Ladies and Gentlemen of the 1860s Conference: Part 3

Friday
Workshop day and they went well. The morning workshop was the largest with 13 people. Most everyone completed their pincushions.

There were several different end finishings.

Between my sessions we went to lunch at the Camp Hill Cafe, a small local eatery. It was full of locals so we knew it would be good, and it was. We enjoyed it very much.



After all workshops we went to the presenters' reception that Carolann hosts for the conference presenters. She provides sandwiches and drinks. It's a good time to sit and visit with fellow presenters. That served as dinner. On to the conference opening and presentations, the marketplace and the originals.

The first presentation was Nicky Hughes and the adventures of Senator Golladay. The continuing adventures of Senator Golladay have been a highlight of conference. Mr. Hughes uses these presentations to show the material culture of the period to great effect. This year Senator Golladay visited the army, showing the various items that can be used to make a home in a tent. These are always fun and enjoyable, especially with Killer the duck.

The next talk was from Emmanuel Dabney on "The Omohundros of Richmond: A Slave Owning and Enslaved Family". This was a very interesting and well researched presentation. It concerned a slave trader and his family. The twist here was that the "wife" was a mulatto slave technically owned by Omohundro. She was treated by Omohundro as his legal wife, presented with jewels and clothes. It is also interesting to note that there were at least two other similar family situations in the area. Omohundro apparently had a white wife previously who died and a mulatto wife who left Virginia with their children. Very interesting talk on an intriguing topic.

A few more photos of the originals and then called it a night.



Ladies and Gentlemen of the 1860s Conference: Part 2

Thursday
I did not have a workshop to conduct on Thursday so I was able to attend Carolann's silk wristlet workshop this morning. This was a fun class and the wristlets are easy to put together. Carolann started off the class showing period examples of the wristlets. We had a choice of different kits. I bought the kit for the simple velvet ribbon with a clasp and a fancier on with ribbon decorations. The handouts included the instructions for all the different types of wristlets. I made the more complicated one in class.

Here is a picture of one of the other fancy version completed by another participant.

Photos of the construction process are included in the link in the Part 1 post.

After the workshop I met up with Kimberly and we had lunch at the hotel restaurant. Kimberly had a workshop that afternoon. I spent the afternoon finding my workshop room and moving the bricks from Maggie's truck into the room. To get the room it was necessary to go up a few steps and then down some stairs and it was at the other end of the wing from where the truck was parked. So loaded up the trunk of the rental car and drove around to the closest entrance. From there I took a few at a time down to the room. However, a housekeeping supervisor saw me hauling the bricks and pulled a couple of her male laundry staff and they carried the majority in for me. I was very grateful. I spent the rest of the afternoon lounging in the room waiting for Kimberly and Teri to get out of their classes to move the bran.  

Teri brought me 42 pounds of oat bran in two large bags and four smaller bags. Kimberly helped me move it from Teri's room to the workshop room. On the way we passed Carolann and K in the hall and there was a remark or two about irregularity. So all set up for the workshop.

             

That evening we had dinner at Perkins, across the parking lot from the hotel. Just as we were paying our bill, Nancy called and she had just landed. So off we go to the airport to pick her up. On the way back we stopped at the grocery to pick up some snacks and cleaner for the bricks.

We got Nancy settled and went down to attend the Conference reception and wrapper party. At this event, Carolann provides snacks and those who wish, can show off their wrappers and banions. This is a lot of fun; we get to meet up with everyone and renew friendships.

After the wrapper and banion fashion show, Carolann presented a few videos. The first was a Youtube video called "Stuff Museum People Say". Pretty cute. Then we watched the ball scene from "The Leopard". This is a great costume movie that takes place in 1860s Sicily. It was beautiful. Then the full Carol Burnett "Gone With the Wind" sketch. Hilarious!! We stayed for a little bit longer than went up to the room as we were all pretty tired but of course stayed up talking until late.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the 1860s Conference: Part 1

I must start off these posts about the conference with some thank yous and kudos. First to Carolann Schmitt and her staff at Genteel Arts LLC. They do an amazing job producing this event and providing such interesting topics and educational opportunities. Next to Maggie Halberg and Teri Peterson for their help in bringing the bricks and bran I needed for my workshop. It made everything so much easier and saved me stress and money. Thanks to all.

If you aren't aware of the Ladies and Gentlemen of the 1860s Conference, it is held each year the first weekend of March in Camp Hill Pa. It consists of pre-conference workshops and a weekend of wonderful presentations on various material culture and 19th century life. In addition there are displays of original garments the participants can photograph. And then there is the marketplace hosting several well known and respected vendors of garments, books, music, accessories, head wear and jewelry among other things.

