Faire Ladies, Faire Lords

Quality, American-Made Renaissance Costumes

renfaire

Meet my booth manager trainee!

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RenFaire opens this weekend at Casa de Fruita outside of Hollister, CA this weekend! Anticipation is high, there’s more stuff to do than hours in the day to do them. Me, I am out the door this Friday morning. Putting the last touches on my booth and filling the shelves with my awesome renfaire costumes. But I am not taking this all on alone. I have a manager trainee for the booth! Everyone, meet my booth manager trainee, Alicia!

headshot of AliciaAlicia is new to me, but not new to faire. She has worked a solid 12 seasons so far. In food booths, even in the reptile zoo. Perseverance! She came to me in response to a post I made about needing help, and let me know she wants to learn. To be trusted to do things like handle money. To be more than just a body. I’m thinking this is just about perfect. I have been hoping for someone I can train up and rely on.

Opening weekend is our big training opportunity. She’ll be learning all the things, from merchandising to setup to closing. Its a lot, but she’s smart and I’ve got a lot of confidence in her already. Alicia is getting a bit of a ‘trail by fire’ during this first season. I’m going to be offsite the 2nd weekend and that means she’s In Charge. Yes, she’s taking the helm and going for it. Solo, baby!

So, please do stop by the booth and meet my booth manager trainee. Come out and show her what a great, kind group of customers and patrons I’ve got. It will be a good time. My booth is placed on Costumer’s Row, between Tickle Thy Fantasy and Heart’s Delight. I could not ask for a better spot. Bonus, my neighbors are really great people. Bonus Plus, I’ve got garden produce to give away.

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You know that I appreciate your reading and your patronage, yes? Did you also 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 coupon for my website. Hint, Hint. You can also find me on Facebook.

Guest Artist at Nor Cal Renfaire!

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Its official. I just got my confirmation that Faire Ladies Faire Lords (that’s me) is a Guest Artist at Nor Cal Renfaire this fall. Huzzah! Hooray!

What this means is that I’m setting up and vending at the Northern California Renaissance Faire for three weekends. The booth will be there on Opening weekend of September 18th and 19th, and the last two weekends of October 16th and 17th plus the 23rd and 24th.

At this event, I bring my linen clothing items. I’ll have my gowns/kirtles, hats of various kinds, mens shirts, breeches, chemises, doublets, pockets, bodices and maybe even masks. Currently, I’m in a mad flurry of finishing inventory build just for this show. Lets just say there is a stockpile, and selection will be deep.

I’ve been honored to be a Guest Artist at the Nor Cal Renfaire since 2018, and I’m very excited to be back at this faire specifically and working in general. I have worked for decades to get into this event, so it means a lot to me. Additionally, this is my first faire since Covid began, and I’m really REALLY ready to be out and about again.

The faire is located at Casa De Fruta on Pacheco Pass, HWY 152, 10031 Pacheco Pass Hwy, Hollister, CA 95023. My booth location is TBD – they may insert in the Guest Artist Row, or further into the event as has been done in years past. I’ll be sure to pass along my location once its known.

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Hey, you should know that I appreciate your reading and your patronage. 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.

 

 

Juried Shows at Renfaire, things to know

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Renaissance Faires are great for shopping, fact. The very best of those are juried shows at renfaire. You will find the most amazing handmade art, real swords, fantastic jewelry, and supurb costuming. And like any well thought out sales experience there is a method to creating an exciting array of choices for the customer while keeping quality high and value locked in.

By definition;

a juried show is one at which exhibiting artists had to be found worthy of entry by presenting their work to a panel of jurors. There are limits placed on each vendor/artist in terms of what to sell, how its made, where its made, and whether other vendors already sell that item.

This system benefits you the consumer AND the artist. For you, quality and value and originality are strictly enforced. Because you deserve nice things. Save your nickels and treat yourself. For the artist, it means the difference between being too broke to pay for gas to the next show and maybe making a modest living. I feel that is important. Mostly because I chose to go into the arts professionally, and feel the pinch of that starving artist gestalt.

Not every renfaire or reenactment show is run this way. Have you ever gone to an event where there is a tray of cheapo jewelry on every back table? A rack of clothing on the side of every booth – including the hotdog guy? I have. Those shows are death to an artist. Why? Because if there are 12 vendors with the same item the only sales difference is price. The low lowest price. So you as a consumer are getting the cheapest in terms of spending and in terms of quality.

If you know me personally, or have read my newsletters you know how I feel about quality vs. cheap. If you want, do a google search on ‘fast clothing’ for a exciting read on the subject. I’m gonna leave this here, and be happy that there are juried shows at renfaire where I can flourish as an artist and you can come out and see the best there is on offer.

Huzzah the Arts!

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Hey, you should know that I appreciate your patronage. 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.

 

Koroneburg Renfest on Gather.town!

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Its here, its ready to go! Koroneburg Renfest is online on Gather.town TODAY AT 3PM!

The Koroneburg Festival facebook page announcement:

Koroneburg Online begins TONIGHT!
Our digital village is all set up and ready for you to visit. The front gates open at 6pm PST, but you can login and setup your avatar ahead of time now. Come visit the gate in Gather, and see some of the things we have set up out front!
Check out our village on Gather via the Koroneburg Online page: https://renfestcorona.com/koroneburg-online. Keep in mind that Gather requires a laptop or desktop to work! Additional instructions can be found on the page.

