So now that I'm somewhat recovered....
May. 20th, 2008 06:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysobelleNext time I make the decision to do a ren faire two weeks before it opens, someone thonk me on the head. But hey, I only convinced Bill and Neil to bring Utopia Armoury down two DAYS before it opened. That's me: spreading the love. And misery.
Getting down there was an exercise in "Don't tell me, I don't want to know." All of my stuff was already in Kristy's (Minion Ryan's friend) truck, as she helped me get to and from Fairie Fest. UA and MFM decided to rent a van together and take our collective crap to VARF in one trip. It's a bit of a blur, but what I think the plan was was this: Neil rented the van, and came to me to get the few things I had here: the mirror, my sign, a tub of fabric. This was Thursday night. He was then going to take my car and go to work while Bill came here, dropped off Courtney, got the van, and left his car for Neil. Bill would then drive to Kristy's with the van and get all my stuff. Neil would then, after work, drive Bill's car to Bill's house, they'd both get in the van, and drive to VARF Friday morning. Courtney and I would get up Friday morning, and drive down to meet them at site. We'd unload everything, and Neil would immediately get back in the van and return it so as to be able to save us rental for another day. Also, he had to work Friday night. So he'd bring Bill's car and drive back down Saturday morning. And that's mostly how it happened, except that Thursday night, my car was all but out of gas, so Neil took Bill's car, which made more sense.
See? It's not even opening gate, and it's already a potential clusterfuck.
Friday, Courtney and I arrive about 4. Bill and Neil have already gotten everything mostly up-- their unfortunately cheap-ass backyard pavilion, and my Panther-- with the help of Papa Scott, Will, and Athena. Alas, my own tent was a few feet off, so we had to move it, with the help of a lovely neighbour of mine. But all in all, it was good. We all took off for the hotel, and Econolodge in Fredericksburg-- about half an hour away. And that's where things started going seriously wrong.
If anyone ever suggests to you the Econolodge on Jefferson Davis Highway? Hit them with a blowtorch. The lit end. I'm serious. It looked shoddy from the outside, but Papa Scott had been the one to suggest it, and he said it was okay, so, cautiously, I said yes. And they'd said it was okay if I paid in cash. Of course, they didn't say I'd have to pay IN ADVANCE for that privilege, which cause a quick emergency phone call to my Mom, and-- of course!-- the inevitable fight. Great. Thanks. But okay. Hotel policy, so...whatever. I'm pissed, but I probably should have asked more specifically when I booked. It happens.
First hurdle? Getting the dog up the stairs. They're metal, and have no risers. So to a dog who's only 21" at the shoulder, it looks like her nose is going to go straight through, and she'll fall straight down. Poor Clue had never seen anything like it, and was NOT. HAPPY. Eventually, we just had to carry her up. She was getting FAR too anxious about it, and I didn't want to stress her any more.
And then we got into the room. Oh, boy.
First thing when we walked in, we're facing the sink and mirror at the back of the room. Standard cheap motel room, right? The light over the mirror, however, is covered in big, chunky dirt. Oh, boy. Then we discover there's a hole in the bathroom door. Just about the right height for a fist. It's been badly patched on the outside, but barely touched on the inside. Which is, to say the least, incredibly creepy. Who was hiding in the bathroom? Who was coming after them? What happened?
Bill and Courtney decided to get some food, but I didn't want to leave Clue alone in a strange place, and I was tired anyway. So I napped for a while, with that dog literally up (against) my butt. I know how she felt. Oy. When they came back, Bill and I went out to grab some Wendy's. We came back to eat, and I caught Papa Scott outside-- they'd been trying to get the front desk, and the phone just rang and rang, even though it was only 11pm. Great. We tried to settle in for the night, and while talking to Bill, I went to reach for my drink, and found a roach doing the macarena around my soda on the bedside table.
Bill said, "No, it can't be--" until he came over with a tissue to kill it. Yes, it was. Oh, yes. We very nearly packed it in right then and there. But it was getting really late, Courtney was half asleep. But I'd finally gotten hold of someone at the front desk, got the info for wireless access-- which SUCKED HAIRY, ROTTEN EGGS-- and started looking up new hotels. As Bill took pictures of the incredibly crappy room, I promptly booked us into a Best Western one exit up. Almost twice as much, but you know what? So fucking what. No roaches.
