Our German Friends Tuesday, Oct 28 2008

25 October 2008

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the wonderful experience we’d had at the Pendragon Costumes booth at Texas Renaissance Festival, working with a couple who had come all the way from Germany to order our product.  Two weeks later, after Nicole rushed to get part of their order done before they left the country, here are our new friends in their new finery!

When they were done at our shoppe, Mary walked them to Guild of Toledo (an Excalibur Leather shoppe) for new boots and a hat for him.  Perhaps she’ll link a photo of them after that shopping spree, when she sees this post!?

~MB

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Queen Anne’s Lace at TRF Tuesday, Oct 14 2008

12 October 2008

A lovely day at the Renaissance Festival, made lovelier by this group of beautiful women!  Queen Anne’s Lace is an energetic, talented group of ladies who sing like angels.  Whether they’re performing bawdy songs at a renfaire, sacred songs at a funeral, love songs at a wedding . . . it doesn’t matter—-it’s all fabulous!  We are a bit biased, of course, as these girls are very dear friends.  But, one good listen, and there’s no denying we’re right!  I snapped this photo during an 11 a.m. show, just outside our booth (where the stage used to be), while the girls were performing my request:  “The House is Haunted!” 

Sunday of opening weekend was, of course, not as busy as Saturday.  Kyle and I were both feeling better, and we even got to take a quick walk in the early part of the morning.  We visited Kelly, at the secondary Excalibur shoppe, and we paid a visit to the new Merchant Prince Wine Bar—a lovely addition to the faire.

We had one really special experience, today—a couple who had travelled all the way from Germany to buy from us at Pendragon Costumes!  They had planned their holiday to coincide with TRF’s opening, and came into our booth, with literally dozens of pages they had printed from Nicole’s website!  I worked with them for nearly three hours, trying on garments, and dealing with a bit of a language barrier.  But, we had so much fun!  We have always been proud to be a part of Nicole’s business, but days like this really drive that home.

We ended our Sunday with a trip to the Copper Rose—one of three restaurants in “Toon Town,” the rennie community adjacent to the TRF faire site.  We each ordered something different, from burgers to meatball sandwiches to pork loin, and none of us were disappointed.  It was a good wind-down from the weekend, and it didn’t take too long.  I was back at my paperwork by about 11 p.m. and in bed by about one!

Thankfully, the drive home will happen on Monday.

~MB

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The Archbishop of Canterbury Sunday, Mar 23 2008

23 March 2008

Easter Sunday

After an eleven-hour, much-needed sleep, I awoke, and stumbled toward the coffee pot.  What I found in the kitchen, in addition to the already brewed coffee, was my husband scrambling eggs!  What a marvelous surprise that was!  I have since teased him about being the Pod Kyle, and told him I was okay with it!  I had breakfast, found something appropriately Easter-y to wear today, and headed out the door.  Realizing as I stepped onto the porch, that we hadn’t unhitched the trailer, Kyle offered me his car, and off I went. 

I arrived at the faire site, just in time to visit with a few folks on my way down to the Crown Stage.  The Costume Parade event started almost on time, and it was a fun time, as always.  Glenn Boswell puts together an entertaining little show (and I’d wager that his lovely wife Brittney has more to do with it, than just “stage managing”).  The items I am responsible for all looked good on stage, and my customers seem  pleased.  Some of them can be seen on my flickr stream.

The photo I chose to include seemed the most appropriate for Easter!  Steve Zalman plays Scarborough‘s Archbishop of Canterbury, and had requested a white chausuble (some spell it chasuble) with blue accents.  As a part of the design process, we decided to make it reversible, so the opposite side of this is actually blue, with a white/gold brocade stripe.  The backs are ornamented with large crosses.  It’s the sixteenth century style, according to my research.  I’m pleased with the end result. 

I collected all the various parts and pieces of garments which require my further attention, and a few alteration/maintenance issues for the queen, and headed back toward home.  I got caught up on the KRuMB, had dinner with my husband, and spent a couple of hours in the workshop getting a head start on my next busy week.  At least I’m feeling well-rested and plan to start the week by getting another eight hours tonight!

~MB

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Attentive Wenches Sunday, Mar 23 2008

22 March 2008

The twenty-second:  Saturday.  The big day of booth maintenance and cleaning at East Wind Games.  I had worked all night . . . the continued sleep deprivation experiment.  I was finishing up button holes as Kyle was hitting the snooze.  He was wonderfully supportive, though, and the morning went smoothly as we prepared to leave.  We pulled up between our two booths just as the clock in the truck changed from 9:59 to 10:00. 

Kyle’s wonderful pirate compatriots, the crew of The Blazing Sun, showed up with brooms and shovels and plants and snacks and most importantly, enthusiasm.  All the work that really needed to be done at East Wind Games, was done before five o’clock.  Marcus, our new booth manager, was tireless and driven, and the whole crew, under the leadership of Curtis the Red, was amazingly energetic and more helpful than we could have even hoped.  And not only did they get East Wind Games ready for us to move product into, but they helped unload my trailer into the Pendragon Costumes Shop, as well.  I am so grateful to them.  Providing them a spot to leave their personal stuff on a faire day hardly seems like repayment enough, although that is all they will accept from us as payment. 

The Wench Workshop was a success, too!  We had about eighteen (I can’t believe I never actually got a head count) wonderful women from the International Wenches Guild, Chapter 13, gather for our biennial event.  We set up tables and decorated them with pretty fabric and Easter Baskets.  The spread of yumminess that various wenches contributed for lunch and grazing, was amazing.  We heard from our brother organization, the International Guild of Rogues, Scoundrels and Cads, complete with a rat-pucking demonstration. (If you have never seen a rat-pucking event, you’re missing out!) We had little lessons on parade ettiquette, and self defense, and costuming (the latter given by yours truly).  There was much laughter and good comraderie.  Many ladies thanked me afterwards, both for my presentation and for hosting the event.  

After the wenches were packed up and gone, and The Blazing Sun crew went home, and all my costume bits were delivered to their various new owners,  we called it a day.  Alex and Emily, who had come down to help as well, and worked their butts off for us, joined Kyle and me for dinner.  We chose a place on their way home, Bienvenidos, in Red Oak, and had a delightful tex mex meal with them.  We got home and I tried to do some catch-up on the KRuMB, ’cause I’d neglected it pretty badly this week, what with my world consisting of much work and little sleep (seven hours total since Wednesday morning, at that point!).  But, about the time I sat down, I got tired.  The two entries I wrote before giving up and giving in, both needed editing when I looked at them Sunday morning!  I crashed pretty hard, and slept for a good eleven hours! 

Hopefully, my sleep deprivation experiment can be over, now.  This week will be crazy, but I’m hoping it doesn’t have to involve all-nighters.

~MB

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