Catching up requires a time machine...Potomac Celtic Festival...
The Potomac Celtic Festival happened way back on June 13-14. Luckily, the weather was MUCH better than Last Year and ultimately the show was much less eventful, which is like a weird pun for an event write up. Any way, here is a nice picture of our booth and the grounds to warm things up...which is what we actually were glad didn't happen!
Potomac is nice and flat, which makes setting up and display easy. We felt we looked very good and took this picture for our portfolio. It is necessary to have booth shots in applications sometimes.
That is our bubble bowl stand out in front, which we have only had out at Potomac the past couple of years. Lots of fun being the bubble folks at an event like that, as they really attracted a lot of attention and many people had never seen us doing bubble tricks. The weather was very bubbly, with a nice mix of humidity and breeze, and the bubbles floated off over the booths around us and up into the tree tops.
It is also nice not having to wear costume yet still have fine sales and fitting in at the event. We wish we could do more Celtic events like this. It is like a low key show, that still has an excellent return for us. With the previous month of May having been such a frantic and intense series of shows, coupled with bad weather, we needed a break. We even did something unheard of in our show experience. We stayed in a hotel. I know, the universe won't come crashing asunder or anything, but it was very out of character for us. We could have camped on the grounds, but really just needed a nice night. We got it, and I think that hotels are a slippery slope for future festivals. We proved this at the next one, but that is a different post.
Ellawyn has fun at the show, as there is a nice storytelling tent and kids activities area. Jared ran her around a lot, which was good for Leah and I as we got to be in the booth together alone. Sort of like old times. Ellawyn was around enough to work one sale very closely. She knows the routine in the booth and likes to help out the little kids her age. Takes down masks and lets them know they can try them on. This little girl's parents liked it so much that they got her a wee fairy. Here are the pair of them.
Lots of good neighbors at that show. The event has an excellent level of craft, and is low key enough that we get to socialize a bit. Now, one thing about vendors and artisans is that we often look at the other folks displays as much as their art. It is where we get ideas and inspiration for our own booths from. This is Michael Hayman, an amazing Celtic jeweler. However, this picture was to illustrate his banners, which were a masterful piece of painting. Michael cursed them a bit, as they had been a ridiculous amount of work, as you can imagine. He said he has been considering how to create them as products since they get almost as much attention as the jewelry. I would like to create something along these lines for our booth, but in an Art Nouveau/Wild Wood style.
Another nice thing about other artists. They often go home with masks and we come home with jewelry. Barter is a wonderful thing.
Here is our dear friend and actual neighbor in our town, Jeanie Gibbons of Echo & Wild Jewelry. Nope, she doesn't have a website yet, which is a shame, as her work is exquisite. You'll have to take our word for it, or come to the Maryland Renaissance Festival this fall to see for yourself.
Another vendor on our row was the The Bee Folks, also of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Here is Lori, the mother of the clan and Queen Bee.
Not the best picture, but I felt it important. You see, if you read my entry about last year's festival, you will remember that I mentioned they were expecting natural triplets. Yep, you read it right. That women is one of my heroes. Runs a BIG business, has an older daughter, her husband, Dave, had a stroke a couple of years ago, and now, triplets. Amazing. Must be all the honey. Please go visit their website or come see them at the RenFest and buy some honey. They could use it! Here is Dave with the brood. When you need a stroller that big...well..!
Another MDRF artisans and friends are also the vendor coordinators. Potomac Leather and Wolfstone Kilts, run by the amazingly talented Bill and Virgina Watson. Here is an example of their collaboration, an absolutely stunning bag of the Green Man image. I told Bill I would tease all my BOG Brothers with this.
Here is a close up some of that detail.
In all it was a remarkably nice and enjoyable weekend, more than making up for the rough time we had last year. Such is the variance of the outdoor entertainment industry. I do have one major regret from the weekend. I didn't buy this....
It seems the master smith of Badger Blades is getting out of the traveling show circuit. This is his show anvil, that along with a portable forge and blower he was selling off for a obscenely low price. I believe it was $200 for the anvil, which is a LOT lower than buying one new. But I didn't, so I will have to not let this get to me...perhaps I should stop looking at the picture wistfully...sigh........
