Standing in a sunny field in Stratford this weekend we seemed to have been in the luckiest part of the midlands. Despite flash flooding in Birmingham we barely had a splash. Ominous looking rainclouds appeared over the horizon but passed on by (presumably over some less fortunate brummies.) Unfortunately, quite a few potential customers decided not to risk getting wet but those of us there had a great weekend.

There was an impressive array of re-enactors right through from Vikings to WWII. The battles were both dramatic and amusing (thanks to some great commentary) and we're looking forward to next year's event at Radley Hall.

We had a lovely Shopshire weekend at Chetwynd Medieval Festival. The sun shone and bees hummed busily up and down the rows of lavender. We were joined in our big red tent by the esteemed propriator of the Trolls Bottom Bar, Professor Bottoms himself, selling fine selection of mead, Crabbies grown up ginger ale and a dangerously pleasant new tipple, toffee vodka. The children enjoyed themselves running around the wilderness of the overgrown garden rooms adjacent to the event field lost in a fantastical world of their own imaginings. We plied our trade selling wooden kitchen ware and costume jewellery to re-enactors and visitors whilst enjoying medieval dances performed in the small arena directly in front of our tent and nipping out occasionally to watch battling knights in the larger arena along the field.

We plied our wares at this new and hotly anticipated event last Sunday. It was a friendly and bustling affair. Standing at a fair is an adventure. 
It starts early, loading your vehicle while your neighbours are still sleeping. (Best if it’s not raining.) 
Driving on empty roads as the sun comes up. 
(Best if your journey is not East to West.)
At the venue the pace quickens.  Carry your stock from your vehicle to your space. Greet the other stall holders, but hurry, get your covers on your tables, get your goods on the covers. 
This is the point at which you remember just what you forgot that you meant to bring! But never mind, there is no time to worry about it now, as you’ll be improvising on the spot to make your display beautiful.
 
There are many details to be dealt with before the fair. Exactly what to take and how best to pack it is a major one. We have stood at quite a few now and we used to pack everything into cardboard banana boxes and plastic crates.  These were good for stacking but awkward to carry. If, like me, you are not too tall and don’t have long strong arms, you can only manage one at a time or sacrifice valuable space in your vehicle to some kind of trolley.  Now we use hessian shopping bags from the supermarket, rectangular in shape and with good strong handles, we find we can carry at least two at a time, even more if the items are light enough. Okay, you have to pay for these and the banana boxes were free (when available and if the green-grocery manager was helpful!), but the bags are cheap enough and a great improvement and they take up little space when empty.  
Maybe we will have some customised with our own Vintiquita logo in time.
 
Standing at The Unconventional Meerkat – which had to have its name changed due to a local bylaw on “markets” - was a delight, with a warm friendly atmosphere, lots of folk in interesting apparel, both stall-holders and visitors.
There were some very varied goods on sale that you don’t see in shops. 
Want a shield? A helm?  Maybe some sweet smelling soap, pure and gentle on your skin, carefully hand made by a qualified apothecary.   
Would you like a wand,  a crystal ball,  a leather bodice?  Semi-precious stones set in silver?  There is an air of the faerie about it all.
Bolts of fine fabric in wonderful colours marched down the centre of the hall.  Unusual costumes require a lot of material.   If you don’t want to make your own there are skilled people to do it for you with beautiful robes, shirts, breeches and gowns made to measure or off the rail.   From the Medieval to the 20th century in style, there are items of costume, vintage jewellery,  wooden dishes, ceramic jugs, and tankards.  There are books, original art of the fantastical, scented resins, phials of oils, runes, decks of tarot, candles and candlesticks.  The air is full of perfumes and chatter, and the chink of coin, as the visitors meander happily between the stalls and stands and make their selection. 
Vikings, Saxons, Georgians, Victorians, 1920’s, Steampunks in top hats, hero coats of leather, swishing skirts,  and warriors and  soldiers of every period thronged the walkways – including a real live representative of TV’s Sharpe’s Rifles:  Private Harris, no less!. 
 
All in all, it was a good day.  We displayed our new Vintiquita sign, stood out from the crowd -  not an easy thing to do in this particular crowd - with a chunk of apple tree as a centre-piece giving a hint of the Pagan, complete with the ivy that was growing on it when it was cut down, on which we displayed a selection of our necklaces.  We have two looks which we wear to fairs, events, and the one and only Unconventional Meerkat (next on in October, 2010 – more details later).   We wear early medieval costumes for Medieval events and more Victorian outfits for mixed period events.
Our vintage jewellery proved popular, suiting a wide range of periods,together with books, rings and some kitchenalia items, including a large and very heavy granite pestle and mortar.*
We talked (a lot), and came away tired but happy at the end of the day. Altogether a great experience.
 
*For those who have ever wondered, but didn’t like to ask, the mortar is the bowl you crush and grind things in and the pestle is the bit you grip to do the
crushing and grinding.
 
Here’s a link to some other events where Vintiquita will be standing:
 
7th & 8th  August 2010 Midland History Festival   www.mid-fest.co.uk