Year number four of pandemic, year number four of our disease-free, plague-themed backyard renaissance faire. Annually since 2020 we have hosted a small group of friends for a pot-luck party, costumes mandatory! This year was pretty chill, as if we’ve gotten better at setting up for the fun over time.… Read More »Family Plague Faire 2023
We had the absolute best day at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in 2023. This season has been rough for faire organizers, as every-single weekend has seen rain. This means a lot of overcrowding on the few nice days. My ideal faire weather is overcast with even a very slight drizzle… Read More »Connecticut Renaissance Faire 2023, Review
If you love hours of traffic and long lines, then you’ll love the New York Renaissance Fair! On Saturday 9/16 Jake and I set out on the long drive back to Tuxedo, NY to attend for the second-time ever, what is largely considered to be one of the North-east’s best… Read More »New York Renaissance Fair 2023 Review
A little late in posting, but late is better than never. A few weeks ago Jake and I took our first trip to the Vermont Renaissance Faire. The summer one! We’ve been to the winter faire several times as the only event happening in the dead, fair-less winter, but have… Read More »Vermont Renaissance Faire 2023
This may be the last wedding post that I subject you to on this platform. Mostly because the bulk of wedding photos have more to do with the people than design, and I do try to keep this blog somewhat in line with the theme of creation. If you want… Read More »Wedding Decor Sweetheart Table
Happy New Year! May 2023 bring you exactly what you need. I’m still digesting 2022, and the big wedding reception that consumed most of the year, but looking forward to the changes brought about by the new year. Today I’m posting a few photos of wedding décor details, like the… Read More »Wedding Décor: Details
Hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season! Back now with another wedding highlight; this time, tablescapes that are just screaming to be added to Pinterest, but I’m busy. We chose this venue with its refinished rustic barn because the whole scene looks complete with minimal décor. Wedding décor is… Read More »Wedding Decor: Tablescapes
We got professional photos back!! Courtesy of Red Letter Photography, I shall tease you first with what I imagine was the most difficult part of the day to photograph, our big entertainment surprise of a live dancer! Jake and I knew pretty much from day-one of planning that we didn’t… Read More »Surprise Wedding Belly-Dancer
Another year of plague, another Family Plague Faire. Our annual backyard Renaissance Faire turned three this year and continues to expand in attendance becoming a staple pre-holiday potluck. This year we moved to the third week in November, ever searching for that weather sweet-spot. This year we came pretty close… Read More »Family Plague Faire 2022
Last week I detailed the long process of finding and purchasing the bulk of my rustic, medieval-inspired fall wedding reception. This week, I have a few preview photos of how the décor all came together. These pictures were taken during rehearsal set-up where I directed a small army to put… Read More »Wedding Décor, an Overview
This is a post about shopping for wedding decorations, because I can’t make everything. Especially not the organic items; I need farmers and tanners for that bit. Starting in the spring of 2021 I started my long and particular hunt for the more elaborate wedding decoration elements. The ones that… Read More »Sourcing Wedding Décor
Here it is! The big reveal: complete wedding looks and a preview of professional wedding photography by Red Letter Photography. My fall jewel-toned color scheme came together just as I envisioned (and carefully planned) it. It can be a challenge to plan a collection of looks when the focal point,… Read More »What We Wore: Professional Wedding Photography Sneak Peak
Now that the date has passed, I can show you, strangers on the internet, the wedding invitation suite that I designed for my vow-renewal and wedding reception. Forgive the weird color-variation that occurs between different browsers. Themed weddings can be a bit tricky to do well. A theme can easily… Read More »Wedding Invitations Design
We did it! The vows are renewed, the wedding is celebrated with friends and family. The day has past. I have not even begun to process the day and all its details. Events moved so fast it seems that every moment deserves dissection, but we’ve barely slowed down enough to… Read More »We Had a Party!
