Friday, February 29, 2008

Market Day

Well, it was off to the Living History market today.
Aginoth braved the company of four women, including his wife, Mrs A, and his bestest mate - me!
The market is held twice a year in a big draughty hall. It used to be one huge market, then there was a split and the market broke into two, held in different venues on the same day. Then this year the split got worse and the two markets are now held two weeks apart. This last move is not customer friendly, as if we want to visit both we have to go to Birmingham twice.
Anyway, we went to the Living History Fair today, the Original Re-Enactors' Market is in a fortnight.
We met up with a large group of the Company, all hunting for this and that reproduction or copy equipment. Mrs A was after a new sword, Aginoth was after some new arrows and a new tool box, I was after some coin blanks for the Company and we all wanted material for clothes.
So Bernie the Bolt, the haberdashery friend to the re-enactor, sold us linens and wools in whites, creams, blues, greens, yellows, purples.....we girls are going to be a colouful bunch this season!
In addition to my metres of white and blue linens, I bought 500 blanks for the coin die (which you can read more about here), a set of 14C coins for myself, some thonging (leather strips, every re-enactor must have spare thonging!), a new pouch, a new wooden plate (I love my bowl, but I yearn for a plate!).
I was very restrained in my purchases (for me!) and I still need a pillar candle and a decent jug. I need the jug to hold water during the day and the candle to light our new girly tent in the evenings...three women 'of a certain age' sharing a tent - should be interesting!
We were rather disappointed at the lack of stalls this year, and the Aginoths are heading back up north weekend after next to go to the Re-Enactors Market to get the supplies we couldn't get today. They have promised to look me out a jug and a pillar candle.

So, now begins an orgy of sewing for all of us, to try and get new outfits ready for our first event at Easter - so, needles at the ready?

cq

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cheers from Michele.

Here, reenactors spend their time playing Civil War. It's easy to be a rebel; just throw something on and stick a couple of 1850 Navy Colt Revolvers in your belt and you're set.

I once defended a craft fair in a lawsuit where re-enactors discharged a 12 lb Napoleon Cannon (without the cannon ball, thank God) and broke about 27 windows and ear drums in a 2 block radius.

Good times.

Jean-Luc Picard said...

You have to visit Birmingham, where I am twice. Poor you!

WendyWings said...

Sounds like a fun time, I am so glad you found a hobby that has absorbed you so throughly, it is good to have passions in life :)
have a great weekend.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I think it is wonderful CQ that the Re-Enactment Involvement has truly become a deep deep part pf you. Isn't it wonderful to have a true PASSION for something??...And, you reallly DO have a truer than true passion for this re-enactment wonder...!
BRAVO!

CyberKitten said...

Sounds like a very productive day..

Omykiss said...

this time i'm here from michele

aginoth's a very PAST name .... are you here or are you there? Ido wonder about you ... ;) Seen any aliens recently?

Ladybug Crossing said...

Hi CQ!!!
Wow - your very own plate. ;-)
It's all so cool!! I'm impressed with your restraint. Does the candle have to be a specific kind of candle or is it just an ordinary pillar?? I'm curious as to why you don't just get a candle at a regular store.
xo
LBC

Anonymous said...

Hi CQ, wow.. nice that you can do all this and that you feel so alive when you're re-enacting (is that a proper English word LOL)

Have fun sewing!

Thaleia
ps: here from Michele's

Anonymous said...

Michele sent me to consider your plans, I find it interesting that you stamp your own coinage. (I went & read the in depth info on that too)

Chrissea said...

My Mom & sister sews up a storm! Myself, I am a stitcher, cross-stitch is my thing. I love fabric though. Always looking for wool for my daughter who hooks rugs!
Stopped by becasue I just have to know... why Myer-Briggs (or is it Briggs-Myer) was debunked?

Chrissea said...

I didn't even know I had a verification thingy....
Sorry about that!
:-)

Anonymous said...

Renaissance? Wish the days of the market would come back and the mall would fall off the face of the earth. Wonder what Michele thinks?

Andi said...

Very,very interesting. I wish that I had something like that to go to. I collect up patterns to make myself re-enactment dresses...but I don't know completely how to sew or use my sewing machine yet. Michele sent me.

Bobkat said...

Very restrained!

I didn't get to go this year because of my studies :( I think I am tied to this darn computer!

Glad you had fun.