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Queen Dalyndra at 2006 KAF with her A-frame cloth structure
in the background.
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Living
history performer, Pam Reeder prepares her weekend shelter at
the Village of Carlisle
for her character Lady Dalyndra, Queen
of Dalriada, at the 9th annual King Arthur Faire
(http://www.kingarthurfair.com/kingarthurfaire.htm
) on October 7 & 8.
This
year, however, though her structure again primarily uses cloth, something
more permanent for the future is under way – a bottle house using recycled wine bottles.
Performer
Pam Reeder says, “The idea to do this project came from the
fact that after 4 years, I needed to be able to build a more
permanent structure for my living history character that was
within my physical means and low budget. In researching Route
66, I came across pictures of the Rhyolite
Ghost Town in Death Valley:
http://backroadswest.com/deathvalley/Rhyolite.htm. Although this concept fit perfectly with
my needs, it needed to look “medieval”. So, my first thoughts
were to use plastic bottles with the idea that I would paint
the bottle butts brown to look like ‘logs’. However, after creating
a small test wall of liter pop bottles, there was discussion
as to how long the plastic bottles would last before they disintegrated.
I didn’t want to put a lot of time, effort and money into something
that wouldn’t last. I was delighted that David Timmons, the
KAF director decided that I could actually use glass bottles.
It creates an intriguing conversation piece – not to mention
how gorgeous it looks when the sun shines through the bottles.”
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Reeder at work laying bottles
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12 cases of bottles later, a short wall exists on the back of the
building.
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Back wall of bottle house dressed out with cloth for the upcoming
King Arthur Faire, Oct. 7 & 8
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An inside
view
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Dalyndra’s bottle house project is on City land by Stroud Lake contracted to the King Arthur
Fair Foundation. In the early stages shown, 12 cases of bottles have been
used to make the short wall and will use well over 200 cases of bottles
upon completion. Reeder says in addition to the building itself, there will
be a “fenced” area. She has sketched line drawings of the fencing and the
designs for the wall which include Celtic crosses to match her character’s
heritage. Because it is a work in progress though, she says designs may
change as materials become available and new ideas bubble to the surface. Tidal School Winery has been very generous
in saving their tasting bottles the project.
Reeder
found several inspirational projects on the internet showing
how beautiful bottle structures can be. Says Reeder regarding
the project done by an artist in Wilmington,
North Carolina, “Although
I don’t expect my first efforts to equal hers, I am excited
about the process.” Website for more info on the works of Virginia
Wright Frierson: http://home.att.net/%7Evmwf/index.htm
Another
favorite project is in a village in Prince
Edward Island, Canada
which has been featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
Reeder says the work this man did is phenomenal. http://www.bottlehouses.com/Gallery.cfm?
imageid=171&galleryid=8 and says a visit to his site
to view the many gorgeous pictures is well worth the trouble.
And of
course, let’s not forget landscaping. Reeder has also collected ideas for
“bottle trees” that will compliment Lady Dalyndra’s
bottle house.
Check
the King Arthur Village of Carlisle website (www.KingArthurFair.com)
often for events year round to keep track of the progress on
the bottle house.
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