And to add insult to injury, after they went to bed? I was brushing my teeth, and looked up at the light, and realised it was full of dead bugs.
Suffice to say, I gave the woman at the front desk an earful in the morning while cancelling the next night's stay and explaining precisely why. Of course, she told me I'd have to speak to the manager about getting a refund for the miserable night we'd had. Of course.
But screw it. We made it to site without further mishap, and I discovered that in the intervening five years since the last time I did VARF with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fondor, it hasn't changed. It's on a semi-permanent site now, at a winery, which is familiar, though it's been, what, fifteen years since what's now the parking lot at PARF held grape vines. The booths are set up in a huge ring in a big, grassy plain. There's a list for jousting, and the coursing of greyhounds. There are woods at the bottom of the field, with a double line of vendors. There are two pubs, I think. There's one main stage, which is exactly beside me-- nice. The stage and the desserts booth behind it are the only permanent structures, though-- everything else is tents. I'm not sure why that is.
The cast is young, enthusiastic, and very cohesively-dressed. I really, really appreciated that. I also got "accosted" twice (the only two times I left the booth) by gentlemen decrying the fact that I was unaccompanied. That also, I appreciated. What I assumed was the volunteer staff did a good job bringing people to the stage to fill empty seats. That was especially important on Sunday, but I'll get to that later.
Saturday, I slacked off getting ready, and by the time gate opened, I wasn't even dressed. But I'd borrowed Courtney from Bill for the weekend, and we got it all together. The plain in front of me, which they call "The Serengeti,"was pretty much empty, and I didn't have much hope for the day. Hours passed, proving me right. And yet, somehow, in the middle of the day, wham. Three customers at the same time. And thank G-d they were patient, cos there's just one of me. But boom, boom, boom, and I had the hotel, food, and half my booth fees covered.
The pirate corset, of course, went in a flash. And to date, I think it's the best fit yet. I'd drafted the pattern with a very low back, which worried me at first, but the young lady who bought it looked AWESOME in it. I also sold a sage-green corset to the first person who ever tried it on-- though I heard that THE BUSK BROKE as she was driving home. Christ. I've had one break spontaneously in all the years I've been doing this. I had one break because the girl in it couldn't get it off, and panicked. But wow. And then I took two orders for three-lace corsets in the black koi print I got a while back. (Yes, I can count-- the latter order came at the end of the day.)
Sunday was utterly pointless, aside from one of the first day's orders coming back and paying in full, in cash, bless her. It threatened rain all day, and then, mid-afternoon, I spontaneously jumped up and started taking everything in feverishly-- and two minutes later, the heavens opened with a vengeance. And of course, shortly thereafter, when we were pretty much over for the day, the sun came out. Sigh.
After gate, a cranky Bill took his Courtney and went home.dansr arrived with Melissa and Squire Joe, and we got Melissa's pop-up set up and squared away, with the usual everyone-pitching-in that just happens with Rennies. We then hit Hubba's for dinner, and Neil and I and Clue finally hit the road about 9.30. I kicked his ass at "I Spy" many, many times in a row. But we were both so incredibly tired.... We stopped at his place, I finally met his puppies (three enormous Great Danes), and got home about 2.30am.
And slept all day Monday.
Now it's back to work. Thank G-d andsurlywench, I have about ten blanks, and I have to cut another pirate corset. I have caitriona27's corset and skirt to finish, and a skirt and short chemise for Stacy. And I have to follow up with the new merchant services company to whom I applied, so I can finally get my own credit card processing. Oh, and I have to get busks for those ten corsets. And start eating better, cos I felt like crap all weekend, as that's pretty much what I ate.
Some sleep might be nice, too. Somewhere.
Onward!
Getting down there was an exercise in "Don't tell me, I don't want to know." All of my stuff was already in Kristy's (Minion Ryan's friend) truck, as she helped me get to and from Fairie Fest. UA and MFM decided to rent a van together and take our collective crap to VARF in one trip. It's a bit of a blur, but what I think the plan was was this: Neil rented the van, and came to me to get the few things I had here: the mirror, my sign, a tub of fabric. This was Thursday night. He was then going to take my car and go to work while Bill came here, dropped off Courtney, got the van, and left his car for Neil. Bill would then drive to Kristy's with the van and get all my stuff. Neil would then, after work, drive Bill's car to Bill's house, they'd both get in the van, and drive to VARF Friday morning. Courtney and I would get up Friday morning, and drive down to meet them at site. We'd unload everything, and Neil would immediately get back in the van and return it so as to be able to save us rental for another day. Also, he had to work Friday night. So he'd bring Bill's car and drive back down Saturday morning. And that's mostly how it happened, except that Thursday night, my car was all but out of gas, so Neil took Bill's car, which made more sense.
