tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64891396088146449172024-03-13T18:26:49.579-04:00A Fashionable FrolickAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14678732507436621983noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-12563995970113441692015-10-10T13:47:00.001-04:002015-10-10T13:57:36.259-04:00The Prince Edward Island Chronicles, Part II: Dalvay By the Sea<em>**We began this series back in August, 2014 but life - oh, crazy, crazy life! - took over and finishing it went woefully neglected for over a year. Well, we're back now and ready to resume the chronicle of our (last) summer vacation adventures. Better late than never, eh?! If you missed the previous posts in the series recounting our PEI 2014 trip, you can find them <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-prince-edward-island-annals.html">here</a> and <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-prince-edward-island-annals-part-i.html">here</a>.**</em><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14713390825" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="425" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5580/14713390825_472c5d3877_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It isn't often that you can actually stay at a place that has both hosted royalty and been featured in some of your favorite movies and tv series, but <a href="http://www.dalvaybythesea.com/">Dalvay-By-the-Sea</a> is one of those unique places. Best known as the "White Sands Hotel" in the Sullivan <em>Anne of Green Gables</em> movies and on the<em> Road to Avonlea</em> series, historic Dalvay is owned by Parks Canada and operated as a small summer hotel and restaurant. It is located on Prince Edward Island's beautiful north shore, within the boundaries of Prince Edward Island National Park, which means that the shoreline on which it sits, along with all of the surrounding area, is protected from development, keeping it pristine and looking just like one imagines it must have looked back when the beautiful mansion was built.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14713052395" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="480" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14713052395_e4cf378158_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14526717789" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="425" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3893/14526717789_520dc33ed2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The mansion was built in the Queen Anne Revival style, almost entirely out of locally-sourced materials. The exterior facade and the interior fireplaces, for instance, are all local sandstone, retaining that beautifully distinctive red tint for which PEI soil is so famous.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14689486576" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/14689486576_43557319f6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14526919347" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="425" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5589/14526919347_3e5672c01f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dalvay-By-the-Sea's story is a fascinating (and rather sad) tale of an American oil fortune, two high society beauties, and fallen European royalty. The mansion house was built in 1895-6 by wealthy American businessman Alexander MacDonald, who once served as president of John D. Rockerfeller's Standard Oil Company. MacDonald was born in Scotland, and PEI immediately impressed him with its charm, natural beauty, and nostalgic reminders of his homeland. On his first visit to the Island, he purchased 120 acres of land on the north shore on which to build a summer retreat for his family, christening it "Dalvay" in memory of his boyhood home of the same name. Annual costs to maintain the summer home were reportedly upwards of $10,000 a year. Much of this went to maintain a large household and groundskeeping staff, who were always on hand to serve not just the family, but the ever-increasing flow of guests who helped to make Dalvay's summer parties so legendary.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14710646204" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/14710646204_4b6dd5bbcd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14713398135" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3846/14713398135_e6516e5819_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14713016755" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/14713016755_8b3c47797b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14526322060" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3887/14526322060_8da09117dc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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MacDonald's only daughter died young, leaving him to raise his two granddaughters, Helena and Laura. The family enjoyed a number of happy summers on the property until 1910, when MacDonald passed away, leaving the house in trust to his two beloved granddaughters. Their $15 million inheritance reportedly elevated them to two of the wealthiest young heiresses in pre-WWI worldwide high society. Both girls made socially brilliant marriages as a result of their new status: Helena married Prince Murat of France, while sister Laura married Italian Prince Rosspiglioisi.<br />
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Their massive family fortune remained legally under the management of their father, however, and sadly, poor investments on his part all too quickly decimated the family funds. Both girls were divorced by their respective spouses after they lost their fortunes. Laura moved to NY and worked for the remainder of her life to support her two children, and penniless Helena passed away at only 38 from cancer.<br />
