rick and deborah farrington

ok nancy theres 3 of us in idaho(on this list) we could start the cool place in
idaho, after all we do have some strange groups already who have started their
commune type places here already why not do another, not that ours would be
strange, ell ok to other people it would be:-) Deborah in Idaho

Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall wrote:

> From: Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall <tn-k4of5@...>
>
> "I think I would like to live in a great intentional community and hang out
> with likeminded folks. Then I worry that I may change and will live among
> people who aren't like me at all. Would that be ok or would I be miserable?
> I think I would like to get maybe 10-50 acres, off the grid someplace and
> do the homestead thing. Enough room that friends and family could live
> there too if they wanted."
>
> >> I love thinking along these lines.
>
> Me three!!
>
> I think joining the SCA might be fun.
>
> >>Am I naive? What is this?
>
> The Society for Creative Anacronism (spelling?) probably the biggest
> organization of Renaissance and Mediavel re-enacters...those folks who put
> on the Ren. Faires. The only problem with such groups, the SCA in
> particular, is that they can be extremely political, and I just don't want
> to get involved in all that. By political I mean the internal politics of
> heirarchy dynamics, etc.
>
> Nanci K. in Idaho
>
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Jeff & Diane Gwirtz

> Hmmm, around here most of us stay pretty far away from the RenFaires.
> Too commercial and they don't want "extras" wandering about in costume. As
>
That's too bad. The Festival we go to every year encourages "extras"
in costumes - the more the merrier.

We don't belong to SCA, but it seems to come up over and over again
in unschooling circles, so there must be a common appeal.

Diane from KS
jagwirtz@...

Jane E.

> From: "Jeff & Diane Gwirtz" <jagwirtz@...>
>
> > Hmmm, around here most of us stay pretty far away from the
RenFaires.
> > Too commercial and they don't want "extras" wandering about in costume.
As
> >
> That's too bad. The Festival we go to every year encourages "extras"
> in costumes - the more the merrier.

Ours, too. And although it is commercial, we have a lot of fun buying
things (hats and jewelry). And I have to say this year I was surprised at
how educational it was. We considered it a great homeschooling field trip.

Jane

Jane E.

Very good point, Nanci (and please notice that I spelled your name right ;-)
I hadn't considered that aspect of the crafts on sale there, but next time I
hear criticism of how expensive it all is, I will remind people of that. I
certainly found myself wishing that I were independently wealthy when my 14
yo dd tried on a hat that looked so-oo-oo adorable it brought tears to my
eyes. I said "Oh, we must buy that!" Then asked how much it was. $110!!!
But I gotta tell you, if I'd had that kind of money to spend on a hat, I
would have bought it in a heartbeat.

Jane

> I just have to say, I don't consider it "commercial" when almost all of
the
> vendors are independent artists and businesspeople selling their own
works.
> They are exactly the type of artisans that I prefer to partonize, and
many
> of their wares are difficult or impossible to find in other venues

Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall

"I think I would like to live in a great intentional community and hang out
with likeminded folks. Then I worry that I may change and will live among
people who aren't like me at all. Would that be ok or would I be miserable?
I think I would like to get maybe 10-50 acres, off the grid someplace and
do the homestead thing. Enough room that friends and family could live
there too if they wanted."

>> I love thinking along these lines.


Me three!!

I think joining the SCA might be fun.

>>Am I naive? What is this?

The Society for Creative Anacronism (spelling?) probably the biggest
organization of Renaissance and Mediavel re-enacters...those folks who put
on the Ren. Faires. The only problem with such groups, the SCA in
particular, is that they can be extremely political, and I just don't want
to get involved in all that. By political I mean the internal politics of
heirarchy dynamics, etc.

Nanci K. in Idaho

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/6/1999 15:37:09. Eastern Daylight Time,
tn-k4of5@... writes:

<< The Society for Creative Anacronism (spelling?) probably the biggest
organization of Renaissance and Mediavel re-enacters...those folks who put
on the Ren. Faires. The only problem with such groups, the SCA in
particular, is that they can be extremely political, and I just don't want
to get involved in all that. By political I mean the internal politics of
heirarchy dynamics, etc.
>>

Hmmm, around here most of us stay pretty far away from the RenFaires.
Too commercial and they don't want "extras" wandering about in costume. As
for the politics, plenty of folks who see a small pond and immediately wanna
be a big fish, but I think it's pretty easy to play your own game in it, and
ignore the petty silliness. After all, when things are said and done, a
pointy hat and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee like anybody else. I
don't think I saw the beginning of this thread, but I find the SCA pretty
unschoolish and fun, though for an intentional community I'm not so sure. I
saw someone advertizing for "populace" for some hunk of land they wanted to
set up an SCA community on once, but I can see major cans of worms there.
One can be like-minded enough with a bunch of people to enjoy a hobby with
them, without agreeing enough on fundamental values and priorities to feel
very like-minded when it comes down to 24/7.

Karen, (with Helen, 6, Agent of Chaos, and Gordon, 3, Agent of Destruction)

Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall

>Ours, too. And although it is commercial, we have a lot of fun buying
>things (hats and jewelry). And I have to say this year I was surprised at
>how educational it was. We considered it a great homeschooling field trip.
>
>Jane

I just have to say, I don't consider it "commercial" when almost all of the
vendors are independent artists and businesspeople selling their own works.
They are exactly the type of artisans that I prefer to partonize, and many
of their wares are difficult or impossible to find in other venues. Ya'
can't just sashay over to Walmart and get hand made leather journals or
swords or fantasy jewelery, or a lot of the whimsical things like wands
etc, or the utilitarian art like pottery, wood dishes and toys, etc.

