A Look at A&S Documentation

by Master Jin Liu Ch'ang

Jin's General Rule Number 1

Do the Documentation, Then Do the Project! - Do not make the project then try to write the documentation. You may find that the production of the same project, with the correct materials and techniques, would have been easier and looked better than what you actually produced.

General Flow Sheet for a Project

1. Decide the general project.
   You would be doing this anyway at the subconscious level if not outwardly. This can be, "I want to build a boat" (i.e. a product that you want to build) or "I want to make a project with this huge piece of leather that I have in my closet."
   
   
2. Research the topic in books, Internet, etc.
   • Determine the characteristics essential for your project (materials, techniques, stylistic properties) that define the project that you are planning.
     
     
   • Determine the characteristics essential for your project (materials, techniques, stylistic properties) that would make the project that you are planning look totally correct.
     
     
3. Obtain the materials to produce the project.
   When possible obtain the correct materials. If the materials are not obtainable, obtain the best possible replacements.
   
   
4. Produce the project.
   Use medieval techniques when possible.

Jin's General Rule Number 2

Never Ever Assume That The Judge Knows The Subject Better Than You Do. Do not assume that the judges will recognize the features of the project of which you are most proud. Tell the judges what you want them to see.

This does not mean to lie to the judges, this means that if you have a period source for the project, tell them or show them.

A Short Discussion of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources

Primary sources are best. Primary sources, which are works from period, artifacts in museums, buildings and statuary that are still in existence, paintings, description of performances, books and manuscripts written in period.

Secondary sources are not as good as primary sources. Secondary sources are books and articles that were written with reference to primary sources. Some secondary sources, such as the garb books by Janet Arnold, are better than others.

Tertiary sources are books that rely on secondary sources, such as most college-level history books.

Other sources. Other sources might include such items as direct experience by the entrant when working with materials and processes. If you have trained mundanely as a blacksmith or leatherworker or have taken a weekend course in how to make a boat and that gives you especial insight in how to do the project that cannot be easily documented in a book, tell the judges.

Some Helpful Hints

• Aim your documentation to your audience.
  
  • Is it a contest judged by laurels, or is it judged by the populace?
  • Glitz and pretty stuff may win a populace vote but not one judged by the Laurels.
    
    
• If you have done something extra special or that takes a lot of work that does not necessarily show up well on the project - Tell the judges. They may not see it. This is especially important for the interior details of something normally viewed from the exterior.

• Use fonts to advantage to emphasize important points.
  
  
• If you used hand tools rather than power tools to make a box - tell the judges.
  
  
• If you hand sewed a piece of garb, tell the judges.
  
  
• If you used a period technique that is not normally used (bone needles when sewing rather than modern needles, if it is proper for the outfit, for example) - tell the judges.
  
  
• If you made the tools you used to construct the project, tell the judges or even better make them part of the display.

Jin's General Rule Number 3

Keep Your Documentation Handy. I advise every person hoping to become a Laurel someday, to take their documentation for every project they have ever done and place it in a notebook in those clear page covers and keep it in their vehicle so that if anyone asks about how to do some craft or about your product you can pull out the documentation and show them. You will immediately look better in their eyes. It also comes in handy if you decide to enter an A&S contest on the spur of the moment (I have).