If I Had My Own Blue Box:

I think to wrap my head around this month, I need to do lists.

Events

• Independence Day
• Inventions Week
• GCVM Civil War
• West Sparta

Millinery

If I finish the piece on my lap right now*, I will have made 15 millinery pieces in July. That does not include the woven/lacey white bonnet, 2 doll bonnets, and a doll hat.

I didn’t take photos of everything though. I need to do better about that.

Projects

• Bonnie the Bon Bon Doll
• Ribbon shelf quest
• Millinery sign
• Parasol obsession

Rolling Around in My Head, aka What is Coming Up….

• 15 millinery pieces in August
• Extra fun secret to-do
• Need a summery get together in August
• Eliza Leslie book club
• Domestic Skill Symposium workshop
• FanU project – “FanU for Sustainable Holidays”

Personal Projects

• Holiday season pin cushion and/or ornament tbd
• Recover a parasol
• Still want to make the pink silk dress
• Doll penwipe
• New sheer dress
• Still need a 1820s or 30s dress
• Chair kit – A bird cage Windsor
• 2 dolls still need bodies and 2 need clothes

*While this bonnet was mostly made during July, it will be wired and bound in August after drying on the block overnight.

Things That Worked

I am pleased with how the new ribbon shelf worked out. Once on the table and full it looked smaller than it is. I did ened up with more ribbon than I had space. I could easily use a matching one in the display, though I have no idea where I would put it at home.

Btw – When a guest came in with a Doctor Who lanyard, it popped out that the decorative marking on the back of the shelves is in fact Timelord writing.

I liked how the brown storage boxes fit on the shelves this year. It occured to me to turn them sideways in front of the books when I saw they were pushed back last week. I could use one more nesting set or a trio of the smaller ones to fully fill the space.

I made a point to have a new set of hands-on items this year. I kept it simple with a couple small hats and some ribbons. I instantly regretted not bringing a length of straw Saturday morning as I usually do. As the weekend progressed, it turned out not to be a big deal because few people picked them up. That was until nearly the last hour. A family came in with a visually impaired child. I was so happy I brought pieces thaf could be held and explored.

Sigh Room placement. I decided to move the table over in front of the back door that attracts too much attention. I thought this would encourage people to come in because it made the space in the door and to the left bigger. I was wrong. While we felt the breeze from the doors better, people needed to be verbally encouraged to come in. This is a puzzle I need to work on. It may be a color issue or a light issue or something??? else.

I really liked how my last minute sign came out. The cut out letters arrived just barely in time Friday morning. I quickly painted two layers of blue paint that is close but not quite the color of some of my stands. I glued them on and stuck on a weighted board with a fan. Fingers crossed

Ribbon Hanger

I was quite pleased with how the ribbon hanger came out. This was a last minute idea of Lily’s for the blank spot on the empty wall. I put it by the door instead to get a better proportion, with the visually larger fashion plates hanging on the larger wall space. While working on it, I had ideas on how to make it better for next year: ball or finial ends, more ribbons, bows at the joins, a bow arrangement where it hangs.

Then I noticed how many people want to lean on that wall. They would come in the door and lean against the wall. This meant they were leaning sweaty bodies against white walls and silk ribbon.

What ever goes there needs to either be so substantial people don’t feel they can lean there or high enough they don’t lean on the item or simply inexpensive and replaceable. In the past, I have picture a mirror hanging there if I could get the okay.

Concerning

A few things concerned me during the event. I will skip over those not drinking or not watering their children. There were two comments that worried me in general.

“There must have been a lot of war.” and “Oh, that’s a sad song.”

Both comments threw me. The first may have caused a physical double take. This prompted a back to basics explaination of who was who, how long the war was, where battles took place. These are not the things I normally cover. I dawned on me this person had been walking around the event for four or five hours, but just now “asked” for basics.

