Sewing Room

::: Reminiscing :::

Thinking back to a time very long ago when I used to have a clean, well decorated sewing room. Pre-move. Sadly, my sewing room is still in the cleaning and decorating stages! I can still sew in it, but I have so many items that need to find a home somewhere other than the giant cutting table!

Looking at these pictures it's hard to believe that my sewing room was ever this organized. Since moving, I've been struggling to find room for all of my home decorating items (which reside under the giant cutting table) and extra fabric stash. If you don't have a fabric stash yet, never start one. They're horrible things! I have so many fabrics that I know I will never get around to sewing with, even if I could think up a handful of projects for them. Now I wish that I had the $$money$$ that I spent on that fabric! I've been selling some on Etsy...it sells rather well, actually (I guess others are building up their stashes!), but I can't seem to be rid of it fast enough. :)

Rock Ford Christmas

I'm living vicariously through my mother again! Since moving to Pittsburgh I am still in the process of locating museums and living history events to attend in period costume, so for now you'll have to see pictures from all the events that my mother attends!

This weekend Historic Rock Ford Plantation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania hosted a Christmas Candlelight Tour. My mother, a docent at the museum, participated. She is pictured above in the green sheer dress. Her role this year was to help a docent portraying Mrs. Edward Hand, the lady of the plantation, to dress for the evening. 'Mrs. Hand' is on the right in a shift, silk stays, quilted petticoat, and bedgown. My mother told me some fancy name for the bedgown...she thought it was called a nighttrail? I've never heard of this before. What is the proper term for a long bedgown style jacket like this?

Choosing a gown for the evening.

Mom's sheer dress was patterned by me, based off of the same original dress as Pam's dress further down in this post. I'm in the process of patterning a new style of regency dress with a bib front. It's similar to the bib front gown in 'Patterns of Fashion'.

Rock Ford Christmas

Pam wearing a Silk c1795-1805 dress based off of an original silk dress from Pennsylvania.
I draped the pattern for this dress.

Regency Dress

I'm loving this dress!

Actually, I don't know anything about the painting - artist, date, subject. I love that V front and the fullness of the skirt! I'd love to make my white silk dress like this, but I don't think the V bodice would look that great with the Pelisse, so I'm sticking to another design.

Regency Dress Thoughts

I'm sorry for my lack of interesting posts! I have been a busy bee lately with Holiday Decorating, travelling home for an early Christmas with my family, and working at a fabric store (fun!). The house is all decorated for Christmas now and it's time to begin sewing once more! At the top of the list is a White Sheer Silk Organza Dress to coordinate with the White Silk Regency Pelisse (that I still need to photograph to show you!). I'm still determining the pattern that I will use. It's looking like I may have to draft my own. But I'm wishing that there was an easier way out. (P.S. The above picture is from another Regency dress project, not the current one.)

I know it's not just me. How many of you love to collect patterns because it makes it look as if sewing is so easy? With their beautiful glossy pictures on the front it seems as if all you have to do is select the fabric and then sit down for a few minutes and "whala" you have an amazing finished garment. But for me, at least, sewing is the boring, mundane, dull and tedious part that I dislike! The research, designing, and patterning stage is my favorite. I'm still crossing my fingers and hoping to someday develop a passion for the sewing part!

As Vince and I plan to join a new Civil War reenacting unit, after reenacting together for almost 10 years, I feel a twinge of sadness at the friends that I am no longer privileged to reenact with. Friends that I've met over the years who have since moved on in their lives. Their busy schedules can no longer allow the time for reenacting pleasures.

Above is an early reenacting pictures. These ladies are truly lovely and a pleasure to spend time with! This was taken after a fashion show - that's why I'm scandalously clad in an evening dress during the daytime! My mother is in the olive dress. Carol and Tina are our other friends. What good times we had together!

This is my very good friend, Gaye. Fortunately Gaye and I have stayed in touch. This is a perfect Southern Lady! She's charming and polite and perfect in every way! Always attired in the most proper and beautiful of outfits. This is the woman who taught me to love authenticity so dearly!

This couple inspired our excitement for research! Tom and Janice. They own a very large collection of Civil War era CDVs. We've spent countless evenings at their home pouring over CDVs while Tom banters excitedly about his recent historic purchases. What fun!

I just thought you might enjoy looking at their excellent reenacting wardrobes. I started out reenacting with these ladies (and gentlemen) and feel so honored to have had the opportunity to learn from people who really care about authentically portraying those who lived before us.

1860s Christmas at Fort Hunter

This past weekend my mother attended a living history event at Fort Hunter near Harrisburg, PA. She was one of the cooks in the summer kitchen on the property. I thought you might enjoy seeing a few pictures of authentic civilians cooking.

Above is my mother, Nancy.

These are my good friends Mark and Faith Hintzen. "Granny" Faith.

Isn't Faith's knitted hood lovely? I'm sure that she purchased it at S&S Sutlers in Gettysburg. They have the prettiest knitted wool hoods and the color combinations are always beautiful.

This is my friend Gaye Denlinger.

Gaye always has the prettiest Civil War wardrobe. Her work dress and apron were made by Beth Miller of Gettysburg, PA. Her hair net was made by Beverly Lister of New Holland, PA. Beverly makes beautiful authentic bonnets, headdresses, and hair nets.

Gaye helped me get started in reenacting and has always been an inspiration because of her dedication to authenticity.

Faith and Nancy Cooking.