New Material Culture Items

Since the first time I volunteered at the Pioneer Farms giftshop I have been looking at two small crocks. They are perfect for little things like pickles or butter. I finally broke down and bought them.

The larger striped one is a Marshall Pottery piece.

The smaller, plain piece has no mark. I have a stripped round pitcher and bowl to match the Marshall crock. Very happy with this purchase.

Blue check idea

I think I found what I want to do with the blue check I picked up from Needle and Thread.

Whatcha all think?

Tyler Sesquicentennial Workshop

This past Saturday, Vicki Betts and I participated in a Civil War Sesquicentennial workshop presented by the Texas Historical Commission; for me it was a work event. I arrived Friday evening and met up with Vicki for dinner. After dinner we drove around town looking at houses and all the blooms, particularly the tulips. Of course I did not bring my camera with me.  We also drove by the house where Kate Stone lived for a time when she refugeed to Tyler during the Civil War. Kate didn't like Texas much, calling it the dark corner of the Confederacy. The house is now a museum and has been added to and redone so it doesn't look much like it did when Kate was there. The gates to the museum park were closed so I couldn't get up close to get any photos. I'll have to go back.

The workshop was part of a grant from the Society of the Order of the Southern Cross to present information on sesquicentennial events in Texas. This year's workshops focused on the preservation and interpretation efforts at Palmito Ranch, the last battle of the Civil War. It was also to include a talk from the Smith County Historical Society and a planned living history at Camp Ford in 2013. Unfortunately, signals got crossed, the message didn't get out, and the historical society did not show up. Three members of the public were there. That was ok.

The workshop was held at the historical society's offices at the Carnegie Public Library in Tyler. The bottom floor of the building is a museum of Smith County history and the archives. The second floor is an auditorium with a stage and great acoustics. Vicki and I tag-teamed an edited version of my Texas Civil War home front talk from the 1860's conference a couple of years ago. I read the narrative and Vicki picked up the quotes. It was a lot of fun and those there seemed to enjoy it.

What's Coming Up

The Harrisburg conference is over so what do I have in line to work on next. Several projects actually.

Sewing

• The site manager at Pioneer Farms needs some correct clothes so I am making him a new vest and trousers.
•  I also need to complete the other pair of drawers I cut out.
• I would like to get some accurate sunbonnets out at Pioneer Farms.
• And of course I need to find an inspiration for the new fabric I bought from Needle and Thread.
• I need an 1890s outfit for Pioneer Farms.

Living History

• Civil War event at the Confederate Reunion Grounds. Part of this is for work.
• The War at Home
• Volunteering at Pioneer Farms

That is all I have on my calendar right now. Oh, a few research projects to fit in as well. I'll post updates as things get under way.

Conference Dress Construction

When you are a presenter at the Ladies and Gentlemen of the 1860s Conference, Carolann Schmitt sends you a length of fabric to mae a dress. Everyone gets the same fabric but can make it up anyway they wish. To see all the garments from this year, see http://s774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/netnet81/Conference%202012/

Usually the fabric is a cotton; however, this year's fabric was an Italian Merino wool.

Here is my inspiration dress.

The first thing I did was make the tie, since it was fairly easy.

Finding the false buttons was not possible so I had to make them. Nancy and I found some upholestry trim with the perfect tassles. I then dyed hoodie tie string and crochet thread to match the tassles. I crocheted around small rings to create the medallions to which the tassles are attached.

I didn't use a pattern per se, just a basic bodice that had from the last few dresses I made. I lined the bodice with brown polished cotton.

I made hook and eye tape using the fashion fabic. I used the instructions included with Past Patterns 812.

I didn't include piping in the armsyce as the inspiration dress didn't appear to have any.



However, I did pipe the neck line.

The wrist trim and collar was antique lace I had bought for another project that I decided not to persue.










The skirt was attached with a dog leg. Nothing different there. I had Three Sisters Millinery make a head covering for me to match that in the inspiration photo. And here is the finished product.