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With Laura no longer capable of maintaining the vast and remote estate, Dalvay had to be sold. It passed through a number of hands (at one point, house, furniture, and land were all sold to the caretaker for a mere $486.57, the cost of the back taxes) until 1937, when George Deblois purchased it and then sold the house and property to the Canadian government to be integrated into the newly-established Prince Edward Island National Park. The house itself is also a Classified Federal Heritage Building.<br />
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Dalvay's official <a href="http://www.dalvaybythesea.com/history/">history </a>and <a href="http://www.dalvaybythesea.com/gallery/">gallery </a>pages have some really neat historical photographs, if you're interested in seeing what the house and grounds looked like in their heyday around the turn of the century. Not much has changed, comparatively, and today, images like these of Dalvay in days past are displayed throughout the hotel, so you really get a sense that you're standing in history just by being there. The lobby also has several large albums available for guests to peruse that are chock-full of photos and press clippings chronicling every aspect of the estate's life and times.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14526965317" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5595/14526965317_440f0254cf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14526236240" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3915/14526236240_a37f36b167_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14526615149" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="425" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3925/14526615149_b70c105d92_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14526599457" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="640" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2921/14526599457_c01682d143_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our room was the only one with a balcony!</span></em></div>
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On their tour of Canada in 2011 not long after their wedding, Prince William and Kate visited PEI for several days and stayed overnight at Dalvay. Not a bad honeymoon spot, with views like these from your window every morning!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14526731289" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="425" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/14526731289_398ab7acca_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">A view from our balcony, overlooking the grounds.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14526898207" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="425" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2932/14526898207_df2d275ced_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dalvay beach, part of Prince Edward Island National Park.</span></em></div>
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We had grand plans to make ourselves full 1908-1914 wardrobes for this trip (1908 because it's the year <em>Anne of Green Gables</em> was published and 1914 because, well, it seemed the sensible pre-war fashion end date and it was 2014, so...). All of our source and citation material was compiled and all of the fabric, hats, parasols, shoes, and other materials were acquired and I had started cutting...and sewing...and sewing...and got as far as finishing one hat, (almost) both corsets, and cutting out both of our combinations. And that was it. *sigh*<br />
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In other words, of course, we bit off way more than we could chew, forgetting how difficult and time-consuming it always is to research and then build an entire outfit from the skin out when you're dealing with an era that's entirely new to you. So all that dreaming about lounging on the porch of Dalvay sipping tea in a broad-brimmed hat loaded with flowers...and all that scheming about lawn bowling in the shadow of the hotel dressed in 1909 lingerie dresses...yeah. Didn't happen. Oh well. I guess there's just going to have to be a "next time" to take care of all that unfinished business. Not that we need an excuse, mind you... ;-) Anyone else up for a costumed frolick across PEI?!<br />
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So in the meantime, here's to dreaming ourselves back in time...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14713385365" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="640" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2913/14713385365_f3ddcdaa3a_z.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14713010112" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="425" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3847/14713010112_216567f9d4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14709970691" title="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Dalvay-by-the-Sea, PEI" height="480" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2927/14709970691_4a2fae184a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Additional photos can be found in our <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/sets/72157645695705592">PEI 2014 album</a> on flickr.<br />
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If you're interested in staying at <a href="http://www.dalvaybythesea.com/">Dalvay</a>, the hotel offers 25 guest rooms within the main mansion house, along with eight three-bedroom cottages on the lakeside. Both inn and restaurant are open seasonally from June through October. Reservations can be made by visiting their <a href="http://www.dalvaybythesea.com/">website</a>.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-40114783305420730352015-10-07T18:24:00.001-04:002015-10-22T00:28:28.268-04:00It's that time of year again......when the costume closet gets cleaned out!<br />
