So many things were invented or developed between 400BC to 1746AD, the time period which CROFT represents – glass, porcelain, firearms, pencils, ink, manufactured pens, concrete, paint, stains, dyes, toys, games, just to name a few. There are so many areas in which to develop and enjoy craft skills and trades.
Members of CROFT enjoy researching and learning about a vast range of trades and crafts which they then demonstrate at events and faires. In order to demonstrate at faire, you should be able to speak to how it would have been done during the period in which we are portraying. If you have to use modern equipment or accessories as part of your demonstration; many items of modern equipment or tools can be converted to look like period items or covered in such a way that they appear period and are still functional. In addition, many items can be crafted out of wood, steel or leather to appear period without much effort.
At some faires, CROFTers have an opportunity to sell* their period crafts. Interested in becoming a member? Below are some ‘idea starters’ you could research, learn, and demonstrate.
ARTS
Do you enjoy traditional music and dance? Drawing, sketching or painting? Maybe you’re interested in an entire process start to finish. Example, making paper or parchment then using it to scribe a story in calligraphy, and taking all those stories and binding them into a book? An important citizen of every Celtic community was the “seannachie” (shan-a-kee) or story-teller; who kept the old legends and stories alive. Could that be you?
The Irish, Scots and Welsh are all renowned for their music and dance. Visual arts, painting and drawing, and the decoration of everyday objects, have a long history in the Celtic world. Creations using gold, silver, and bronze made into jewelry or other kinds of handmade artifacts. The bright colors and fine calligraphy of manuscripts such as the Book of Kells, show the artistry of Celtic craftspeople down the ages.
Suggestions: painting and drawing; paper making; calligraphy; corndolly weaving; pottery; “seanachie” (story-teller); music and dance
DOMESTIC
Do you like to cook over an open fire? Make candles or soap as our forebears did? Are you already an arm-chair woodworker looking to create period items using the skills of wood-turning, carving, spoon-carving, toy-making, coopering and furniture. Maybe you’re interested in weaving baskets and making brooms? If you’re not so good with your hands, maybe try your hand at herbology and the knowledge of folk remedies of times past. You could portray an apothecary merchant or village healer.
Domestic life depended almost totally on the skills – and hard work – of the householders. Everyone in the family had a stake in their day to day survival. They had responsibility to gather and grow foods in season, preserve and cook the food; make, wash and mend clothing; make everyday utensils and toys out of wood and horn. Make new baskets and brooms when they wore out and constantly replenish their supply on soap, candles, and rush-lights. When our Celtic ancestors fell ill, they had make due on their knowledge of natural remedies.
Suggestions: cooking and food preservation; costume and kilt folding; basketry and broom-making; glass, soap and candles; apothecary
FIBERCRAFTS
Do you like to knit, sew clothes, embroider, sew tapestry, make lace, make felt? Are you interested in how wool, linen and other fibers were spun, dyed and woven in different ways to make cloth, belts, braid?
Spinning, weaving and felting, knitting and sewing were essential for producing every sort of fabric item from clothing to ships’ sails. Embroidery and blackwork were used to decorate fabrics; tapestry to create wall hangings for both beauty and warmth. Fibers were twisted or braided to produce cord and rope, then knotted and spliced to make netting and ships’ rigging.
Suggestions: spinning, weaving and dyeing; knitting, felting, rope and cord making; embroidery, netting and lace; sewing (clothes, hats, purses and bags)
LEATHERWORK
Period shoes are always hard to find; perhaps you could make them? There would be a ready market. Belts and purses are essential for the CROFT period and easy to make. Carved, stamped, and painted/dyed decoration adds appeal to plain leather items.
Leather was indispensable throughout the CROFT period. It was really the only tough, flexible, waterproof sheet material available.
Leatherworkers’ skills were in high demand. The crafting of clothing, boots and shoes, purses and bags, saddles, straps and sword belts, and flackets, costrels, and jacks were necessary items for Medieval life.
Suggestions: skinning, tanning and dyeing; boots, shoes, belts and bags; drinking containers, stamping and carving leather
METALWORK
A Blacksmith makes many kinds of weapons, armour, tools and other objects out of metal. He heats the metal in the forge to make it soft, and then hammers it on an Anvil to shape it. Smiths over the years specialized as armorers, bladesmiths, swordsmiths, nailmakers and chainmakers, branching out from the trade of general Smith. Blacksmiths also often were the farrier, making and fitting horseshoes to the many horses that transport relied on in that period.
The bronzesmith, silversmith and tinsmith made everything from everyday utensils to cheap ornaments and exquisite jewelry; both by hammering and by casting in pewter or silver and gold. The coin minter struck the coinage that was essential for trade, from everyday purchases in the market to international trade.
Suggestions: blacksmithing; bronze and silversmithing for jewelry and accessories; pewter and tin smithing; coin minting
WOODWORK
Woodworking would have been a common skill at least at the level of being able to execute simple repairs. Skilled craftsmen were far more than a domestic handyman. Professionals trades included shipbuilding, furniture making, building construction of homes and siege weapons. The woodworker skills spans a variety of related disciplines.
The woodcarver’s tools were quite similar to those used today, and would have consisted primarily of knives, saws, chisels, gouges, and rasps. The Viking Age peoples left no wooden surface uncarved. Bowls, spoons, furniture, even the beams holding up the home. Throughout history, the wood carver was an important and respected craftsman.
Suggestions: wood turning; furniture: toys and games; spoon carving and other treen; building structures
*Selling Items:
- 10% of your sales price goes to the CROFT coffers.
- Cost of items should include the sales taxes the seller needs to pay (State & Federal).
- Items must be sold at a whole dollar amount (no cents).
- Sellers are responsible to report and pay their own taxes from items sold per current State and Federal rules and regulations.