When I decided to go in garb to my first Ren Fair (Carolina Renaissance Festival 2005) I was sporting the same hat that I wear to this day. It is a waxed and oiled, bifurcated tricorn, the style of which is called The MacKay.  Here is a pic: I love this hat.  Just in case you don’t understand:  I LOVE THIS HAT.  It was purchased from the premier pirate haberdashers on the world wide web, Captain Jack’s Pirate Hats.  The haberdasher himself is Jeff MacKay.  I can not say enough good things about this particular merchant.  here are few things that you need to know about Captain Jack’s Pirate Hats: You are not...

Here is one of my favorite online vendors.  Museum Replicas is located in Atlanta, GA and they turn out some of the best replicas and costume pieces that you will find online.  Now, that being said we are not talking handmade garb.  We are not talking all hand-forged weapons, though most of their weapons are hand forged.  We are talking factory made but they are also cost effective and their hand-forged items are incredible!  You are not going to be misled by this group.  Here is one of my favorite things about their website:  you can search by Time Period.  Yes, friends you can choose your genre.  If you are a steampunker, choose...

I decided to make this the Christmas post because I love to shop with these guys. They aren’t exactly your typical Ren Faire merchant but their quality and value is out-of-sight!  Jas Townsend is one of those Niche catalog companies that everyone should buy from at least once so that you get your name on their mailing list.  Of course the bad part of being on their mailing list is that you are going to buy from them again and again and again.  Their selection is frontier and colonial period by nature.  If that is the time period that gets you going then they are certainly a one stop shop for costuming.  If you are a Rennie… trust me...

If you are ever in East TN and you need a place to go knock around and look at some great Renaissance stuff I have a suggestion:  Smoky Mountain Knife Works. Now, if you get their catalog, you are thinking: they carry mostly pocket knives.  You are right and if you are a pocket knife enthusiast then they are certainly more of a destination then they are a stop.  But if you are into Ren Faires and that kind of thing they are certainly a destination and you will find some amazing things at their store that you might never see in their catalog.  Plus their store is all hands on. When you go in the main entrance, you will be overwhelmed. ...