It's been a few days since the Fairy Fest, so I thought I'd bring it up-First off, what exactly is a Fairy Fest anyways? The proper name is the Phoenix Faerie Festival, and it's very much like a Ren Fair, only with a more Fairy theme to it. The vendors and attendees are highly encouraged to dress like fairies, goblins, etc. There's the typical food, arts, and crafts vendors, but most things have a fairy/fantasy theme to tie them to the event. Now that you know what a Fairy Fest is, my tie in to it is that I was invited by the Goblin Market Master (thanks Robert!) to attend the first ever Goblin Market, to be held at the Phoenix Faerie Festival. The Goblin Market was a 'barter only' market, meaning I could trade for items (beads, thread, shiny rocks, gems, gold, silver, a song, a dance, epic poem, etc....)So I gathered my things, and I invented a few more items to bring specifically for the great Goblin Market! From my yard, I gathered up sticks that had fallen from my tree all year to make great walking Staves. From my home improvement store, I bought some PVC piping and together with beeswax, I made didgeridoos. I opened my bead hoard and brought with me all sorts of beads and doo dads specifically for my trading. I did some trades for songs and dances, which I shared with the rest of the Goblin Market. I do think Robert and the rest of the attendance enjoyed the impromptu entertainment my enterprising trading was providing. My larger pieces I traded for objects of like value. I'm not one to trade and tell, but I did get some very nice items in trade. The Faerie Fest became a ball after dark, but I didn't stick around for it. I was really tired, so I packed up right at dusk and went home and slept! I was really looking forward to this event, and it did not disappoint. Things went just like I imagined them, and to a great degree, they went even better! I think that because I was there with just myself and Aaron, I was able to focus on the event itself and not have to worry about entertaining anyone else. Aaron was a perfect assistant, seeing to each task that I assigned him with great humor and lots of spirit. This last week, I did a few bonsai pots. Nothing really special, nothing that was technically difficult, just well made, functional bonsai pots. Well, they're greenware. Might raku or might go stoneware, who knows! I did a luminary and a crazy face pot. I meant to do more dragon heads, but I haven't yet. Somehow I doubt I will be able to do dragon heads while my family is visiting, but you never know. The festival has left me inspired and motivated to do more stuff!