Ships Log: Gasparilla Pirate Fest, 1-30-10

By flint n' bones,

I wasn't sure if I was ever goin' ta attend the world's largest pirate festival Gasparilla, they not be friendly to merchants who sell good pirate stuff. I got invited by the Ye Krewe of Sir Henry Morgan, who I took this grand group portraits fer.

I did have a fun time takin' in the sites, I have a better appreciation of the kilt now. NO thing aren't authentic or real, but ye can have mindless fun.

It be nice that pirate be center stage with hundreds of thousands of pirate lovin' soul in attendance, wantin' ye to throw a little booty to them. Booty meanin' some plastic beads, arrrr!

Ships Log: Pirate in Paradise, 12-3-09

Ello Bilge Rats,

Well here I be again at Key West for the legendary Pirates in Paradise Festival held from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6, 2009. This be a grand festival from the re-enactment side as it gets to use a real fort as its playground. Firing real canons and using real tall ship, the Wolf. Ye also get to play with pirates from all over the world. Buccaneers camped in historical tents only a few feet from the beach.

Here be two brand new bronze 6 pounds being fired fer the very first time, they be real beauties. The weather be might unpredictable. One day it be like a hot summer day, then the next it be rain n' fierce winds. I wish I could of spent more days in this week long event, but I had to leave early to defend my shop, as I heard that 400 Red Coats be invading my home port of St Augustine.

Ships Log: St Augustine Pirate Gathering, 11-13-09

Avast ye scurvy dogs,

Finally a real pirate event in my new hometown, arrrrgh! The St Augustine Pirate Gathering is put on by the Ancient City Privateers. I have to say that it was much improved over last year, as the move from the Fountain of Youth to Frances Field resulted in 10 times as many guest visiting the event. They had a parade, which I missed most of since my assistant showed up late. The Saturday night Bucanneer Bash be a grand old time with hundreds of pirates being entertained by several pirate bands. Here is an picture from the Best Dressed Pirate Contest. Over all I did ok at the vending booth, but made new record sales day in the store 3 blocks away.

Ships Log: John Levique Pirate Days, 4-14-09

On the road,

A much as I love havin' a permanent store, I do sometimes love traveling ta new events n' seeing old friends. Well I got away on sunday to set up a small table of me Molly Roger wenchware at the 8th Annual John Levique Pirate Days at Johns Pass. I hear saturday be mighty busy, but sunday turned out ta be very slow. Here be some wenches engaged in a cat fight n' the West Coast Mutineers with Ms Florida. Damn me eyes, but after a hot n' humid day of vending, I be ready fer my air conditioned shop back in St Augustine.

Ships Log: Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festive , 5-2-09

Love me innards,

It be grand ta finally get a day away from me shop ta venture out and visit dar Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, which feature the Fernindino Pirates.

Amelia Island is the only U.S. location to have been under eight different flags.
French 1562-1565 : The Island's first recorded European visitor was the French Jean Ribault on May 3, 1562. He named the island "Isle De Mai." Two years later, Rene de Laudonniere founded Fort Caroline nearby.

Spanish 1565-1763
The Spanish under Pedro Menendez defeated the French and founded St. Augustine in 1565. During their long dominion, the Spanish concentrated on educating and converting the Indians, and the Island name of "Santa Maria" was derived from a mission here. The mission and settlement were destroyed in 1702 by the English. Oglethorpe renamed the island "Amelia" after the daughter of George II.

English 1763-1783 :The Island became known as "Egmont" from Earl of Egmont's large indigo plantation. Revolutionary forces invaded in 1777 and 1778.

Spanish 1783-1821 (with 3 interruptions) After the Revolution, Britain ceded Florida back to Spain. Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807, which closed U.S. ports to foreign shipping, made the border town of Fernandina a center of smuggling and piracy.

