Sabina di Zorzi

Category: Event and Activity Stewarding

  • Ursulwyck Medieval Faire

    So much to say after Ursulwyck Medieval Faire! (Part 1 because this was getting too long and we all need to go to bed sometime)

    Gratitude post as Co-Steward is in the works to come out from the team shortly, so now I can turn to my personal ‘HOLY CATS DO I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS?!?” post!

    This was an incredibly surreal event. Once the event started, everyone was SO happy and positive. It was bizarre when I’d just heard about the attacks on Iran on top of the rest of the deeply disturbing things going on in the world. People either hadn’t heard, or like me, we just truly needed community and this was ours so we were embracing it completely and doing our best to offer that community to any of the folk who chose to share their day with us.

    And we had *so many* folk choose to share their day with us! Around 300 spectators (folk not yet SCAdians) showed up to learn from us and hopefully learn how to join us in the future, and it was so exciting to see their excitement and curiosity! And since our Seneschal had secured food trucks, folk could just pop outside to get a bite or a coffee and then choose to come back inside and explore further, and they DID! Here’s to hoping they’re hooked!

    *Then* the Mexica dancers came out and did their performance. I was fighting tears and I wasn’t the only one. As messed up as it sometimes feels to put energy into our fantasy world, the fact that we’re moving it in the direction where that was a safe place for them to share their culture and for so many to openly welcome them and be moved by it, especially right now? I’m so grateful to have been there.

    And as if the emotional roller coaster wasn’t enough, my protégé ceremony was scheduled for 4:00pm and my nerves were nerving as the time grew near…

    (Part 2, the protégé ceremony, will be posted tomorrow – with lots of photos!)

  • Scribal design competition at Good Yule

    In addition to the A&S Championship competition, I’ll be hosting another competition at Good Yule in the realm of Arts and Sciences! Our Coronets are looking for new award charters for our Blue Stag and Blue Kraken awards and They’d like your participation in this! Please bring your entries with new, original designs to Good Yule. Their Excellencies will have the option to use any of the entries, but all entries will be displayed for populace vote at Good Yule and the winner will receive a prize!

    Charter design entries should include the linework and calligraphy for the award done on white paper so the Scribe can more easily make copies onto ‘parchment’ paper later for folk to paint before use by Their Excellencies. Charters are painted by folk with different experience levels, so please keep that in mind when creating your design, and consider how easily somebody will be able to interpret where to paint when looking at it with fresh eyes.

    If you are interested in creating a design for this competition, please let me know so I can send you the verbiage needed!

  • Ursulwyck Medieval Faire

    I’m excited to announce that I’ve joined the Stewarding team for the first Ursulwyck Medieval Faire! I hope this gives you something to look forward to and add to your calendars!

    Aquaterra heard you and has created a whole new demo event specifically for Ursulwyck Village and Marketplace, now known as the Ursulwyck Medieval Faire! This will be a one-day public demo event held February 28th, 2026 at the Skagit County Fairgrounds, 1410 Virginia St., Bldg. D, Mt. Vernon, WA 98284. Since the tournaments we’re used to from Ursulmas will remain at the usual weekend and place, at an SCA only event now called Ursulmas Tournament, we will be having our baronial heavy, rapier, and YAC championships at Ursulwyck Medieval Faire as part of the demonstration, along with other entertainment, so it should be a great show for everyone!

    The new space is exactly the quality we need, with heat, power available in much of the space, and functioning restrooms immediately next door. This is a smaller space than we’re used to, though, so we will be working hard to fit in as much as possible. The merchant application will be available soon, too, and priority will be given to those that best fit within our SCA demo vision since space is at a premium and we’re *really* trying to make this demo an engaging and educational experience for our modern guests.

    Though this is a one-day event, we have the option to set up the day before and tear down the day after (schedule TBD), though there’s no overnight stay on site. These fairgrounds are in town, though, so there are plenty of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities nearby if needed!

    Please let us know if you’re able to join us and share your skills with folk who we hope to bring into this game with us! HL Elewys of Finchingefeld, our Artisan Village Coordinator, can be reached at karen@ostheller.net.

    Looking forward to a great event!

  • Reminder – A&S Championship at Good Yule!

