Gatherings and Parties

For all those who are interested in being a fairy character at Sherwood Forest Faire, or for those who simply wish to get in touch with their sprightly inner-sElves:
 If that ain't you, please feel free to forward this invitation to your winged friends and relations.
 
The First semi once-in-a-while Faery Workshop Campout will take place
starting at 11:00 am Saturday May 16th at the Sherwood Forest
Fairegrounds!  EarthMammaWillow, otherwise known as Faery-Coordinator
extraordinaire Brooke Chaney, will be our host.  She and her team of
Faery experts will lead us through the do's and don'ts of faerydom,
the mannerisms of various common faeries (which you may develop your
own faery character from), and methods by which faeries may best
acquire shiny metal and square paper leaves from patrons.  We will
learn to make cobwebs in trees, how to speak animal languages, and we
will dance in a fairy circle at the stroke of midnight. Basically a
regular business meeting for faery folk.  I hope we will learn what in
the world a Seelie is... I thought it was a kind of mattress, but
apparently it has something to do with forest folk, and both seelie and non-seelie
fairies are welcome. * This just in- EarthMammaWillow says Seelies are happy, light faeries
and Un-Seelie are a bit more gloomy and dark* We're learning already!
 Here is Earth Mamma Willow’s invitation to you:
 
Host: Sherwood Forest Faeries!!
Type: Meetings - Club/Group Meeting
Network: Global
Start Time: Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 11:00am
End Time: Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 2:00pm
Location: Sherwood Forest faire site
Phone: 832-338-0282
Email: earthmammawillowdesigns@...
 
The first faery workshop for the sherwood forest faeries!! You may
arrive after 11 am on Saturday and camp Saturday night. Official
workshop hours are from 1 to 6pm on the 16th. There will be a
midnight faery circle and faery crafts and other activities Sunday
morning for those who can stay.
 
Here are driving directions (Updated):
 
IMPORTANT: DO NOT follow the map from the website.  That entrance is unfinished,
as is the new entrance with signs on 290.
Use these directions instead:
From Houston--- Take 290West. Getting close to Austin you will go
through a town called Giddings.  Go all the way through, and about a
mile past Hwy 21- and you are very close.  You will be looking for a
driveway on the right. There is a white 4'X8' blank sign beside the
gate. We will hang up a brightly colored butterfly kite on it to guide
you. (If you get to Old Potato Rd. you have gone just a little too
far. Turn around, and it is the third drive on the left.)
From Austin-- Go East on hwy 290 past Elgin.  You will pass a road
called Old Potato Rd,
and the Entrance will be the third driveway on the left after that
(and more visible than
the first; the second is our new, unfinished, entrance--- don’t try
it; you’ll get stuck).  There will be a blank, white 4'X8'sign by the
gate. We will fly a Bright Butterfly kite on the sign to mark the
spot.
Careful coming in--- it is a very fast-moving part of the Hwy.

Just in case you or someone you know might be interested.... feel free to pass it on.

-A
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey folks,
 
Guess I didn't indicate a time to meet at my house starting Sunday May 31st.  Let's say 5 on Sundays, 6:30 on Mondays.   Sundays will probably be a little more flexible.  We can meet early when we need to, and if there is a big weekend event, we may be there instead, passing out flyers, etc.
 
Here is my previous message for those of you who got on my list in the last few days:
p.s.- There will be a party/gathering at the Sherwood Forest Fairegrounds on Sat June 13th at 3pm.  Please come if you can, so you can tell the world 1st hand about the new world we are creating.   Look for my emails...
 
Hey Sherwood Players,
 
A bit of a change of plan:   We will be moving all Sherwood Players meetings to Sundays and Mondays at my house near McKinney Falls State Park (close to the big airport).
So Scott's studio/stage will more than likely be the meeting point for some Sherwood events in the future, but all regular meetings will be at Zane and Lauren's House.  7419 Dee gabriel Collins Rd, Austin TX.  We will be skipping the week after Memorial Day (this weekend), so the next Meetings will be May 31st and June 1st. (don't forget to pay rent) Here are Directions:
 
Take I-35 South to William Cannon
Go East (left) on William Cannon until it T's off with McKinney Falls Parkway
Go Left on McKinney Falls Pkwy
Go right at the first stop light, Dee Gabriel Collins Rd.
Take note that there is a 45 mi/hr sign at that intersection
Next time you see a 45 mi/hr sign, take a right JUST after it as though it is a street sign
Welcome to Talfordsville.  We are the First House on the right. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, listen up Players,
 
