Liz OhanesianThere's a bit of a warrior princess in all of us, but, sometimes, wearing tight, thigh-high black leather isn't practical. So, what's a girl to do on those days when she really wants to channel Xena or Gabrielle? We headed to the vendor hall at the fifteenth annual Xena Convention to find out.
The first thing that you'll notice about the vendors area at Xena Con is that there is a lot of jewelry and very little of it could be considered delicate. These handmade items seem to do fairly well at the convention. Aside from the fact that the crowd is overwhelmingly female, the pieces on display fit the aesthetic of the show.
Jewels of the Earth by Diana; Credit: Shannon Cottrell
Jewels of the Earth by Diana; Credit: Shannon Cottrell
“Earthy” designs were popular at Jewels of the Earth by Diana. Designer Diana March Enscoe noted that at Xena Con, shoppers tend to gravitate towards large, darker stones, leather chord necklaces and crystals, particularly those with a dagger shape. Encscoe's pieces rely heavily on wire-wrapping, which adds a bit of ancient feel to the designs.
39 Stars by Kim & Susan; Credit: Shannon Cottrell
39 Stars by Kim & Susan; Credit: Shannon Cottrell
Kim from 39 Stars by Kim & Susan told us that she's a fan of Xena: Warrior Princess herself and many of their designs available at the convention were inspired by the TV series. Their glass “Celtic goddess” necklaces are particularly popular, as are pieces with daggers, swords and chakrams.
Indigo Lights; Credit: Shannon Cottrell
Indigo Lights; Credit: Shannon Cottrell
Sheri Cohen of Indigo Lights describes her customers as “self-confident.” She designs “powerful pieces,” including large-scale necklaces made of stones and shells, bold silver rings and earrings long enough to double as necklaces.
“You can't be invisible,” she says of women who wear her jewelry. Warrior Princesses are never invisible.
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