BreyerFest Seminar Prep & More

Second Post of the Day

I am working on my BreyerFest seminar right now. I'll be filming it in a few days, and I've outlined my presentation and have been gathering materials and things to use. Of course, I'll be sewing as part of that seminar and need to check lighting and visibility around my sewing machine (and for Lisa to maneuver as she will be filming it again.)

Breyer posted information about my seminar on the BreyerFest blog a month or so ago: 

I was glad that this year Breyer announced my seminar early - it meant I could talk (a little) about it. But I have to be careful not to share too much, too.

I don't read a written script for my seminars. I don't even write one. I have an outline in mind of what I want to cover but what I actually say is spontaneous.  (No doubt that is because I am a teacher and very comfortable teaching.)

But still, there are things I want to have ready to show and questions from those watching that I'd like to anticipate and answer during the seminar. So there is a lot of prep that goes into teaching a virtual seminar.

I'd also like to be doing some historical sewing right now but that has to wait until the BreyerFest seminar is filmed. But, I can still get some 18th century learning in myself through the Feast Sewing Circle which met last night.

We spent the evening going through period clothing and discussing fabrics and clothing construction, both for men and women. Phyllis Dotson, a long time living history friend, guest lectured and did a really good job.

That's me in the chair. For the first time ever, I noticed the sign about no food in the room. And there sits my coke can right next to me. Oops! And I'm not the only one who missed it - nearly everyone always has a drink during our sewing get togethers. I think the sign may be for daytime users when the tables are covered with books and documents being used for research. (The building belongs to the historical association.)

Samples of gowns. The mustard one was totally hand stitched by Phyllis and is made from linen which wrinkles badly. Something every re-enactor gets used to since the primary fabric used in the 18th century was linen and many of our clothes are made from it. We are often quite wrinkled at events! LOL

For me, the blue striped gown was very helpful. 

I have a striped fabric that I love and want to make into a petticoat. But the stripe widths vary and I needed to find documentation that that was period correct. Found it!

Both men and women attend the Feast Sewing Circle. Many of the men participating in living history,  including Phyllis's husband Mike, sew all their own clothing. (Mike is also a Hartland collector but not in the hobby. He sent a note with Phyllis last night asking me if I could help him find some pieces for one of his Hartland riders. Will do, Mike!)

 Anyway, I need to get back to seminar prep. Have a good one!

Spring Sewing & the April Give Away

I have a large block of time between KZoo in March and the Feast in October. It's a good time to plan out what I need to make for the upcoming Feast as well as to restock my selection of haversacks. Because there is plenty of time between the events, I feel more relaxed as I sew. I also have time to upgrade my own sewing skills.

The Feast Sewing Circle is one of the places I go to tweak my own knowledge. My friend Brooke teaches it, and she knows what she is doing. There is always something for everyone, from beginners to advanced sewists.

The spring session of the Feast Sewing Circle began this past week, and I could hardly wait to go. It did not disappoint.

Me on the bottom left with some of the other sewists examining a sample of block print fabric. We are looking for evidence that it was hand block printed. (It was.)

Not only is Spring a good time to restock my sales haversacks, it's also a time to stitch up live show donations. I can't make something for every single live show, but I do try to support those that I can.

This pile of Stablemate pouches is a donation to a live show.

I was asked to make haversacks for the division champ and reserve winners.

I used one of my all-time favorite horsey fabrics and I think they turned out nicely.

Having said that, there were 32 to make - 16 champs

and sixteen reserves. Stablemate pouches are harder to turn right side out before the final pressing - they are small enough that there isn't a lot of room for the turning. It puts a lot of stress on my hands.

My hands hurt for several days after I'd finished all 32 of them (plus two extras, just in case.) I have some arthritis in them, but it rarely bothers me. That big of a project, though, proved to be enough to trigger that arthritis pain. I may need to make them in smaller batches stretched out over a longer time period if I get asked to make so many Stablemate pouches again.

Not only did I get a lumberjack sized spool of twill tape from Brandon, I also ordered some linen fabric.

This piece with tiny pink embroidered flowers was a must have.

I've been wanting to make myself an apron to wear over my new petticoat. (I'm checking width and color of twill for the drawstring here in this photo. I went with the white.)

I like how it turned out 

but I think I need a lighter weight of linen.

I'm not sure I can find it, but I will ask Brandon and see if he has a lightweight version of this particular linen. If not, it's certainly still wearable.

I also needed to document the embroidered linen fabric to the 18th century. (Brandon's fabrics cover several time periods.) Linen, absolutely correct. But I needed to find proof that small embroidered flowers were added to women's garments.

After some searching, I found this photo of a similar print juxtaposed against a period correct door. It was a start but not yet proof that the fabric I was using was accurate.

Another photo of a similar fabric. I was getting closer but nothing indicates the time period in this photo. 

Finally! A close up of a painting (right) that documents the fabric (left.) I am now good to go.

The April Give Away ends today at 11:59 PM EDT. Guess how many yards of twill tape are on my behemoth spool!

Comment on any blog entry posted Friday, Saturday, or today. If no one guesses correctly, then I will spin to win on Monday or Tuesday. 

Good luck!