Many of you have asked me about the Red Dress Story, we had a place on our previous web site a few years ago for the story and sadly her story never got written. It was just one of those stories that was difficult to put into words . . .

It all started with the creation of the first court gown I did. “Red” made her debut at the Florida Renaissance Festival in 1998. Professor Carey Martin, a Professor of Journalism at the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) approached me about an interview for the video “A Day at the Faire” concerning the creation and construction of “Red” and we spent two days filming her story and mine. Somehow “Red” had taken on a life of her own . . .

“Red” began a tour of the Renaissance Faire circuit, causing a sensation where ever she went. Upon returning home to Florida she even appeared in the Orange Bowl Parade at Christmas Time. In the spring of 1999 “Red” and I decided it was time to give back to the community. A raffle was arranged with the Florida Renaissance Festival and The Children’s Place and Connor’s Nursery Inc. Our patrons were amazing in helping “Red” raise awareness and funds that would help dozens of children. That should have been the end of her story, but like every good fairy tale there was surprise twist.

In May the Needle Fairy was contacted by “Red’s” new owners and they said “She’s too beautiful to hang in a closet” and that they had been touched by an illness that season themselves. Would we take “Red” and raffle her off again for another worthy cause. That summer a new cause arose and again “Red” was on her way back to the Sterling Renaissance Faire in Sterling, New York. She would again raise funds for another terrible illness.

I’m still often asked about “Red” and many inquire will we duplicate her. After dealing with many charities the Needle Fairy has decided to be the silent givers because the red tape makes it easier to just write a check. However, “Red” has returned in many different reincarnations with many different causes being served. So when you see a RED Needle Fairy gown it may be one of “Reds” reincarnations and you never know who she helped this time.

I often laugh over a personal moment which I will share with you here. The modern world offers the little red dress charms for cancer causes and I was asked if I had a little red dress and I just smiled . . .