May Day, May Daze

Crystal wrap by Joy @ Intergem

Tis the season for bonfires, if you go in for some really old time religion. Considering how cold it turned today, we may use the bonfires more for warmth than for celebration. Still, somewhere, someone is jumping through the flames to rekindle the physical fires of love ... or so they say.

Also, it's disconcerting when two halves of your life meet -- the mundane and fannish, or in this case, the rennie. During the months of March & April, we're "local" rennies, which means that we live (more or less) near the faire and travel home after the faire closes on Sunday. (Plus, right now this is the only faire we do.) We're dealers at a local anime convention -- who knows? we might try some art shows around town eventually. But this weekend, we were members of a local rock club at Intergem. (International Gem & Jewelry Exhibition -- Dallas is the only location that still allows the local clubs to display their skills and products.) To say that the members are mundane is the understatement of this century and the last ... They're nice people, but most do not "get" rennie humor. Worse, rennie humor that mocks their beliefs ... The two occurrences were imminently cringe-worthy. Sad to say, we gave the tickets to the couple who decided that it would be fun to play with the mundanes.

The man drew one lady (not a club member, but the sister to one) into a religious debate that ranged all over the Bible. OMG -- I had to leave during that one because it gave all organized Christianity a bad name. Plus, I'm not quite certain that she was paying attention to Dr. Cowan's lectures -- or else she has always had a terribly blinkered view of the universe. The man eventually grew tired of the baiting game and moved on ... while his female companion departed with a snide comment that one must watch out for Joy and the dolls -- she leaves them sitting around naked, you know ... well, yes, at the shop of the dressmaker!! What a parting line, and we get to deal with the reactions. I guess some people must create drama when they're bored just to stir up the pot (to quote Carol).

Skulls ... skulls in wire whimsys ... skulls and chain maille ... you now know what we bought with what little money we made in sales. There are less than 4 working weekends before A-Kon, so we have our work cut out for us ... I just hope that Mar is ready to teach me how to make chain maille earrings ... and maybe a belt, though that might use up too many skulls. Besides, think of how bumpy they'd be to sit on! No doubt that's one reason why so many belly dancers (and patrons) bought the scarves with flat sequins as the end dangles ... that and the cost of a belt in chain maille with beads.

Monday it's back to Shakespeare & Caesar ... you just can't keep those two dead & buried!

Beware the pirate elves! The kawaii factor lowers your defenses, then they'll steal your heart ...

We spent the weekend -- well, a second weekend, in Southlake. Petsitting is no joke, unless the pets are your own ... which wouldn't make it petsitting, would it, unless the dogs (or cats) literally DO sit on you. Mine have been known to do so, and Joy's birds use her as a perch whenever they can (usually while the cats are placed inside their room). Back to the subject at hand: the girls & Veronica (who is in her late 50s but prefers to party with younger females) decided to go on a road trip to the East Coast ... after toodling around the Big Apple and its environs, they came south to that center of Elvis worship, Graceland. Currently they're driving south and west towards their house ... where Joy waits in durance vile.

This was a weekend for old movies: Kind Hearts & Coronets, starring Alec Guinness in 7 roles; Laura, with Gene Tierney and Vincent Price, a documentary on the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, and Return to the House on Haunted Hill, with no name actors ... oh, and we caught the last half of Disney's Princess & the Frog. No one could ever say our tastes weren't eclectic ... We interspersed the movie watching with reading -- Joy had found the final volume in one of her fantasy series, and I read a reprint of a Mary Balough romance, The Christmas Promise, as well as parts from The Chronicles of Narnia. I guess all the reading was to distract the mind from the fact that duty had trapped us in a place where we really didn't wish to be, caring for animals not our own ... Worse, two of Joy's cockatiels died this week, and she was unable to bid them a final farewell and mourn properly since she wasn't here. I know that sorrow bothers her -- I remember finding Lady Orchid, who had been quite ill for a long time ... She had died inside the hospital cage in the bedroom, since I feared that she might climb into the mattress or closet in her last moments. Such a lovely, loving queenly cat ... Her brother Skittles is still with us. He meowed and chatted me up since I had spent 2 nights in Southlake.

We now have bison on a chain ... well, chain earrings. This week is homecoming at Sunset HS, so I made some earring sets for teachers who want to show spirit on Friday ... and it's tough to find bison. Luckily, Mar found some pewter pieces at Intergem, so I have a bagful for earrings and pendants ... plus, a few buffalo nickels in a coin setting. They're too heavy for earrings, but perfect as pendants ... and I saw a few steers in the field next to Cheri's abode. They ignored us mere humans (after all, we didn't have any food for them), despite our "mooooooooo"-ing.

Dance Quote: If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance. George Bernard Shaw

When the Dolls Come Marching In

Dolls from BJDC Austin 2008

Today Joy drives down to Austin to meet with friends before the BJDC-Austin 2010 begins. Yes, the dolls will come out this weekend to shine in all their finery ... and we're hoping that their human companions decide to adorn them with Sarah's beautiful clothing and Joy's jewelry. Mar will sell portable racks for the costumes ... All these preparations have made life a bit hectic, since the phone line went out on Friday. It turned out to be a minor wire that we could replace easily -- but the first wire that I used was bad, so we thought it was the actual hard-wiring into the house ... luckily, we have cell phones. One of the few times I was glad to have the technology handy. For me, it's usually a fight to keep the kids' attention focussed on class content ... and they tell me it's worse in college since students bring their laptops. Of course, in college, profs don't have to worry so much about their failure rates and graduation rates; students must take control of their learning ... which is why so many freshmen fail their first semester.

