I'm a member of the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA), where I am known as Lady Nastasiia Ivanova Medvedeva. The SCA is an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating pre-17th-century European history. As a part of that, each member takes on the name and persona of a person who might have lived during that time. However, these personae must not be actual historical persons, nor may participants take on ranks that have correspondences in the real world -- in other words, you can't just go around calling yourself a Prince. You have to earn it.

The SCA is divided into kingdoms, and those kingdoms are further subdivided into principalities, baronies, cantons, shires, and even colleges (on college campuses) and strongholds (on military bases). I live in the Canton of the Towers (part of the Barony of Carolingia, or the Greater Boston area), in the Kingdom of the East (eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, eastern New York, the New England states, and the maritime provinces of Canada).

I have many interests within the SCA. I like to sew and embroider -- we wear period clothing, which you just can't get at your local Wal-Mart. I participate in equestrian activities, and I'm also a herald. I do mostly vocal heraldry, but I'm getting dragged back into book heraldry as well. I recently learned to spin, to make fingerloop braids, and to naalbind... Mittens for everyone!