Check it Off!

Yes! I can finally check off one of those three projects I've been working on for what seems like ages!

With ten days left to spare, my video is filmed, cut, edited, proofed, tweaked, and has been submitted! No more dividing my time between projects, stopping a sewing project at a bad spot because I needed to work on the video, or stressing over whether or not the video will come together as I'd hoped. Hurrah!

I wish I could tell you more about it and what it is for, but I can't. I will share in the future although I don't know when that will be. (Insert "stay 'tooned, right?) 

These three projects have impacted my Horsiemama life in a big way. Barn time has been minimal at best and Sewinmama is a better description than either Horsiemama or Teachinmama. (My original blog.) 

I have made everything on this clothing rack.

Wooden hangers have to be used at The Feast as plastic had not yet been invented in the 18th century. (They are HEAVY in comparison.)

There are horsey things to do; I just can't at the moment. I have unopened models in boxes sitting around the horse room waiting for me to release them. Since I will have to rearrange the shelves to fit all the new ones, they will sit until The Feast and GLC show are over. 

Rearranging shelves is one more project that I don't want to start right now. (Although I do find rearranging shelves enjoyable.)

Since I am now in final stages of Feast prep, I think the barn and model time will continue to be pretty limited. I'll do my best to continue to post horsey blog entries, but please understand if the blog is Feast-heavy for a while - I can only write about things that I've experienced and my life is at the sewing machine for the moment.

So, thanks for your patience, and if you have no interest in The Feast and its doin's, it will be over October 8 and things here on the blog will shift back and become horsey again. I'll be working on show prep for the October Great Lakes Congress show that is two weeks after The Feast and will no doubt have a lot to say about that. So...

Stay 'tooned!

 

 

Indy Blooms Prep

The day after tomorrow, the pony party begins! Liz Cory, Steff Bodamer, and Ellen Vogel, all friends via Great Lakes Congress, are spending the weekend here. Along with Barn Buddy Kelsey, we are all heading to Indy Blooms on Saturday.

Although I did well last year, I chose not to show this year. I'm just going to hang out with my friends, help them as needed, and enjoy myself.

Just as we did last year, Friday afternoon we are going out to the barn to see the horses and Tim's horse drawn vehicle collection. (Liz, Jamie Rott, Steff, Shannon Call, and Barn Buddy Kelsey.)

There is no selling allowed at the show so I can't bring and set up Horsiemama's Mercantile, but I can deliver haversacks that folks ordered before the show. Today's plan is to make the last four of those haversacks and pack them for delivery.

I have had four orders to complete, three of which were quite large

but they will be completed today unless my hands go numb again and I have to wait to get the feeling back in them.

The other day my right hand went more than numb, it was actually paralyzed and I could not move it for a while. Absolutely no ability to bend my fingers or anything. (Not gonna lie, that scared me. Big time.)

If that does happen, I have until Saturday to complete the last few haversacks and since there are only four, I am confident that I can get them done.

Of course, then there's the cleaning, putting clean sheets on the bed, getting some groceries, and such, but I just cleaned Monday so if worse came to worst, the house is in good shape already and would not take much to prepare. (Craig and I clean together, so he will step in if for some reason I am unable. What a guy!)

I haven't gone to a show since last fall; I am so looking forward to Indy Blooms!

Kalamazoo - Preparation

I've been preparing for The Kalamazoo Living History Show since I got home from The Feast of the Hunters' Moon last October. Since I do all the sewing, if I want clothing to sell, I have to make it myself.                

The Kalamazoo Expo Center. (Photo from Expo Center's web site.)

And I don't just sell clothing, I sell other necessities and acountrements from the 18th century, too.

Such as dish towels.

Which all need to be counted and inventoried before being packed into my sales tubs.

The clothing needs to be tagged for size, price, and whether the buttons are made from horn or bone, and then I record how many I've made of each size.

(I love the elephants on this block print from India - believe it or not, that is a current pattern from the 18th century.)

The bed gowns (which were actually a form of day wear for both men and women)

and the women's short gowns go through the same process and then are packed in tubs. (They were pinned shut which is why you see a pin at the neck.)

A last minute addition to my sales stock was toques. (Pronounced with an oo as in "tooth.")

Made by my friend Frannie (I taught both her kids when we lived in Illinois),

Frannie is a professor at Marquette University and knits for fun. Her work is beautiful.

I counted and recorded the body powders that I sell (people did not bathe much back then and covered their body odor with perfumes and powders - if they could afford them.

The hussifs (pronounced "housewife") which were sewing kits

and were checked to be sure they had their pins, needles, sewing beeswax, and thread and then folded up with their ribbons tied neatly.

And the fans counted

and checked for damage. (Fan photos from Etsy.)

But inventory and packing weren't the only things I needed to do - I had to check and repair my period clothing for missing buttons, tears, and loose threads.

This bodice was a mess and I had to reattach all those tiny buttons before it could be worn.

As you might imagine, all this took me several days, and then I had to carry the tubs downstairs and pack them in the car. I drove up most of them to Leslie's farm - she and Rick were taking their things and all the office and show supplies to Kalamazoo in a trailer and offered to take a couple of my tubs in some extra room that they had after packing their own supplies.

Teacher Daughter Lisa and I left late Friday afternoon, excited and anticipating meeting up with dear friends in just a few hours. Set up was Friday evening until 10:00 PM and Saturday morning until 9:00.

And then the show would begin!

Just for fun - Craig and I lived in Michigan the first two years we were married. A fan of Big Band music, he used to sing this song to me a lot . Lyrics begin a minute into the song. Enjoy!

Tomorrow the event begins - stay 'tooned!

FAMulous Prep

Live shows are a lot of work. I have been working most of the day on FAMulous and this is the state of my office right now.

I have been going through tubs looking for things that Allison and I will need for the show,

working on welcome gifts and letters,

and packing the things that are ready to go into tubs and boxes.

The ribbons that we packed away from the last show were pulled out of storage

put into piles,

and grouped so that the judges can grab a set and hand them out. There are more ribbons on order; they were shipped today and are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

There are some really generous folks in our hobby.

Elise Partanen sent the Christmas items and the mystery box (which I am dying to open!!)

and these

and these! All beautifully wrapped so that all we have to do is put them out on the table! (Thanks so much, Elise!)

Liz Cory donated a $25 gift card to Breyer (thanks, Liz!), and other donations are on the way. 

It would be an understatement to say I am tired, but it is a happy-tired. I love the hobby and while a live show is a ton of work, it will be worth it to spend a day with others who love vintage models like I do.

Now, off to figure out how to make a racing blanket for the lunchtime FAS races. More on that activity to come. Stay 'tooned!