Simply put, contrafacto is a period practice where you use an existing tune and give it new words. We see this in pieces like “What Child Is This?” set to the tune of “Greensleeves.” We are exposed to this practice even as children. “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” is the same tune as “Baa Baa, Black Sheep” and the ABC song. At the end of March of this year, I attended Commander’s Crucible in Hellsgate. I entered the arts and science…
Well, well, well. It’s been a hot second, hasn’t it? TL;DR: As promised to many folks at LPT this weekend, here is my documentation. Stretch we tight the warp of warO’er beam so wet and slick with blood Back in the fall, I presented my paper at Ansteorra’s Kingdom Arts & Sciences competition. I was absolutely delighted to win the Academic Paper portion of the competition with a paper on my translation of the Darraðarljoð — the Valkyries’ Warp. I…
Back in February, we went on a trip to Berlin. We took the German high-speed rail directly from Paris to Berlin. It was supposed to take eight hours, but took more than ten. Why? Deutsche Bahn (which is notorious for always being late). Anyway, we had a lovely view on the way there. We went to a delicious Bavarian-style restaurant for a late dinner, then wandered over to the Brandenburg Gate. It was very cold — you can see the…
Taught: This is the gallery for both methods of making self-stuffed buttons, as well as various methods for making hand-sewn eyelets. The handout is available here: https://hextilda.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/stuffed-buttons-and-holes.pdf
It’s time I return to this. Since my last post here, I have been in a life-altering, disabling car wreck (deserving of a separate post), a dozen follow-up surgeries, gotten married, moved to France, and nearly died of Covid. So, y’know, normal life stuff. Given the state of social media these days, I have decided to move my SCA blogging off of Facebook and, instead, only use it to link to my posts here, as these are controlled by me…
Originally written for Crucible’s Commander, an event in Hellsgate in Ansteorra. This has since been published professionally. I would especially like to thank Master Alden, who helped me finesse this final version into existence. It would not be what it is without him. =============================================== Boudica’s Resolve By Hextilda Corbett, 2018 This ancient land we call our own Breathe free Iceni, free from Rome. My husband led — and legions fled In fear from our Bretonic home I then…
The Valkyries’ Warp My own interpretation of Darraðarljoð from Njal’s Saga — the Battle-Song of the Valkyries. First performed at Valkyrfelt, on 20 October 2018, in the Barony of Bjornsborg. —————— Stretch we tight the warp of war O’er beam so wet, and slick with blood Guts pulled long, with braids on floor Weft dripping, turning dirt to mud Foes’ entrails serve well as weft Their heads keep warp properly taut Loom filled til no room is left We…
I’m one of the co-mods for the Pennsic War Facebook group and make an annual post about foot care at Pennsic. Here is the current version of that post: *** All right, folks. Let’s talk about feet. More specifically, foot care at Pennsic. For those who are perambulatory, you’ve already started walking longer distances every day in anticipation of all the walking you’ll do at War, right? Good. (If not, today is a GREAT day to start! Even if it’s…
Hey folks! If you haven’t seen my mundane/camping-side Pennsic Prep post, check it out here. As with my camping post, this post operates merely as a jumping-off point. Please feel free to use it, customize it, disregard parts as you see fit. This is simply to get you started. This post will also operate from the presumption that you’ve been playing in the SCA for a little bit and maybe have a couple of outfits, but have not been to…
I joined the SCA in 2015. Pennsic 44 was my third event. I have been twice and will be attending again this summer; I missed last summer due to the eclipse. I have several friends attending Pennsic for the first time and thought this would be a good opportunity to put together a couple of lists. One is a general camping gear list and the other is a garb list. Of course, these are all only suggestions; you can camp…