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We've just done another purge of the costume closet, since space is getting tighter and we both have too many pieces we're not wearing often enough to justify keeping them. That, and we're both in the midst of plotting new sewing adventures and need the space (and the money!) to make them happen. So here's another chance to add something new to your own period wardrobes!<br />
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<b>1)</b> The first gown up for grabs is the first gown I ever completely hand-sewed for myself. I know I said that about the <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/search/label/for%20sale">blue wool gown</a> I parted with last year, but I was wrong - I totally forgot about this one! (yes, that's how long it's been since I've worn it!) This is an Italian or "quartered back" style gown dated 1775-1785, scaled up from the gown on pages 37-9 in <i>Patterns of Fashion</i>. The cuff detail was copied from an Indian chintz caraco with an identical date range that is in the V&A. For further details on the cut, construction, trim, and fabric choice, and to see additional photos, see <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/search/label/for%20sale">the gown's Threaded Bliss post</a> from 2010. Sizing and condition information can be found on the <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/262105711504?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649">Ebay listing</a>.<br />
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<b>2) </b>I have to admit that it's hurting my heart to have to part with the second gown, but I'm doing it for the simple reason that it no longer fits me. I debated long and hard for a couple of years whether or not I wanted to pick it apart and remake it because I just adore the fabric color and have never seen anything like it since, but in the end, I feel like that would be wasting all the hours of work that went into hand-sewing the entire thing. Yes, picking it apart was the period solution to the size-change problem, but it just feels silly to me to throw all of that work and time away when I know someone else could use it. So here goes...taking the plunge and letting it go...*sniff*<br />
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This is a <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/08/threaded-bliss_29.html">lavender silk taffeta gown with a matching petticoat</a>. Both gown and petticoat were cut to go over a <i>very </i>small hoop which is <b>not </b>included, but you could very easily make a pair of small hip pads (we're talking maybe only an inch or two on each hip, that's all it needs) to fill in the skirts if you want to. To be totally honest, though, when I just put the gown on the mannequin to take measurements, I didn't even notice any difference in the hem length at the sides, so you could even get away without any skirt supports. The coordinating hat is not for sale (though I'd be happy to make you something similar if you really wanted it!).<br />
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The gown is pleated in back and trimmed with simple box pleated self-fabric around the neckline and sleeves. The full run-down on the details is in the <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/08/threaded-bliss_29.html">Threaded Bliss post</a>, with all information about sizing and condition in the <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/262094047769?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649">Ebay listing</a>.<br />
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<b>3)</b> Next up is a Regency gown that Ashley made, and it, too, is entirely hand-sewn. This sadly never even got a Threaded Bliss post because she only wore it once to a ball and we didn't get any decent pictures then. It's based on an 1823 gown with a net overlay in <i>Costume in Detail</i>, pgs. 119-120; we just simplified the sleeves and didn't do the padded hemline detail to bring it forward in time to about 1810-1815. The photos don't do the true color justice - it's a pale blue shot with a sort of brushed gold tone that's really pretty when the light catches it. Check out the <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/262105701790?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649">Ebay listing</a> for more photos and for sizing information.<br />
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<b>4)</b> Finally, Ashley has also decided to part with her <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/08/threaded-bliss.html">gold linen jacket</a>. This was an old stand-by for her for years and she still loves it, but it no longer fits and she has a couple of newer jackets to replace it with, so it's time to let it go. This is the most worn of the pieces we're listing, but it's still in great shape and has many more years of life left in it. It's absolutely ideal for a camp-following or working-class impression! Like all of our things, it's entirely hand-sewn, with the fabric, cut, and construction all fully documented - please check out the <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/08/threaded-bliss.html">Threaded Bliss post </a>for all those goodies. And once again, sizing and condition are given in the <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/262105702360?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649">Ebay listing</a>.<br />
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If you have any questions about any of these pieces or would like additional details or photos, please just let us know and we'll be happy to provide whatever you need! Help us give these Past Pretties new, loving homes!
