If I Had My Own Blue Box:

This morning I woke up to a new video at Not Your Mommas History called “Best Worst Reenactment Ever.” Thank you Cheyney for sparking memories and a laugh this morning!

It just so happens that this morning was rather chilly compared to the last several weeks. I already was a bit chilled. So, every time she mentioned how cold it was, I was cold and colder. I also kept remembering various “best worst” event happenings.

Please laugh your way through these, as I do now.

Cold? Early on in my reenacting, I did a fall event at Granger Homestead in Canandaigua, NY. This event was a Thursday through Sunday event, the last weekend of September. My tent mate and I were so careful about trying to bring accurate things, bedding included. Keep in mind we were two new to this teens. Well, that first night, it got so, so cold. Our little bit of accurate bedding, ie a couple cotton quilts each, just wasn’t cutting it. It was Cold!  After a few hours, we gave up. The town happened to have a 24 hour Walmart. (this is back when Walmart was new, 24 hours was unheard of and I actually was willing to go to Walmart.) We got up, found my car and headed to the store where we each bought sleeping bags. I know, awful. It was Cold! We got back and went to sleep. Come morning, I awoke to find my contacts were frozen in their case. It was Cold!

Another cold event was a similar time of year, in Ohio, also early on in my reenacting career. I can’t remember the name of the place. It was a small event, partly in a park and partly in a ‘field’ that recently had been overgrown brush with saplings growing. Well, that recent culled and cut habitat had been the home to a great many six and eight legged critters, some of which were quite large and hairy. FYI, I do not do bugs and spiders! To add to the fun, I had the brilliant idea of taking a friend to the event. Now, of course, I wanted to make sure the friend was comfortable and had a good time. I gave her my good wooden and canvas cot, along with my sleeping bag and blankets. I borrowed an aluminum cot from someone else and had a bed spread. Anyone who has had the “luxury” of sleeping on a modern aluminum cot with its colorful nylon canvas knows these things suck up and radiate cold, while having zero protection from moisture. They are the harbingers of a bad night’s sleep. So, when the temperatures dropped, no plummeted, from the pretty sunny, late summer day, to fridged, cold, damp…. I curled up the best I could wrapped in my otherwise comfy blanket, attempting to sleep as I shivered all night. Come morning, I “awoke” as best I could having not actually slept, with every muscle tight and cramped, and to find the cold triggered my otherwise like clock-work cycle. I think this was my all time suckiest night’s sleep at an event ever.

The mention of the fire….. Oh, what memory this one brings back.

Fast forward several years and several learning curves from the events above. I believe this was the summer of 2003, Alexander, NY. This field event happened to fall just prior to the start of Girl Scout camp I think. Kitty and I were both attending. It had rained a good deal Friday making the ground pretty saturated. I don’t recall anything eventful about setting up the tent other than the discussion of the straw. I saw the straw as a fire hazard and allergen. Yet, the ground was so wet, it was also good for soaking up the wet. We opted for straw. The tent set up, it was time to turn our attentions to dinner and a fire pit. Just about this time, the sky opened up starting the night’s drenching. It rained and rained. Having both built a great many fires in all sorts of weather at the previous summer long camp session, we had a solid fire pit building plan. Multiple layers and a ditch to move off the water. Within about a 20 minutes, we dug a beautiful pit that was going to nicely hold a fire despite the pouring rain. We were also covered, caked with mud. Luckily, there were automated showers at the other end of the field. Off we went to clean up, planning to start the fire when we got back. We came back to find someone did not think our fire pit was big enough and had re-dug to a single layer and tried to start a failed fire inside. Basically, were were looking at a mud pit and soaked wood. We re-dug the fire pit as best we could. We repeated the mud removal. This time when we returned, we found that those who needed fire had either gone to dinner or borrowed a braisure for their dinner. Oh, did I mention our dinner didn’t actually need to be cooked? (This may have been the beginning of “I do not cook”.) This event was also the one of the “straw spat”, mini-tart claiming, and the “leaving early.” I’ll let Kitty chime in if she wants to share about that last part.