This makes me think we should consider if events need an introduction tent to prepare people new to this type of event. Think along the lines of the welcome video that was popular at museums in the 90s, only live. The tent could have a few rows of benches or bales and rotating pairs of guides to introduce people to what they are about to see. This would be a space to share basic historical background and a general outline of who is where on the site. I could be wrong. This could be an utter flop. But, if there are people who don’t know there must have been a lot of war, we have to try something.

The second comment surprised me a lot. Taps is usually a moment of stillness and silence for me. This is true whether I am near the battle, at a ceremony, or hear it through a window at home. No talking. No moving. No sewing. Quiet reflection. So, when someone started speaking to me I was surprised. When she commented “oh, that’s a sad song” I realized she hadn’t ever heard it before, let alone understood. I felt a mix of happy for her that she never stood graveside, hearing it played for a family member or friend; sad that she hadn’t attended a community memorial ceremony where it was played. I whispered what it was and how it was used. I think, I hope, she understood from my whisper there was notable significance to it. It may be time to include a short note regarding the significance of Taps on event information sheets.

For Next Year…

I want to tweek the ribbon hanger if I use it again.

While chatting, it came to mind that I need a clock. This is of course a lofty goal.

This weekend’s display pieces are now available in my Etsy shop. Pieces include:

• Black and natural straw bonnet
• Black straw bonnet (slightly smaller in the brim)
• Natural straw bonnet with a fancy brim
• Natural straw bonnet with a flared brim (smaller)
• Porkpie hat I decorated at the event (I called it a toque in the video. I was tired.) (Coming as soon as I finish it.)

Here is the video from ths event.

11:15…. Finished the hat!

Some of you may recall me working on a display box this spring for the demonstration I was doing in the gallery. I wanted to include the various beautiful straw elements found on original straw bonnets and hats. The problem was I haven’t yet learned to make these many motifs.

A couple weeks ago, I was talking with an Etsy merchant in Italy about her straw millinery products. She told me about these antique straw art pieces. I agreed to purchase them for her very reasonable price.

They are from around 1900, but these same elements can be found on hats and bonnets from the mid nineteenth century.

I will be arranging them into my display box. I would like to do a reference sheet for each, noting where millinery with each design can be found. If you would like to see some now, check out the The American Straw Art Museum.

I want to start with the infamous question: “Are you hot?”

This event, every last one of us, visitor, reenactor, and staff were Hot. As the days progressed closer to the event, weather alerts increased, warning people of the heat and heat index reaching 110 degrees. This is quite hot for for the Finger Lakes region. The museum took great care to make sure visitors and reenactors were as comfortable and healthy as possible. They set up cooling stations, emphasized which buildings have air conditioning, and had active emts on hand. This is one of the cooling stations behind the millinery.

Leading up to the event, I did start getting worried about the heat and how my body would respond. I’ve had a couple heat issues in the past and my body has been unpredictable the last few years. I am very relieved to report that other than a little sun headache on the way home Saturday, I feel good. I am the normal level of “day at the museum tired.” This is such a nice feeling for me. I credit this to drinking, drinking, and staying out of the sun.

Elyse joined me this year to be my assistant. I like to have an assistant because in previous years the building will fill with guests and it is nice to be able to run out to the outhouse or such.

Because it was so hot on Saturday, visitors were lighter than usual. This also meant more time to actually see friends. (normally I can not see past the front door.)

I may have shifted into camp director mode a few times in Saturday. I saw many people who worried me because of the heat. I may have reminded a few to drink water, asked a couple to sit down, and escorted one to the emts. I may have also gone out into the sun and watered soldiers.

Setting up the Millinery

Here are the before and after shot of the Insurance Office becomes Millinery Shop as it looked Friday before some Saturday morning changes:

Here are some arrangement photos.

I have a few millinery pieces that will be available as soon I get them unpacked and listed on Etsy:

I am too tired and hungry at the moment to do the post I want to. But, I also want to share the video from Thursday and this morning. All in all, yes it was hot but I had a nice time. Other than a sun headache, I feel pretty good.

This weekend, GCVM is Celebrating Chocolate! The historic village will be filled with tasty chocolate recipes.

