Document text
Colors galore on 'Fairy Corner' By AMANDA BOLSINGER Daily Tidings Correspondent Like the towering Ashland Springs Hotel, the expansive Lithia Park and the paucity of parking, Earthstar and her colorful business is a staple of downtown Ashland. Earthstar is the co-owner of A Midsummer Night's Wings Enchantment Wear, purposefully situated on the plaza corner near Ashland Creek. She is dressed in a bright purple and blue tie-died gown with brown braids cascading down her back. Matching fairy wings that she herself sews and sells hover behind her. A garland adorns her head. Co-owners of A Midsummer Night's Wings Enchantment Wear, who identified themselves only as Richard and Earthstar, work on face painting Sunday. Ashland Daily Tidings photos/ ANDREW BOLSINGER The corner booth that Earthstar, along with her partner Richard, occupies is known as "the fairy corner," and rightfully so. Brightly colored fairy wings hang from a green patio tent. Two large poster boards display alluring temporary tattoos and airbrush face painting options. Richard wears a bright blue shirt that Earthstar has died herself, under denim overalls. An elf-costume for Richard is in the making, Earthstar says. The entire scene is carefully planned. As a member of the Lithia's Artisans Market, A Midsummer Night's Wings, was chosen to occupy the entrance to the market, Richard says. "They put us in the front to attract people in, especially kids and teenagers," Richard says. "With the Shakespeare festival here it's a magical place, very mythical and we fit right in. Especially now that a Midsummer Night's dream is showing," he adds with a small chuckle. "There is a lot of fairy energy here," Earthstar chimes in. Richard and Earthstar have had their corner by the creek for several years. Their business had to meet the standards of the other artists at the market. "We were juried in for our clothing, face and body painting and costumes. There are really high qualifying standards and that way the customers get quality things," Richard explains. Earthstar dyes the fairy wings by hand. "My hands never recover, they always look like this," Earthstar says as her purple-stained fingers play with her gown. She also sews and dyes costumes for children and adults. "Business always picks up around September and October with people asking for custom costumes for Halloween," Earthstar says. Children's costumes range from $35 to $50. The adult costumes begin around $75 but each costume is created by Earthstar using hand dyed silk. The "Famous Fairy on the corner," as Richard describes Earthstar, also colors the downtown with her many airbrush face paintings and bright painted tattoos. Children are drawn to the brightly colored designs, many of which Earthstar has designed herself. Each face-painting is signed with Earthstar's trademark star and glitter. Prices start at $3 for children. Temporary tattoos are a popular choice for teenagers and young adults. The black and blue ink tattoos look just like the real thing, are waterproof and can last up to a week. "I would get a design for a tattoo that I might really get so that I could have it for a little bit and decide if it's what I really want," said Stefani Talbott, 18, while browsing over the tattoo choices. "We get all ages here, from 3-year-old kids to grandmas," Earthstar says with a smile and a wave of her hand. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -