Aren't You Hot in That?

Why yes, I am a bit snuggly and toasty today. It's over 92 degrees outside in the shade, it feels like a sauna, the heat index says not to leave the house, and somehow I get up to put on several layers of clothes that absolutely won't fit without a corset. I research far too many hours about historic clothing, daily life, and activities. I work really hard to make pioneer life look fun and interesting..... Just so you can ask me if I'm hot while you stand there sweating droplets on your shoes....  I really love that question...

Hoop Skirts Shaped the Civil War

I JUST had to have a hoop skirt for Civil War this year. I thought it would be such fun.  Yup. Fun. Getting stuck in doors. Walking in single file lines all day.  Needing help in the bathroom.  Hiding small children. 

My dress research started here: 

I decided to go with black and gray (I hadn't given thought to the colors of the union/ confederacy)....like this dress:

So I got my gray skirt and black ruffle going....then I found out that historically, women wore red or crimson petticoats (to save their whites for formal or social occasions), so I whipped up a red ruffle for my petticoat....

The tatting took me a couple hours a night for two weeks. I love how it looked so it was completely worth the time!  

I got my hat done at midnight the night before civil war day.... Turned out pretty well- I just need to change the ties under my chin to something cottony and softer. Grosgrain ribbon was certainly hot and itchy. 

I tried (unsuccessfully) to avoid cameras throughout the day....I love this next picture. I look like a ghost. Lol!  

Back to my tuffet to consider steampunk. Hmmm...

M

Goodbye Mountains.....Hello Boardwalk!

Well, well, well.... Here I find myself again after such a tempting period of silence. No really.  I've thought a lot about all those interesting moments at the museum history park.  I can honestly say I miss my schoolhouse and the beautiful mountain view while I worked in the cabin with the doors open.  I miss a few of my friends I left behind, and having keys. 

I've come "home" to my first museum- it's like looking back on an old flame.... So much has changed and then it hasn't. The history is the same and I still love the smell of fires at the blacksmith or the farmers wife cooking the noonday meal. Some of the buildings even have the same old feel, but the people are new. 

Last week, I helped for the Spring Break week.  I learned about the print shop, job press, and of course local history in the form of newspapers. I cleaned and tidied up a lot (while trying not to mess with other interpreters stuff...erggh). I learned that I actually miss coming to do groups or working on a project and being the go-to girl (with keys). I enjoy eating historic lunches between visits with guests. I miss saying "my schoolhouse"....I appreciate being able to arrive at the museum after a 6 minute drive, not after a 90 minute commute through Denver on major highways. I appreciate there are people that care about the history, the museum, and giving time. I look forward to all the things I'm going to learn.

I even had enough time to join in on the local St Patricks Day parade with my niece.  A local news station posted our picture, which was fun to see later. Once we reached our modern car, heading to lunch, I asked her what her favorite part of being in the parade was... Her answer (stunningly cute): "the waving and smiling!"  So we're beginning work immediately on Fourth of July dresses....

Glad to have unpacked my tuffet at last,

M

Support Your Local Picnic Table

This last weekend Lorene and I headed out to the Farmer's Market in Golden to advertise for a kids pioneer camp.  It started out cloudy and breezy (Perfect weather!) and then got HOT.  Bummer.  It was still fun though and Lou (Lorene's paparazzi) stopped by so we got some new pictures.  A couple of the other pictures (not included) make me look like I'm wearing a table cloth....Maybe I'll be adding more of the beige and plain red to break up my picnic table look...

 

We ran over to the history center and made Christina take a couple pictures with us too before we stripped down for the day. 

 

Then there's nothing like getting the giggles while trying to take a serious picture...I don't think I stopped laughing for any of the pictures but oh well...

I'm working on my parasol...I have the inside recovered, the piping on the edge, and three of the six top covers on.  Once those are done, I'm making roses (like on my hat) to cover the ends of each pokey thing.  Maybe I'll get around to that post tomorrow.

Thinking on my tuffet for today,
M
 

Tidbits

I've been cleaning stuff out and trying to fix clothing items as I go, both from my personal closet and my costume closet...

I usually like to keep entire "dresses" together, each with their own apron, bonnet, bustle pads, etc. So I spent an afternoon making a couple of bits to go with my red dress...

 

Usually I trade Lorene a shawl or lace for her to make me a bag, but I found instructions and actually got one finished on my own! 

 

I needed a small bustle pad for my work skirt.  Lorene pointed out that it doesn't have to be ugly and plain...so I dressed it up with some leftover lace from the skirt and ran some ribbon to give it a pop of red.  Other people question my motive, but why do I have to wear something ugly (even if it's not normally seen by the public?)  Besides, we all know I can't really keep my skirts down and if someone wants to know what a bustle pad looks like, now I'll be happy to share!   

 

I'm still making flowers for my hat, but at least it's in a wearable stage!

 

I'm also working on a couple Princess dresses for my niece.  She loves her dresses.  I'm trying to decide if she gets her own blog or if I can post it here...hmmm.

 

Off to think on my tuffet,

M

To Behave....Oh Well, No.

Well the Colorado Train Museum isn't CostumeCon, but it was a lot of fun with gunfights and trains and snacks...and the two best dressed women in attendance!  Lorene and I went to check out another museum and scope out their event.  Before we had even been inside 5 minutes, there were families asking to take pictures with us. 

We didn't always behave ourselves, but we followed common courtesy and nodded to all the other women dressed up.  They, of course, were snotty and shot us dirty looks.  It's not our fault they decided a denim skirt and lace top were sufficient for their cowboy "look". 

 

Lorene and I still on the lookout for other opportunities.  Hopefully a museum somewhere will catch us fast! 

Gladly having a seat on my tuffet for the summer,
M

Where was I?

It's been a hectic season this Spring...so let's recap my dress progress:

~I finished my work dress top

~I finished my work skirt, complete with lace and dust ruffle

 

 

~I have a new petticoat with the cutest red stitching and ribbon

 

 

 

~My bustle cage was already finished, I added a button and still need to put on some ribbon over the edges

~My bustled skirt is coming along.  I finished the first ruffle yesterday, so today is pinning, pinning, pinning for the second one.

~I found my "real" shoes.

 

 



~I'm working on a straw hat for the summer.

~I still need to make new underwear and a corset cover. 

 

 I guess I'd better get going and get off my tuffet,

~M