A Hobby and a Barn Buddy, Too

I have not had an in-town hobby friend since the 1990s when we lived in Illinois and Kathy Bateman, Julie Propes, Karen Beeson, Chris Wallbruch, and Kay Schlumpf were all in the Champaign/Urbana area. Those were really fun times.

Two or three years ago, Kelsey Kramer and I met through Great Lakes Congress. I had had no idea that there was another hobbyist in town until then, and as time has passed, she has become a good friend.

Kelsey at Happy Trails IV in my home last October.

It was while we were visiting the horses at Happy Trails that Kelsey asked me if I thought Tim would take on another boarder.

Jamie Rott, Liz Cory, Pat Reed, Yvonne Rott, and Kelsey Kramer in from of the 19th century paddy wagon.

Tim was happy to have her bring out Dolly, and so in January, we became barn buddies in addition to being hobby buddies. And that has really been fun.

If Kelsey buys a haversack or two, or if she's heading to a show that I am unable to attend but would like to send a donation to, then we exchange things via the "Tim's Tackroom address."

I wrap them up, put them on her saddle rack at the barn, and then text her to let her know they're there!

She's really good at sending me photos of Abby 

and I try to return the favor with ones of Dolly.

This photo was cute and unusual, but it was the humor that accompanied Kelsey's text that had me laughing.

 

It's really nice to have a hobby friend in town, and even better, to have her become a barn buddy, too. I am so glad our paths crossed. (And, it makes me wonder if there are other hobbyists around that I just don't know about.)

Sewing Up (and In) a Storm

The view from my upstairs sewing room allows me to see storms roll in and yesterday, although the sun was shining and it was in the high eighties, I glanced out the window to see this approaching:

A cold front was coming through with a severe thunderstorm in its wake. Naturally I went downstairs to snap some pics and as I stood on the patio, something really awesome happened.

I suddenly felt the cold front sweep right over me with a very sharp, cold wind. It was like there was a line between that hot and cold air, and I felt  that line as it crossed over my home. Never have I actually felt the boundary between two air masses - it was amazing.

Shortly after that boundary passed over, it began to pour. 

I retreated into the house and went back upstairs - I was almost done with a shirt for Ian to wear to the Feast (the kids are going in period clothing) and wanted to finish it.

It's a voyageur's shirt and made from a hand block printed cotton fabric from India. The pattern replicates fabrics found during the 18th century.

I think that shirt will fit him, but if it doesn't, I have a larger one on hand just in case.

This one is for Lukie. Like the other two, it was block printed by hand and you can see evidence of that if you look closely. Look to the left by the V neck - see how the pattern is not quite matched up just under the cream stripe? That's it.

I'm taking the shirts out for the boys to try on after they get home from school today, and I will also take Mila's pattern to show her. It just arrived in the mail yesterday so she hasn't seen what I have in mind for her yet.

I will have to go through my fabric stash and see if I can bring her some choices for it.

I've also got some new fabrics in for the Mercantile. Next year's BreyerFest theme is Driving Forward, so I have been looking for horses and ponies in harness.

I've found a couple so far but I am concentrating on sewing 18th century items right now.

I'll start stitching these as soon as the Feast is over.

This is just the first batch of new haversack fabric - I got another batch in the mail yesterday that I haven't even opened yet.

Stay 'tooned!

Happy, Horsey Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. I didn't intend to write about it, but my local family threw a bit of a party for me and there was a horsey theme to it so I thought I'd go ahead and share.

Curt, Craig, me, Lukie, Mila, Ian, and Lisa.

And Vanessa!

I love hot dogs cooked on the grill, so when Craig asked what I'd like for my birthday dinner, that's what I asked for. I also asked for ribs, too, and a spice cake with buttercream frosting. 

We ate at Curt and Vanessa's home and they'd even decorated for me.

Knowing that my favorite color is orange, Vanessa made me a banner for the fireplace.

Mila and Lukie created a "birthday path" on the driveway with chalk.

Happy birthday with an arrow to show the way of the path.

 

to a second Happy Birthday and a continuing path

to my name and more path with arrows

which led to the final destination, my name in a circle with a chalk drawing of a horse

and a last arrow leading to another, larger horse. Happy Birthday, Grammy indeed!

Mila wore her dress with horses (she got it at Target; I am going online later to see if they carry it in adult sizes. Probably not but I have to look!)

and brought out her favorite horse stuffie, Brownie, to show me.

Which meant Lukie had to run upstairs and get his favorite stuffed horse to show me, too.

Meanwhile, Gus kept dropping his ball in my lap and hoping that I would play with him. (He will do this repeatedly until you either get up and play with him or put the ball away.)

The kids could hardly wait for me to open my presents from them. (I was pretty excited, too.)

