Faire Ladies, Faire Lords

Quality, American-Made Renaissance Costumes

Northern California Renaissance Faire

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.

Over the knee OTK socks for faire are restocked!

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Heads up everyone, over the knee OTK socks for faire are restocked! I got a big double box from my pal Jimmy and its full of solid Navy, Solid Brown, and Solid Cream OTK socks in that lovely cotton they use. And, YES I GOT A LOT IN MAGNUM SIZE TOO!

Click here to buy regular size OTK renfaire socks

Click here to buy Magnum Plus Size OTK socks

Over the knee socks are a must-have part of your renaissance costume or reenactor kit, and ours are made for years of wear with proper care. This means wash cool and dry gently. Don’t wear them more than once before cleaning. Be good to your renfaire socks and they will be good to you.

Good quality over the knee OTK socks for faire are not easy to find, I know. Made in the USA of 100% recycled cotton with a tad of lycra at the top to keep them from tumbling down. I buy these in bulk from my pal Jimmy in North Carolina. Its a family business with his son. He and I have been working together for over a decade, and I have checked out other suppliers. Nobody is as consistent and trustworthy. The. Best. Period.

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cotton renaissance socks by faire ladies, faire lordsFaire is in full swing all over, I hope you all take advantage of this timely drop! Use the coupon code PICKUP if you are at a faire where I’m vending and I can bring them to the show for pickup. That’s at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in spring and Northern CA Renaissance Faire in the fall.

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.

Going to Northern CA Renaissance Faire

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Its that time again, time to get going to Northern CA Renaissance Faire in Hollister, CA! The faire opens on September 14th and runs weekends through October 20th. There are coupons available online NOW at https://norcalrenfaire.com/ and all sales are via the website, so plan ahead and get your tickets before you go. Yes, it has sold out before and I don’t want that to happen to YOU.

male human wearing a sleeveless jerkin vestfemale human wearing a partletteThe team and I are deep in the build process, and also packing up bins of costume for you, my patrons. Variety is necessary to living well, and I have some returning styles from years past. For the ladies, I have brought back an over-partlette like the picture on the left. For the lords, a sleeveless jerkin SORTA KINDA LIKE THE ONE HERE ON THE RIGHT. These items are not on my website, the faire is where you can see them.

Of course I am bringing all the standard styles for women, men, and children that I create. Overdresses, bodices, shirts and breeches, bloomers, caps, hats, bonnets and more items than I can list. All in linen, and in new colors. Its a lot! Did I mention childrenswear? Little shirts, chemises, dresses, and pants. Good stuff.

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jost amman woodcut of The TailorFor my patrons that want to secure their purchase before they get to faire, I have a special deal. Its a coupon code PICKUP. It will remove all shipping and handling charges and direct me to pull the product and bring it to faire where you can pick it up. This applies to any piece in my website shop – especially handy for items that are not sold at faire like Socks and these pockets and these bodices. Yes, buy them online and I can have you pick them up from the booth.

That’s all for now. Its always 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.

Fall renfaire season is done!

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I’m home finally, the Fall renfaire season is done! It was a great season at the Northern California Renaissance Faire. I had new staff, lots of product, and the crowds were THICK. So many attendees in fact, that the Saturday of the final weekend they closed the gates to entrants. Wow.

So, as many of my regular patrons know, I’ve been short handed for a while. Lets just say its hard to find qualified help that are willing AND able. I went through a few booth helpers over the recent years, none were quite the right fit. That changed this season. I got a referral from a friend (thank  you Rachel) about a young lady with the right skills and I got in touch. Well, we hit it off! So much so that she’s interning with me as well as helping out in the booth. Then, quite by happenstance this past Spring I asked a patron if he wanted a job at Northern. He thought a moment, then said YES and that is SO awesome. They are both smart, charming and easy on the eyes. I’m beyond excited and so very hopeful these will work out to long term arrangements. So, everyone meet Kayla and Ezekiel.

