I'm Alive!

So, it's been a loooong time since I've posted. And as summer is usually when I post most, AND I had the internship that I've been drooling over for two years, this may seem a little odd! However, the lack of internet in Harpers Ferry prevented me from doing any real blogging.

Such a beautiful place to live for the summer... I can't wait to set foot on
Shenandoah Street (pictured here) again!

But now that I'm back, I'm hoping to do some recapping posts, and get back into posting at least occasionally. There are some new sewing projects that I started and/or finished over the summer, and some fun new nineteenth century recipes from the summer to share!

Civil War Research!

Sorry the blog's been so quiet--I haven't had time for any sewing or reenacting-related things recently due to my insane school schedule. I'm doing a bunch of research/writing for my undergrad thesis, looking at the cultural roots of the United States Sanitary Commission and its relation to domesticity. The whole project has been really fascinating so far, and has given me some great new insights into the period.

A local USSC office in Ohio

Would anyone be interested in a few posts on mid-19thC American culture and/or the USSC? My findings have been really improved my understanding of the middle-class civilian/woman, and will likely be incorporated into my impression. (Although they may be below the surface... it just helps me to better project the persona if I know what I should be "thinking".) Researching for class and for living history at the same time is one of the great side-benefits of a history major!

Summer Plans

No makeup or nail polish for me this summer...*

I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS A LIVING HISTORY INTERN AT HARPERS FERRY NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK!!!

THIS PLACE!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHKLASDFJHASKDJFHASLDFKJDASHFJSDALHFJKSADLHFJAKSLHFJSDKALFHJKDLFHJSAKDLFHJASKDLHF!!!!!!!

In case you can't tell, I'm a little excited. I applied last year, but no cigar. I decided to give it another shot this year (hey, why not... all it costs is a few sheets of paper and some postage), and shipped my resume, cover letter, and references in. Exactly one day short of one week later, I got a phone call--I was in!

I HAVE LITERALLY NEVER BEEN MORE SURPRISED IN MY LIFE
I GET TO LIVE IN DOWNTOWN HARPERS FERRY
IN A 19TH CENTURY BUILDING IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT
WEARING PERIOD CLOTHES ALL SUMMER LONG
PERFORMING PERIOD TASKS ALL SUMMER LONG
WHERE JOHN BROWN'S RAID WAS
AND WHERE JACKSON AND HILL AND STUART HUNG AROUND
AND WHERE LEWIS AND CLARK WENT THROUGH
AND WHERE WASHINGTON DECIDED TO PUT AN ARSENAL
AND WHERE THOMAS JEFFERSON'S FAVORITE SCENERY WAS
AND A TON OF OTHER HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT THINGS
WHERE THE POTOMAC AND SHENANDOAH RIVERS MEET
IN THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS
A HALF HOUR AWAY FROM ANTIETAM AND FREDERICK
AN HOUR AWAY FROM GETTYSBURG AND DC
ABSORBING EVERY PARTICLE OF KNOWLEDGE AVAILABLE
LITERALLY EATING, SLEEPING, AND BREATHING HISTORY
TALKING ABOUT HISTORY ALL DAY LONG
SURROUNDED BY OTHER HISTORY-OBSESSED PEOPLE
FOR TWELVE GLORIOUS WEEKS

This town completely stole my heart last summer. Now I get to live there!

Literal dream come true. I feel so far beyond blessed by this opportunity! I may never come back. (My friends are literally concerned that they will never see me again...) Well, over the summer this blog will look a bit different than the regular sporadic sewing journal: here comes the chronicle of my internship adventures!

*Five days a week, during the workday anyhow.
**pictures borrowed from elsewhere on the internet... I had them saved, so I don't know where they were originally from.

Kalamazoo 2013!

While it's been a busy semester, it just wouldn't be March without...
THE KALAMAZOO LIVING HISTORY EXPO!

I was very well behaved/didn't too much shopping this time, but I did pick up a few things to get me started for the new season. I purchased some lovely brown leather gloves, some super sheer striped cotton for new undersleeves (I've been wanting sheer ones for a while now), period correct knitting needles (which have also been on the wishlist), and some scissors for my brother's housewife kit (he's had an IOU for them since Christmas). I strongly considered straw for a new bonnet, but seeing as I'm already up to my elbows in projects without much time to do them, I decided to put off the bonnet at least until I've finished a few more items on the list.

All in all, I'd say it was a successful trip!

New Ballgown

Here at last are photos of my new ballgown, courtesy of my bestie who graciously agreed to a photoshoot during a weekend of crazy homework.

The front, and the bertha-that-I-freehanded-which-
took-a-long-time-but-really-wasn't-that-bad.

Sleeves (which mysteriously got twisted) and the back of
the bertha/bodice/skirt.

Housemates: "If we add a fan, it will be like a legit
modeling shoot!"
Hence, the ruffle blowing in the wind. hahaha

As it was a bit chilly, I donned my great-grandma's fur
wrap to complete my outfit.