This is an event that I highly recommend. The educational opportunities are some of the best in the country and the networking and fellowship opportunities are wonderful. It is really great to spend the weekend with so many people who understand you. Since I very seldom get to events east of Texas I really enjoy meeting people I only talk with online.

So, this year's trip. If you just want the pictures you can find them at  http://s774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/netnet81/Conference%202012/. For some reason it won't link directly, so you'll need to copy and paste.

Wednesday
Because I was conducting a workshop I left for the conference on Wednesday. It turned out that I didn't have any on Thursday though. I left Austin at about noon on a smallish plane to Dulles International. My carry on roller wouldn't fit in the cargo bin so I had to gate check it. I had no seat mate so it made for a more comfortable flight than expected. We landed in a different concourse than where I was picking up my connecting flight. Since I had to wait for my gate checked bag and walk across the tarmac to the gate it made for a bit of a quick walk to my next gate. Dulles is not the easiest airport to get around, but I made it to my next flight on time. The next plane was smaller, but it was only a 22 minute flight; the attendant didn't even get out of the jump seat.

Landed in Harrisburg. I like this airport, small, easy to maneuver and it has rocking chairs! We had planned to rent a car on Thursday, but I decided to go ahead and get it when I got in on Wednesday. I got a Hyundai Accent...cute car, but really a slug. This was the first time since I had started going to the conference that there was no snow on the ground, not even dirty piles in the back of the parking lots. Very strange.

Arrived at the hotel; Kimberly had arrived a bit earlier. Nancy would arrive Thursday evening. The conference is held at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill. I enjoy staying here. A bit inconvenient without elevators and some rooms are showing signs of use and age, but I still like it. The hotel restaurant is ok, but there are plenty of other eateries in the area and fairly close to a grocery store. After all the years of having the conference there they are usually prepared for us and offer discounts at the restaurant.

Dropped stuff off in the room and went looking for Kimberly. Found her finishing up dinner in the hotel restaurant. I joined her and ordered a hamburger. Then Beth Chamberlain came in and we invited her to join us. Then a friend of Beth's joined us. A very merry party indeed.

Kimberly and I spent the rest of the evening talking, watching tv and getting stuff settled for the next day.

Sewing whites

My workshop stuff is done and ready, other than the handouts. So I started sewing on underwear. I really don't like sewing undergarments; but they are needful things. I'm using Laughing Moon #100. Elizabeth Stewart Clark's pattern instructions are great, I just didn't feel like making a pattern and then cutting it out. I'm being lazy.

I like the LM pattern. It goes together well, they are roomy, and they go up to my size! I've cut out 2 sets so we'll see what I get done before the conference. I have to have at least one. I'll need the other by The War at Home in April.

Turns out all my workshop classes are on Firday, so I am going to take a wristlet workshop on Thursday at the conference. I won't have a fancy dress for the ball. Family stuff has prevented me from getting stuff together.

Plenty of photos after I get back from the conference.

Garden update

I haven't written about the garden for awhile. Lost the cucumbers, carrots are coming up, beans are struggling, lettuce...well, they too are trying. But the radishes!

Just to check in

I haven't forgotten about this blog, just nothing has happened. My conference dress is done and I and a couple of friends are "musing" on our fancy dress costumes for the ball. Next activity coming up is an "unmentionables" workshop at Pioneer Farms this coming weekend. I'm going to help out but have not been asked to present anything. I am taking handouts on undergarments from Vicki Betts' and my presentation on Working Women. In April I am doing an activity station on diversity covers at the Confederate Reunion Grounds Civil War Days.  Oh, yeah, my birthday tomorrow; almost AARP eligible!

Real Life...Yuck

Real life has now interferred with my hobby. In February Barrington Living History Farm is have a workshop on driving oxen. In fact I had suggested it to them as a period life skills workshop. Well, now I can't go. My job was cut to part-time, which resulted in a three-fourths cut in pay. I don't have the money to pay for the workshop and the gas to attend. This really upsets me as I really wanted to go to this and I feel I'm letting them down by not attending.

My option is to attend a presentation by Vicki Betts at the Bob Bullock Museum downtown; it's free and won't cost hardly any gas to attend. I'm sure this will be a great presentation but I still feel bad about the oxen workshop.

On a more positive note, the conference dress is done. I can now concentrate on getting the workshop materials together, writing another article for the Citizen's Companion and, of course, continue the job hunt.

Speaking of the Citizen's Companion, my article on Adversity Covers (wallpaper envelopes) has just come out! It looks good and I'm pleased how it looks.