A Bit of History

Sometimes its the wierdest things that inspire us, moments in time that just arrive then leave again without  notice...

For me it was a moment playing World Of Warcraft that inspired this blog, I was up in the Argent Tournament with the window open at night, and could smell the dusty smoke of BBQ fires that I remembered all I had done and left in the SCA [Society for Creative Anachronism] that I decided I needed to do something about it.

I am a selft taught Woodcarver, have dabbled in Leatherworking, Metalcraft, and the Performance Arts, all within the confines of the SCA. I have never really shown off much of my work, let alone sold any of it, but my wonderful girlfriend has told me to start keeping a journal of my work, to show off what I have done in the past and what is inspiring me in the present/future.

So here is a blog of my designs, art, and other musings from my time in the past, present and maybe future in the SCA.

But how did all this come to pass? Step on past the cut to find out more [its going to be quite the read, so be forewarned]

First off a little background on myself in the SCA, my persona name is Lord Grifon de Radonvilliers, I am a early 17th Century French Nobleman [hence the name of the blog!] I got my SCA start in the Barony of Lions Gate in An'Tir until I moved to Artemisia and Loch Salann. I played extremely actively for nearly 8 years serving in multiple officer positions, autocrating events, and of course on the field with my Rapier. Those were fun years, not a care in the world in many ways, kind of like a dream in many ways, then one day...I woke up...

During all those years I was married to another member of the society, but that sadly ended, I blame no one for what happened at this stage, we simply grew apart,  but it gave me pause to look at what I loved and wanted in life and from the SCA, and for me something died at that time, I kept playing for a little longer but the spark was mostly gone, where I once saw light I saw darkness, where once I saw beauty I saw the ugly underbelly, something had to give, and it was me.

I realize now how unhealthy a lot of my involvement with the SCA was in many ways at the time, like a lot of people I became enamored with our little danglies and recognitions, barey cognizant of the politics or obsessions that those can ingender in people, not always yourself, but my own pursuits, no matter how noble they seemed internally became far less so as the years wore on, what was once hope, became frustration, and eventually honest anger, it wasn't good...I was an officer which meant that I was always involved, long hours getting stuff ready for events, or autocrating them took their toll, our vacations each year were events where I usually ended up working, not that I minded the volunteer work, but sometimes it might have been nice to stroll the streets of Rome rather than feel obligated to go to an event. My ex-wife being an extremely talented scribe meant she was in high demand and often things like weekends and holidays got taken up making sure scrolls were done for the next event, I was happy to let her do the work she loved so much, but I wish now looking back I had had the guts to try and talk with her and get some balance in our lives, I just didn't know how, I don't blame her at all for it, things happened, people change, and in the process so did my views on the SCA.

I would realize a year or so later how much I wanted to be able to take vacations, see things, and do things, that didn't always neccasarily involve the SCA, I joined a Bowling league, have taken up Tennis and other sports, I found a whole large world that I had been missing all along because of how all encompassing the SCA had become.

But I never lost the love of the arts...

My ex-wife is a Laurel in the SCA, for Scribal Arts, Costuming, research, and probably another hundread things I haven't listed, she is a very talented artisan, and we gave each other an immense amount of support as we pursued our different endeavors, when I lost that relationship, I didn't know I would lose some of that drive and desire as well, and by some I mean almost all.

Without going into all the details the relationship I was in after that was not a good place to be, while I got my dear daughter from it all, the rest was far less healthy, when we separated mid last year we would come to realize we were really really good friends, and thats all we should have ever been. She wasn't into the SCA and I didn't push it, but in the process I lost a lot of the outlet for my artistic talents and interests, it was more of a loss than I realized.

The last project I completed were the bucklers that were given out to each of the Baronies and to the Kingdom, each was lovingly painted with the arms of the group, my Rapier students and I worked on these for weeks before hand and the care and attention to deatailed showed. It was a last hurrah, after that weekend I was supposed to be leaving the Kingdom permanently, but the economy intervened and I was back in Artemisia, and with all the turmoil in my real life, I walked away, maybe a little sad, but willing to do so to try and sort out my own real world.

About a year ago I got invovled with a wonderful woman, I have known her from years, we met in the society when she first got started, we have been dear friends ever since, I wouldn't have predicted this would have ever happened to us, but it did and I am extremely grateful. We have talked about playing again, and I explained how I have no intention of ever letting things getting out of hand like they did before, we both agreed, though how we play going forward is yet to be determined.

Regardless of how we play in the SCA in the future, I am going to be working hard at my art again, I hope to be able to show of projects done for me or our little SCA family, or other whimsy that tickles my fancy. You will also get a dose of SCA commentary here, thoughts and musings so be forewarned!

With that, I welcome you to the Cavalier Craftsman!