Well, one day I will have my forge, collect my tools, and make metal move to my will. Until then, I will settle for moving leather. That isn't all that bad.
Next, I tell you about New York Fairie Festival! Until then...
Kubiando!
Potomac is nice and flat, which makes setting up and display easy. We felt we looked very good and took this picture for our portfolio. It is necessary to have booth shots in applications sometimes.
That is our bubble bowl stand out in front, which we have only had out at Potomac the past couple of years. Lots of fun being the bubble folks at an event like that, as they really attracted a lot of attention and many people had never seen us doing bubble tricks. The weather was very bubbly, with a nice mix of humidity and breeze, and the bubbles floated off over the booths around us and up into the tree tops.
It is also nice not having to wear costume yet still have fine sales and fitting in at the event. We wish we could do more Celtic events like this. It is like a low key show, that still has an excellent return for us. With the previous month of May having been such a frantic and intense series of shows, coupled with bad weather, we needed a break. We even did something unheard of in our show experience. We stayed in a hotel. I know, the universe won't come crashing asunder or anything, but it was very out of character for us. We could have camped on the grounds, but really just needed a nice night. We got it, and I think that hotels are a slippery slope for future festivals. We proved this at the next one, but that is a different post.
Ellawyn has fun at the show, as there is a nice storytelling tent and kids activities area. Jared ran her around a lot, which was good for Leah and I as we got to be in the booth together alone. Sort of like old times. Ellawyn was around enough to work one sale very closely. She knows the routine in the booth and likes to help out the little kids her age. Takes down masks and lets them know they can try them on. This little girl's parents liked it so much that they got her a wee fairy. Here are the pair of them.
Lots of good neighbors at that show. The event has an excellent level of craft, and is low key enough that we get to socialize a bit. Now, one thing about vendors and artisans is that we often look at the other folks displays as much as their art. It is where we get ideas and inspiration for our own booths from. This is Michael Hayman, an amazing Celtic jeweler. However, this picture was to illustrate his banners, which were a masterful piece of painting. Michael cursed them a bit, as they had been a ridiculous amount of work, as you can imagine. He said he has been considering how to create them as products since they get almost as much attention as the jewelry. I would like to create something along these lines for our booth, but in an Art Nouveau/Wild Wood style.
Another nice thing about other artists. They often go home with masks and we come home with jewelry. Barter is a wonderful thing.
Here is our dear friend and actual neighbor in our town, Jeanie Gibbons of Echo & Wild Jewelry. Nope, she doesn't have a website yet, which is a shame, as her work is exquisite. You'll have to take our word for it, or come to the Maryland Renaissance Festival this fall to see for yourself.
Another vendor on our row was the The Bee Folks, also of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Here is Lori, the mother of the clan and Queen Bee.
Not the best picture, but I felt it important. You see, if you read my entry about last year's festival, you will remember that I mentioned they were expecting natural triplets. Yep, you read it right. That women is one of my heroes. Runs a BIG business, has an older daughter, her husband, Dave, had a stroke a couple of years ago, and now, triplets. Amazing. Must be all the honey. Please go visit their website or come see them at the RenFest and buy some honey. They could use it! Here is Dave with the brood. When you need a stroller that big...well..!
Another MDRF artisans and friends are also the vendor coordinators. Potomac Leather and Wolfstone Kilts, run by the amazingly talented Bill and Virgina Watson. Here is an example of their collaboration, an absolutely stunning bag of the Green Man image. I told Bill I would tease all my BOG Brothers with this.
Here is a close up some of that detail.
In all it was a remarkably nice and enjoyable weekend, more than making up for the rough time we had last year. Such is the variance of the outdoor entertainment industry. I do have one major regret from the weekend. I didn't buy this....
It seems the master smith of Badger Blades is getting out of the traveling show circuit. This is his show anvil, that along with a portable forge and blower he was selling off for a obscenely low price. I believe it was $200 for the anvil, which is a LOT lower than buying one new. But I didn't, so I will have to not let this get to me...perhaps I should stop looking at the picture wistfully...sigh........
Well, one day I will have my forge, collect my tools, and make metal move to my will. Until then, I will settle for moving leather. That isn't all that bad.
Next, I tell you about New York Fairie Festival! Until then...
Kubiando!