See? It's not even opening gate, and it's already a potential clusterfuck.
Friday, Courtney and I arrive about 4. Bill and Neil have already gotten everything mostly up-- their unfortunately cheap-ass backyard pavilion, and my Panther-- with the help of Papa Scott, Will, and Athena. Alas, my own tent was a few feet off, so we had to move it, with the help of a lovely neighbour of mine. But all in all, it was good. We all took off for the hotel, and Econolodge in Fredericksburg-- about half an hour away. And that's where things started going seriously wrong.
If anyone ever suggests to you the Econolodge on Jefferson Davis Highway? Hit them with a blowtorch. The lit end. I'm serious. It looked shoddy from the outside, but Papa Scott had been the one to suggest it, and he said it was okay, so, cautiously, I said yes. And they'd said it was okay if I paid in cash. Of course, they didn't say I'd have to pay IN ADVANCE for that privilege, which cause a quick emergency phone call to my Mom, and-- of course!-- the inevitable fight. Great. Thanks. But okay. Hotel policy, so...whatever. I'm pissed, but I probably should have asked more specifically when I booked. It happens.
First hurdle? Getting the dog up the stairs. They're metal, and have no risers. So to a dog who's only 21" at the shoulder, it looks like her nose is going to go straight through, and she'll fall straight down. Poor Clue had never seen anything like it, and was NOT. HAPPY. Eventually, we just had to carry her up. She was getting FAR too anxious about it, and I didn't want to stress her any more.
And then we got into the room. Oh, boy.
First thing when we walked in, we're facing the sink and mirror at the back of the room. Standard cheap motel room, right? The light over the mirror, however, is covered in big, chunky dirt. Oh, boy. Then we discover there's a hole in the bathroom door. Just about the right height for a fist. It's been badly patched on the outside, but barely touched on the inside. Which is, to say the least, incredibly creepy. Who was hiding in the bathroom? Who was coming after them? What happened?
Bill and Courtney decided to get some food, but I didn't want to leave Clue alone in a strange place, and I was tired anyway. So I napped for a while, with that dog literally up (against) my butt. I know how she felt. Oy. When they came back, Bill and I went out to grab some Wendy's. We came back to eat, and I caught Papa Scott outside-- they'd been trying to get the front desk, and the phone just rang and rang, even though it was only 11pm. Great. We tried to settle in for the night, and while talking to Bill, I went to reach for my drink, and found a roach doing the macarena around my soda on the bedside table.
Bill said, "No, it can't be--" until he came over with a tissue to kill it. Yes, it was. Oh, yes. We very nearly packed it in right then and there. But it was getting really late, Courtney was half asleep. But I'd finally gotten hold of someone at the front desk, got the info for wireless access-- which SUCKED HAIRY, ROTTEN EGGS-- and started looking up new hotels. As Bill took pictures of the incredibly crappy room, I promptly booked us into a Best Western one exit up. Almost twice as much, but you know what? So fucking what. No roaches.
And to add insult to injury, after they went to bed? I was brushing my teeth, and looked up at the light, and realised it was full of dead bugs.
Suffice to say, I gave the woman at the front desk an earful in the morning while cancelling the next night's stay and explaining precisely why. Of course, she told me I'd have to speak to the manager about getting a refund for the miserable night we'd had. Of course.
But screw it. We made it to site without further mishap, and I discovered that in the intervening five years since the last time I did VARF with
fondor, it hasn't changed. It's on a semi-permanent site now, at a winery, which is familiar, though it's been, what, fifteen years since what's now the parking lot at PARF held grape vines. The booths are set up in a huge ring in a big, grassy plain. There's a list for jousting, and the coursing of greyhounds. There are woods at the bottom of the field, with a double line of vendors. There are two pubs, I think. There's one main stage, which is exactly beside me-- nice. The stage and the desserts booth behind it are the only permanent structures, though-- everything else is tents. I'm not sure why that is. The cast is young, enthusiastic, and very cohesively-dressed. I really, really appreciated that. I also got "accosted" twice (the only two times I left the booth) by gentlemen decrying the fact that I was unaccompanied. That also, I appreciated. What I assumed was the volunteer staff did a good job bringing people to the stage to fill empty seats. That was especially important on Sunday, but I'll get to that later.
