Busy weekend

Tomorrow begins a very busy weekend even though it's Thursday. I'm going to leave work about 1:00 and travel to Dubina in Fayette County to visit a cemetery we are getting ready to designate historic. It's a wonderful cemetery associated with one of the "Painted Churches". I'm staying at a motel overnight as I really didn't feel comfortable staying out at Henkel Square by myself. I have to be at Henkel by 8:00 for a school day--over 500 kids all in the morning. I'm going to the wear cotton work dress, apron and slat bonnet rather than dress up, something different. That afternoon I'll drive down to George Ranch and Texian Market Days on Saturday, then home Sunday. I'm wearing the new silk on Saturday and will have pictures up next week. I'm a little bummed that I don't have a bonnet to go well with my silk; however, the hair net from Vivian Murphy will go well with the silk in the house.

Silk update

Bodice is done and so are the undersleeves. Only thing left is the skirt, which, I'm sorry to say, will be machine stitched, at least the long seams, just running out of time. Photos to be posted as I can, but probably not until the whole thing is done.

clothing

I found the buttons for the new silk dress.


I'm going to use my existing pinner apron (the blue) for Piney Woods and a friend had started a quilted sunbonnet that she didn't plan to finish, so I'll finish that and use it.



Piney woods requires a photo prior to the event, so once the silk is done I'll start on Piney Woods clothes so I can get a photo. If it's not accepted, oh well, I can use the stuff here in Texas.

The silk mock up is done. I had to adjust the pattern a bit as the sleeve jockey was not what I wanted. I will fit it today with my corset, I hope, and start on the silk. The lining silk has not yet come in but at least I can get stuff cut out, marked and start on the skirt, undersleeves and collar. I would like to have this done by TMD in 3 weeks; I may have to machine some of it.

Next project

The corset is done and works for now. On to the next dress. Inspiration:


Fabrics, silk for the dress and silk velvet for the trim. The lining will be black silk which I have not purchased yet. Will also need to decide on buttons.

Texas Living History and Ike

Ike has spared the sites for two upcoming civilian living history events in Texas--Texian Market Days at George Ranch and Henkel Square in Round Top.

Henkel Square had no damage and George Ranch had minimal damage to some outbuildings and their 1830s barn. Both events will go on as planned; I just hope the participants from the Houston area will be settled enough by these events to attend.

Ike

Ike hit Texas pretty hard along the Gulf. I've heard from many of my reenacting friends and so far relatively minor damage, no houses destroyed. The Henkel Square site has no damage; I'm waiting to hear about George Ranch. Even if George Ranch did not sustain much damage it's hard to say whether they will go forward with Texian Market days due to the other damage in the surrounding area.

The corset pattern...directions could use a little more work. One half is about done, again by hand. It appears there is quite a large spring in the back, more than I expected or thought accruate. Will reevaluate when done.

Finally done

The wrapper is finally done.

I took a short break on sewing to catch up on some reading and now am preparing for the Texas living history season starting up in about a month or so. I've decided to make a new corset as my first "must get done before mid-October project. I'm using the new Kay Gnagey pattern put out be Simplicity #2890; we'll see how it works. The pattern doesn't call for a lining but I think I will put one in.

No doubt I will be busy for some time between sewing and the Henkel Square event.