I don't post nearly as often as I should.  Lately, so much has been going on that faire season is the least of my worries.  Within the last week, my mother went for outpatient surgery (and is fine) and two fairly close friends of the family were lost.  I've been painting all winter like a madman, and have gotten a lot done.  Something has to fill the void that my horse retiring has left me.  I've also gotten back into painting Games Workshop figures.  I started painting Kevin's army that he didn't want anymore, and it came out pretty spiffy. I've been selling the army off in lots in my ebay store and they have been quite popular.  I've even gotten two commissions for painting other people's armies.  That will certainly help with the moving costs.  Oh yeah.... I didn't mention that I'm moving.... tomorrow.   A beautiful apartment opened up in a complex that we have been looking at.  We had to beg for a bit of money to start, but should have no troubles affording the higher rent.  We're trading our one bedroom apartment that is the size of my EZ Up to a two bedroom that has a one car garage, basement, laundry room ( now we just need washer/dryer), big kitchen, dining room, one large bathroom upstairs and a half bath in the laundry room.  The living room is about the same size as what we have now, but the rest of the place is certainly roomier.  The most important part is that I will finally have my own space (downstairs and garage) to paint, primer, airbrush, and make a general mess that won't effect the rest of the apartment.  AND,.... we only have one adjacent neighbor and no shared hallways. These are townhouse type. I can't wait.  My painting stuff has been packed up for over a week now and I'm getting a little shaky, esp. now that I have commissions waiting for me. 

          As far as faires this season goes.... I'm excited.   I still have a ton to do.  I have a bunch of cloth that needs to be tablecloths, I need new garb this year. I've been vending for three or four season with the exact same outfit that I started with, plus one shirt.  Kevin's mother is great at sewing chemises together, but she likes to overbook her projects for other people. I'm going to have to barter dinner or something for some home sewn garb.  Wether I sew, buy new, or buy used... I really need some new stuff to wear.  I also want to spiff up my displays a little.... I have  a bunch of new painted figures that will probably fill a six foot table by themselves.  So that leaves me to buy another table as well.  Time is closing in too fast for me to get everything done myself. 

          My concern with faire are the ever rising gas prices.  Not only does that make me nervous about putting gas in my own tank to drive places, but it makes me worry about the patrons.   Is a day at a renaiassance faire going to be in the budget this year for faire goers?  The show will always have their die hard fans, but my stock depends on new patrons, preferrably with kids that would like an affordable trinket to remember their day by.  The rennies out there usually go for garb, armor, and weapons... useful things that they may have saved all winter for.   I'm booked for three shows this year.  I wanted to find more, but these concerns may limit me to these three only. 

         My ebay and ecrater stores were supposed to help with these costs over the winter, but I'm only selling enough to make my fees and maybe a hair more.. ... but not a gas tank more.