr. - 3.22.08 at Shittimwoode Spring Ithra;
- Making a Bocksten Bog Style Tunic - 2 cr. - 4.5.08 at Aquaterra Spring Ithra;
- Beginner's Knitting - 2 cr. - 4.25.09 at Sir Edward's Tourney Ithra;
- Viking Undertunics - 4 cr. - 3.20.11 at Shittimwoode Almost-Spring Ithra;
Hosting
- Newcomer's/Open House/Costuming nights - hosted - several years in and around 1995
- Hosted Shire garage sales (1993 at Cherrywood, 1995 at Valencia, 1999 at W. Rusley)
- Hosted Planning Meetings - including, but not limited to, Oct 98, Oct 2000
Organizational Events
- Iron Needle - Banner War 2008, Good Yule 2009, Boar's Hunt 2009
- Demonstrations at Ursulmas 2009, 2010
- Contests - Boar's Hunt 2008, 2009; Ursulmas 2009; Good Yule 2009;
Accomplishments
- Made a canvas tent - 1996 (30 Year Celebration) used for three seasons
- Author of "The Wilde Hare", a column in the Bunny Tales, the Shittimwoode newsletter (1994-1997)
- Entered Northern Region's first Arts Championship "tourney" - 1997 (didn't win, but it was a great learning experience)
- Entered Ursulmas costume contest abt. 1998 - Man's Wool Surcoat - won first place
- Entered Calligraphy in Ursulmas A&S contest abt. 1998 - won first place
- Entered Ursulmas A&S contest 2009 - Viking Child's tunic - placed 3rd
- Entered Ursulmas A&S contest 2011 - Evil Eye Beads - won first place
Donations to Largesse
- Bobbin lace - 1996 - ultimately given to King & Queen of Drachenwald, who, by coincidence, were old friends Garrick and Talitha from Shittimwoode who helped introduce us to the SCA when we were newbies.
- Elizabethan coif - 1999?
- Inkle Loom trim in An Tir colors (abt. 5 1/2 yds.) - 2008
Other Service to the Crown
- Calligraphed a couple dozen scrolls for the reign of Darius & Morgaine
- Entered data for Lions Gate Ithra sessions 1976 - 2006