The First Grange

Today was the first Grange at Henkel Square. Two other ladies joined me. While we weren't great in number, we did have a good time. Sewed, talked, explored the houses. Kimberly brought her newly acquired 1862 Lady's Almanac, which was wonderful. Debra made a wonderful 1860s "Boiled Fruit cake"; it was delicious, like a fruity gingerbread. We started working on things to put in a soldiers' box to give at an event later this year and discussed how to distribute it. We will probably ask the 173rd's chaplain to find a deserving unit to give it to. We all worked on housewives and tobacco bags and Kimberly thought she might attempt to make a shirt. We'll also probably include handkercheifs, candies, maybe some writing paper and pencils. Kimberly also has decided she wants to learn to milk a cow, so I'm going to try to find someone in the area that can bring us a cow or a goat to learn to milk. Pictures from the day can be found here. Hopefully we'll be able to get more people involved in the future. I really think this is a worthwhile thing; it will just take some time I think to grow.

Now on to Harrisburg! I'm so excited!

Doings

I have reorganized my website and added my CDV collection, at least the 1860s part. The first Grange is this Saturday at Henkel Square, so I'm getting projects together and hoping it's not just two of us staring at the cobwebs :). I thought some of us might put things together for a "soldier's box" and deliver it semi-anonymously to some officer to deliver to his unit at an event later in the year. This will give us some projects to work on and, I think, some of the units here in Texas might enjoy the surprise interaction.

After the Grange I'll be getting ready for the Harrisburg conference. I'm really looking forward to that; always have a great time.

Website updated and missed opportunity

The current content on the website has been updated. I will begin adding additional content soon. It sounds like the ball in San Antonio went well; I'm sorry I had to miss it.

Busy

I have not been sewing lately as I'm reorganizing and updating my website, which means relinking a lot of the content. I've also volunteered to be the citizen moderator on the Common Ground Forum. With all this and other activities, this year should be rather full.

Collar is finished

and on the dress.

Redo

Here is the redo on the collar. I'm only going to embroidery the ends rather than all the way around. Yes, the stand is black, that is what I had on hand, and it will be under the neck edge and not show.

One step back

Right after I posted last, the collar headed south. So I'm now making an entirely new collar, this time with lace on the edges and will do the same embroidary. At least I have time to work on this and I'm not having to rush through it.

Progress

I've started on my collar. I choose this embroidery pattern from an 1862 Godey's.





I'm doing white on white, here's part of what I've done so far.

Accomplishments

The Henkel Square Herald is complete now from 1860 to May 1865. This is a sheet that I formatted to contain Vicki Betts' Texas newspaper transcriptions; I converted the documents to pdfs and posted them on my website. Originally it was intended as a tool to develop background information for the Henkel Square event but some requested that it be carried thoughout the war years.

Next project is to tidy up my silk to wear at the Harrisburg conference. Got the hem tape on, remade a thread eye, want to put hooks and eyes on the undersleeves so they will stop falling down and then to do some embroidery on the collar to fancy it up a bit.

Over the next year I need to make some more under garments (been saying that for 2 years now), would like another dress, and will need to buckle down and finish the research for the other pages of my website. I plan to be immersed in Civil War living history for some time :).