Faire Ladies, Faire Lords

Quality, American-Made Renaissance Costumes

Faire Ladies Faire Lords

UPDATE: The Green Linen Project

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UPDATE: The Green Linen Project

I don’t know where the time went, but here we are at last. The hunter green linen has landed!! That took a while, yes? If you don’t recall or maybe never knew, I’d been trying for a LONG TIME to source my linen and linen blends in Hunter Green. Here’s the original post about it.

Its really the MOST popular color in the Renfaire genre in my experience. But alas, it was nowhere to be found at a wholesale level. So, I figured out how to order a custom color from China. I got a few folks to invest/pre-buy and went halfsies with a fellow business owner. Add in the tariff hassles, and a lot of chaos because my importer up and moved their warehouse out of state with no notice right as the fabric got to Los Angeles. Its been exciting at the least. But, its here! Its a good linen/rayon blend, lightweight and with a good hand feel.

So far, I’ve got Venetian Breeches made up. Some are going on my website, some are going to faire this fall at Casa de Fruta. I’m in process of sewing linen shirts, and ladies skirts, and partlettes. All are going to faire this September.

There will be more, of course! I’m thinking ahead to the spring season having Doublets and Bodices in the Hunter Green Linen. I’m also branching out my sourcing and changing fabrics in a few areas – details to follow in another post. I should be sewing right now. I’ll be back.Patrick and I

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I am a costume designer specializing in renaissance faire and historical costumes. My shop name is Faire Ladies Faire Lords . I make the clothing in my shop at faire from linen and linen blends. The good stuff.

That One Time I Was on You Tube!

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Its Story Time! This post is about That One Time I Was on You Tube. The summer is moving along and I’m turning my thoughts towards the upcoming faire season. I’m getting excited, antici-pation is building, and I’m reminiscing about good times in the booth.

This past Spring of 2024 I was emailed about giving an interview about my shop at Faire. As some of you know, I never pass an opportunity to talk and promote my passion, my life’s work in costume design. I’ve done a few over the years; recently I did a PodCast for Dan McLaughlin. It was a bit silly, but I  think everyone liked it. Anyhow, it was a yes, please! We emailed back and forth a few times getting familiar with the project.

The day rolls around, the booth is hopping, customers aplenty, and finally late afternoon comes with the interviewer, Lanchen Milhalic and her production help. She was so nice!  And who knew, she really loves historic costume and it just so happens that the Renaissance Pleasure Faire (where we were) is known for its historical elements. And, surprise surprise my shop is heavily historic in my design and fabrics. Ta Da! I’d like to take credit for also letting her know (off camera) that we were at the Original faire, and my booth help and I gave her a few clues on when it started and by whom. Which she does cover in her video and I think its brilliant! Her video is definitely from a customer’s POV, so its not just a ‘fan piece’, and of course its about more than just my shop. So here is the video, I hope you like it. Visiting the World’s First Renaissance Faire 

+++Closing weekend at Koroneburg Festival is here. Celebrating the Baron, his beer and chocolate.…

Now that I’m a big important Internet Star, its still my pleasure to share these fun things with you. Please share this with your friends and family, your guild mates, your cosplay people. And as always if you need help or just want to get in touch, I’m on Facebook and you can email me here. My next event is the Northern California Renaissance Faire and I’d love to see you there!!!

The Green Linen Project

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Hello everyone! I have news, good news! I’ve begun the Green Linen Project. Huzzah!

Finally, I’m fundraising to create a linen fabric in Hunter Green color. For so many years, clients and customers (and me, too) have wanted to see Hunter Green color used in my ready to wear line. And there has been none available from my supplier despite asking and asking and asking. Never would happen. Sure I could pay retail for it, but nobody wants to pay that much for ready to wear costume. We all agree on this.

So, lets make our own! 500 yards of it! I have the source to buy undyed fabric, and have sourced a dye house in Los Angeles, CA. This just needs funding. I need your help to make this happen.
All donations will be rewarded by your choice of either garment, yardage, or website credit. Please choose one (or more) and note with your donation. I’ll send you confirmation and details via email. There will be shipping charges.
  • yardage, at $12/yd
  • Linen shirt, $90
  • Linen skirt $120
  • gift certificate for use on my website
Note: Garments will be made up when the dyed fabric is received – so this could take a while depending how quickly the campaign goes, how long to process the fabric, etc. I intend to have this finished before the end of the year.
The fabric will be 55% linen/45% rayon, approx 4.5oz, softened. Its considered midweight and works well for draped, casual looks and the more tailored styles I feature in my line. While it holds a crisp edge when pressed, it also has an easy drape and a loose, slightly rustic weave. I call it Bachelor Friendly because it is incredibly easy to care for, not to mention delightful to wear. Toss in the wash, hang to dry. Done.
Please share this blog, repost the GoFundMe campaign, and support our search for good linen fabric.martina vending at renfaire
best regards,
Martina

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I am a costume designer for renaissance faire and historical costumes. My shop name is Faire Ladies Faire Lords . I make the clothing in my shop at faire from linen and linen blends. The good stuff.

Faire Season is Upon Us!

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Like the title says, Faire season is upon us! Out here on the west coast, The Renaissance Pleasure Faire is about what, 5 weeks away? Build starts in about 2 weeks. Here online its time for sneak peeks and teasers. This year like every year, is a mix of new styles and everyone’s ‘favorites for a reason’. I think we can all agree there is never too much of a good thing.

Favorites for a Reason

First up, those amazing linen shirts are back in offwhite, stone, black 100% linen, and red. PLUS there is a selection of them loaded on the website already. Because showing up to faire already looking fine is awesome. Mens doublets, YES. I’ve changed sewing teams and I am really pleased with the quality of these doublet vests. Likewise the buttonfly Venetian Breeches are back too – I made a few tweaks to the pattern and I’m sure everyone will be thrilled.

a child's renfaire dress on a hanger

Ladies, this year is about more bodices, more gowns! I’ve got a small selection of bodices already online, and more coming. If you haven’t seen the plaid Irish Dress online yet,check this out!  Also, plans for closed front gown are underway, in a bold blue and the infamous Goose Turd Green. March is going to be busy for sewing! I’ve got new colors of Bloomers one of which is a black 100% linen, and a stash just for the website.

Bringing forgotten styles back to the booth:

martina in the studio Styles from years past that come and go, and are back in the booth inventory! Flat caps! Because you’ve been asking me to bring this back and I finally was able to make time and get them cut in LINEN. I’ve even got childrens sizes. Which leads me to CHILDREN’S RENFAIRE COSTUMES. Its been a while since I had a large selection, so I brought a few pieces back to the booth inventory last year. Things went well. This year I’m doing much more. These are not on my website – yet. Little Irish dresses, skirts, pants and shirts, biggins and hats!

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And so, if you have questions about the faire or any of the items in my online shop, please reach out and get in touch. I’m here to help, so use this link and shoot me an email. I can also be found on Facebook. I’m slogging it out in the studio cut cut cutting. Though, I will respond to you within 1 business day usually. Better yet, drop in to say HI at the booth this coming April and May. I will post updates about my precise location after stakeout/build weekend.

 

The December List

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drafting tools and a patternHello! I’d like to remind about the December List. You may have heard about it for special orders at Faire Ladies, Faire Lords shop this faire season. Every year it seems I’ve got more special orders incoming. I can’t help it, I really enjoy the work and knowing that my customers are getting something they want specifically makes me happy. What I’m doing is corralling all the work into a set block of time to keep me from derailing my studio production schedule. And, one of those blocks of time is the December List.

Every fall, I take orders for a limited time of things to make for my customers. The list closes on December 1, or earlier if its already full. So, you’d like to have a special something made – for instance this ruffled collar and cuff shirt. You know I don’t carry that in my regular inventory. You need this item before Southern Faire in the spring? Now is the time! Do not wait, place an order online and/or email me to get on the list. Easy Peasy!

There is a deposit/payment of course. I do the work starting in December (hence the name) and generally finish by the first of the year. Sometimes longer if its a complex item or group of items.

Please share this information with your guild mates and friends? If you wait, you will be without. I don’t want that, you don’t want that. Lets not let that happen. 🙂

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Something to also think about: good quality socks for faire. And socks that fit a wide calf. I cannot sell them at faire, but you can order them from my website. Meanwhile, you can find me in my booth at the Northern California Renaissance Faire, here via email, on Facebook, and more blog posts too.

Fall Renaissance Faire in Northern California

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Its time, its time! The fall renaissance faire in Northern California is about to begin at Casa de Fruta! The booth is built, fixtures are in place, and the only things still to prepare are the last minute details. Faire Ladies, Faire Lords is ready. Faire Ladies, Faire Lord shop

This year like most years, I have a few changes and also returning rockstars. A new booth worker Anda. She’s a lovely lass and so very smart too. Ezekiel is back in the booth working Saturdays only, because Sunday is for Rocket Science. And, at long last my dear Sweet Patrick is coming to faire to assist with all the merchandising and load in/load outs and I couldn’t be happier!

There are kid’s shirts and pants added to the line. Also planned (but cannot promise) are Irish Dresses for young girls. I’m bringing a batch of plaid Irish Dresses (kirtles) to faire, and there are new colors in almost all the regular inventory from skirts to breeches to doublets and a small selection of bodices too.

Der Baron und Mein SitskaThe one thing I am not allowed to sell at faire are OVER THE KNEE SOCKS. Which is difficult for the customers and participants who need good quality socks for faire. And doubly difficult for customers who need socks that fit a wide calf. I can however, sell them on my website and will ship and/or deliver in hand if we happen to meet up. Like at a faire. Use a coupon code PICKUP and its should erase the shipping charges from your order. If its wonky, I can refund you, just write a note with your order. Let’s make sure you get the socks you deserve!!!

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Its the end of summer and I’ll be at the fall Northern California Renaissance Faire every weekend starting September 16th, on Clothier’s Row. Look for the red/yellow striped roof and my RenLady logo signage. Meantime, you can find me here via email, on Facebook, and more blog posts.