I have an assignment for all who are willing, ready and able to get deep into character work.  You must create A character  -- not THE character you wish to play at Sherwood, but A character just for practice.  This Character will aid you in developing any character you eventually want to become.  For the purpose of this assignment, i am making all historical and legendary characters off limits----- this must be entirely your own creation--- and if you already have a character or twelve that you have been before, please don't use any of them.  Your character may refer to historical and legendary characters, and ideally i would like for your character to fit into the world of Robin Hood, or at least the broader Renaissance- but it must be a character we have never heard of.  You must have a name, a history, a profession or hobby, an imaginary life.  Try to think of evrything this character might know or believe, create a voice for them. A walk, and at least consider what kind of clothing they wear.   
Eventually I will interview your character, and i will expect you to stay in character throughout the interview.  But for the next meeting I want you only to come prepared to talk about your character, as if they are someone you have heard of or met.  That way you can share your ideas, and start to see what kinds of questions people have about your character. 
Then the next week  i will start character interviews.  I will lead the interviews, but i will allow others to ask questions, too- like a news conferrence-- so be prepared. 
Once we have established these characters we may improv with them.  They may morph into characters we want to keep.  They may get completely scrapped-- but they will always be a reference for you in your journey of character development.
I hope you have fun with this excercise, as well as take it very seriously.  We want to offer quality time travel to the patrons of Sherwood Forest Faire, and this excercize is intended to take you from reading a script or improving a scenario to BECOMING the character that you are representing. 
So, get into it, and contact me with any questions.  I am looking forward to meeting all of your alter-egos----------------------------------------------may the muse sit upon your shoulder--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Autouloucous (Zane)

From Zane:

Hello people of Sherwood!
Happy Summer!
 
Thanks to all the Faeries who came out to the fairegrounds last weekend in spite of the rain.  We had a great little faery walk, and a midnight circle where we sang along to the Great Antone's drum.  To those who couldn't make it... no worries!  Here are some details on our next adventure- be ye faery or playtron or interested participant:
 
Sherwood Forest's next gathering will be Saturday June 13th.  Finally we can again welcome our brethren who have been busy with Scarborough Faire - we hope you have had a prosperous run up there.  As usual, we will be officially starting at 3pm, but if you are interested in coming early to wander, relax, or help us with some brush migration, you may show up as early as noon.  All who wish to do so may camp overnight, and may leave the next day at a leisurely pace.  We will be on the grounds as late as 2pm or so--- so, if you only have time to come out Sunday morning, no problem. This gathering is intended to give you an opportunity to pick a spot for your boothe, meet other likely Sherwooders, and to let the spirit of the fairegrounds sink into your psyche, that you may better find your way among our paths and woods.
 
There will be one very clean Port-o-Potty on the grounds, and plenty of trees.  We will be providing some beer and box wine; otherwise bring what you wish pot-luck style.  We will have our regular campfire and a gas range stove for cooking.  If you want to bring your barbecue grill, you may.  Let me know if you are bringing a big one that can be communal, and I will send out a message to let people know you have some space available.
 
Unless you came to Sherwood last weekend, you are in for big surprises-- even if you have already been to some of our gatherings before.  The fence is built, the grounds are free from giant brush piles, and that is all I will say--- though much more is sure to strike your fancy.  And by June 13th, we hope to be surprised at the progress ourselves.
Bring your ideas and dreams, your instruments and noisemakers, your kids and your Frisbees, foam swords, etc.  If you wish to dress in garb-- do so! (peace tie weapons, but no worries).  Our only strict rule is: Be Good or Be Gone!   We look forward to the warmth of your company.
 
Here are driving directions (Updated):
 IMPORTANT:   DO NOT follow the map from the website.  That will take you only to the proposed entrance; the current entrance is ON Hwy 290. Use these directions instead:
From Houston--- Take 290West. Getting close to Austin you will go through a town called Giddings.  Go all the way through, and about a mile past Hwy 21- and you are very close.  You will be looking for a driveway on the right. There is a white 4'X8' blank sign beside the gate. We will hang up a brightly colored butterfly kite on it to guide you. (If you get to Old Potato Rd. you have gone just a little too far. Turn around, and it is the third drive on the left after Old Potato Rd; the second drive is our new entrance- but don't try it, you are likely to get stuck in the sand and/or lost in the woods)
From Austin-- Go East on hwy 290 past Elgin.  You will pass a road called Old Potato Rd,
and the Entrance will be the third driveway on the left after that (and more visible than
the first; the second is our new, unfinished, entrance--- don’t try it; you’ll get stuck).  There will be a blank, white 4'X8'sign by the gate that you want to enter. We will fly a Bright Butterfly kite on the sign to mark the spot.
Careful coming in--- it is a very fast-moving part of the Hwy.

tl;dr

tl;dr

this

Claiming a site at Sherwood Faire is first come first serve but must be cleared by members of your group to be your permanent spot... Their will of course be general camping for the people who only make it a weekend or two but I know that the different camps need their space and we want them to have first pick =D

If a group is coming out to clear their camping spot, bring shovels, rakes, chainsaws, gloves, etc. Any tree thicker than 3 inches in diameter are not to be cut down. Normal tent stakes probably won't stay in due to the sandy soil, so campers will probably have to use long rods or corkscrew pegs.
 