Bonnie, the Bon Bon Doll will be happy to greet you with chocolates of her own.

Bonnie is a Bon Bon doll inspired by the dolls of Godey’s Lady’s Book. She stands 19 inches tall with a reproduction head. Bonnie is handsewn, using period techniques (see below).

Bonnie’s apron is draped in ribbon, each loop holding a tasty chocolate. A wreath of sugar gum flowers circles her head. She wants to say thank you to her Museum friends for making that for her.

Bonnie’s Background

Godey’s Lady’s Book is filled with curious doll projects from pincushions, to Santas, to lamp covers. The May 1870 edition includes directions for a Bon Bon Doll.

I have yet to find another Bon Bon doll illustrated or described in detail in nineteen century publications. I am convinced I have not looked in the right place or with the right words because the artist Alan McDonald got the idea for his Madame Le Bonbon from somewhere.

Building Bonnie

The original Godey’s description had their Bon Bon doll made of cardboard, wire, and paper standing 8 inches tall and twenty inches wide. These odd proportions would have made Queen Victoria look tall and slender. Upon closer inspection, I decided the description did not match the illustration. Trying to work with the combination of cardboard and wire, I ended up with several sketches like this.

Regardless of construction, it came down to How to keep her head on? I wanted a construction that would last for more than one event. I also wanted her to stay in one piece so people setting her up wouldn’t have to fuss with her top on her bottom just right or some such fiddliness. Getting the bon bons set was going to be fiddly enough.

So, after much debate, literally months, I opted for the basic construction Godey’s uses for several of their pincushion dolls and is used for some peddler dolls.

Bonnie has a cloth body with a “normal” torso and bell shaped lower body. She is weighted with wood and has a wood dowel up her center. She stands more than double the Godeys description at nearly 19 inches and 15 inches diameter at her base before her skirts. Her head and arms are porcelain, a reproduction set. The arms were a tough decision because I really liked the idea of making almond paste hands.

Bonnie currently has a single cotton petticoat. Her dress was draped for her. You may notice her shoulder plate is slightly tilted. While this shows her personality, the asymmetry did make fitting her dress a challenge. Her collar was from the ribbon box as it seems I donated the narrow laces. Her “bow” is a little piece of cotton sateen ribbon.

Her appron is a premium cotton muslin that ties in the back. The swags of ribbon are a white cotton sateen. The rows alternate 1w and 11 loops. Each was hand pleated and stitched to the apron. The loops act as chocolate hammocks.

This week was Inventions & Inventors week at GCVM. Today, I demonstrated the pinking machines. This post is going to be more of a reflection on how it went.

To be completely honest, I find demonstrating the pinking machines to be difficult. The come in late in my interest timeline and hit their heyday later. This means I don’t have clothes that match the dating of my easiest to demonstrate machines.

So, I already feel disconnected when I try to search for ways to connect guests with the machines. So far, I am working with three concepts:

• What is it?
• What does it do?
• How does it work?

For “What is it?” the hopeful connection is a memory of or usebof pinking scissors/shears. I find only a portion of people have a visual memory of pinking scissors/shears, while fewer have a strong enough memory to feel a connection. Those that do immediately connect the concept with stopping fraying.

Next is “What does it do?” While “make trim” was the initial goal, “cuts” was about as far as most guests you and old got. This was totally my fault. I assumed a based of knowledge/experience. With modern everyday fashion, people don’t have much experience with trims. Formal attire doesn’t even use trim much. Without a personal reference, the connection isn’t going to happen. While I did have samples of pinked silk gathered and pleated in different ways, I should have had a couple finished examples. At the very least, I should have had additional dolls showing more examples in miniature.

I found I had more constructive conversations about “How does it work” compared to the others. Discussing the die and anvil pressure verses sharpness prompted more of a physical response, spontaneous nodding, then other conversations.

