Favors?

[Boring Norah]

I've seen a couple of examples of favors at our local faire - but I was wondering what you guys use as a "base" for your favors. Are they ribbons - painted, sewn, embroidered, etc - badges - pins, etc etc

I've never bothered with favors before but am considering it this year - i'm looking for a craft I can do an hour or so at a time and favor seems like a good idea - but i'm a bit undecided on how to go

[Buxom Wench]

My favors were quick and easy to make.

I used a black ribbon, sewed on amber coloured beads and a silver dragonfly.

[RaevynCait]

last year I used a small cookie cutter and cut little suns out of fimo clay, put a hole in the top and baked them, then tied a ribbon on them.

this year I'm planning double sided fimo clay beads that are embossed. Which reminds me, need to get my mold done.

[Selena]

Favors can be anything where your little imagination will take you. Anything. Just remember they are pinned to stuff and need to withstand the hazards of faire.

One year, I did little cowbells and gave them out. (personal joke for those who know me... that SNL BOC/Will Ferrell Cowbell skit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/More_cowbell)cracks me up SO much, I almost can't breathe.)

[Artemisia]

My favors always have the same base: fabric yo-yo's with gold ribbon.

[Black Delia]

There is a difference between the "favors" that are given out to our friends .. these are personal items that can indeed be anything you choose and/or are resourceful/crafty enough to think up and do.

...and the favors that are a part of "wenchings" (which are more commonly termed "ribbons" and are often used to 'spot award' someone for a favor done, or a pleasure encountered, while reveling)

I believe the wench handbook gives some suggestions for the latter, and some of the locals have a "standard" to keep the wenching ribbons/favors manageable to the *cough*gentlemen and ladies*cough* they are presented to.

As for the former, each of my personae characters has a favor that is suited to them and reminds the person gifted of who gave it and why.

Cordelia's "mistress of spies" favor is no longer in existance as she has moved on to captain her own ship. It was a tiny little spyglass with a black and russet red ribbon tied to it (as those were Delia's colors then)

Mahidavran's is an embossed and decorated gold band with a white ribbon edged in gold (the colors of her clothing) threaded through and knotted around it.

Black Delia's favors are a ships' wheel pin with a yellow ribbon included with a black and wine red ribbon (the addition of the yellow is a reminder and in memory of our men and women that make their livelihood defending my freedoms). (as a side note, my captain's hat also has a yellow ribbon incorporated.. it was intended for a single season, but has remained for over four years now and probably always will).

Oh, lest I forget.. the little played "Mistress Winifred" is a white dove pin with a washed olive green ribbon to compliment.

[wendyzski]

Let's see - over the years I have had a bunch of different ones.

1) I took the scraps of an old bodhran-head, stamped it with a letter Z and glued it to a pinback.

2) this past summer I found lampworked beads that were bunnies (since I have a pet one) and put them on head-pins. I still have heaps of those so I'll probably stick with them again this year.

3) When I played the Queen at Silverleaf many many many years ago, I had little silver-colored (plastic) leaves with green beads (to match my gown) strung on elastic cord for the kids at the Knighting ceremonies

4) One year I used up my spare bead stash on little eye-pins with a single bell at the end.

5) black fabric roses with green and/or silver beads

Other ones I remember were:

the maypole dancers at OKRF found long bugle beads and they strung on with a seed bead on each end (looked like a little tiny maypole) tied off with embroidery floss

Betsy Beans sets beans in acrylic in a bottle cap. I can't remember why I have a plastic banana from her friend but I do.

Small wooden shapes like hearts, painted with initials on them (H&A for Henry and Anne at KCRF one year) or small wooden disks or scraps of fabric with sayings ("Free Gabby!") or simple drawings on them (Queen Mum at KCRF)

I also still have Marti's burgundy ribbon with the tiny silver sheep on it.

Kendra is a sign lang. interpreter, so she got small pins with the ASL for "I Love You" on them.

Fred's wife Kathy braids cord in her spare time, so we each have a bit of hand-woven cording from her.

[Black Delia]

5) black fabric roses with green and/or silver beads

OMG! .. thats where that one came from!... *moves it to the special favors remembrance box*


OH OH! one year we had so many new and mundane rogues running around that didn't know how to sit down in a kilt, that I went and found "pink drink stabbers* and threaded them with bright pink ribbon...

most embarrassing wench award ... "the order of the pink sword" :haloslip:

[Runa]

Hmm, seeing how I've never seen a Wench Handbook does that mean I'm allowed to run around in circles shrieking the sky is falling, the sky is falling... watch out for flying monkeys?

