Kara Baraksdottir

Timeline

Duchess Kara began playing in the SCA in January of 1992 at the tender age of 15. Her first official event was Ursulmas in Aquaterra, in the Kingdom of AnTir (although she had attended some events previously as a "tourist"), and Kara continued to play with the Barony of Aquaterra for many years (and remembers her time there fondly). Shortly after Ursulmas, Kara began camping with House Redstone, and then with Ravensfuri when she was "adopted" by Jarl Barak Ravensfuri and Duchess Lao Yu.

Kara met Jarl Barak, Duchess Lao and many others that soon became family, at an Aquaterra fight practice (at that time they were being held at Barak and Lao's home in Everett). Kara thought fighting was nifty and wanted to give it a shot. Barak was convinced that if Kara got into armor, she would be the "first queen of AnTir in her own right" (being left-handed and all). Um, not so much. Kara fought for a good five years, but turns out she really wasn't very good at it. So since she wasn't that keen on getting hit, and wasn't really that interested in hitting others, she gave up the "fight life" and focused her pursuits on the textile arts. Kara was a warranted Senior Marshal in AnTir, and a constable as well. Some of her favorite pastimes during her time in AnTir were sitting gate, working on her arts, and playing Tablero (but not at the same time), though she's found that since she's been in the West, her time has been more greatly consumed by other pursuits.

Kara came to the West Kingdom from AnTir in 2006, and now lives in the Province of the Mists, where she is the current Chatelaine. Kara has reigned three times as Queen of the Kingdom of the West, all with Duke Uther as her King.

Kara is the Matriarch of Sigurgata, a household she and Uther formed in 2008.

Persona

While Duchess Kara preference is to play as an early 10th century Norsewoman, she has been known to dabble in the 12th century and even Tudor on occasion. Thank goodness for time-traveling viking ships! Click here for a detailed accounting of Kara's Norse Persona.

Interests

Kara enjoys almost all things Textile. Some of the things she might be seen doing at an event include: spinning on a wheel or drop-spindle, tablet-weaving, embroidery, dying, naalbinding and various other textile arts. Kara also enjoys garment construction and researching the areas involving Migration and Viking era Norse culture and Scandinavian textiles.

For further information regarding Duchess Kara, her interests, research, persona and participation within the SCA, please see her profile on the Sigurgata Website.

Honors and Awards

• Duchess Jan 3, AS XLIII (2009) Jade & Catherine (West)
• Countess May 5, AS XLII (2007) Jade & Kaaren (West)
• Order of the Rose May 5, AS XLII (2007) Jade & Kaaren (West)
• Order of the Laurel October 2, AS XLV (2010) Titus & Arianwen (West)
• Western Lily May 31, AS XLIII (2008) Titus & Eilis (West)
• Rose Leaf Mar 22, AS XLII (2008) Gemini & Mari (West)
• Leaf of Merit Jul 3, AS XLV (2010) Alfar & Ketiley (West)
• Award of Arms Sep 2, AS XXXVI (2001) An Tir
• Forget-Me-Not Jul 19, AS XXXVIII (2003) An Tir
• Queen's Cypher Aug 23, AS XLIII (2008) Eilis (West)
• Crown's Favor May 17, AS XLIII (2008) Titus & Eilis (West)
• Queen's Treasure Aug 25, AS XLII (2007) Kaaren (West)
• Queen's Treasure Aug 23, AS XLIII (2008) Eilis (West)
• Corolla Vitae Dec 8, AS XLII (2007) Eyvindr & Cyneswith (Mists)
• Princess' Favor May 17, AS XLIII (2008) Cyneswith (Mists)
• Princess' Favor Nov 21, AS XLIV (2009) Leticia (Mists)
• Princess' Token Jul 14, AS XLII (2007) Juliana (Cynagua)
• Princess' Token Jan 31, AS XLIII (2009) Arianwen (Cynagua)
• Princess' Token Jan 30, AS XLIV (2010) Annora (Cynagua)
• Den Grimme Aeling Oct 31, AS XLIV (2009) Eric & Annora (Cynagua)

Honors

• Queen's Artisans May 3, AS XLIII (2008) Eilis (West)
• Queen's Artisans May 1, AS XLV (2010) Ketiley (West)
• Court of the Mists Nov 10, AS XLII (2007) Eyvindr & Cyneswith (Mists)

External Links

• Sigurgata (Kara's Household Website)
• AnTir Culture Wiki (Kara's AnTir Wiki Page)
• Sigurgata You Tube (Sigurgata You Tube Site)
• Wedding proposal (Uther proposes to Kara)
• Kara's Artisan's Page (Kara's West Kingdom Artisan's Page)