Patriots 1812
With secret U.S. blessings, the so-called "Patriots of Amelia Island" overthrew the Spanish and hoisted their own flag on March 17, 1812. They replaced it with the U.S. flag the next day, but Spain demanded return of the island. The Spanish completed Fort San Carlos in 1816.

Green Cross of Florida 1817
To liberate Florida from Spanish control, Sir Gregor MacGregor seized Fort San Carlos in June, 1817, and hoisted his Green Cross standard. After his withdrawal, the Spanish attempted to regain control but were repelled by forces led by Jared Irwin and Ruggies Hubbard.

Mexican Revolutionary Flag 1817 :Irwin and Hubbard were joined by the pirate Luis Aury, who gained control and raised the Mexican rebel flag. U.S. troops occupied the island in December, 1817, and held it "in trust for Spain."

National Flag of the Confederacy 1861-1862 :Confederates took over Fort Clinch in April, 1861, but federal troops regained it in March 3, 1862, and occupied Fernandina for the duration of the War.

United States 1821-Present :Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1821. Work began on Fort Clinch in 1847. In the 1850s, Fernandina moved from Old Town to become the terminus for Florida's first cross-state railroad. Organized by Senator David Yulee, the railroad ran from Fernandina to Cedar Key.


Lot of people attend this very well run event. The shrimp be good n' I found another olde treasure chest fer me store, yarrr!

Ship's Log: Pirates in Paradise: 12-4-08

Da wind in me face,

N' the sun to me back felt good to be in the warmth of Key West for the legendary Pirates in Paradise Festival. Dar be many a pirates from across the county at this festival with in the gates of Fort Taylor. Buccaneers camped in historical tents only a few feet from the beach. Overall this be a grand festival from the re-enactment side, but a very poor event fer us vendors.


We pyrates joined in to the Holiday parade on saturday night, followed by much rum drinking in Key West. Here be Pearl, one of the many fine vixen who I got to know this fine weekend in Paradise, life be curse with too few day n' too many wenches.

Ship's Log: Florida Pirate Festival: 11-21-08

Well n' good,

Finally I've gotten me cargo from the Custom's Haus in Maimi, I am finally able to vend at dar Florida Pirate Festival in St Petersburg, Florida. This be my second time here at Vinoy Park. The performances by the festival's krew of pirates be first rate, both the day n' the night time fire performance.

The sinkin' economy has put a dent on all the festival, as nobody seems to be buying anything. This has gotten me to ponder on havin' to stay in Florida to survive the market. Dar be only 14 pirate events on the West Coast, but 38 pirate events on the East Coast, must be that dar be 3 times as many states on the east side.

Just like last year, I be blessed with finding some real lusty wenches ta shoot fer the next Hot Pirate Babe calendar. I found Nicole n' two other beauties to shoot next day in a sleazy hotel room.

Ship's Log: St Arrrugustine Pirate Gathering: 11-14-08

Call me a lubber,

Fer it be grand ta be back on dar mainland again! Curse me fer I be here at the first Saint Arrrgustine Pirate Gathering, but all me baggage still be in the customs house of St Thomas, do no vending fer me. So all I could do is take picture n' enjoy dar happenings. They had a grand parade through the streets of St Augustine, then a battle in front of dar cemetery. The freebooters walked down the old cobblestone roads of St George Street to fight in front of the Government House. Great crowds of on looker gather around to view the battle, but the trolleys didn't show up in time to bring them back to the Fountain of Youth. Dar vendors be dammed with no city folks to plunder.


Here be Molly, a beautiful wench I found at the tattoo booth. The Buccanner Bash on Saturday night be a blast with a number of pyrate musicians performing fer a rough crowd of drunken Buccaneers. Sunday morning's pirate court be very entertaining as well.

Ships Log: St Thomas Pirate Festival, 11-1-08

Sunny day on dar beach,

Here be dar first St Thomas Pirate Festival. A bit light on dar crowds, but a very successful sand castle contest. It be a pleasure havin' me photo booth only short stones throw from ta ocean, man. This be grand to take a dip in the ocean waters during a festival n' walk over ta me hotel a 100 feet away.

