Apr 1, 2010

FROUDS REVEAL "THE HEART OF FAERIE"


Brian & Wendy Froud are excited about attending RenCon and celebrating the release of their new book, THE HEART OF FAERIE ORACLE. Brian has always said that Wendy is the best interpreter of his work in 3D. Now she brings the same insight into Brian's world as well as her own life experiences with faerie to her descriptions of the cards and Brian is thrilled with the result. The Frouds have been using the HEART OF FAERIE cards for a while now and look forward to sharing their discoveries and revelations with you. Don't miss this great chance to explore THE HEART OF FAERIE personally with Brian & Wendy at RenCon: www.renconvention.com. get your tickets NOW!

Mar 29, 2010


MATTHEWS ILLUMINATE ALL THINGS ARTHURIAN
If you are interested in Arthurian, Celtic or Western sacred traditions, you don't want to miss this rare opportunity to meet and hear John & Caitlin Matthews at RenCon. Internationally celebrated as authorities in their fields as well as best selling authors, John & Caitlin bring a unique storyteller's insight and magic to their explorations of history, myth, legend and ritual. They passionately believe that these stories and ancient wisdom should be alive in our lives, not confined to academic studies: the Matthews truly "Live Their Legend!" Meet John & Caitlin at RenCon: get your tickets NOW at http://renconvention.com

Mar 20, 2010

RENCON: FOR LOVERS OF FAERIE

This is NOT your typical "tankard toasting, turkey leg wielding" RenFaire. In the spirit of the true meaning of "Renaissance," RenCon celebrates today's exciting re-birth in the mythic arts. Grounded in history, rooted in myth and legend and inspired by fantasy, people of all ages are seeking to "Live their Legend" in every aspect of their lives. At RenCon we are assembling the best artists, crafters, jewelers, costumers, clothiers, mask makers and body decorators from the Renn, faerie, fantasy and yes, steampunk worlds. It's all here for three magical days and two enchanted nights with the amazing music of Estampie and Qntal at the Masquerades where you (and your wings!) will feel right at home! For more information and tickets, visit: www.renconvention.com


Mar 14, 2010

Faeries Do Exist


This is a
wonderful article by Bronwynn Manaois from the on-line magazine, Flux that really captures the intention and spirit of all Faerieworlds events. Enjoy!
- Robert

As I walk through the arches of the McDonald Theatre, I hear the words to an old Joe Jackson song in my head: “I stepped into, I stepped into, into another, into another world.”

I am instantly bombarded by grown women wearing fairie wings .Men in top hats and goggles look as if they have just stepped off the time machine. Elven points adorn the ears of spritely looking fellows, and the ”bad fairies” come dressed in black lace and even blacker stares. Angels walk the hall with dragons, and witches cackle from the corners. Everywhere is mischief and magic. This is Faerieworlds. The Bad Faerie Masquerade Ball, to be exact.

I had prepared accordingly. Knowing that anyone daring to venture into this territory without the proper accoutrements would be scorned, banished, or maybe even pixie-led, I dressed as my natural world alter-ego, The Mobster Fairie. Complete with a gun belt on my thigh (packing only a child’s water-gun, not loaded) and a flapper-esque dress, I was allowed to pass through the realm undetected. The Green Man, the archetypal embodiment of nature in British-Isle lore, whistles at me from his perch on the stairs. Fairies fix their wings in the bathroom mirrors while gnomes and goblins imbibe in the bars. It’s like a night-club for the otherworld, a scene straight out of Labyrinth with David Bowie singing to me from the balcony. I feel right at home.

For the past four summers, I have attended the Faerieworlds festival held outside of Eugene. The three-day event takes place on Lughnassah, an ancient Celtic rite marking the midsummer point. My own Celtic heritage is greeted warmly at Faerieworlds, where tribes of people gather from throughout the nation, and even the globe. This convergence of like-minded folks is a haven for those who choose to practice ancient, nature-based religions and for those who simply like to dress up.

The wild popularity of this gathering is matched by one in the rolling hills of my hometown, Glen Rock, Pennsylvania. The 20-year-old Spoutwood Farm Fairie Festival has been host to tens of thousands of nature spirits each May Day. The Spoutwood Festival is held on the first weekend of May, which is believed to hold the budding, fertile energy of all that is Spring.

Both festivals draw international Celtic and mystical musicians, and a Renaissance fair-like atmosphere of artisans. The canvas tents, resembling a village from a time long gone, boast handmade treasures. There’s pottery, jewelry, fantasy art, and delicious food. Fairie wings, Pan horns, and clothing to satisfy even the sauciest wench pour from old wooden chests. There is a sense of history and place, but also of magic. The pennants flying in the breeze above the encampment whisper ancient secrets.

Revelers come to these festivals to pay homage to an old way of being that still has merit in our modern world. The dizzying pace of communication is slowed to a natural rhythm. Some folks attend as a sort of spiritual retreat, a respite from the everyday, a safe place to worship. Here, imagination is alive and well and creativity is celebrated. You can come as you are or what you dream to be.

Smoke pours from the stage as Zoe Jakes, the tribal bellydancer accompanying Beats Antique, takes the stage. Her presence is electric, the crowd is mesmerized by her undulations. The music, a mix of ancient and modern, transforms the theatre into a swaying sea of glitter and feathers. Prior to this, sound pirates Abney Park called the fairies to the dance. With an eclectic mix of instruments, they set the wheels in motion.

The highlight of the evening was the mid-winter ritual. The symbolic crone passed her light on to the sleeping trees, whispering the prayers that stir them to life. The Green Man and storyteller Mark Lewis teach the audience to become like the rain. We listen as we start with a soft pitter-pat and swell to a deluge, sweetly finishing like the dew. There was magic that night, made through the intentions of the winged crowd.

When I step outside of the theatre, something in the air shifts. Maybe it was the wind caused by the rushing cars. Maybe it was my overactive, story-telling imagination. But maybe, just maybe, there was something else. As I walk down the city street, a soft mist forms, and I notice the first tiny buds growing on the trees.

Feb 28, 2010

NOTES FROM A "GREEN" FAERIE


Here's a great review of Winter Celebration from a first time Exhibitor, Melissa Barton:
I write you this as a first time Faerieworld participant, damp behind the ears and wings covered in dew:
I never fancied myself a Fae Folk, but with a little gentle prodding from Robert, I found myself in the lush, green late Winter of Eugene with my spinning wheel. Sure, I had all kinds of worries of the right thing to wear and what would it be like, but as soon as I sat down at my spinning wheel, that all spun away.

I spent the Winter Celebration weekend doing a fiber arts demo at the festival along with my business cohort, Laura, of Krafti-Kit. With wheels and spindles and "sheepiness" in tow, I spent the weekend showing folks what I love most to do, play with fiber. There's a close relationship that is just now being unveiled to us both, the Fae and Fiber worlds. It's about tradition, storytelling, the passing down of craft and the love of creating the clothes we dream of wearing. To "tell a good yarn" is now synonymous with the telling of a good story when in fact it's roots take place in the woman's work of actually making yarn and telling stories to pass the time.

I normally have a lot of kids who drag their parents to see what I'm doing. In this environment, where the children often roamed freely, the little girls were all in their faerie costumes, whooping it up. That left the boys to...find other things to occupy themselves: A fast turning wheel and some fiber magic. It was a joy to see the fascination of these children as it always reminds me of my own as a child. I've carried it with me all my life, and here I am, bringing that tradition forward.

Bringing tradition forward is very much what Krafti-Kit is all about. Through simple (and some not-so-simple) needlearts kits, we bring all these traditions forward.

I spent my time at the festival teaching from our drop spindle kit and Laura was doing a great job teaching first-time knitters. With every purchase we gave away a little needlepoint kit. The most common exclamation being "That's so cool, it looks nothing like what my mom did!" And that's what it's about for us. We call it "cross training in fiber-arts." Once you learn to sew or knit, give crochet, spinning or needlepoint a try! With a kit, you can try on these new skills with everything you need to get started and some pretty immediate gratification.

I'm so pleased to feel more comfortable in my new wings. Next time around I hope to have crocheted something quite wonderful for my "literal" wings. My creative inspiration is at "10" right now after eying all the amazing faeriewear. But, I'll just wait a bit to start those new projects, because right now I'm just enjoying the Faerieworlds afterglow...

Feb 19, 2010

WINTER CELEBRATION INSPIRES AMY BROWN

We were honored to have Amy Brown join us for the first time at Winter Celebration, she even attended the Masquerade Balls for the first time. Here are her thoughts about the event and how it ignited her creative energies when she returned to her studio. It's wonderful and heartening for us to know that our events can inspire people's lives in so many ways. Here's Amy:

"Returning home from the Faerieworlds Winter Celebration, I was feverish with a need to paint. For months I've felt stagnant when
I thought of my art, and suddenly I was inspired. Inspired! The costumes and atmosphere at Faerieworlds always leave me feeling super charged-my mind churning with new ideas and a raw desire to create. Normally, I spend no more than a day or two on a painting, my attention span being ridiculously short. But suddenly, I had something I felt was worth spending time on. Nearly a week later, I completed "Goblin Mask". It feels as though I am stepping up to the next level of my work. I've broken through a barrier that has always kept me in check-not brave enough, or confident enough, to paint from the depths of my true heart.

At Faerieworlds, there are no barriers. Everyone is allowed and encouraged to express their creativity without fear of judgment. To take a piece of that home, is a rare gift."

Feb 17, 2010

Winter Celebration Reflections

Faerieworlds Winter Celebration was a wonderful weekend that was a revelation in many ways. As last year, both Masquerade Balls were packed to near sellout capacity. On Good Faeries Night, Woodland delivered an amazing, rocking set that showcased their new members and song production. Abney Park brought the drama and power of steampunk that made a surprisingly successful mash up with the faerie realm. Bad Faeries Night totally lived up to its outrageous reputation. Delhi 2 Dublin threw down the most outrageously excellent, on-fire set, unquestionably the musical high point of the weekend. Beats Antique kept the dance floor pumping while Zoe Jakes entranced the crowd with her exotic tribal belly dance moves. Kelly and Emilio Miller Lopez produced a lovely ritual performance in celebration of the full moon. And Adam Hurst's intoxicating cello mesmerized the crowd each night. My biggest surprise was to see how many people joined us at the Lane Events Center for a two magical days of music, workshops and shopping at the Faerieworlds Marketplace for this first time event. It was such a pleasure to see so many happy faces enjoying our amazing vendors and fine musicians. In reflecting about the weekend now, it is so gratifying to see so many of our friends and guests in the Faerieworlds family joyfully come together in the heart of winter, exactly six months from our summer event. Our thanks to everyone and especiallt to our Faerieworlds team who makes our events possible; we'll see you next year and this summer at Faerieworlds! - Robert