Oh my, have I ever written a negative faire review before? I don’t think so, but here we go, Lords and Ladies. The Massachusetts Renaissance Faire was not what we were looking for this year. I don’t know if it was the heat causing last minute cancellations or if the… Read More »The Massachusetts Renaissance Faire 2022
At the beginning of June Jake, myself, and several friends had a beautiful day at the Robinhood’s Medieval Faire in Harwinton, CT. We made a whole day of it, stopping for breakfast before the faire while the dogs were at their doggie resort. Starting the day well nourished, we had… Read More »Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire 2022
Now that the event has passed, presumably without a hitch, I don’t know, I wrote this blog post ahead of time, I can show you, the internet, my Bridal shower invitation design. The theme was Beltane, as the party fell on Beltane, and I love a good feast about gardening… Read More »Bridal Shower Stationary Design
Another homemade detail for my upcoming bridal shower: a Welcome Sign. Made of decoupage flowers, herbs, and paint on MDF board, this sign saw several revisions as I experimented with medium and color. I collected herbs and flowers from my garden before the hard frost last year and arranged them… Read More »Shower Décor: Welcome Sign
My first design campaign for Artworks Westfield is for their Spring exhibition ‘ArtiCulture.’ My top priority as a new board member of this local non-profit is to achieve a cohesive visual brand identity. As such I have designed these promotional materials pro-bono to promote the experience of the arts within… Read More »ArtiCulture Campaign
On the second weekend of November, Jake and I hosted the second annual Family Plague Faire in our side-yard. Inspired last year by pandemic lockdowns and the closures of all our annual renaissance faires, the event’s inaugural year was a covid-compliant tiny event with only eight guests in attendance and… Read More »Second Annual Family Plague Faire
Small, local, outdoors; our second Renaissance faire of 2021. Still deeply impacted by the pandemic, but fun and comforting nonetheless. Garb made by me, but nothing specifically made for this event. It was a hot one. I don’t know why more fair don’t run in November…beat the snow, but pass… Read More »Massachusetts Renaissance Faire 2021
Renaissance Fairs are back! Two weekends ago on a rainy day, my husband and I made our dog Tovi a Robinhood costume so that this past weekend we could enter her into the pet costume contest at the Robinhood Faire. Our poor sweet dog is very patient with all the… Read More »Robinhood, but it’s my dog.
It’s here! It’s here! The post on Family Plague Fair 2020. I know you’ve all been waiting anxiously for weeks for the inside scoop on this pandemic renaissance festival. As many of you who follow this blog already know, devastated by the cancellation of the 2020 renaissance fair season, my… Read More »FAMILY PLAGUE FAIR 2020
With much good fortune I scored a limited-edition black Khadija set from Moresca’s Labor Day Sale. Fair season, and therefore most vendors’ income, has been cancelled this year, leading some vendors to hold never-before-seen online sales. I’ve been waiting for a Khadija belt and cuffs for a few years, but… Read More »Black Moresca Khadija Set
Back with more sewing for the highly anticipated Plague Fair 2020. I’ve finished four generic banners and hung them on dowel and twine. Jake notched the dowels for me so that the string has a nice channel to sit in. I’ve also completed another set of duel-sided flag garland; this… Read More »Prepping for Plague Faire Part 2
With faire season 2020 cancelled, my social cadre and I are planning our own socially distanced, hygienically responsible backyard fair for the future if our local numbers continue to improve. It will be black-death-themed, of course; our own little plague party, except not in a crowded palace. Time to get… Read More »Prepping for Plague Faire
Happy Ostara, or Spring equinox to all readers of the Northern Hemisphere! And a belated Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all those still recovering. St Patrick’s day falls close to Ostara; closer than usual this year, so it is fitting that I have photos to share from a Celtic-themed dance… Read More »Bonus Post: Ostara 2020 and Celtic Belly Dance Show Photos
This was an especially fun year at the Vermont Winter Renaissance Fair, perhaps because we spent more money than usual…. First, they lure you in with free samples of everything: mead, jam, syrup, vodka, rum… Once you’ve been sufficiently liquored for free, which is basically the best part of this… Read More »Vermont Winter Renaissance Fair 2020
What the heck’s a scooptacular? It’s an ice cream party on a farm with animals and vendors and fall things. What completes a fall party? Dancing witches, of course! It just so happens that I belong to a troupe of witches who will trade event coordinators our dance-entertainment for money.… Read More »‘Scooptacular’ Dancing as a Witch
Our second trip of the season to the Connecticut Renaissance Fair. Absolutely perfect weather–a crisp 60 degrees for a high, with most of the day stalling in the mid 50’s was ideal for layering; our preferred method of using our plentiful garb. I am most fond of cold-weather fair going… Read More »Connecticut Renaissance Faire 2019 Round Two
On Labor Day 2019, the whole family (that means the dog too), attended the Connecticut Renaissance Fair in Lebanon, CT. This is one of the only fairs in the region that allows pets any day of the fair, however opening weekend was pet-themed. Tovi put on her only costume to… Read More »Connecticut Renaissance Faire 2019: Tovi’s First Ren Fair!
