Planning & Preparing

It's Friday, one week until School Days. I'm ready to go for that, outside of cleaning my English saddle. That's one of today's projects or possibly tomorrow's.

Next week is shaping up like this:

Monday: presentation at Lisa's school with Leslie, Rick, and Lisa about Fort Ouiatenon and 18th century area history. Each of us will take a group of students, present for 20 minutes, and then rotate in a new group of students. It's always been a fun day.

Tuesday: Last chance for any final sewing projects, checking tags, and ironing finished clothes on the rack, updating my inventory list, and begin packing car. Also, Tim is holding a barn party for our church with hot dogs and food, plus time with the horses. He has asked Belle and me to help. I sooooo want to go, but it will depend on how much energy I have.

Wednesday: Tent set up with Craig and Curt at Fort Ouiatenon. Bring tubs and clothing into tent and begin setting things up.

Thursday: Finish Feast set up, meet with Belle and set up/run through presentation for School Day.

Friday: School Day! Be at Ouiatenon early for any final prep before kiddos come. When School Day ends, take presentation items home and set the tent in order for the Feast. Go home and rest.

Saturday & Sunday: The Feast!

Today I need to finish sewing Belle's stock (she's borrowing a riding habit for School Day) and then deliver some panniers to a customer.

I finished these pockets yesterday after realizing I hadn't replaced what was sold at Kalamazoo. There were a few moments of panic and a mad check through my fabric stash to see what I had to use, but I got them done.

In the 18th century, clothing did not have pockets; they were a separate item of clothing, tied around the waist and hidden underneath other clothing to reduce theft.

They were worn over a women's chemise/shift but under her petticoat. Petticoats had slits in their sides so the pocket could be accessed when needed.

No one ever sees them which works well for 21st century re-enactors who like to slip a Hershey Bar or Reeses into their pockets!  (Guilty!)

When it turned out that Ian had outgrown boys' sized trade shirts and needed a men's size, he selected one off the rack, one that was headed to the Feast. I didn't mind (and I love that he asks me to make a shirt for him every year) but I wanted to make a replacement shirt to sell.

Look familiar? That's the third item I've made from that fabric. (Leslie's petticoat and a bed gown.)

I looked at the remnants from those two projects, did some finagling, and was able to cut a trade shirt from them! 

Normally I sell my remnants at events, but this year I want to see if I can do the same with the ones that are already packed to go. I'll remove them from the sales items later today.

My tent is located in the same place as always. I like that as it makes it easier for my regular customers to find me quickly. And, it's close to the river and I like my neighbors - a father/son pair that demonstrate 18th century campfire cooking all day and are very good at sharing, and the Anishinaaba Kwe (the Gun Lake Pottawatomi from Michigan) who are super friendly and share fry bread with me.

Here's a video I filmed last year showing the grounds on Thursday morning of Feast week. Much more set-up will happen later that day and into Friday, but you can see it beginning to all come together. 

Off to go play a little frisbee with Pepper and Tammo before heading into the sewing room. Have a good one!