Renaissance Performers & Merchants

What is it that you do or sell?

A: Handspun yarn, wool for spinning or felting (mostly locally sourced now), hand-painted drop spindles, lucets, hand knit/crocheted/woven wearables (shawls, hats, gloves, cowls, scarves, etc.), original patterns, non-jewelry beaded items (coasters, bookmarks, stitch markers), chainmail pouches and armor. My husband helps with some of the woodworking (especially the lucets) and muscle. We also sometimes bring sheep to events on request, and I demo spinning in the booth all day.

Where are you located?

A: Buckley, WA

What got you interested in starting out in this business?

A: It started with learning to make chainmail while I was with a jousting and combat troupe. (Before that, I had been crocheting and embroidering since the early 80s.) Eventually, I started to make jewelry as well, then the market became too glutted, and I suddenly developed several allergies, to metals and to acrylic fiber, so I started experimenting with spinning wool.

What advice do you have to give to others that are just starting out in this business?

A: Learn your audience(s). Remember to have fun. Most importantly, build a good reputation for quality and friendliness and reliability.

What is your favorite food at faire?

A: My newest favorite is a place called On Tots. I was sick for most of summer 2018 with laryngitis and a damaged throat, and their black and bleu tots saved my life at the Oregon Renaissance Faire (bleu cheese, bacon, and a balsamic glaze). So delicious.

What would you say (nicely) to a faire manager or owner?

A: Thank you for all the hard work that you do, and thank you for being open to hearing suggestions from your vendors and performers!

Describe your first experience with us or your best experience (could be worst experience if you want to share that)

A: Best experience: The first time we actually traveled for a show, maybe 2005 or 2006? We happened to be in a great location, and we sold things like crazy, went to an expensive dinner with a bunch of friends and a vendor friend I look up to as a business example, nearly sold out the next day. It validated everything I had worked for to get started.
Worst experience: The show seemed to be a private party that the vendors paid for. It poured rain all weekend long, but only during the day, people partied loudly outside our tent all night long, the main food vendor (who I think was connected to the organizers) was supposed to open at 10 and didn’t start serving breakfast until 1pm or so (so we cooked bratwurst on our little campstove in the rain). And there were almost no shoppers all weekend. We haven’t done that one again.

How else do you promote your wares or your music/performance?

I try to post on Facebook (facebook.com/horse.round) and Instagram (instagram.com/horsenround7) regularly. I hold monthly craft nights at my studio where my wares are out for browsing. I always have cards with me if I strike up a conversation with someone in public or when knitting in public. I’ve also joined a fantastic local small business networking group, where we shared advice and business tips and meet for a dinner once a month (The Bazaarists Networking & Education Channel).

At faire, what garb/attire is your usual go to?

A: Because of an old injury to my back, I can’t wear a bodice and sit for long periods (which is required for demoing spinning), so a wool handknit vest, long skirt, wide-brimmed straw hat, and an apron are my favorites.

Plug your website or fan page here (or both)
Web site: horse-round.com http://horse-round.com/
Facebook: horse.round https://www.facebook.com/horse.round/
Ravelry: @horsenround
Instagram: horsenround7
Twitter: @horseround

A/N – Wow! I’m a knitter and I love this so much! I can’t spin yarn to save my life, but this is so cool. I love the sheep! Please go check out her site and her yarn (I might have to get some now too!). Please note that I am taking a vacation at the end of August, so no posts will be done that week. If your group, troupe, or booth would like to be featured here on this blog, please feel free to reach out to me via the fan page or on this site. Thank you for reading!