This actually wasn't the necklace I ended up wearing, but other than that, this was the ensemble! The dress was enjoyable to wear, and I look forward to pulling it out again for the next ball. Hopefully by that point, I will have added another ruffle or two to the skirt, as was originally intended. It's definitely wearable as-is, but I think at least one more layer on the skirt would be a good thing, and more akin to what I've seen in CDVs and originals.

PROJECT IN SUMMARY:
Fabric: I got 16 yards of silk for $15 + $8 shipping on ebay, and barely used half of it. Lining for the bodice and the kick on the skirt came from the stash.
Notions: Mostly from the stash, plus a few spring steel bones to keep everything smooth. $3
Ribbon: Several yards from Haberman's... maybe another $15 or so
Lace: More from the stash, originally from Hobby Lobby. I really loaded it on, especially on the bertha... maybe 6 yards? (Do you like my super meticulous bookkeeping?)
TOTAL: $30ish. Not too bad for a new silk ballgown!

Happy [Blog] Birthday to Me!

This is my one-year blogiversary! (Not a word? Oh well.)

Tea cookies which I am pining to make,
swiped from Pinterest here.
If these don't say party, I don't know what does.

I'm not always so good at updating, but I really do enjoy chronicling my costuming/reenacting adventures. Maybe year two will see me get better at keeping up with it :) Many thanks to those who stop by and check out my scattered posts!

I'm currently buried under a crazy pile of assignments due... tomorrow. Yikes! After they're done, I'll put up pictures of my new ballgown. My super talented friend came over and did an actual photo-shoot, so I have some better than average shots to share! Be excited.

Ballgown Sneak Peek!

I'll be debuting my new ballgown TOMORROW at the Midwinter's Ball in Lansing! *happy dance*

Here are a few detail shots... pictures of the whole dress coming soon.

Bertha!

Lace on the sleeves

The ill-conceived skirt ruffle

I can't wait to put it all on together and see what it looks like! Living on the edge here, having never worn the dress until the day of the ball...

A Horrid Blogger

I am. I admit it. I have been completely devoured by school, and for some reason decided to add another job. (Now I'm a history tutor, too! Because I had so much extra time.) So yeah. Between all my classes and work and writing my undergrad thesis, there hasn't been a whole lot of opportunity for extra activities. I am still finishing up the ballgown--hopefully there will be pictures soon! That has to get finished, as I'm wearing it weekend after next.

In other news, I am currently madly in love with this robe:

And also Martin Freeman

I have a burning desire to produce a replica. I would wear it everywhere. Think how great it would be to wear for the premiere of the next Hobbit movie! I am now beginning a lookout for upholstery fabric sales/remnants that will last until I've successfully garbed myself in a hobbit-style quilted smoking jacket.

It's Ballgown Time!

Note: these posts are being written up with a delay... I didn't get to posting them over break, but have a good chunk of the dress done.

I had been lusting over the pink ballgown for ages, (you know, the one I kept posting pictures of) but had had no luck in finding fabric for it. Wrong weight, wrong color, wrong sheen... I just couldn't get the correct tone, and didn't want to compromise and ruin my vision of the dress. Someday it will be mine--but for now, I am working on another ball gown!

I had been scouring ebay for fabric for ages when I found... IT. Sixteen yards of bone colored, 34"w antique silk. "Good heavens, that must have been extortionately expensive!" you must be thinking. Try $15.50 with $8 shipping. That's right, folks... all the yards I could wish for of high quality vintage stock for a little over a dollar a yard! I won the bid almost without contest. I was close to doing a victory dance, but didn't want to scare my roommate.

What do I do with this glorious good fortune? Well, that shouldn't come as a surprise... it's ballgown time! It's a very light, soft fabric, so anything very structured is out of the question.

Here is my chief inspiration at present:

So light and feminine!

I plan to add more of the contrasting color, and may do a point on the bodice. (I like the ribbon around the waist, but neglected to get the proper width of ribbon while I was at Haberman's, and don't have time for another trip. Rats!) I like the ruffles around the bottom of the skirt. I was originally planning on tiers, but liked the subtlety of the ruffles and how they show off the delicacy of the fabric. Currently, the skirt is made, and the first ruffle is almost ready to attach. Let me tell you... it is taking FOR. EVER. I don't know why, but this project is crawling along at a snail's pace. A tired snail. A tired snail with no motivation. Maybe it's just because I've been so busy otherwise, but still! The bodice is basically stitched together too, but still needs to have hooks and eyes, boning, and piping. So basically everything. 

Pictures of the progress coming soon... hopefully. You know how that goes. First full week of classes coming up... yikes!

Death by Finals?

As I last posted in the middle of finals week over a month ago, you very well may have assumed that I died. Well, no such tragedy! Break has kept me running around just as much as school had been, but I've worked on quite a few projects in the interim that I will be posting directly. Over the next week, look for posts going up on a whole handful of 1860s projects including a ballgown and a foray into men's clothes, as well as a long overdue Regency project!