“We will be launching our new digital village on Gather.town on June 16! See live shows at our digital stages and explore a digital replica of the actual Koroneburg village where you can meet our guilds, vendors, entertainers, and other wonderful attendees.

JUNE 16, 19, 23, 26, 30
JULY 3, 7, 10, 14, 17
We will run Wednesdays (6-10pm) and Saturdays (1-5pm) for 5 weeks starting June 16th. Return every Wednesday and Saturday during the Online Festival for unique content! We look forward to seeing you and your avatar. 😉“
My shop is prepped and waiting, so please check it out and let me know what you think. I’d love some good feedback on the experience.
Ooomfaaa!!! for Koroneburg Renfest on Gather.town !!!!
++++Martina the Creative Overlord
As always, please feel free share this post anywhere. Also think about joining 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, like new products and events. Anybody who reads so thoroughly deserves a nice reward, like a discount on a purchase from my site. Hint, Hint. You can also find me on Facebook.

My summer plans

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My summer plans: Its time to get moving on my retail inventory. I am hopeful (read: twitching and running in circles like a toddler) to be boothing at Casa de Fruita in Northern California this fall. That website catalog isn’t gonna fill itself either. I need a better work/life balance than I had in the past few decades. And so, I am switching to ‘inventory build mode’ here in the studio.

What does that mean for you? It means that I’m not taking any custom or special orders for the near future. Unless otherwise already arranged (you ladies know who you are).

I’m hoping to develop and release a few new products this fall. I know it sounds simple, “just sew up a buncha stuff, it’ll take a day or so”. HAHAHHAAAAA! I wish. Its a lot of work to draft, test, fit, sample, and then grade a pattern block for something new. Even before starting the actual creation of sewn garments.

I’m planning to have a Womans Doublet, a plain partlette, and a new style of mens doublet too. And, I will be making the usual gowns, chemises, shirts, bodices, caps, and breeches and all the wonderful things I carry regularly off the rack.

Its busy, a good busy. I’m truly working on having a balance of work/life and this is a step in the proper direction. I think I’m working smarter, not harder this summer.

And those are my summer plans.

Reminder: 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.

Patrick and I 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.

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, like new products and events. You can also find me on Facebook.

On Quality; or, please don’t buy cheap imported costumes

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I saw such a sad thing online the other day. A woman had found this super cute top by a popular costume shop being advertised on a renfaire based group. The price was low, she bought two. She was so disappointed, she got cheap goods. Didn’t fit, flimsy, poorly made in India. I was disappointed for her. So, I’m going to share my thoughts on quality in renfaire costumes, what to do and how to get it. I’ve been doing this a long time, I think I can share with you and help everybody out.

Back in the stone age when I began in this industry, almost all renfaire or SCA costumes and historical clothing were handmade by independent stitchers or at most a small non-professional hobby group. That started to change in the early 2000’s. By 2009ish, there I was at a Halloween costume manufacturing convention, and there was this guy taking catalogs from folks and handing out his card. He was representing a manufacturer from India and his company wanted to get into the renfaire costume business. Pirates, too. Sure enough within a year or so the cheaply made goods started flooding into the US, from all over. It really changed the market.

It changed the kinds of people who sell costumes too. Now, all you need to set up shop is a good bank account and the ability to get accepted at renfaires that are not particular about promoting art, crafts, and artisans.

black guy tudor era cool hat
This is Bob. He got the good quality outfit that doesn’t fall apart and now has cash for an extra beer. He won’t wear cheap synthetic imports. Be like Bob and have a better life!

How to start?

The implications of this firstly, is that you have to be aware of whom you buy from. Pictures of young cuties with lots of boob showing are not necessarily going to get you something good to wear. Just saying. So, ask where are these made? Do you make them? Be nosy, be curious. A true craftsperson and artist is going to be so happy to talk to you about their favorite thing, you will not regret it. Be sure to ask if its prewashed for shrinkage.

I always advise people who want to dress up and don’t have a lot of cash to get creative and focus on quality. Borrow stuff, ransack the thrift store and find some treasure. Maybe scout around for something second hand from a renfaire online swap and your renfaire friends. You’re going to look and feel so much better than buying a cheapo import. Bonus: recycle reuse remake and you’re making the planet a better place too. Good job mah lil’ sparkle pony!

Natural fibers are important. You are gonna sweat a lot at an outdoor festival. Think long and hard about the implications of wearing a shiny taffeta skirt on uneven ground in 100 degree heat and 80% humidity. Yeah…

This next part is most important to remember. A great festival outfit evolves over time, it does not happen all at once. This means you SHOULD focus on quality, one piece at a time. You won’t have to replace it every few wears if you get the good shirt made of good cotton or linen by a local artisan. Save your nickels for the good stuff, and enjoy yourself along the way. Now you have the cash for an extra beer on your adventure day at the renfaire.

Faire Ladies, Faire LordsIf you like my blog and want to keep in touch, please join my Insider’s Newsletter list by sending me a message. You’ll get neato discounts and coupons straight to your inbox as well as first notice of great things. You can also find me on Facebook.

~ Martina