Last weekend, for the first time, we checked out the Massachusetts Renaissance Fair at the Cummington Fair Grounds. With a name like The Massachusetts Fair, I expected a little more. The permanent fairgrounds (for county fairs and showing animals) were large, and under-utilized, making the Ren fair seem very small. There… Read More »Massachusetts Renaissance Fair 2019
Last weekend we had a beautiful day at the Faire! Mutton and Mead is an annual celebration in Western Massachusetts with a casual and merry mood. It is one of the few proper “Medieval Festivals” in the area, similar too, but not to be confused with, a Renaissance fair. Essentially… Read More »Mutton & Mead Medieval Festival 2019
Whipped up this new belly dance belt a few days before a performance to match this bra that I made a few years(?) ago. I had plenty of extra fabric lying around from the bra top, a super comfortable performance stretch. The pattern was simple enough: a rounded triangle essentially,… Read More »New Belly Dance Belt
So busy and yet look at all the posting I’m doing! So busy because of all that sewing, climbing, gardening, and now also because, surprise, I joined a dance troupe. The Whip City Witches, based out of Westfield, or “Whip City” Mass, is a group of adult women who share the common practice of… Read More »Bonus Post, I Joined a Dance Troupe
Another awesome year at the Vermont Winter Renaissance Fair at the Champlain Valley Exposition Center. We love this fair because it’s in the middle of the winter when we haven’t been to a fair in months and are eager to get back into the revelry. the cooler temperatures allow for… Read More »Vermont Winter Renaissance Faire 2019
My very first trip ever to the New York Renaissance fair! People have been talking about this fair for years; about how it’s the biggest and the best around, about how they can’t believe I haven’t been. Well, this year we finally made the long drive in the early morning… Read More »New York Renaissance Fair
Labor Day weekend Jake and I attended military appreciation day at the King Richard’s Faire in Carver, MA. Every year the second day of the fair is free for active and retired military, so we try to go on that day to save on Jake’s admission. King Richard’s is one… Read More »New Viking Garb for Military Day at King Richard’s Faire 2018
No, I haven’t even seen the History Channel series. I prefer to get all of my information from books, lecture series, and historical reenactment. I cannot get enough information on Viking clothing, lifestyle, social structure, combat strategy, trade habits and armament. It’s all I’ve been sewing lately in preparation for… Read More »So I’m Really Into Vikings Right Now.
On October 15th, 2016 we had an absolutely fantastic time at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire in North Haven, CT. The CT Ren Faire isn’t as big as the King Richard’s Faire, and it doesn’t have permanent faire structures, but the people and programming is top-notch. This mid-fall faire was also… Read More »Connecticut Renaissance Faire and New Viking Costumes
Last weekend me and my crew attended the King Richard’s Faire. What a beautiful October day to travel through time, wear flowers on my head, and shop for weaponry. We saw some big cats to whatever they wanted on stage, ate stew from a bowl made of bread, and Kelley… Read More »King Richards Faire
Granite Con was a blast once again! As always, the variety of vendors, good programming, and unrivaled access to guests of honor made this another memorable year of convention-going in Manchester. This year’s convention had an unofficial Star Wars theme, and so, on fairly short notice, my friends and I… Read More »Star Wars, Belly Dance, and Granite State Comic Con
For the entire month of June I will be exhibiting some of my brightest watercolor paintings in a Solo show at the iYo Cafe in Davis Square, Somerville, Ma! Though the subject of the work varies, the collection was assembled primarily for its warm-weather feel. I would describe the bunch… Read More »Solo Art Exhibit at iYo Cafe in Somerville, MA
This past weekend Kelley and I attended Granite State Comicon as vending artists in their Artist’s Alley and Dealer’s room. I had a wonderful time and met some really cool people! With Halloween coming up, many of you asked if I had a store online or made custom masks. Yes,… Read More »Post-Granite State Comicon
This weekend (Saturday and Sunday), Kelley and I will be exhibiting and selling our wares at Granite State Comicon! You can find us in the Artist’s Alley, booth number 907. I’ve included a map below with our table circled. Granite Con will be held at the Radisson Center of New Hampshire,… Read More »Granite State Comic Con
Renaissance Fair Season is upon us! I love spending a day out in the woods with the fairies and jesters, celebrating the late summertime magic. The first Fair on my list is King Richard’s in Carver Mass, and to make sure I make the most of my Fair day, I… Read More »Preparing for King Richards Faire
What an interesting week I’ve had! Before I get into it, I’ll apologize for not updating this blog more often. I’ve gotten so busy between work and trying to squeeze the last drops of summer out of this miserable rainy weather that I haven’t had much time to work on… Read More »“Are You Smarter Than A Nerd Chick” on the Hill-Man Morning Show WAAF
This weekend I will once again be exhibiting with Faire Trimmings in the Artist’s Colony of Connecticon 2013. Held at the Connecticon Convention Center in Hartford, CT, Connecticon is already in its 10th year! The artist’s colony is located on the first floor, in the same giant exhibition hall as… Read More »Connecticon 2013
Hey everyone, Yesterday I uploaded some new photos to my photography gallery at Shaunart.net from my trip out west. Don’ worry, these photos aren’t tourist shots of me on the beach. Only beautiful moments in nature here. I will be the first person to admit that I do not know… Read More »Photographing the West
On Saturday, June 22nd, Faire Trimmings (a collarborative brand between Kelley and I) will be vending at the Pirate Rendezvous in Damariscotta, ME. Activities begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. The pirates invade at high noon, which is essentially a large parade and general storming of the fair grounds by… Read More »The Pirate Rendezvous