       

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Now that my 2022 faire season is done, its time for restocking the website AND taking special orders. This is your big moment. If you want that martina vending at renfairespecial shirt, or doublet, or gown, you need to get in touch with me asap. Kayla and I are working on special and custom orders until the end of the year ONLY. After that its inventory fill only. In fact, we are already working on inventory fill – linen and cotton shirts are the first up for cutting/sewing. I’m estimating that the first new drops of shirts will be in December. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL FAIRE STARTS TO ORDER A SPECIAL SHIRT. I’m really trying my best to hook you folks up, but I need you to work with me on the schedule. You know who you are, friend. 🙂

Thanks everyone for a fantastic year. I know I worked super hard on making this year solid. I appreciate you all. See you soon at faire!

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Also, have I mentioned you can find me on Facebook? Its a bit wonky these days (thanks Zuk) but I do check in there regularly. Ciao!

 

 

NorCal Renfaire full time

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Fabulous news! Faire Ladies, Faire Lords is now at the NorCal Renfaire full time, as in a permanent vendor. I am in, I will be there, it’s official!

Most times in life, opportunity knocks only once. Back in the early 2000’s I was new in business, with a few seasons completed though still scrambling for balance and success. A fan of my work invited me to apply for a full-time spot. I had to decline. I wasn’t capable of the logistics needed to succeed at this from my San Diego home base. I knew I was missing a huge opportunity, and have regretted it ever since.

I’ve spent many years since attending small faires and counting pennies. Despite lots of networking, applications, and emails each season I could not get accepted into any large shows. I was struggling, working without the kind of support an artist needs to gather strength and succeed. Things changed for me personally about six years ago, and my business began to improve dramatically too.

And so, this year Northern faire needed new vendors. Opportunity knocked a second time! I was ambivalent for a day, admittedly. Because life is complicated.  That’s when I realized that I could have my old dream; this is the place I have worked, scrambled, and sweated for. No more regrets, no more wondering “what if?”. I said YES. See you all beginning September 18th for six amazing weekends. NorCal Renfaire full time? YES!!

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You know that I appreciate your reading and your patronage, yes? Did you know its pretty easy to keep up with my writing if you Get the Insider’s Newsletter? Anybody who reads so thoroughly deserves a nice reward, like a discount on a purchase from my website. Hint, Hint. You can also find me on Facebook.

Northern Faire is ON!

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Northern Faire is ON! Huzzah!

I got word late last week. The Northern California Renaissance Faire returns to Casa de Fruta for a full six weekends, starting September 18th through October 24th.

I have been a guest vendor at this show for a few years. Let me tell you, I had to work (aka beg) HARD for a decade to even get that far.

I’m hoping to pick up as many weekends as I can from Opening through Closing with only one weekend where I might need a manager in my place. Of course, I prefer to be later in the run, but I’m happy to be there any weekend. Any. Weekend. I can be very flexible about booth location and size too. New products, got them. I’ll do classes if necessary. Fully vaccinated, you betcha!

I am looking for new booth help.

If you or someone you know is looking for work at faire and join my faire family, please let me know. I’m picky about booth workers though, so bring your best game. Literate, conservative looking, clever, motivated and preferably non-smoking. Able to sell, and do business transactions is very important. Physically able and willing to work on setup, merchandising, sales, all of it. If I had to pick the most important attributes I’d say the retail sales ability plus being upbeat and resilient. Everything else is learnable and can be arranged.

Renfaire is a lot of fun, and also a lot of work. Pay is weekend stipend and commission, plus food and camping/accommodation. I will help you with costuming. I’m all about work hard, play hard, no fear. We got this, and we are a family.

Patrick and I Meanwhile, please share this post with some friends and have them join my Insider’s Newsletter list by sending me a message. Insiders get neato discounts and coupons straight to their inbox as well as first notice of great things. You can also find me on Facebook. HUZZAH! Northern Faire is ON!