I was totally embarassed to receive favors from the Wenchs (wonderful, beautiful women they were) when I got pinned at TRF. I didn't have anything to give them back. I'm still trying to figure out what would be "natural" to receive from me.

[Nimue]

I use polymer clay to make mine...I have a set of celtic knot rubber stamps that I rub embossing powder into and then stamp the clay. I bake it, glaze it, add a pin and ribbon and all done!

[Lady Sarah]

Hmm, seeing how I've never seen a Wench Handbook does that mean I'm allowed to run around in circles shrieking the sky is falling, the sky is falling... watch out for flying monkeys?

Please don't.

I was totally embarassed to receive favors from the Wenchs (wonderful, beautiful women they were) when I got pinned at TRF. I didn't have anything to give them back. I'm still trying to figure out what would be "natural" to receive from me.

Not every Wench or Rogue has favors to give out. It's not a mandatory thing. If nothing speaks to you, then don't worry about it. Soemthing may come to you in time.

Mine are little hand rolled black discs of fimo stamped in gold or silver with a celtic triskele.

Bit of Ironic Twist here... I found the stamp first, made my favors... then later in the year purchased a mug with a celtic design on them. Took me over a year to realize that the two designs were the exact same. I didn't even plan it that way!

[Buxom Wench]

Oh, and aside from the beaded ribbons I gave as favors,
I also gave out Rennie sporks as a little something different.

They were so big of a hit, I actually had a few people follow me to ask me for one.

[Lady Anisette]

I had no idea what to do as my favor for the longest time. I received many but had nothing to give in return. I wanted it to be different and definitely me.

This past summer, while looking for supplies, I found a woodcut artist in TX. She does small laser cut-outs of dog breeds. Well, anyone who knows me knows that I am devoted to corgis. She had one. I bought dozens, spray painted them black and then traced the outline in gold leafing marker. I put lace on the neck like an Elizabethan collar and glued on a pin back. Voila. A very personal and unique favor. People were asking for them at faire this fall. This year I am going to do them in colors.

BTW, this shop has many different small woodcuts and she does special orders. All very reasonable prices. If anyone wants wood favor bases in a special shape, drop me a line.

[Pansy Faye]

My favors are silk Pansies - go figure ::whistle::

[Black Delia]

I've been considering changing my favors for a while. The reason being that when my rogue and I were down in N.O. helping with the rebuilding and cleanup from Katrina I worked, for a time, with a man that is part of a historical society for the city.

Iris have always been my favorite favorite flower, so I was quite interested when he showed me a book on the history of the fleur de lis (the design is directly derived from the image of the iris).

Its perfect for my french personae of Cordelia. I just have to figure out a way to incorporate it into the designs of what I already have.

[Bronya]

I made little fimo grape clusters for my Wench garb and found little tiny ships bottle and filled them with corridander seeds and golden string and a ribbon for my Pyrate Garb (Saffron Korrie-Aynder is my persona)

[Adriana Rose]

I have been trying to figure out one for me.... I am a Garland Girl and well I cant think of any thing

[Bronya]

little tiny dried flowers in a circle like a tiny garland?

[renren]

Mine have varied, with a base of mostly beads. sometimes I have seashells... dolphins. I want to find something more ... me.The search goes on... and on.

[Annabella St. Clair]

Just start playing around with different things you like, things about your persona, or colors. Your first favor doesn't have to be your last.

I have a Bean one and my banana has a red/orange monkey attached to it.

Garland Girl, yep, little garlands. I can soooo see them. Maybe use those little flower sprigs that you buy for wedding cakes, get different colors and take them apart and put them together on wire.

My flavor is creme brulee so I stole from Bean and put small goldish color beads in a bottle cap and added polyeurothane that you use to put on wood. Took some trial and error to find the right combo. I did try real sugar but it melted and looked sick.

My original favors were turbonado sugar in little jars with ribbon. Too many people have them so the other creme brulees were made. I don't plan to change it but add small gold swans to signify my working at the Blond Swan.

My man did soccer balls with little chilis on them. They were his hot balls. lol. He even came up with that himself. His favors only go to women. It's an inside joke. If I can find roosters he's going to give the girls his "rooster" on a pearl necklace this year. Again only for the women. He's not one to hang with the guys at faire anyway. While I'm working he drinks down with my friends booth who hires cute girls with small amount of clothes on.

