This was the second scroll I did, and the first one for which I occurred to me to get a copy made before I gave it away. If you know anyone with a scroll I've done, please have them get in touch with me so I can get a copy. I'll be glad to pay any copying and postage fees!

An award for an arts competition. Some of the best illuminators and calligraphers in the East contributed award scrolls for this and I was honored to be in their company.

A scroll I did, then found out it wasn't needed. I'll find a use for it Real Soon Now.

This is the first Islamic work I did. The picture is from a Mamluk version of Kalila wa Dimna, a period book of fables similar to Aesop's. The text is the first version of the script I used later for all my Islamic-based works. The story reads- The Tortoise Who Did Not Profit From Wise Counsel. A tortoise lived in a marsh where he was very good friends with two geese. When their home began to dry up, the geese devised a plan to bring the otrtoise with them to a new marsh. They had him take hold of the middle of a stick with his mouth and, grasping the ends, began to lift him. But, they warned, he must keep absolutely silent during the trip. As they flew, they passed over a group of villagers who were amazed by this strange sight and began to laugh and make fun of the tortoise. When he opened his mouth to answer them, he let go of the stick and fell to his death.

Finally I do an official scroll I get to keep! This is the charter for the Dragonship Haven Drummer's Guild, led by my husband. It got a bit damaged during our last move, I'll post a new picture as soon as I fix the gold. It's gouache and gold leaf with garlic size on Bristol board. The borders are taken from patterns found in a Damascene sitting room. The bird in the center is a copy of a period Bismillah. It seems to be written upside down, which is strange for Arabic, but it is lovely and thematic. It is written in the kalila wa Dimna script and reads, "As the heartbeat moves the blood and the beat of a bird's wings send it soaring, so does the beat of a drum set feet to dancing. Therefore does Dragonship Haven sponsor a guild dedicated to the teaching and performing of the art of drumming. Let the rhythms cause hearts to rejoice and be, like birds, uplifted." It is signed by baron Josef and Baroness Arwen. The yellow side panel reads "baronial Investiture, Twelfth Feb. AS 34."

This is written in a pseudo-Arabic script I created which I call Kalila wa Dimna, also from the Mamluk book of fables abpve Here's what it says- "Whenever his graceful soul moves him to dance, the cries of wonder and joy from the populace rise to nearly overwhelm even royal ears. Thus gladly do we bestow the honours of the Order of the Terpsichore on our worthy subject, Sterling de la Rosa." The diagonal reads "Twelfth Night, January 13 A.S. 35
The scroll was done on standard Bristol board using gouache paints and gold leaf with garlic size.

This was the first piece I used real gold with, and I was immediately sold on it. The design is based on an andalusian piece with the center word being "hub", the arabic word for love, in magribi script.

Here is another scroll in the pseudo-arabic font. It is based on a Maghribi document from the 15th century. It reads- In the Great Book of Allah, the merciful and generous are recorded all of the deeds of Mankind. Where are listed those who give tirelessly of themselves for the good of others, there is the name Alchamar Mor Taraid. Where are listed those who encourage others in the beauty of their arts and the intricacies of the sciences, there is the name Alchamar Mor Taraid. Where are listed those who bear arms in a just cause and fight chivalrously, there is the name Alchamar Mor Taraid. Although his place in Paradise is no doubt assured, it pleases the Sultan and Sultana of all the Oriental lands to give an earthly reward. Thus, on this tenth day of March in the thirty-fifth year of our Society do we raise Alchamar Mor Taraid to the ranks of the nobility by awarding him arms.