FTF: Met Wendy (the cow-dressing goddess)

Aug 18, 2003 8 Replies

If reading her posts has given you the impression that Wendy (of Wench-wear, playing music at Ren Fests, and cow-dressing fame) is a Shy Person, you might want to re-think that. This was after the last show at the open-air pub, packed with crazy drunks mostly in RenFest attire. (Men in tights. Women looking to catch a chest cold. Feathers and trims and brocades and so forth.) It was OK to have turned it off, so to speak, but our Wendy was leaping from bench to bench, wildly offering ideas for future performances, posing for pictures, and generally behaving like a wild woman. What was she wearing? Something new that she says is of Flemish style: a practical reversible upper garment and lots of cross-bodice lacing on the under-one (sew once, get two looks). Another musician was modeling an elaborate brocade number, also off Wendy's freearm, and the best part was the center back opening (lacing) with the pattern matching across the opening. (My mama would have been proud.) She's appearing at the Michigan RenFest until the end of September. And a good thing, too! (Thanks again, babe!)



--Karen M.


SSCUUZE ME while I:

1 Melt in sympathetic heat exhaustion!

2 Cheer her on with all my breath!

3 Turn green and die quietly of envy!

Way to go, Wendy! :) Do we get pix of the lovely new kit?

FTF: Met Wendy (the cow-dressing goddess) snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net (Karen=A0M.) If reading her posts has given you the impression that Wendy (of Wench-wear, playing music at Ren Fests, and cow-dressing fame) is a Shy Person, you might want to re-think that. =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0This was after the last show at the open-air pub, packed with crazy drunks mostly in RenFest attire. (Men in tights. Women looking to catch a chest cold. Feathers and trims and ...

--- AH! The truth will out!! I'm dreadfully sorry I missed such a fine performance. Cea

Karen M. wrote: , but our Wendy was leaping

Well, I was coming down with a cold, and was running on the audience-high because I KNEW when I finally stopped I would not get started again. (I was asleep in the back seat of the car by 8:15!) But the MiRF folks are good friends that I've not seen for a year, and Saturday was waaaay too hot and sticky to hug everyone as much as I wanted to. The pictures were with friends I know from online, but had not seen in person in almost a year as well.

That's was Josie, the dulcimer player from our group. Yeah - I'm a geek that way. Does it help that the brocade was $2.50 a yard at a garage sale? I also made our guitarist's outfit several years ago, and he will have a new jerkin in about 2 weeks. They all love having their own in-house costumer!

I have enough garb to do 12 faire days with only repeating knickers and shoes. The Flemish is my latest discovery - the kirtle sort of holds you in and the spiral-laced overgown holds you up. I'm on a never-ending quest for garb that supports the 36DDs and still gives me room to sing - I'm asthmatic and can't be too constricted.

Looking forward to seeing you again, and hope to have more time to chat next time.--

------------------------------------------------------ Wendy Z Chicago, IL (Moo) Wench Wear Costumes

formatting link
formatting link
AIM=wendylady525
formatting link
"Though she be but little, she is fierce""It's the little ones you have to watch out for...""I'm not short - I'm concentrated"--------------------------------------------------------

It was only low 80s, though rather humid.

I got some shots this weekend, and hope to get them up to the website soon. I'll let you know.--

------------------------------------------------------ Wendy Z Chicago, IL (Moo) Wench Wear Costumes

formatting link
formatting link
AIM=wendylady525
formatting link
"Though she be but little, she is fierce""It's the little ones you have to watch out for...""I'm not short - I'm concentrated"--------------------------------------------------------

Wendy, do you ever go to the RenFaire in Ohio? It's the one just north of Cincinnati. Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati

Not usually - they have a non-competition clause in their contract that says if you perform there you can't dop ANY other shows in OH that year! Also, it's during MiRF, where we are quite happy!

How late does it run? I have a friend who wants me to come down and play, but I'm booked thru the first weekend of October.--

------------------------------------------------------ Wendy Z Chicago, IL (Moo) Wench Wear Costumes

formatting link
formatting link
AIM=wendylady525
formatting link
"Though she be but little, she is fierce""It's the little ones you have to watch out for...""I'm not short - I'm concentrated"--------------------------------------------------------

We lucked out. The day the power came back on (there was a minor electrical glitch affecting much of Michigan and some other areas of the US; you might have heard something about it), the temps and humidity dropped to great sleeping weather--all day. Female RenFaire clothing looks about as uncomfortable as CW but in different ways. I like my low necklines and short sleeves and airy hoopskirt all made up in cotton. Until the mosquitoes come roaring in, that is. A lot of Sunday's vixens were wearing gauzey tops that were fastened at wrist and shoulder, skirts pulled up, and the afore-mentioned off-the-shoulder off-the-bodice neckline. Looked to be more climate-adjustable than most contemporary garb. Scrap-a-holics would be proud to see the vendors selling little purses, pouches, cases, bags, caps, sleeves, and so forth made from less fabric than is used to costume the employees of an Adult Cabaret Class "D" use (that's a zoning thing). Make a little bag from the fall-off, sell for $15 or $20, and you've got the costs of your fixation covered. Other accessories: fairy/butterfly wings, little horns, other headband deals (ribbons & flowers). No one offered Soil Moist-filled neckcoolers, so perhaps there's the niche.

--Karen M. just kidding! did casual retail for 15 years! not gonna do it again!!

It runs til October 20th. Here's a link to the page:

formatting link
I'd love to meet up with you, if you do come down!

Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required