Sibilia dell’Acqua

  • Gilding with Gum Ammoniac

    When gilding calligraphy, the easiest solutions to use are those that flow freely on a pen nib or brush tip. Here are my simple instructions for using Gum Ammoniac to create a gilding mordant for this use. This is a… Continue reading

    Gilding with Gum Ammoniac
  • Hopes for future classes

    One of my fall/winter projects will be developing additional classes to teach in upcoming online programs. I have a few classes that are “spin-offs” of others that I plan to start with, but I also have some research rabbitholes that… Continue reading

    Hopes for future classes
  • La Moria Gradissma (“Black Death” in Italy, 1340s)

    Earlier this fall for the University of Atlantia, I did a presentation on how the Black Death played out in Italy during the 1340s. I’m still trying to figure out a good way to share slides on this WordPress blog… Continue reading

    La Moria Gradissma (“Black Death” in Italy, 1340s)
  • Untitled Goose Game…Medieval Style

    One of my current projects which will take who knows how long is drawing, illuminating, and probably gilding a Italian-style “Il nuovo et piacevole gioco dell ocha” or Game of the Goose. The goal is to make a game that… Continue reading

    Untitled Goose Game…Medieval Style
  • A new kingdom scroll (with lots of shine)

    This will be a short post as this was a scroll that I didn’t take as many progress photos of. But these are fun to document in the event that someone wants to look up a scroll I did and… Continue reading

    A new kingdom scroll (with lots of shine)
  • Contemplating 14th Century Venetian dress

    This post is simply meant to gather inspiration for clothing appropriate to my persona, set in 1350 Venice (give or take a year as I’m still working through the research details). I will be adding imagery as I come across… Continue reading

    Contemplating 14th Century Venetian dress
  • My first kingdom scroll

    Now that it’s been awarded at June Faire, I can write about my first-ever kingdom scroll. This was a knighthood scroll awarded to Poseidonis Lakon. For this scroll, I looked over a lot of Greek pottery designs. Originally, my intention… Continue reading

    My first kingdom scroll
  • A couple illuminations from June Faire

    Catterina Fontana of Blatha an Oir asked if I would illuminate a couple of poems that she had written for June Faire vigilants, so I did. I’m always honored to do custom work, so this was a treat. I only… Continue reading

    A couple illuminations from June Faire
  • Museum Research 101

    IMAGE: Writing box, thought to be Northern Italian/Venetian, about 1550-1580. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art In my day job, I work as a exhibitions curator at a museum. I spend a fair amount of time researching and also… Continue reading

    Museum Research 101