Vacation Highlights

I'm about to end the first phase of my working vacation. The gig went great. Four face painters, of which I was one. That was a fun day as I both entertained and was entertained by the wandering juggler, the balloon artist and the magic show.

I got to see 2 out of 3 grandkids. We all got to go to the local Renaissance Faire and drool over fine jewelry, meat pies, jousting and the best people watching on Earth. People outdid themselves with Steampunk attire, fairy wings, metal wire woven into elf ears, fancy masks and strange weaponry.
I did a little juggling and worked with the juggling sticks. I bumped into one of my belly dancing students Jenna, who now runs her own dance studio. I met her friend Gina, who also teaches belly dancing, and met her daughter who is growing like a weed. I saw another face painter named Theresa. She had the face painting booth at the faire, where I've worked before but that was years ago.

Face Painter Fayme Harper

Fancy dancing at the San Luis Obispo Renaissance Faire

The Greenman makes an appearance.

At the Renaissance Faire

My grandson in the pirate tunic I made for him.

Purple dreads.

My granddaughter's first Renaissance Faire

Double Crown Dancers do a sword dance.

I'm hoping to move back here some day.

Yesterday I saw a real deer walking past a fake deer. My daughter's house is nestled under oak trees.
I got to make a pirate outfit for my grandson to wear to the fair. My granddaughter also got a hat I made a few weeks ago. I started another monster hat for my grandson.  He enjoyed trying to play my mandolin. And my granddaughter is a sweet little thing who is teething and still happy most of the time.  I hate leaving them, but I need to get on with the rest of my vacation in Southern CA. I'm catching a train in an hour or two.

Oh and I almost forgot, my daughter signed up for ariel silks class. I got to watch her open workout class. It was full of advanced students hanging from long streams of lycra from the ceiling of a industrial workspace. It was like being in fairy tale land.

Time to get the two year old ready for the ride to the train station.  I wish he could go too. He loves trains.

When my daughter's were little I made them hats like this.

Swirly skirt

Maggie in the hat I knitted.

Happy World Juggling Day 2013

Usually I like to go to a big celebration at a park for World Juggling Day, but I don't know any jugglers now that I live out in the middle of nowhere. Hopefully it is the thought that counts.

Circus Skills Class

I'm thinking about teaching a circus skills class in Apple Valley, CA soon. It would include hooping, juggling, clown skills, costuming, and maybe unicycle if I can afford to get a new one.

 I went to a Steampunk event called Boomtown that got shut down before it opened, but I really love this canopy by the Steampunk Saloon. I wonder if they would have had circus performers inside it, or if there would have been a bar.

Clown Show 101

Clown Confessions:  When I did my first kid's party, I charged $50. After the show the Dad came out, told me his job at a store was to fire people, told me I wasn't good enough, and only paid me $25.  I was so hurt and angry I didn't know whether to quit or what. So I doubled my price, figuring if a future mean-spirited client were to do the same, I'd still take home the same amount of money I'd asked for to begin with. Then the funniest thing happened.  For a higher price, I got a better clientele. They appreciated me and never squabbled about the price or my show. #psychology

Sounds Like a Party

I had so much fun at the gig yesterday. The children were just spellbound with the face painting part. They all clustered around me hanging on my every word. The only time they ran off was when the birthday girl got a real live puppy for her birthday present. I can’t compete with puppies! Balloons were popular too and for a minute I thought I might run out! I thought I’d taken plenty. I need to get a new bag before the next party. My costume worked great except when it came to juggling! The long hair yarns kept getting hung up on my hands when I was trying to juggle. Maybe next time I’ll tie them behind my back first, or stuff them into my hat or something. The hostess turned on her music as I was about to juggle and it was so much more fun with the music. As a personal change I've decided not to hand out any candy. Too many kids seem to have allergies these days or weight issues. Instead I gave out toys. I got party headband crowns and dinosaurs and kazoos. The kids had no idea how to use a kazoo, so I'm not getting those again. But the crowns went great with the face painting. The hostess was so nice. She even gave me an enchilada plate to take for my lunch. And a tip. Awesome!

Costuming Challenge

I needed to come up with an outfit for juggling, face painting and balloons today. There wasn’t time to sew anything nor money to buy anything new. So everything had to be stuff I already owned. Half the elements I wanted to use where in the red family. The other half were in the blue family. I couldn’t figure out a way to marry them together. Then a few hours before the party I figured it out. I would make yarn hair ornaments using all the colors in my outfit. Then even if I take off my black and red hat, the rest of the costume would still look like it belonged together. I’ve done similar things with belly dancing costumes. Also I decided to wear blue striped socks with my maroon leg warmers since the skirt is maroon and the vest is blue. I’m not wearing a wig today and I wanted to fancy up my hair some so the colorful yarn braided into it should do just the trick. It will also keep my hair from tangling in the wind since the party is outside and inside and the wind tends to kick up in the afternoon. To make the hair streamers, you cut long lengths of yarn and then tie them to a hair elastic using a lark’s head knot (like in macramé). I doubled each strand. I will braid the top part into my hair and let the bottom part stream down giving a merry effect. It makes my hair look longer than it really is. I’ll try to take some photos before I leave today. I also bought shoelaces to match my outfit on the way to the party. I think they were just the right touch. It made my day when I arrived at the party and the person who hired me said, "You look great!"

Gig Tomorrow

I'm so excited that I'm going to be doing a birthday party in Victorville tomorrow. I'll be doing face painting, balloon creations, and juggling. I cleaned out my face painting kit and filled it with new supplies. I have half of my costume together. I hope I get home before it's dark so I can juggle a bit. It's my first party in the High Desert so I'm crossing my fingers that it leads to bigger and better things.