Author: Frei

Some people take out their knitting whenever they have a moment to themselves. Others embroider every time they watch the news. My “handicraft” is composing heraldic arms when I “watch” a movie or the news. I am very lucky to have a partner who supports my follies. But then again, it costs next to nothing … Continue reading Instead of knitting – composing coats of arms!

It gives me much happiness to announce that we have created a new peer of the realm of Lorenzburg. For services to the crown Anita van Doorn has been raised to the rank of baroness of the partly chosen name Anita von Doom und Herzdämmerung. Vivat et prosit tibi! The coat of arms uses the … Continue reading Coat of arms for Anita von Doom und Herzdämmerung

It’s finally above 10° here in Sweden! Crocus and tulips are brightening the days and the sun offers the cheek a little warmth. Of course, me being me, I can’t help but celebrating the joy of springtime with a little heraldic fun. Today’s piece sports Ermine an “escarboucle” (or escarbounce) Or with each spoke ending … Continue reading Heraldry as spring comes… A cray-cray explosion of ermine and tulips

Heraldry that assaults the senses? Todays exercises consists of Vairy potent Argent and Azure upon which inverted Fer-a-Loups Or and Gules.

I guess everyone needs a hobby? Some people take out their knitting whenever they have a moment to themselves. Others embroider every time they watch the news. My “handicraft” is composing heraldic arms when I “watch” a movie or the news. I am very lucky to have a partner who supports my follies. But then … Continue reading Game of heraldry: Playing with triune symmetry!

What to do on a rainy day when one’s teaching was cancelled? Yes, you guessed it: Play another game of heraldry of course! Today I have fun with the tincture known as “vair”, which is a stylized representation of squirrel fur.             Here is the most common depiction of the “vair” … Continue reading Playing the game of Heraldry: Gemmed Vairy en Pointe

Photoshop and period paintings team up to create collages of my actual ancestors. Today I present one of the more enigmatic foremothers of the Princely House of Lorenzburg. Aelfinë Sjaustiarn (Sevenstar), of whom little more is known than that “she came from the forests” and that she brought great riches. She was believed to possess … Continue reading Speculative Genealogy – Aelfinë Sjaustiarn ( – 1480)

Presenting an artistic collaboration on micronationalism, narrative embroidery, speculative genealogy and epic poems at the artistic research conference NSU “ReActivate and ReVisit” – Riga/ Latvia March 2018. Collaborators: Anna Frew, Betsy Lamborn and Freï von Fräähsen zu Lorenzburg. The Battle of Wayoh (as written and told by Betsy Lamborn in the video) In the in … Continue reading “A Royal invitation to return to Lorenzburg” – Presentation in Riga 2018

Photoshop and period paintings team up to create collage-portraits of actual or hypothetical ancestors. Today I present the work in progress of visualizing my foremother Agnes Pia (called “little Pea”) of clan Douglas. My relative the knight Sir Runë Olausson Påfågel (1433 – 1440) was murdered while being the guest of the Clan Douglas at … Continue reading Work in progress: the portrait of my foremother Agnes Pia Douglas (probably 1441 – ?)

Once worn to conceal a blemish or to create allure, the mouche (French word for “fly”)—and its specific placement on a woman’s face or neck—would become a language under the extravagant chief mistress to Louis XV (an official role positioning her as an arbiter of taste) and was used as a code of seductive intent. … Continue reading Badge (Coat of arms) for the office of Master/Mistress of the Mouche