Our first appearance at the annual Fayre organised by the Western Australian Medieval Alliance proved to be a wonderful day in the beautiful Supreme Court Gardens. Jesters and knights, maidens and minstrels, Saracens and steeds, were there aplenty. Nearly all the stallholders and a great many of the visitors were dressed in “medieval” garb. Even the camels and Shetland ponies were costumed.

In the spirit of the day, and to acknowledge the part monasteries played in the history of bookbinding, David and I dressed as monks. David, in great part to Frances’ dressmaking skills, made the perfect picture of a monk. I was soon dubbed the “chick-monk.” Kirsten arrived as a “wench” and left as a “sword-maiden” (due to the replica sword she bought at one of the armoury stalls), and took to a couple of kilos of scabbarded steel strapped to her waist like a duck to water.

We christened the Guild’s pop-up gazebo and it served very well indeed, not only to keep the sun from our books but the “rain” from hundreds of Corellas perched in the trees above us. The latter wasn’t that bothersome until one of the birds, followed a deafening millisecond later by the rest, noticed that a wedge-tailed eagle from the raptor rescue stand next door was quietly eye-balling the flock.

The Guild stand had a constant stream of visitors. People were wrapt in seeing sewing on tapes, and one little guy (about eight or nine years old) helped me sew a five hole pamphlet binding which he got to take home. Many people wanted to know about parchment and seemed thrilled to be able to see and feel the example we had on show. Similarly, David’s medieval reproductions, bound in sheoak boards cut from fallen trees from his block, were a popular subject.

Of all the events I have attended for the Guild, the Fayre was the most rewarding for the number of people who showed a true interest in learning how to bind. We handed out more flyers to inquisitive visitors than we have ever handed out before, and could count on one hand those who only wanted to have someone repair the family bible or grandma’s recipe book.

For the inspiration given, on both sides of the trestle table, I sincerely hope we receive a return invitation for next year.