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<a href="http://www.biltmore.com/events/dressing-downton-1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxQhFTY7xh0/VM1CjXTDVBI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/gLZUxf2kIlw/s1600/Dressing%2BDownton%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="355" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo linked from <a href="http://www.biltmore.com/events/dressing-downton-1">Biltmore's "Dressing Downton" exhibit page</a>.</span></i></div>
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"<a href="http://www.exhibitsdevelopment.com/DressingDownton.html">Dressing Downton: Changing Fashion for Changing Times</a>" will feature approximately 35 different costumes and accessory items from the series' first four seasons. The pieces on display will span fashions from 1912 through the First World War and all the way up into the mid-1920s.<br />
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<a href="http://www.biltmore.com/events/dressing-downton-1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lu2a7oPK-7s/VM1C4r-ooJI/AAAAAAAAAkY/JVIUBOnApeo/s1600/Dressing%2BDownton%2B2.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo linked from <a href="http://www.biltmore.com/events/dressing-downton-1">Biltmore's "Dressing Downton" exhibit page</a>.</span></i></div>
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5 February - 25 May 2015<br />
Biltmore, Asheville, NC<br />
The first stop for "<a href="http://www.biltmore.com/events/dressing-downton-1">Dressing Downton: Changing Fashion for Changing Times</a>" will be Biltmore House and Gardens, the sprawling estate built by George Vanderbilt between 1889 and 1895. Drawing on its Highclere-esque opulent turn-of-the-century setting, Biltmore plans to fully integrate the costumes into its incredible period rooms and the high-society domestic stories they tell. Admission to the exhibit is included in your general admission ticket.<br />
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Additional tour dates include:<br />
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20 June 2015 - 20 September 2015<br />
The Paine, Oshkosh, WI<br />
(<a href="http://www.thepaine.org/events/dressing-downton-changing-fashion-changing-times/">click for details</a>)<br />
<br />
October 2015 - January 2016<br />
Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA<br />
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As we hear about additional dates, we'll update this post! So...who's going?!!!<br />
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***UPDATE ON MARCH 22nd: The <a href="http://dressingdownton.com/">official "Dressing Downton" website</a> has just gone up! There, you can find the full list of tour dates, along with lots of additional pictures and information!***Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-1537207222167729902015-01-30T01:05:00.001-05:002015-01-30T01:19:54.449-05:00Threaded Bliss<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">A Reproduction Red Wool Broadcloth Cloak</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">with details taken from two extant examples</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/15773358093" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/15773358093_b24fd211a4_z.jpg" width="417" /></a></div>
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One of our friends recently joined our Rev War unit and is looking to update to her wardrobe to reflect our CT-based interpretation. She was in need of a cloak to help weather the sometimes below-freezing CT winter temperatures and knew she wanted a red one copied directly from the one featured in <i>Costume Close-up</i>, since that was one of the pieces that made her first start to fall in love with 18th century fashion. So we added a couple of extra details copied from a similar extant cloak with a CT provenance and this is the end result! I'm in love and want one for myself now! :-) So here are all the nitty-gritty details:<br />
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<b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">The pattern:</span></b> The pattern for this cloak is taken directly from an extant original in the collections of Colonial Williamsburg (CW acc. no. 1953-968), patterned to scale in Linda Baumgarten's indispensable <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Costume-Close-Up-Clothing-Construction-1750-1790/dp/0896762262/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422592816&sr=8-1&keywords=costume+close-up">Costume Close-up</a></i>, pgs. 54-56. Every detail of the construction, right down to the piecing on the hood and the body, has been reproduced, with the exception of the slits for the arms, which we left out simply because our friend didn't think she'd use them, which would render them rather counter-productive by letting the cold air in!<br />
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<a href="http://emuseum.history.org/view/objects/asitem/search@/1/title-desc?t:state:flow=ea6da2f0-12cc-48ed-86b5-76b79cff17c6"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sPW6t6i3_NI/VMsPp_GSBXI/AAAAAAAAAjc/sN2JmkqJq-k/s1600/CW%2Bcloak%2B1953-968.jpg" height="403" width="640" /></a><span id="goog_737369410"></span><span id="goog_737369411"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cloak's source pattern and primary inspiration, a red wool broadcloth example </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">from the collections of Colonial Williamsburg (CW acc. no. 1953-968).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo from the <a href="http://emuseum.history.org/view/objects/asitem/search@/1/title-desc?t:state:flow=ea6da2f0-12cc-48ed-86b5-76b79cff17c6">CW Online Collections database</a>.</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Inspirations: </b></span>The hood lining and front facing details were inspired by the Williamsburg cloak. <i>Costume Close-up</i> indicates that "originally, the hood was lined with with soft thin silk and the cloak front was faced with taffeta; there was not a full lining." What isn't specified, however, is the color of the original hood lining and front facings, so I turned for further inspiration to another cloak source which I had the opportunity to examine in person last year, this one with the requisite CT provenance! Similar in cut and construction to the CW example, this second inspiration cloak owned by the <a href="http://chs.org/">CT Historical Society</a> features the same hood lining and front facing details that Baumgarten cites - and in a very striking black!<br />