Saturday, I slacked off getting ready, and by the time gate opened, I wasn't even dressed. But I'd borrowed Courtney from Bill for the weekend, and we got it all together. The plain in front of me, which they call "The Serengeti,"was pretty much empty, and I didn't have much hope for the day. Hours passed, proving me right. And yet, somehow, in the middle of the day, wham. Three customers at the same time. And thank G-d they were patient, cos there's just one of me. But boom, boom, boom, and I had the hotel, food, and half my booth fees covered.
The pirate corset, of course, went in a flash. And to date, I think it's the best fit yet. I'd drafted the pattern with a very low back, which worried me at first, but the young lady who bought it looked AWESOME in it. I also sold a sage-green corset to the first person who ever tried it on-- though I heard that THE BUSK BROKE as she was driving home. Christ. I've had one break spontaneously in all the years I've been doing this. I had one break because the girl in it couldn't get it off, and panicked. But wow. And then I took two orders for three-lace corsets in the black koi print I got a while back. (Yes, I can count-- the latter order came at the end of the day.)
Sunday was utterly pointless, aside from one of the first day's orders coming back and paying in full, in cash, bless her. It threatened rain all day, and then, mid-afternoon, I spontaneously jumped up and started taking everything in feverishly-- and two minutes later, the heavens opened with a vengeance. And of course, shortly thereafter, when we were pretty much over for the day, the sun came out. Sigh.
After gate, a cranky Bill took his Courtney and went home.
dansr arrived with Melissa and Squire Joe, and we got Melissa's pop-up set up and squared away, with the usual everyone-pitching-in that just happens with Rennies. We then hit Hubba's for dinner, and Neil and I and Clue finally hit the road about 9.30. I kicked his ass at "I Spy" many, many times in a row. But we were both so incredibly tired.... We stopped at his place, I finally met his puppies (three enormous Great Danes), and got home about 2.30am.And slept all day Monday.
Now it's back to work. Thank G-d and
surlywench, I have about ten blanks, and I have to cut another pirate corset. I have caitriona27's corset and skirt to finish, and a skirt and short chemise for Stacy. And I have to follow up with the new merchant services company to whom I applied, so I can finally get my own credit card processing. Oh, and I have to get busks for those ten corsets. And start eating better, cos I felt like crap all weekend, as that's pretty much what I ate.Some sleep might be nice, too. Somewhere.
Onward!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 12:36 am (UTC)We did West Windsor Ren Faire this past weekend, and had a similar experience with the Rain...Sunday was good up until 1 pm, then we lost eh rest of the day, but managed to outsell the previous year's numbers. So it was all good.
ARe yuou planning on doing the full run of VARF, or was this just a one-weekend deal? I wish you luck, sweetie, if you do... Will I see you at CEltic Fling? *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 12:42 am (UTC)You can come down to VARF for just one weekend, though. There are jewelry resellers, but not much handmade original stuff.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 12:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 12:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 12:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 02:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 03:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 06:29 am (UTC)That spot.
Date: 2008-05-21 08:28 am (UTC)Re: That spot.
Date: 2008-05-21 11:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 06:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 06:28 am (UTC)And yeah, I'm'a try to cut another pirate this week. But seriously, wtf is up with cutting the last stomacher on the bias out of the middle of the fabric? What, you hate me? Anyway, I think when I see you, I'll give you the fabric and just let you cut however many you can. I was at the store today, and they say they're currently out of stock on the stuff. Yikes!
no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 06:33 am (UTC)if they're out of stock, does that mean we can raise the prices? LIMITED EDITIONS: LET ME CHARGE U 4 THEM!
Even I left this place alone after trying it!
Date: 2008-05-21 08:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 09:45 am (UTC)but you also have a booth bitch that will need a corset in less then a month .... I'll be coming down for relay for Life with Kate and Shawn next weekend... care to measure me and draft a "stock" peice I can wear for celtic? please?
:)
no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 11:46 am (UTC)*whimper*
I wanna plaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy
no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 01:05 pm (UTC)