Ship's Log: Pirate Days at the Colony: 10-18-08

Beginnin' of a long voyage,

Well this be my trans-american voyage to St Thomas. Well in the middle of my 3000 mile route, dar happened to be a pyrate event near Dallas, called Pirate Days at the Colony. It turned out to be a fine first time event, but they do need more pirates. It be a joy meeting with some long time fans of me artwork. Listened to a grand Celtic band called: NeedFire.



Here be two lovely wenches who happened ta be twins. Steady as she goes, maties.

Ship's Log: Ojai Pirate Faire: 9-27-08

By the blood in me heart,

This be 17th year for Ojai Pirate Faire the oldest pirate festival on dar west coast. I be settin' up me Olde Tyme Dress Like A Pyrate Photo Booth for my very last faire in California. It be a very good weekend fer me, with saying good bye to lots of old friends.

Here be 3 of me beautiful models from the 2009 Calendar (Carolyn - Ms May, JJ - Ms June, Ramona - Ms July) who be on hand ta sign calendars on saturday. Plus Anyssa - Ms Sept (in wench with dar umbrella in the montage above) be on dar on Sun to sign as well.

Ship's Log: St. Thomas Pirate Festival

Ahoy Maties,


I be planning a trip ta the Caribbean, somewhere with lots of wenches . . . the Virgin Islands. I will be vending at the first St Thomas Pirate Festival, which be held on Oct 31 to Nov 3, 2008. Every true pirate should take a visit over dar! Here be an entree I pirated from Nicole Cargill-Kipar's History Resources for the PotC about the pirate haven.

Saint Thomas - Mountainous and sparsely covered in forest, St. Thomas has several low peaks which dominate its silhouette. St. Thomas Harbor is a well-sheltered deep water harbor, peeking out between St. Thomas proper and the smaller, uninhabited Hassel Island. The island is semi-arid and the vegetation is sparse besides trees.

St. Thomas was settled by the Dutch in 1657 and soon became home to several bands of English pirates. The island's population is mainly Danish (with Dutch and Portuguese Jews living there as well) and in 1672 the Danish India Company purchased the island. In 1674 the King of Denmark purchased the island and named the Port Charlotte Amalie, after his wife. Many nobles at the time believed that he purchased the island for the express purpose of naming the port as such.

Because the Danish Navy did not operate as far south as the Caribbean (and was embroiled in a bitter war against the Swedes), the King empowered the Governor of the Danish West Indies (who resided in Charlotte Amalie) to issue Letters of Marque at his discretion.

The island became a haven for pirates to rival Tortuga and is home to a black market nearly as large as Curaçao.

St. Thomas is the only whole colony in the Caribbean not controlled by the French, English, Dutch, or Spanish. It was the extent of the Danish colonial empire at the time of its founding. St. Thomas is home to a very eclectic and moderately interesting array of people. The nearest other port that is not controlled by the 'big four' (France, Spain, Britain, or the Netherlands) is the Portuguese colony at Buenos Aires, in Brazil.

So come on over an join me in my raid of a true pirate town, yarrrr!

Ship's Log: Big Bear Pirate Faire, 6-7-08

What Ho!

This marks me 3rd anniversary of Pirate Portraits by Tiger Lee. As little more than 2 years ago I vended at Big Bear Pirate Faire with my first pirate photo booth. It be successful enough to think I could make a go of it. I had tried a few year before with Renaissance Faire, but that didn't work. There be a photo of a krewe of wenches fire off a 6 pounder naval gun.

Dar faire be very sluggish, as I be thinkin' arrr slow economy n' pirate high gas prices be effecting my pyrating business, along with everyone elses. Here be a little lass named Cortney, that be a pirate n' training.

