It's finally warm

Things are finally picking up now that the weather is getting warmer! fullmoonhenna was at the Janesville Renaissance Faire in May and the Port Pirate Festival last weekend. There was quite a bit of wet weather, but both events were great fun.

Janesville Renaissance Faire 07

Never overschedule yourself! Last year we had one daughter going to prom on the first day of the fair. This was apparently not enough of a challenge for me! Always ensure you have your datebook before scheduling anything! This year we had two daughters going to prom, the Faire and my cadette troop camping for the weekend. I'm buying multi-colored highlighters this week so I don't make that mistake again!! I did meet some really nice people this year and hope we'll have more of the quirks worked out of our system before we do anyother faires.

Port Pirate Festival 07

This was our first year at this event and we were lucky to get a spot at the last minute! We were initially to be set up in the bar area, but an electrical problem found us relocated into the main pavilion with the regular vendors. Once the weather started happening on Saturday we were happy to be more enclosed. Note to self for next year - try not to be next to the storm drain!

Even though we ended with a tornado closing us down early, all and all it was a really fun event. I’ve never seen so many pirates! Our neighbors at the Northern Horde were gracious enough to provide us with a waterproof sword to protect ourselves. I highly recommend these to any and all vendors and small children who find themselves surrounded by pirates in the swimming pool!

This was our largest event so far and a great learning experience for henna people still working the kinks out of event henna-ing. We brought our faire setup not knowing it was a public show. We were either swamped with people or henna-ing each other for something to do.

Thoughts to make it better next year

• Bring a table for books. People don’t realize how much money you’ve invested in your pattern books until you’re flipping out because you’ve just been splashed for the third time as your oversized paperback version of Sumita Batra’s ancient henna journal is casually tossed in a puddle beside you.

• Find waterproof seating or a way to suspend people to henna feet after rain. Completely saturated fabric pillows offer a seating experience that’s incomparable in the shock department. Looking into the situpons that the girl scouts make as a possible alternative.

• Always bring extra containment for things you never expected to have, saturated fabrics, pirate doubloons, swords and other baubles. You can never really know what your husband and children will find amusing, so just make sure you’ve brought something to keep it safe and dry. Wet playthings just make for a lot of pouting.

• Learn to pack lighter. Carrying multiple bins back and forth every morning and evening to sleeping place and event isn’t much fun. Consider smaller bins or other watertight solution. Being realistic about what you’re going to need for three days away from home is really important. Even with the massive rain, no one needs eight pairs of socks and matching outfits. Having A costume per individual and a couple of pairs of mundane garb are better than filling suitcases when you’re traveling with you’re entire clan of gypsies. No matter what you’re children say, they don’t really need half of what they think they need to bring. And never take you’re favorite white quilt unless you’re sure you can keep it safe and dry!! It also leads to a lot of pouting.

The people who ran both events were fabulously helpful and I'm hoping to put both of these events on the calendar again next year!