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<a href="http://emuseum.chs.org/emuseum/view/objects/asitem/search$0040/65/title-asc?t:state:flow=ec484c66-9d48-4237-977b-0684cc58833e"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEVpJsjUZ9g/VMsRLZ6nEWI/AAAAAAAAAjo/RbqzZFSoWNk/s1600/CHS%2Bred%2Bcloak%2Bblack%2Bfacing%2Bfront.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The second inspiration cloak, this one from the</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">CT Historical </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Society (CHS acc. no. 1972.3.1).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo from the <a href="http://emuseum.chs.org/emuseum/view/objects/asitem/search$0040/65/title-asc?t:state:flow=ec484c66-9d48-4237-977b-0684cc58833e">CHS eMuseum listing</a>.</span></i></div>
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The hood of the CHS cloak is half-lined in a thin black silk. The front opening edges of the cloak's body are bound and faced with strips of black silk which are sewn on in such a way that only a narrow band of black is visible from the outside, and a much wider band of 2 5/8" on the inside. These details were translated onto my reproduction.<br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><b>Construction details:</b></span> The cloak is entirely hand-sewn in a golden-brown silk thread, which reproduces the thread choice on the extant CW piece.<br />
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What I find so fun and exciting about cloaks - which otherwise might appear pretty boring to make! - is how ingenious they are when it comes to piecing in order to make the most out of the least amount of fabric. Baumgarten estimates that the CW cloak was cut from 2 3/4 yds of 55", which is pretty spot-on; mine ended up taking almost exactly that same length out of 58" width broadcloth.<br />
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The cloak's body was cut to make use of the full width of the original 55" fabric. Because my fabric was a touch wider, I of course had to trim off the leftover width on both sides to maintain the measurements and proportions of the original. To complete the full half-circle sweep, the sides are then pieced onto the central body in long, backstitched seams.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16205970540" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/16205970540_53e0c772c5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The piecing of the cloak's wide body falls at about half-way down the center front.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16393372635" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="384" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8659/16393372635_b1e8d486b0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cloak's body piecing helps it achieve a generously full half-circle sweep.</span></i></div>
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Once the body seams were sewn, I then applied the black silk taffeta bindings/facings to the front edges. These serve to encase the front edges to protect them from wear and also add a bit of interest to the front of the cloak with the sharp, eye-catching contrast of color. Only about 3/8" of black is exposed on the outside, with 2 5/8" strips visible on the inside. The remainder of the cloak's edges (including the hood) are left unfinished, as per both original sources. The broadcloth is well-fulled, more than sufficient for maintaining the smooth cut edges.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16393375995" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="404" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/16393375995_c0b5fdfe66_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cloak half-closed (on the top) and half open (on the bottom)</span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">to show the</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">contrasting widths of the black silk taffeta strips that form the center-front bindings/facings.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16207477677" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/16207477677_db65bc055a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The hood is assembled from six different pieces which were all backstitched together with narrow seam allowances to eek out as much fabric as possible. Each of the pieces was cut with the grainline going in a different direction, a feature I was also careful to reproduce as I cut them out. I wish I'd taken a picture of the hood pieces all laid out together before I stitched them because the piecing is a little tough to see on the finished hood.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16205972430" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/16205972430_e24649d9a4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Detail of the hood piecing.</span></i></div>
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The hood is then lined in a very lightweight black silk before its back seam is sewn and arranged into the characteristic "fan" pleating detail that appears on the majority of extant cloaks from this period.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/15770918264" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="504" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/15770918264_d400f8c846_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The back of the hood, with the signature "fan" pleating.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16205738898" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="472" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/16205738898_f787df51f5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finally, the hood is sewn to the body of the cloak. The gathering of the cloak's wide body is concentrated at the center back to allow the cloak to drape gracefully over the shoulders.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16205738408" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="492" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7305/16205738408_4773dbc224_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cloak folded in half to show the concentration of pleats at the back of the cloak,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">with the front half of the hood joined smoothly to the body.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16393374875" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="412" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/16393374875_326f6c8e63_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cloak spread flat, shown from the outside/back.</span></i></div>