[LdyJhawk]

Favors can be anything where your little imagination will take you. Anything. Just remember they are pinned to stuff and need to withstand the hazards of faire.

One year, I did little cowbells and gave them out. (personal joke for those who know me... that SNL BOC/Will Ferrell Cowbell skit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/More_cowbell)cracks me up SO much, I almost can't breathe.)

If you know someone with an iPhone (or have one) ..there IS a "more cowbell" App...where you touch it and it rings the bell..but if you stop it says, "I GOTTA have more cowbell!"

[SHpepperKat]

Mine were red, black and purple rosettes of ribbon that I sewed pirate charms onto. I had several different charms that I used. i am looking and thinking on new favoes for this year because the rosettes were ones that I gave away at the wedding 1 1/2 years ago and since we are now getting divorced, i don't want to use them anymore. I've had a few ideas but I'm still not sure. My alteregos still don;'t have their own names yet. I've been thinking of naming my Pirate persons "Pepper ...." still can't think of her surname.

[wendyzski]

For inspiration and/or sources:

Oriental Trading Company
http://www.orientaltrading.com
they have LOTS of beads and charms under "craft supplies", and that's where I got my little glass bunnies!

Fire Mountain Gems
http://www.firemountaingems.com/
slightly more expensive but higher quality beads, charms, etc

[celtic wench suzi]

Mine were red, black and purple rosettes of ribbon that I sewed pirate charms onto... and since we are now getting divorced, i don't want to use them anymore.
How about adding a "cleansing" sprig of euchalyptus( at least I think euchalyptus is a cleansing plant). You know what I mean. Would keep your favor but realign the vibes.
My alteregos still don;'t have their own names yet. I've been thinking of naming my Pirate persons "Pepper ...." still can't think of her surname.
I must be hungry cause the first thing that comes to mind is "oni", sorry bout that. Another brain blip--"Pinzance" (sp). Pepper fits you so well. I'm sure someone will have much better suggestions.

[AnnaFaerie]

Mine were red, black and purple rosettes of ribbon that I sewed pirate charms onto. I had several different charms that I used. i am looking and thinking on new favoes for this year because the rosettes were ones that I gave away at the wedding 1 1/2 years ago and since we are now getting divorced, i don't want to use them anymore. I've had a few ideas but I'm still not sure. My alteregos still don;'t have their own names yet. I've been thinking of naming my Pirate persons "Pepper ...." still can't think of her surname.

My first thought for a surname was Pot...Pott...Potts as in "hotter than a pepper pot". I thought it was good for a sexy Wench.

[Phoenix McHeit]

Pepper N. Cini... a hot Italian whose father was a butcher. (Or so claims her mother)

[Lady Sarah]

My first thought for a surname was Pot...Pott...Potts as in "hotter than a pepper pot". I thought it was good for a sexy Wench.

I wouldn't suggest it... unless you're fishing for Geeky Iron Man references. ::clappin:

[SHpepperKat]

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions.


I find that the more changes I make for me the more I want to change the favor. I want to at least get rid of the red. The red was his color. I am thinking doing something with the black and purple and adding a different charm. I will figure it out. And If I decide to take Phee’s suggestion of a name, I can always find little tiny peppers and add that to the ribbon.


I had thought of “honeypott” but don’t think I really like it. “oni” is great by the way, I needed a good giggle today.



Pepper N. Cini seems to jump out the most for me this time. I might start working from that and see where I go from here. But I’d have to be the redheaded Irish or English wench whose father was a hot blooded Italian Butcher.

[Sorcha Griannon]

I haven't bothered with favors till this year. Hopefully, if those of us in Cali can get together at RPFS, they'll end up with my first:)


Sorcha

[littlekitty381]

I have not decided to do favors yet.. ut I want to..

MARY

[Gretchen]

One very depressing, WET Faire season, I gave out little "poison dart" rubber(?) squirting frogs. So getting wet might be FUN for a change. I wish I could find more now. Have fun with your favors!

[Boring Norah]

Wow - thanks for all the suggestions. :aok:

I've thought about it for a bit and I think I'm going with miniature bloomers. The girls and I have had a running joke with all our shows about putting generous patrons names on our underpants - and so far 4 of us have large patches/embroidered names on our knickers (Mine say "Gary" in 4" letters across the rump)

My sewing machine will do some basic lettering - so I think I can put my character name across the seat of the little knickers and then sew 'em up on the side.

Thanks again for all the great ideas - really got the creative juices going.