Mila's gift was in a ziplock bag which was then covered with paper she had decorated, cut out, and taped to the bag.

Inside was this cute rubber Appaloosa

that was from her own collection and gifted to me. 

Add to that calls and texts from all my children, grands, and friends and it was a lovely birthday.

Thanks everybody! And for the record, yes, you CAN eat cake for breakfast when it's your birthday. (The day after your birthday, too, haha.)

Horses from My Kids

Our kids are scattered across the country and when they attend events where horses are involved, they send me photos and videos to enjoy.

Teacher Daughter Lisa recently went to the Indiana State Fair and stopped by the Draft Horse Show.

Look at the size of those feet and how tall these Belgians are!

Barn Buddy Kelsey also went to the State Fair and sent me this photo of a Belgian yearling filly. She's huge!

I made a mental note to make it down to the State Fair next summer. I have not been in years.

Music City Son Cole and his family went to South Dakota this summer.

They stopped by a park that has feral donkeys

that visitors are allowed to approach. (Maybe Custer State Park?)

Mountain Mama Jessica lives in Utah and loves to attend rodeos. 

She captured this snap of a rainbow over the rodeo grounds earlier this summer.

If you have never attended a rodeo, this video that Jessica made me really captures the fun of an American rodeo well. Check out the scenery - what a gorgeous place to live, let alone go rodeoing!

Summer Winds Down

August is winding down with some cooler weather - a welcome relief after several scorching weeks of temps up in the 90s. 

We also got some rains, unusual for August, but just as welcome as the cooler temperatures are. The pastures greened up and there continues to be good forage for the herd.

Miss Two Socks is thriving. Tim rotated pastures and she was back in her natal pasture again and didn't want to put her head up to visit. (I love those fuzzy baby ears.)

Look at the dapples in Hokey's coat! Barn Buddy Kelsey snapped this picture.

School has resumed and summer is winding down in Indiana. I'm ready for a change is seasons and I think the horses are ready for it, too.

Feast Prep - Something Else that I Have Been Doing

I'm excited to share that I have been accepted as a sutler for this year's Feast of the Hunters' Moon and Jolis Chevaux will have its own tent alongside the other merchants this year. I've been sewing for months to get ready and now there is just a little over a month left to finish preparing.

Last year I chronicled the making of three 18th century riding habits (a practice one, one for me, and one for Teacher Daughter Lisa) but I am not making one of those this year. Nonetheless I have been super busy in the sewing room for weeks getting ready.

Finished clothing that I hope to sell is hanging in my office.

A Garsault bedgown, three shortgowns, two Forbes shortgowns, five chemises, a petticoat, four men's shirts, two aprons (pinner and regular), three pockets, five bum rolls, and a youth shirt.

This is a bum roll. In the 18th century, women would tie this around their waist and under their petticoat so that it would raise their skirt up in the back. 

It was stuffed with wool roving and was very, very firm.

There are some things I've made that are too small for a clothes rack and will be displayed on tables like this husseif. (Also called a "housewife.)

Husseifs unfold and have pockets inside for scissors, thread, needles and pins, and other things a woman might have needed to keep close at hand.

They are fun to make and are something I can do in just an hour or so, so they are good "take a break, Lynn" projects when my head is spinning from working on the bigger things all day and I need to stop and catch my breath.

This is an 18th century Garsault bedgown. It has inverted pleats on either side and then a third in the back. I like this one so much I am tempted to keep it for me!

A shortgown from the back showing its pleats.

And from the front showing the neckline and some of the shaping of the garment from the pleating.

An 18th century chemise (also called a shift). These were worn under everything day in and day out.

An 18th century cap that I made for me - actually I made two so I could change one out if it was a hot day. (Just noticed I was wearing my BreyerFest volunteer shirt the day I made the caps!)

A men's shirt, commonly worn by voyageurs, trappers, and fur traders. It's long by design (some women interpreters even wear them as dresses) and generally a woven sash would be tied around the waist. This is the same kind of shirt the voyageur is wearing in the promo picture for the Feast at the beginning of this blog entry.

Pin pillows - the forerunner of the pincushion. 

Designs were commonly made by the pins just for fun and many women would add a ribbon tie which had a loop at the end. An apron string was inserted through the loop and that way the woman had her pin pillow with her at all times.

Although I am not making riding habits this year, I am making a gown for Lisa. It's not even cut out - we had to order the fabric and it isn't here yet, and there is a good chance I will not get it done in time.

But I am going to try and I can start working on the practice one first. This is Friday and I have a men's shirt, a boy's shirt, and nine pockets cut out and prepped that I need to make first so it will a few days before I start the practice gown.

Good thing I enjoy sewing!