Genevieve Chastisse de Vaucresson, SCA Enthusiast
I have been a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a historical re-enactment (or: "Living History")
organization whose focus is the Middle Ages and Renaissance, since 1980.
I am "Genevieve Chastisse de Vaucresson",
a 16th century French woman, the daughter of a farmer with properties on the outskirts of Paris.
My mother died when I was 8 and my two older sisters married off before I was 11, so I was fostered
out to a local noble lady for my training in the domestic arts.
During a period of some travelling around
Europe for my education in my late teens, I ran away from my chaperone after falling for a charming mercenary whom
I desperately attempted to follow. I spent time in Italy where I was 'adopted' by and became friends with a group
of ladies from Constantinople who in sharing with me the foods and dances of their lands gave me a love for all
things eastern.
Later, in 1569, my path took me to England where I found I could make a living as a seamstress
to the noble ladies of the Queen's court. I remain there to this day, a middle-class merchant who dreams
of the day she'll once again catch sight of that mercenary fellow....
In March of 1996, at the court of TRM's Tarquin and Aibhilin, I was elevated into
the SCA's Order
of the Laurel, the Society's highest recognition for achievement in the arts and
sciences. I was honored by the recognition of my abilities as a seamstress for my specialty:
clothing of the Elizabethan Era (but more level-headed folk just tell me I'm
just insane to spend that much time on my garb....). Besides being a clotheshorse, my interests
include calligraphy and illumination, brewing, gardening , and dance - both English
and Middle-eastern.
I currently claim 2 apprentices: one active, one inactive. My active apprentice is
Lady Georgia the Pragmatic, co-proprietress of
"The Likely Lotus"
(Italian Renaissance Garb). My other apprentice, Lady Khaatirah,
was stolen by the gypsies (or so we believe) and was recently rumored
to be hiding out in Caid.
Mistress Gwyndlyn caer Vyrddin, a former apprentice of mine and the first in my lineage to be elevated, was elevated by TRM Pieter and Nan at Jubilee Olde English Faire on June 21, AS XXXVIII.
My involvement in the SCA's infrastructure has included such jobs as that of:
- Minister of Arts, Shire of Far Reaches, Middle Kingdom;
- Hospitaller, Barony of Bjornsborg , Ansteorra;
- Seneschale, Shire of Alte Kaempe Feld (now Blauwasser), Drachenwald;
- Chatelaine, Shire of Far Reaches, Middle Kingdom;
- Chatelaine-at-large, Middle Kingdom, (authored the "Pre-Pennsic Packing Planner");
- Seneschale, Shire of Swordcliff, Middle Kingdom.
- Founding principal of the Mid-Midlands chapter of The Silver Thimble Guild.
- I have also served as a scribe, contributing illuminated scrolls to a number of royal courts.
- Currently I serve as Webminister for the Shire of Swordcliff.
I have had the honor of serving, garbing, feasting, and dancing for, assorted crowns and coronets during my adventures across the lands! However, I am best known to my fellow SCA-dians as the proprietress of "The Gilded Lily".
| The SCA Inc |
The Middle Kingdom |
The Midlands |
The Shire of Swordcliff |
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Interesting links I've found:
Resources for scribes:
http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/topics/call.htm
A Dialogue of Chivalry: thoughts from the Middlebridge about peerages.
A really well written article on how Peers are selected for elevation. From the Atenveldt site.(pdf)
Calligraphy exemplars from the Dark River Scriptorum
Things to buy your Laurel for Christmas: http://www.cafeshops.com/laurelbait
My Noble Midrealm Cousins: http://www.midlaurel.com
Updated: 11/03/06