I did quite a bit of shopping at this RenFaire – I needed a leather belt and pouch for Gulf Wars, and wanted to see what else was common.  I also wanted to chat with leather makers and figure out who might be amenable to making Daan a watchcover.  Finally, I wanted to chat up a woodworker, for future fiber toolmaking exchanges.  Here’s what I found.

MagiCreations Leather – Dennis Miller, Lake Forest CA – This guy was understandably proud of his work.  (Though he also had fur-lined manacles hanging from the ceiling…the sheer number of which tells you more than I really want to think about.)  He showed me a technique for putting a permanant angle in the shoulder of a shoulder baldric that keeps it in place on your shoulder – so you don’t have to run your belt through it.  This makes disarming faster, and it seems to me that a shoulder baldric attached to your belt would mess with the flexibility of my torso, so that’s not something I like.  But he didn’t have any back-mounted baldrics, which I think is what I want.  Looks like I can expect to pay $200+ for such a baldric.

Crimson Chain Leather Works – Virgil Jones, Toledo OH – I liked the journal covers (especially with the funky puzzle clasp) from these guys a lot, and the leather doublet price ($125 for the Elizabethan) seems to be a good one.  But their shoulder baldrics wouldn’t adjust down small enough for me, and I’m not short, and they’re designed to connect to my belt.

Wolfon’s Costume & Apparel – Robert Powell, Cypress TX – This guy was a very eager salesman, and had some very nice tailored things.  Almost a pity I like making my own garb.

Thistle & Moon Workshop – Deborah Martin, GA – I enjoy the herbal vendors, and now that I’m getting into herbal dying, I realize I should bring my dye books with me to faire, so I can check on the wares in front of me.  Good to know this lady is nearby.

Valley of Field Herbals – Marie Stephan, NY – This woman was very helpful about the red (purple) basil that I bought from her, saying that yes, it could be used as a dye in dry form, just tincture it in vodka, strain out the herb and reuse (!?!) and then use the tinted vodka in the dyebath.  I have to doublecheck this with my books, as I don’t remember whether these dyebaths have to be hot?  Anyway, my collection of dyes ready-to-try is now up to two.  (Remember the indigo I got?)

Rock House Spoon Co. – T. C. Lowery, somewhere local – Gorgeous handcarved spoons, and branching out into needles.  Out of ironwood, cherry, etc.  Incredibly smooth in the hand.  And apparently TC is interested in coming to Festival on the Green at the end of the month!