As I began working on "new" renaissance-inspired designs, my mind started to wander toward the other things often found at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.
My own personal style leans more toward the boho-eclectic look - which to me of course means that I like a lot of vintage, odd, and earthy things that don't necessarily "match" each other but blend well. I feel that renaissance faires and festivals embody this feeling well, with a variety of handcrafted items, art and jewelry that are made by the basic elements which people have been crafting goods from for thousands of years.
Stone, wood, leather, glass and metal wire are all staple items in my jewelry supplies. The focal point on this necklace consists of green Australian jasper, glass and wood beads all wound together with gold wire. It hangs from a suede leather cord and fastens with a handcrafted hook-and-loop closure.
Fairies have also wound their way into renaissance festivals across the United States. This flower fairy was captured near my flowerbed. Since she glows like a firefly, I stuck her in a jar on my window sill. In reality, I hand-sculpted her face, neck, arms, legs and wings from polymer clay and attached them all to a soft cotton-filled body and dressed her in white chiffon flower petals. She comes shipped in her capture jar, complete with air holes drilled in the lid. Unlike real fireflies, her glow (which comes from an under-shift made of special light-activated material) will last night after night. So yes, she really does glow in the dark after she's been exposed to bright light.The leather corselet, waist cincher, hip belt - whichever you prefer to call this item, has also become a commonly-seen apparel item during fair season. This belt is reversible, with decorative hand-stitched detail at the back seam which is visible from either the suede or smooth side.
Ashley is wearing the belt over a handmade handkerchief-hemline skirt
with a drawstring waistband. The skirt is a 100% cotton print, and can be made-to-order in any size or fabric.
She's rather sprite-ish (is that even a word? Maybe spritely? Elfin?) in her funky tights and the Rock Prairie Designs skirt and belt, but I think the Washington t-shirt is a dead giveaway that she's a human teenager.
The inside seams are all finished to last a long time, and the drawstring eyelets are all reinforced on the inside and overcast by hand. These eyelets will not pull out or rip apart after repeated wearing!
With renaissance faires and festivals quickly approaching, I have time open for new custom costume orders. I can sew from your existing pattern and materials or work with you to design something original.
Feel free to visit my Etsy store, Rock Prairie Designs, to browse my current stock or to request custom leather work or sewing.