    I’m here to remind folk of the upcoming Aquaterra Arts and Sciences Championship competition being held at our Good Yule event! In this “Anachronism within our anachronism” competition, artisans are invited to showcase their skills by creating an item using a technique from one time and place inspired by artwork or objects from a different time and place. For example, you might create an embroidered pocket using 16th Century Venetian stitching techniques, but with a design inspired by early Scandinavian wood carvings.

    Details for the competition can be found on the Kingdom Calendar and requirements for Champions can currently be found in our Customary on the baronial website under Resources>Baronial Documents, but that’s up for review, so check in with the Coronets if you have questions regarding that.

    I am also looking for judges for this competition, so if you’re planning on attending the event and feel up to the challenge of judging, please let me know!

    I hope many of you choose to compete for the honor of being a Champion of Aquaterra and make our Coronets proud!

  • A&S Tiny Talks at Banner War 2025

    In the style of Dame Lissette de la Rose, I’ll be hosting Tiny Talks at Banner War! Tiny Talks are a low-stakes opportunity to geek out about whatever your current passion is, in this case something that falls in the theme of SCA Arts and Sciences, without the pressure of running a full class or even being a subject expert. Each Talk runs for only 10 minutes followed by a 5 minute Q&A period, and then we tag in the next Talk. This also means the audience’s attention span doesn’t have to stay on one topic for a very long time either, before being given something new to get inspired by! You don’t have to give a Tiny Talk in order to be part of the audience, so please join us and discover new things!

    And YES, there will be WAR POINTS!

    If you are interested in doing a Tiny Talk, you can sign up in advance at [https://forms.office.com/r/95mRXh1iAV](https://forms.office.com/r/95mRXh1iAV) to be sure you get a spot or if there’s more time and interest on site, we can add more folk, giving new folk a chance to do a Talk before opening the floor up to a second talk from previous speakers. You can bring visual aids, handouts, or project kits if you like, but it’s not required.

    11:30 am start time at the A&S Pavilion. We’ll go for about an hour before taking a lunch break and then can continue after that if we have more speakers. Bring a chair if you like as there will be limited seating available.

  • 2025 Aquaterra Arts and Sciences Championship will officially be happening at our Good Yule event on December 6th

    As the current A&S Champion of Aquaterra, I’ll officially be hosting the 2025 Aquaterra Arts and Sciences Championship at our Good Yule event on December 6th!

    Given that art takes time, I’m putting this year’s A&S Championship details out now (below) so folk have time to get their entries together. Please message me directly if you have any questions or if you’re willing to be a judge for this competition. These details will also be able to be found on the Kingdom Calendar soon:

    ***Aquaterra Arts and Sciences Championship Competition 2025***

    “Anachronism within our anachronism”

    *Overview*

    In this competition, artisans are invited to showcase their skills by creating an item using a technique from one time and place inspired by artwork or objects from a different time and place. Think of it as two SCA personas working together on one piece of art. This challenge is meant to encourage creativity, experimentation, and historical exploration, combining the beauty of one time and place with the techniques of another.

    *Competition Guidelines*

    *Creation*

    Choose any period technique from a specific time and place. Select a piece of artwork, an object, or a style from a different time period and/or place than the technique you have chosen for inspiration. For example, you might create an embroidered pocket using 16th Century Venetian stitching techniques, but with a design inspired by early Scandinavian wood carvings.

    *Documentation*

    Provide a brief written explanation (1-2 paragraphs) detailing the historical period of the inspiration piece, the period technique used, and how they were combined in your final creation. Include references to primary sources or academic research where possible.

    *Judging Criteria*

    – Historical Accuracy: How well does the item align with the chosen period technique? Is it made using authentic materials and methods?

    – Creativity & Interpretation: How effectively does the artwork inspire and influence the finished piece? Did you take creative liberties that enhance or explore the historical context?

    – Craftsmanship: The overall execution of the technique, attention to detail, and the quality of the final item.

    *Submissions*

    Items must be presented in person to the judges and other interested witnesses who may ask questions as well.

    *Championship will be awarded* based on the above judging criteria and our Coronets approval. All participants will receive feedback on their work to encourage growth and exploration.

    *Requirements* for Champions can currently be found in our Customary on the baronial website, but that’s up for review, so check in with the Coronets if you have questions regarding that.