Persona Challenge 2022
This challenge was hosted by Ollamh Esa, during the reign of Cuan and Adelhait. The challenge was to produce four items to enhance a chosen persona, to be displayed at four events throughout the reign- Spring Coronation, Spring Crown, Pennsic, and Fall Coronation. This page contains my entries for this challenge. My chosen persona was my usual mid 15th C to early 16th C Spanish. For more info on the challenge, she has a site up here.
Challenge Item 1: Handwriting
I am not naturally inclined to neat handwriting and don’t even get me started on drawing. However, writing notes and letters would have been a large facet of Mariana’s life. This choice was made deliberately with a few future applications in mind. I decided to use my apprenticeship contract to display the practice.
Challenge Item 2: A Flemish Hood
I have seen many images of hoods, usually black with a brightly colored liner and often with pretty trim, and wanted to add this item in to expand my garb wardrobe for slightly warmer and sun shading headwear. Currently, my persona accurate headwear collection is pretty sparse and not conducive to the cold.
Challenge Item 3: A Belt
This piece is leading into another future piece- a persona accurate quiver to use at the archery range- but I found an effigy of a woman with a decorative belt that really caught my eye. I am no metal caster, so this is absolutely just an attempt to get used to working the leather. Unfortunately, this item was not completed in time to finish the challenge at the Coronation of Abran and Anya.
Challenge Item 4: A Paternoster or Set of Prayer Beads
My persona is Catholic, or at least on the outside she is. Having a paternoster or rosary on hand is a great way to queue this socially, but many of the images I have found can be done so without being too overtly Catholic, and I think this is a great way to bring a little authenticity to my persona without going too far in a way that makes my mundanely Jewish self uncomfortable. You can also see the analysis I did for this project at this link.