parasols and fans

[skitter]

Hey, anyone know a good source for parasols and/or fans?  I'd like to find them in natural fibers (i.e. cotton or silk or even paper) and plain-colored if possible.  A feathered fan might also be nifty, but I don't necessarily want to buy it at faire, yanno?

It occurred to me the other day that a parasol might be a good thing to have for faire in addition to my SPF 90,000 sunscreen. 

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Hobby Lobby has paper fans with wooden handles.  Blue, red, yellow, pink, green and purple.  Cost about $5, but only $3 if you use a 40% off coupon.

[isabelladangelo]

I really like the blue parasol I got at Hobby Lobby.  Despite the low price, it's held up better than some of the lace ones I have.  If you want some extra protection from rain, you can use some paints on a paper one.  It won't work perfectly, but it will give you time to put the parasol down and away without destroying it.   

Oriental Trading company has both parasols and fans.

For added fun, there are always old parasols and umbrellas up on ebay and etsy.  The fabric is typically shattered but the handle and other pieces are in working order.  Just recover for a perfectly yours type parasol.  I need to recover one I bought that is from the 1890's.  The handle looks fabulous and works well with a lot of different eras.   

In period, parasols were pretty late and even then, only in Italy.  (You don't need them in England where the sun rarely makes an appearance!)  Fans were almost always feathers - I think folding fans weren't until the very very end of the 16th C.   

Making a plausible feather fan is easy.  Get one of those small reed brush fans (the kind you get in the floral department of any craft store) and glue gun or super glue on feathers.  Wrap ribbon around the handle and pin it in place.  I often added a small mirror to the opposite side. 

You can also just add a piece of thick cardboard to a Popsicle stick  ;-)

[DonaCatalina]

Renaissance feather fans

[skitter]

Thanks, y'all!  I hadn't even considered Hobby Lobby . . . I may have to make a quick trip there soon!

I mainly need something to shade myself with when my hat isn't doing its job -- not so much to keep the rain off.

I love the feather fans; I may look for one at faire, but in the meantime, I just want something basic.

[Alysea]

I get my parasols and fans from the Chinese vendor/import store at my local flea market.  Not a huge selection but they are fabric on a bamboo frame. Light weight and colorful.  If you break it or lose it your not out but a few bucks.  Same thing goes for my fans.  Also found some nice fans at Dollar Tree.

[skitter]

Thanks, y'all, for all the suggestions!  I found a parasol at Hobby Lobby (much as I hate shopping there), and found a couple different sources for fans. 

Hooray for staying cool at Faire! 

[Rowan MacD]

  Isabella mentioned Oriental Trading Company-Their outlet store is Nobbies (Nebraska and Iowa).
Parasols and paper folding fans are seriously dirt cheap....Under $5.00 for a full sized parasol, and fans at the same price for a dozen.
    If you can find a Nobbies near you, they will beat any prices anywhere for cheap Chinese party supplies and costume props.
   Hobby Lobby and the other Party Supply stores get their stuff from them.
    Most of the stuff sold at faire are originally from OTC with a 200-500% markup.
    The clearance stuff is to die for.