These are updated as we are accepted in the events.
Write us for further information or directions.
April 19th = IPAN - North of Iowa City, Iowa CANCELLED
May 22 - 26th = HEARTLAND Pagan Festival, Kansas
A very well run festival on private grounds.
Not open to the public. Write for more info.
June 7th - 8th = IOWA METAPHYSICAL FAIR
Iowa State Fair Grounds in Des Moines
Readers, Jewelry, Massage Therapy, Healers,
Crystals, etc. a very nice small fair.
June 21 -22nd = JUBILEE OLDE ENGLISH FAIRE
Jubilee College State Park, near Kickapoo Illinois
West of Peoria.
Very Nice Large Fair !
Been running for many years. Well worth seeing.
September 21st = RIVERFEST ? (Not accepted Yet)
Art Fair in Quincy - City Park against the river between the two giant bridges to Missouri. A nice Arts and Crafts Type Fair.
October 4th - 5th = RIVERSANCE ?
Sioux City Iowa
A nice Mid-sized Renaissance Fair.
More to come - Keep Checking Back.
or Feel free to write us with suggested events.
We generally don't drive more than a state or so away.
Made by Hand:
What exactly do we mean when we say made by hand?
We mean that our techniques are very basic. We make jewelry as it's been made for many millennium before the industrial age came about which seperated man from his creations. Yes, we are quite old fashioned and it takes a lot of time to create each piece. It is a very magical process.
- We choose the finest pewter available. It is lead free and similar to the ancient Britannia of 2000 years ago. It is melted in small iron pots and ladled by hand to the molds.
- We create all of our own molds. They are specifically designed for the metal to be hand poured into one at a time. This technique is nearly lost. Each mold holds one piece. We do not spin cast the molds, as this compresses the metal and does not allow it to crystalize as it wants. It must cool gently on it's own to create the proper feel of the pewter .
- Sprues are cut off one at a time. All scraps and mis-cast pieces are recycled back to the iron pot (cauldron).
- Each tab is individually drilled and reamed.
- The pieces are hand dipped and brushed to apply the black patina. Then hand washed and dried.
- There are 5 steps from filing the rough edges through to the final polish wheel. Each is done by hand. This takes the most time in creating the pieces.
- Finally the pieces are hand dipped in a clear coat designed to protect the pieces from humidity.
When they are finally mounted they are placed with description cards which are also cut by hand. The Athames have many more steps which take far longer to create. With over 20 years of experience learning the cooperative process with the pewter Mark can call himself a "Master White Smith".