Ship's Log: Queen Bess & the Pirates, 5-10-08

Od's bobs, hammer n' tongs,

Queen Bess n' the Pirates be me first event out in Fresno, CA. It be nice to be on grass instead of dusty dirt. It be a bit slow, but I did a nice number of portraits n' traded with some blacksmiths fer more props.

Ship's Log: Cut Throats of Corona, 4-26-08

Dar Curse Faire of Hellrona,

Cut Throats of Coronal has alway been curse with hot weather, no matter when they put it on. But this year, the field 10 feet away from the parking lot caught fire 20 minutes after the opening of the faire. Some rogue got dar order of rape, pillage n' burn backwards! The fire spread across the entire park within 10 minutes. If the wind had shifted a few degrees, the entire faire would have burnt to the ground in minutes. It was very exciting to watch the airplanes, helicopters, trucks n' firemen fight the fire close up.

Even though the faire be curse, I would have the luck of the devil, as I did well at this darn event. The faire was closed for 2 hours before opening up again, then another small fire started again. It was a Santa Anna weekend with ash floating around in the air.

Ship's Log: Fells Point Privateer Day, 4-19-08

Cool breeze in me face,

Privateers are men who sail a private armed ship by permission of one nation against another nations ships. Fells Point Privateers Day celebrates dar port which built real privateer ships. There be a canon battle between 2 privateer ship n' a British merchantmen. The power went out one hour after starting n' never got fixed fer the rest of the day, so I couldn't run my pirate photo booth. However, I did sell a lot of Molly Roger products.

It be a pleasure to spend a week with dar staff of Pirates Magazine n' visit the Baltimore Knife n' Sword shop.

Ship's Log: Ojai Pirate Faire: 9-22-07

I give ye hearty greetin',

This be the busiest pirate weekend of the year, fer thar be dozens of pirate festival happenin'. I be settin' up me Olde Tyme Dress Like A Pyrate Photo Booth at Ojai Pirate Faire, the biggest pirate festival in Southern Califorina. This year they be expandin' it to 2 weekends, it being so popular.

I be seeing many a olde mates n' and a few new ones. Thar be many a new pyrate guilds poppin' up that you be thinkin' that it be the second golden age of piracy!

Ship's Log: Oceanside Harbor Days: 9-15-07

Celebrate Me Birthday,

Oceanside Harbor Days been goin' fer many years, but this be thar first time with pyrates. The start be a bit slow, but it picked up later in the day. A mighty 6 pounder be crewed by all female, arrr! They had a nice gun battle between two tall ships n' 30 pirates with lots of black powered. I celebrated me birthday at the Jolly Roger Restaurant, got a wee bit drunk on a new drink, it be called Creamy KUM (Kahlua + Rum n' Milk).

The second day be even better since they put a bus stop right in front of me booth. I sold a record number of Molly Roger Wenchwear, especially the new booty shorts. Mark me words, this event be a grand treasure next year!

Ship's Log: Dana Point Tallships Festival: 9-8-07

Land Ho,

This be one of the first festival.that I didn't have a photo booth, which I have a few choice words for them survy dogs. But I made the most of it n' found a sloop that be needin' an extra crew member. The water be a bit rough n' some of them got sea sick, so half way though they disembarked. I some grand shot of the tall ships, yarrrr!

Ship’s Log: Muskegon Pirate Festival, 8-25-07

Blow me down,

I be flyin’ right into Chicago with tornados n’ electrical blackouts. Thar Muskegon Pirate Festival might be small but it be loads of fun n’ profitable. Them thar fellow brethren treated me like a high pyrate lord. I dare say, Lake Michigan almost be as big as one of the seven seas.

As always I be searchin’ fer wenches, me found many. Saturday night I had a bit too much rum at Capt Jack’s Restaurant, which be right across thar road ta thieves market. I look forward ta boardin' thar land of Great Lakes again.