Hmmm. I suppose out of 20ish years, those are the worsts on my list. Well, other than heat exhaustion, a broken foot and last year’s sun incident. But those are less humorous. I think that is pretty good.

btw, I can now sleep comfortably in the coldest of weather

Oh, the exploding car battery! A couple years after the above Granger event, I was demonstrating a Lady’s Aid Society. This meant two tents, and the most “stuff” I brought to an event up until then. I artfully packed the little Dodge Shadow I had in college. I was rather proud of myself. I set both tents up, and dressed them nicely. As I didn’t own tables yet, I decided a few straw bales would serve. I hopped in my car and drove to the back of the parking area where the straw was. I turned off the car. I piled four or six bales on top of the trunk and roof. I got back in the car. Turned the key. Kapow…sisssssss…. smoke….. Jaw dropped. I got out of the car. Popped the hood and just stared at the pieces of battery that were EVERY WHERE. I walked back up to the camp area to find our unit leader, Frank Cutler, to get my straw moved. I also needed my phone to call AAA. I was surprisingly calm at this point. A couple of the men, Frank and Rick included, came back to see the car. Well, this is when I learned how bad, or actually how potentially bad this was. It was described in detail how some of those battery pieces could have come through the dash of the car and impaled me. I think I was still pretty calm, considering. The tow truck came. He hooked up the car. I gave  him directions to where I wanted him to take the car. He looked at me funny, and asked “aren’t you coming with your car?” I pointed to my two, not small tents, and explained those are my responsibility for the weekend. I deal with the car on Monday. Off he went with the car. That weekend also happened to have a tornado warning that resulted in collapsed tents (not mine). Come Sunday, I found I couldn’t fit as much in my Dad’s truck as I did in my little car. Go figure. The car turned out just fine with a new, non-exploding battery inside.

 

 

I should highlight some of the lessons or learning curves from above:

• Aluminum cots are evil. It is better to create a pallet or sleep on the ground than to bother with one of these.
• Wool bedding and layers are your friend. I am all about layering for sleep –  a wool rug under the bed/cot, a wool blanket draped over the bed/cot that reaches the ground/floor on either side (within an inch if the ground is wet), cotton or linen sheets, cotton blanket/quilt (or two), a wool blanket/quilt or two on top. The wool carpet keeps moisture from coming up. The bottom wool blanket traps warmth under you. The top wool layer keeps moisture from coming down.
• Proper night clothes can make a world of difference. On the truly freezing nights, for me this means a long thicker linen night dress, flannel drawers, wool stockings (that eventually get kicked off), a bed jacket in wool and a night cap.
• Put your contacts case and deodorant under your pillow while you sleep. I also suggest putting your next day’s chemise and drawers in bed with you as well.
• Don’t leave your shoes/boots on damp ground.
• Bring food that doesn’t need to be cooked.

Since I had this hat almost finished yesterday, it is technically the last hat of my summer season. (Don’t worry, a couple of you are still getting pieces.) 

This hat has a nearly round 21.75″ crown and narrow brim. One side is slightly higher than the other. I’m blaming elves overnight playing with the block. I left the narrow brim flat, as it looks rather sharp and makes this a versatile hat. It can be shaped as the edge is wired. 

Thanks to a combination of layed emotional stress and the wonders of Facebook’s “events near me” we found ourselves at a small, one day Pirate event. 

This event, with its quick whit and crass humor emphasized how I am very much not quick, nor whitty and, I am sure I missed much of the humor. I do have to say they had some great hats. 

You are probably wondering why I am telling you about this event. 

Well… 

We were watching the raising of the colors, each hand painted. The band of pirates rolled into an impromptu scene about the name of their ship. (That quick whit I mentioned) A family with a three year old pink fleece parrot came by. Of course the pirates caught sight of the parrot with great excitement. The whee little parrot was hesitate, as a whee little parrot ought to be. The band of pirates backed away, redirecting, as one pirate softly addressed the wild parrot. From about ten feet away, she quietly asked “may I” of the parrot, coming halfway down to the parrot’s height. With the half smile and nod, the pirate approached the parrot. She did not come straight on. She kneeled down, to the side of the parrot, about a wing span away. She continued to talk with the whee parrot , the parrot responding . She likely gave that whee parrot a memory she will hold for many years. 

This approach to a young visitor was so nicely done on both the group and individual level. When I talked with the pirate afterward, I expected to hear she was an early childhood or special education teacher. Neither was the case. She has just done this for a long time.

And… I just accidentally pressed the publish button. I owe you the photo of the the pirate and parrot. 

Yes, technically autumn does not start until later in September. But, as I am on a NY school schedule, my summer is coming to and end, school and fall starting. This means a shift in how much time I have to sew and what I will be working on. This is what I have in mind right now:

• Line and fill the Shaker style sewing boxes
• Build a tray and tlc the sewing box we picked up
• The fuzzy Ag Fair project 
• The hodge-podge Ag Fair project 
• Finish the miser purse
• Doll millinery 
• A certain white bonnet
• The small one’s straw hat
• Put a major dent in the wool stash for winter millinery 
• Utilitarian apron for straw demos that will hold straw as I sew. (May become a winter/spring project) 
• Find homes for the doll shoes
• Alter my corset like I should have in July. 