Beyond these components that I am reflecting on, there were a few other things from the day that stand out:

• It turns out the Gem and Clean Cut machines do not fit on the table. I had to use the bench, which is too light to turn the handle on.
• Early in the day, one of the kids in a camp group asked if he could call me auntie. I said that would be okay with me. He and his group continued to call me Auntie. This was a first.
• 
• I had another camper kid who was very freaked out my the doll I brought. It turns out he had watched that newer horror movie with a doll in it. He was 10 or 11.
• Later midday, the doll focus changed. I had three different groups of kids I insist I look like the doll. This was sweet.

Now photos, I know you like photos. I kinda got carried away with photos of me…

You know when you get an idea stuck in your head and you just can’t shake it? Or, when you have an idea of exactly what you want for something, yet can not tangibly illustrate it for others?

Well, circling between those two mental states is where I’ve been for the last week and a half.

I hadn’t had time or energy to think through what I wanted to do new with the millinery display this year beyond shifting the main table to the right. Then, the morning after school was out, I woke with the idea:

I need a ribbon shelf.

Not just any shelf would do. It had to be the shelf. And….. it had to fit the era… it had to fit the space…. it had to be easy to transport safely…. it had to be in a tiny budget. Oh, and it had to be found within a week of the coming event because I hate changes last minute.

I spent the first week of my summer recess telling myself “today I am going to stay home working,” yet, I would find myself heading to just one more antique shop. I tried each of the ones in town. I tried 7 in Mt Morris. I nearly passed out in one too hot. I almost got hit by a truck crossing the road. I gave the search one last shot at the flea market.

No luck.

Every shelf I saw was too big, too small, too heavy, too painted, too oily, too late, too pricy….. too this, too that.

After Sunday’s walk about the flea market, I resigned myself to not getting a shelf. I would make a tower of hat boxes in the corner instead. I started thinking through my band boxes, which to bring, which were not the right paper, it’s too late to buy paper, it is too expensive to buy good paper, should I paint some…

Hey, have I mentioned I am an obsessive planner and run through every detail over and over?

Yup. I am.

Then, today was my much needed massage appointment. After a quick run to the cemetery and museum, I was 20 minutes early to my appointment. Right next door is a lovely antique shop.

This happens to be the location of one of my favorite antique shops where the own used to allow me to spend time looking at the original pieces she got in. She has since retired. When the shop was gone, the building seemed so lonely. Now that it is an antique shop again, it is much happier.

I decided to pop inside just for a quick look just in case but highly doubtful since they sell really nice things.

I told the owner what I had been looking for. She said they had just sold the perfect thing, but they might have something else. As I browsed, she told her husband what I was looking for. He disappeared into the back room. He was gone for a bit, so I figured it was another no.

He came back out with a corner shelf.

My first thought was “Grandma would have liked that.”

With that thought, I was done.

It was tall, yet not too tall. It was light weight. It was a Victorian style, yet not too late. It had shelves that would hold lots of ribbon and show them off…

I was happy and sad at the same time. It was pretty with its turned spindles, finials, hand done bits, and wanting to glow wood. Yet, I was sure it would be too much.

I took a breath and asked how much.

It was in budget!!!!

I pulled out my summer allowance and bought the shelf.

While I had my massage the owners cleaned up my shelf. She was set on getting off a spot of paint and a mark of paper. He was set on dusting it well. Above and beyond.

They asked me to take a photo when it has all the ribbons on it. Of course, I will be happy to.

Works in Progress (WiP)

• Bonnie’s clothes
• Pink silk pinking project (silk enroute, needing to be washed before which form the project will take is decided.)
• Hemming runners and table cloths

Projects in Waiting (PiW)

• Pink silk plaid dress
• Recover a parasol (need a different frame)
• Hood book
• Doll book
• Directions for awesome blue sewing case

Projects in My Head

• Pin cushions
• Ribbon display
• Silk bag or crazy quilt bag
• Gift bags

Things I Haven’t Seen Since Moving

• Brown light cotton sacque
• New petticoats
• Period spoons ordered just before packing
• The tiny doll size pitcher we found in the garden