Nanci K. in Idaho

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/6/1999 20:05:36. Eastern Daylight Time,
tn-k4of5@... writes:

<< I just have to say, I don't consider it "commercial" when almost all of the
vendors are independent artists and businesspeople selling their own works.
They are exactly the type of artisans that I prefer to partonize, and many
of their wares are difficult or impossible to find in other venues. >>

Sorry, you're right. Lovely people and all that. I guess I was comparing it
to the SCA, not Walmart. In the SCA you can get years of martial instruction
and almost any kind of craft instruction you want also, scot free. I do
calligraphy and illumination in the SCA, and the work is given to the kingdom
and then given to award recipients to commemorate their service. If someone
wants to learn what I can teach, I'm expected to make an effort to help them,
without remuneration. Commercially, my work would have to run into several
hundred dollars. Obviously, yes, if I want to actually make a living at my
craft, I would have to go elsewhere, though as fewer SCA people are making
all their own stuff, and as, on the whole, they get wealthier, that is
changing. I am probably a complete curmudgeon, and frankly, my budget is
more in the rummage sale range than even Walmart's, so I find county fairs
and craft shows and all manner of things too commercial. But, if I have to
pay a substantial entrance fee to something, I want workshops and activities,
not sales booths, ('cause getting in has left me broke), and things to
passively observe. The renfaires seem to fill a niche in the world and
entertain people at large very nicely, which is well and good, and they do
provide a living for good craftspeople and performers. But, if you want to
learn to make your own hat, or stop rolling dice to see whether your
character beats another in a fight, the SCA is there and people will show you
how to do everything they know without any money changing hands.

Karen, (with Helen, 6, Agent of Chaos, and Gordon, 3, Agent of Destruction)

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/6/99 2:37:04 PM EST, tn-k4of5@... writes:

<< The Society for Creative Anacronism (spelling?) probably the biggest
organization of Renaissance and Mediavel re-enacters... >>
Nanci,
Cool, where do you get all this info? I love the Ren Fest. we have here in
Miami, it is so cool, and the Ren. Society puts it on, I would love to be a
part of it, but just don't have the time.
Teresa

Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall

><< The Society for Creative Anacronism (spelling?) probably the biggest
> organization of Renaissance and Mediavel re-enacters... >>
>Nanci,
>Cool, where do you get all this info? I love the Ren Fest. we have here in
>Miami, it is so cool, and the Ren. Society puts it on, I would love to be a
>part of it, but just don't have the time.
>Teresa

All what info? I'm not sure if you are teasing me, or if you are geinuinly
asking me for how to get access to certain info.

Nanci K. in Idaho

Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall

At 08:29 PM 09/06/1999 +0100, you wrote:
>From: "Jane E." <jaelise@...>
>
>Very good point, Nanci (and please notice that I spelled your name right ;-)
>I hadn't considered that aspect of the crafts on sale there, but next time I
>hear criticism of how expensive it all is, I will remind people of that. I
>certainly found myself wishing that I were independently wealthy when my 14
>yo dd tried on a hat that looked so-oo-oo adorable it brought tears to my
>eyes. I said "Oh, we must buy that!" Then asked how much it was. $110!!!
>But I gotta tell you, if I'd had that kind of money to spend on a hat, I
>would have bought it in a heartbeat.
>
> Jane

You know, you can haggle with these artisans if you are so inclined. They
ought not to be offended as, although their work is artistic in nature,
they are there to make sales. I would have politely inquired as to whether
they were willing to go any lower on the price, and a little cash visibly
in hand does not hurt either!

Nanci K. in Idaho

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/7/99 0:00:04 AM EST, tn-k4of5@... writes:

<< ll what info? I'm not sure if you are teasing me, or if you are geinuinly
asking me for how to get access to certain info. >>
Nanci, no, I am not teasing. You seem to have a lot of good information and I
never even heard of SCA. I know about Ren Fest. but not this association.
: )
Teresa

[email protected]

In a message dated 09/06/1999 8:05:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
tn-k4of5@... writes:

<<
I just have to say, I don't consider it "commercial" when almost all of the
vendors are independent artists and businesspeople selling their own works.
They are exactly the type of artisans that I prefer to partonize, and many
of their wares are difficult or impossible to find in other venues >>

Nanci
My husband and I are potters--we have a gallery but we also do craft shows.
We appreciate people who value the hand crafted object--things that are made
by hand with heart. We don't even try to compete with the vavious "marts" (K,
Wal- etc). We make stuff one at a time, by hand. We don't sell, people
buy.(kind of like we don't teach, our kids learn) ..It's a different way of
being--it is a reflection of our value structure. when people comment about
a finger print or a nail mark we tell people that what they are seeing is the
mark of the craftsman--it lets you know that the item was made by a person,
not a machine!!
Debra

[email protected]

In a message dated 09/06/1999 8:24:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
jaelise@... writes:

<< but next time I
hear criticism of how expensive it all is, I will remind people of that. I
certainly found myself wishing that I were independently wealthy >>
Jane
We hear comments about the cost of the work all the time, and we struggle
with making things accessible to people. It's a tough issue--I don't know
any wealthy craftspeople (monitarily, that is).Many don't have health
coverage and few have retirement plans.the longest vacation we've taken is 3
days. My husband and i are rare--neither one of us has another job or teaches
in addition to being a maker of things--and I haven't been in the studio for
a year. Making things by hand is expensive, period. Time, materials, how
long it has taken one to develop the skills to create the work... We will
always work out a plan for people if they want a piece.
We've organized other artists to donate good seconds to the battered women's
shelter in out area--thie items are given to women for the holidays,
birthdays, mothers' day etc.We give our time and our work to various
charitable community groups.
We have a family to support--house, vehicle etc. It's tough to balence it
all...
Debra