Any group interested in coming out to clear a site should contact me. I will give all the group/clan leaders my cell phone number, so that they can let me know when their crew will be coming out. As I mentioned, I'll be onsite the weekend of June 20, clearing the area for the Drunken Gnomes and helping with the Chaos group area, and showing newcomers the available area (it's large).
 
I ask that once a group has cleared their area, they help clear the area that will be used by the general population campers during the faire (i.e., non-clan/family/ group).
 
I anticipate that groups will want to stake claims near the pub/flushy/shower area, since that's where our campgrounds firecircle/drumming circle will be located, so groups need to come out as soon as possible if you want a choice spot.
 
Groups should make a large sign and post it in the middle of their area, so that some other group doesn't accidentally grab that area.
 
Groups should only claim enough area for their anticipated attendance (i.e., a group with only 4 tents probably shouldn't grab a 100 ft diameter area). The campgrounds are large enough that there should be sufficient buffer zones (with trees/brush) between group area.
 
Regards,
 
Mike, the volunteer campgrounds organizer/manager

This is still pretty long, probably not gonna read it.

then don't

Where's it located, again?

On 290 between Paige and Mcdade
Official website: www.sherwoodforestfaire.com
Photos so far...: www.sherwoodforestfaire.com/history.htm

On 290 between Paige and Mcdade
Official website: www.sherwoodforestfaire.com
Photos so far...: www.sherwoodforestfaire.com/history.htm

Next question: Who are Paige and McDade and why is a faire between them?

Im excited!!! Don't know if I can make it the 13th, depends on my schedule. Want to bad though. Brandi, when are you going again?

I'm camping out this weekend to help mom pick out her booth spot and work with Zane on booth designs... George and Jules might also be coming if George remembered when I told him at the BBQ =) I'll look around the camping area for a suitable camp site for Ramith but there are already several clans out there claiming there spots and I don't feel comfortable laying claim to land with out at least half of the group seeing the site first. There is always someone there on the weekends if you guys want to plan an outing one day to come see the land. All yo gotta do is let Zane or Eric know and they will meet you out there to open the gates... The pics don't do the place justice... it really is beautiful...

-A

Put it on your calendar now

August 8th
Saturday
5pm until Late

Sherwood Forest Faire's next Gathering

A Family Event

Music, Tours of the Grounds, Midnight Fairy Walk
Cover Dish--Pot Luck
Ale and Soft Drinks Provided
Camping Encouraged

Possible Magic Show, Fire Twirling
Dancing, Great Communion of Good Souls

Family & Friends Welcome

Nothing Formal

Just Summer Fun

We are building a community faire!!!

  The last one was a BLAST!!! We were up till the sunrise singing and dancing and drinking... Hope some of you can make it to one of these soon,the heat was not bad in the woods and the company was worth any amount of heat.
  Besides we need to pick out a camping area, the POP and Chaos and a few others are discussing a circle formation of all the older established clans with a "Community Meadow" in the middle so we can all gather together for opening a closing celebrations and other in clan events like the Loki make off and the Unqueenly and what not. Captain Indigo (Andi) and Teiwaz are wondering if we would like to be included in this "Ring of the Clans" ...thought I would throw it out there for you guys...

-A

Put it on your calendar now

August 8th
Saturday
5pm until Late

Sherwood Forest Faire's next Gathering

A Family Event

Music, Tours of the Grounds, Midnight Fairy Walk
Cover Dish--Pot Luck
Ale and Soft Drinks Provided
Camping Encouraged

Possible Magic Show, Fire Twirling
Dancing, Great Communion of Good Souls

Family & Friends Welcome

Nothing Formal

Just Summer Fun

We are building a community faire!!!

  The last one was a BLAST!!! We were up till the sunrise singing and dancing and drinking... Hope some of you can make it to one of these soon,the heat was not bad in the woods and the company was worth any amount of heat.
  Besides we need to pick out a camping area, the POP and Chaos and a few others are discussing a circle formation of all the older established clans with a "Community Meadow" in the middle so we can all gather together for opening a closing celebrations and other in clan events like the Loki make off and the Unqueenly and what not. Captain Indigo (Andi) and Teiwaz are wondering if we would like to be included in this "Ring of the Clans" ...thought I would throw it out there for you guys...

-A

Okay so August 8th and Not July 25th?  Or is it both?  If it changed to the 8th, my bad Thud...  
And I'm proud to say that the Ramith that showed up there (even though not full member )...were two of the, what..4 or 5? Left standing and going strong

And once the site is picked, I know we'll be out there to help clear the area....and we'll be bringing the grill again...that sucker cooks really fast, so if anyone needs stuff grilled....you are more than welcome to have us cook it