This year's theme is "Carnivale," so the dolls will display their best costumes ... About 100 collectors, plus vendors, will meet in Austin to share their favorite hobby -- and cash cow. If you think collecting antiques can become expensive, you haven't seen these dolls! Many have a wardrobe that matches -- and sometimes exceeds -- their owners. Colette has many more wigs than I do ... and looks good in all of them. As Mar says, the dolls will always look young and never gain weight ... Her fey and human court will display Lady Fayre's costumes, so our table will be quite crowded on Friday ... and we forgot a table. That's what happens when you don't make a list ahead of time. I'll include the TV trays. They may not be large, but they can add a little space behind the table so she can extend the display a little.

The dolls at the top of the page are Claudia and the Vampire Lestat, based on the movie -- the theme of the last convention. Most collectors in our region look forward to the convention since few stores carry BJDs ... Worse, since 2005, most of the doll shops in the Metroplex have closed or returned to online status. Some people enjoy shopping online, but a picture doesn't match the experience of seeing the doll in front of you ... Of course, the costs to maintain a brick & mortar store have risen astronomically -- I could go on, but everyone who enjoys a specialized hobby has experienced the frustration of the search for goods and services. Hence, the conventions -- and Animefest will be next month; it gives younger fans a taste of BJDs at the meet-and-greet sessions, although those often become a show-and-tell around the topic of "see the new doll in my collection." Maybe we'll send Mar as our delegate; she's got the Court to impress the resin snobs as well as the newbies. For more information about BJDC Austin, go to http://www.bjdctexas.com/


"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance."
~Japanese Proverb

May all your dances be happy ones!

Jewlled Cat Girls & Elf Lords

Shopping with Karen and Joy can become an all-day adventure. We have a BJD conference next weekend in Austin, plus Animefest in September (just in time for my birthday!) and Celtic Music Festival 2 weeks later. After a long bout of summer school, things besides the weather are heating up ... So, we went looking for goods to make new jewelry designs for people and dolls.

Yes, the dolls get jewelry as elaborate as their human companions ... and depending on the materials, the jewelry costs as much. Shoot, Colette's wardrobe and shoes costs as much or more than my own Renfaire garb, so I'm as guilty as the next BJD collector. Alas, we merchants must take the risk and hope that (sooner rather than later) we can find buyers who desire our goods ... considering we went to the "Asian Trade District" on Harry Hines, I should watch the connotation of my words ... For non-Dallas residents, sections of Harry Hines are notorious for prostitution, although now I believe the term is "bath house" and "live nude models." As long as a precocious child doesn't ask after the specifics, most parents can zoom past the shadier sections of the street ... Besides, who would bring a kid along on a major shopping trip in the wholesale district? Never mind, I'm sure someone has, since one wholesaler has a sign that says, "No Strollers Allowed."

On the left, Pash't shows a hand flower based on some designs we've seen at local Ren faires, as well as the "slave bracelets" so popular in the 70s & 80s. It's true -- everything old is new again. Just wait 5-10 years. I never imagined that I'd mentally measure girls' skirts and have to remind them that the length is too short ... it takes me back ... way back, to a time and place I'd rather forget. At least we don't have to make anyone kneel down so we can measure the distance from hem to floor. Ahem! back to Joy's design ...

The elf lord sports a rainbow moonstone wrapped in 14 K gold-filled wire ... some guys have all the luck. Last year, some of our smaller pieces sold to women who decided to share the pendants with their dolls, so this year we'll take large and small wire-wrapped stones and crystals. You never know what will appeal to whom ... Unlike Texas, buyers from out-of-state appreciate the artistry (and lower prices) of our work. No nonTexan has studied Joy's work, sniffed, then said, "I could do that" or "I used to do wire wrap" when we're at the bigger cons. Of course, the prices for OOAK jewelry startle the kids at conventions; they haven't learned yet that you have to pay for high quality stuff ... Unless they're cosplayers, they shop for their "fine jewelry" in the department stores.

On the right, Pash't displays a jewelled choker. Joy learned how to make them at Beadworks (now defunct); I'm sure the pattern has appeared in Bead & Button or other jewelry magazines. We just reduced the pattern to fit the dolls ... originally Joy made several large pieces for human wear ... lots of head pins, many crystals, and hours of work. I still may make a steampunk piece in my colors (capri blue, hunter green, chocolate brown) and copper ... but I have to make the dress, too ... that won't happen before Animefest. Besides, it's too hot to wear courduroy with appropriate Victorian undies while the temperatures are topping 90 degrees -- if we're lucky. If not, it'll be closer to 100.

Steampunk -- when Goth met Brown, according to the fan boys ... The so-called "industrial chic," to use the hobby store's designation. I think it's a way to combine science fiction and fantasy with history ... and the fashions are much kinder to the heavier set (not to mention those of us who are over 30!) than much of the loligoth -- unless you go EGA (elegant goth aristocrat), which -- except for the colors -- isn't much different from steampunk fashion ... if you can, though, try to find the Victorian ghostbusters with their steam-powered "proton" packs as they prove that even in the past "who ya gonna call?"

Dance is the hidden language of the soul.

-- Martha Graham

May all your dances be happy ones!