Btw, this switch means the sewing room has to be re organized and re tidied for the fall focus. 

This copper straw plait has just a hint of red in the brown. This cap style bonnet fits close to your head, with the brim just reaching the hairline on some. I edged the brim with braided plait and a loop on top. 

It is wired around the brim and blocked. It is ready for you to line and decorate as you like. 
Available in my Etsy shop.

This summer…..

Letchworth State Park’s new nature center

Ganandagan 

Leroy House

Jell-O Museum 

Sonnenberg Gardens 

Maid of the Mist 

Genesee Country Village and Museum (of course)

16 Regency chapeaux and bonnets

28 Victorian hats

16 Civil War era Vctorian bonnets

1 1550s hat

2 late Victorian hats

1 late 1700s hat

1840s bonnets blocked on my original block

Thousands of yards of plait. 

Sale finds: Bolts of silks, 1840s bonnet block, three great chairs, a Vaill folding chair, fun teapot, spool spinner, that sinner’s “gold mine”

This that didn’t happen this summer:

• A hair cut. Must still do. 
• A major sun incident. Happy dance. 
• A significant amount of writing. 
• The straw art pieces I wanted to do. 
• My daisy hat. 
• Rose Hill Mansion 
• Buy a house (dreaming) 

Here is a nearly round, larger crown fashionable Civil War era hat. 

I added two coarse straw bonnets to the shop today. These are pieces I had on display this summer. 

First is this Romantic Era cottage style bonnet, that could be called a poke bonnet. I do like this shape. I should make another in fine plait. 

Next, is this Civil War era cottage style bonnet. This is a nice bonnet for a poorer impression or one where your character has made her own bonnet from hand braided straw due to the blockades. I think this will best suit someone with an average to small head. 

Okay, another chair. Chairs are a rather cumbersome thing to collect, especially when you don’t let anyone sit on them. I have been trying to behave and not randomly add to the collection. But, when I was flipping through the quasi-local yard and estate sales this morning, I saw a folding chair inline with many others. 

I was quite certain that by the time I got there it would either be gone, picked up by the early morning antique dealers, or so over priced I could not consider it. 

I was wrong on both accounts. 

It was there and Very affordable. (Once again, if I had a workshop, I would have come home with some easy projects for very low prices.)

There are many things to talk about with this chair. But, let’s jump ahead to what many are wondering. The dating. 

This is a Vaill chair from the 1870s. So, on answer to the question: This is a chair marketed to the public for civilian use in the parlor after the Civil War.  This chair has its green label still intact: 

Vaill’s initial patent:

Followed by a few changes three years later:

The next thing I think people may be thinking is “original seat!” Yes? 

Well, yes and no. Yes, this is a seat made just for patent folding chairs. No, this is not the seat and back this chair originally had. But, it is still pretty cool. The original seat would have wrapped around the whole front rail and further wrapped around the back rail. Looking at this seat, we see it wraps just to the underside of the front rail. The leather binding is machine stitched with two rows of stitches on either side with raw, untidy ends. This just isn’t the way the leather was treated. It also doesn’t have same feel as original binding leather. I suspect this is an early twentieth century replacement seat and back. These were made specifically to replace the worn, fifty years old seats and backs. I first learned of these when I found a chair where the replacement back was melted, being made of a synthetic blend. (I will add a link to those images if I can find them again) I do not see a spot that will allow me to fiber test the materials. 

I also do not think this is the second replacement seat. Look at the label again. I see holes where another seat was attached at some point. 

Now, let’s look at condition. 

At some point, someone added this back piece. While some chairs were upholstered front and back, I do not think this chair was. I need too peek closer to see if I will be removing this. The factors will be whether it is protecting or damaging the wood, and if the center bar needs care. 

This chair also has one of the most common wear or damage points I see. The upper corners of where the textiles are attached seem to get more pressure either from sitting or being moved. This is also a small area where repeated nailing causes the wood to splinter. 

One of the things that makes me happy to find this chair is that it is much like the chair I have been trying to strip the last few years. This has been an ongoing project, now in wait of a better space and tools.

I went further back in time. The 1500s actually. I’ve had a few people ask me about doing earlier, 1400-1600s, millinery. In looking at images, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a blog, “Morgan Donner, where the author clipped apart 1550-1575 paintings from Antwerp, and thematically pieced them back together. The shape I created came from this image. At first, I thought there was no way that little crown was going to work. But, it really does. This hat is pretty comfy on my head. 

 

I decided not to wire this hat. I need to research more to determine if earlier straw would have been wired and at what socio-economic levels. 

This hat is now available in my Etsy shop.