See more production pictures at
http://s774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/netnet81/Conference%20Dress%202012/

Ladies and Gentlemen of the 1860s Conference: Epilogue.2

Monday morning, my last day in Pennsylvania. We started off with breakfast at Perkins. There were other attendees as we saw them at breakfast and packing up as we left the hotel. It was kind of a sad feeling leaving the hotel with its empty parking lot. Our first stop was the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg.

I had been there a few years ago and not much had changed. It's a beautiful facility. The exhibits are definately military centered. In the gallery guide it says there is a Women in War exhibit on the roles of women in the war; however, it is nothing but a wall of quotes and etched portriats. I was disappointed. They have some great artifacts. One in particular was a personal flag that Kimberly and I would love to reproduce and pass out to the guys at Pioneer Farms.

However, it didn't take much time to go through the museum. We still had a little bit of time before we had to get Kimberly to the airport but not enough time to travel anywhere. We picked up a flyer for the Antique Marketplace in Lemoyne. How fun, I wish I had had more time to really explore. As it was I picked up some CDVs and a neat broach.

After dropping Kimberly off at the airport I headed to Hershey, as the guys at home wanted souveniors.

I drove around town, up and down Chocolate Ave. I love the architecture! Brick bungalows, very cute. Yes, the street lights on Chocolate Avenue are Hershey Kisses, alternating wrapped and unwrapped. There was a faint hint of chocolate in the air, or at least I thought so. Cute little town.

I then went up to the Hotel Hershey.

Just hung out in the lobby and shops. Very che-che. Nancy wants to stay one night there on one of our trips to the conference.

My trip back was a mess. Although I did get an upgrade to business class from Chicago to Denver. We were delayed coming out of Chicago so I missed my flight to Austin. But business class, oh yeah. Reclining seats, choice of movies (I watched The Artist), hot nuts, and hot dinner. First class gets their own little capsules, but business was still nice.

Since I missed my flight to Austin, the airline put me up in Denver, but without my checked bag. I managed, but would have liked to have fresh clothes. The flight back was uneventful, slept most of the way.

So ends another conference trip. Really looking forward to next year. I love these trips.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the 1860s Conference: Epilogue.1

After the conference ended, we took Nancy to the airport as she had to leave that day. Kimberly and I stayed another day. After leaving Nancy at the airport Kimberly and I headed for Gettysburg. Our first stop was at the new battlefield visitor's center. This is a nice facility, but I think a bit commercial. It contains a gift shop/book store, movie theater, cafe, museum, and the cyclorama. You can also get guided tours of the battlefield.

We first watched the orientation film, which is basically about why the war started; we probably could have skipped that. It's well done, narrated by Morgan Freeman and produced in association with the History Channel. But I think Kimberly and I have a pretty good grasp on the causes of the war :). The film empties out to the cyclorama. I had never seen it before so it was pretty cool. There is a short narrative with battle sound and lighting effects.

Next we visited the museum. Some great artifacts and photos.



We then visited the gift shop. Wow. I know that most museum shops now need to cater to the general public, but the amount of kitsch really isn't necessary. And $26.00 baseball caps? Yes, I know that it goes to support battlefield preservation, but wow. On the other hand, the book selection was impressive.

We then decided to go into town and visit Abraham's Lady and get lunch. I just heard that Abraham's Lady is closing the shop but keeping the Internet site going. I picked up The Way They Were Dressed in 1860 -1865, A Photographic Reference - Volume 2.  I bought Vol. I a couple of years ago when I was there. I also got some buttons for the vest and trousers I'm making for Pioneer Farms.

We then had lunch at the Dobbin House Tavern. I really like eating here. The atmosphere is great and the food is yummy. 

After lunch we headed back to the battlefield to do the tour. It was cold, but managed to get a few pictures.



As we left the battlefield we ran into a little bit of snow. Since we had a late lunch we stopped off at the grocery store and picked up snacks and lunchables. We spent the evening packing up.