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The hood lining is used to cover the neckline seam, black wool tapes are added for ties, and then the cloak is finished!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16392451182" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/16392451182_85abd043ab_z.jpg" width="465" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Interior of the cloak.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/15773357343" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="480" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/15773357343_6f719761b7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/16207479367" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="564" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8677/16207479367_71b00a8029_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The hood view from the back when worn, with the black lining providing a </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">strikingly eye-catching contrast to the red.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/15770920984" title="1770-1800 reproduction cloak by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="1770-1800 reproduction cloak" height="528" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8591/15770920984_6a1155aeeb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black wool tape is used for the ties, which help support the weight of the cloak when worn.</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">The fabric:</span></b> The red wool is a superfine broadcloth of a heavily fulled weight from <a href="http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/index.aspx">Burnley and Trowbridge</a>. It's some of the nicest quality broadcloth I've ever worked with (so yes, of course I had to buy some to make a cloak for myself, too!). The color is absolutely spot-on in terms of a match for the inspiration sources.<br />
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The black silk used in the hood lining and the front body facings is of two different weights to accurately reflect those used on the original CW example. The hood is lined in a very light-weight silk persian and the front openings are faced with a mid-weight silk taffeta.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Finishing the look:</span></b> I guess we'll just have to wait for the cloak's first official airing before we finish this section! Stay tuned! :-)Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-28594616565142842832014-08-26T21:11:00.000-04:002015-01-29T01:00:38.961-05:00The Prince Edward Island Chronicles, Part I: Historic Charlottetown and Beaconsfield Historic House Museum<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14731333843" title="Pronvince House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Pronvince House, Charlottetown PEI" height="427" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5575/14731333843_6d9e4f37cc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Charlottetown, the capitol city of the province of Prince Edward Island, is known as the birthplace of the Confederation of Canada. Throughout this year (2014), the Island is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference, which marked the beginnings of discussions that led to the Canadian union. During the first week of September in 1864, representatives from the British colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI, along with delegates from the Province of Canada (which would later be divided into present-day Quebec and Ontario) met at Province House in Charlottetown to discuss a confederation or unification of the individual provinces. Two subsequent meetings followed over the next three years, the end result of which was the British North America Act of 1867, which formally created the autonomous union of the Dominion of Canada.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14524858319" title="Pronvince House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Pronvince House, Charlottetown PEI" height="427" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3925/14524858319_9fa334dfe4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Province House, Charlottetown, PEI</span></em></div>
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Province House, the center of the legislative government of Prince Edward Island, is now a National Historic Landmark operated by <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/pe/provincehouse/index.aspx">Parks Canada</a> and has been restored to its 1864 appearance to commemorate its crucial formative role in initiating both the Canadian union and the peaceful achievement of Canadian independence.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14708343361" title="Pronvince House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Pronvince House, Charlottetown PEI" height="427" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2935/14708343361_40859192f3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Province House, Charlottetown, PEI</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14524813269" title="Pronvince House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Pronvince House, Charlottetown PEI" height="427" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2937/14524813269_79b31aa719_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Province House, Charlottetown, PEI</span></em></div>
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The city of Charlottetown retains much of its nineteenth-century appearance, and one of its architectural crown jewels is <a href="http://www.peimuseum.com/index.php3?number=1043026&lang=E">Beaconsfield Historic House</a>, a 25-room Italianate mansion now owned and maintained by the<a href="http://www.peimuseum.com/"> PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14524023158" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="425" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5571/14524023158_d1a70873f4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Constructed in 1877 for James and Edith Peake, the elegant home sits on west side of the city on a waterfront piece of property that commands an incredible view of the city's harbor. It is believed that its name was an homage to British Prime Minster Benjamin Disraeli, the first Earl of Beaconsfield.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14523995297" title="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/14523995297_5975416de5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Beaconsfield Historic House Museum, Charlottetown, PEI</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14523871988" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="427" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5561/14523871988_4ae7fc89ff_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14730399893" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/14730399893_5cae61172e_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14523866379" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3909/14523866379_ccea64b414_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14524004699" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="427" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14524004699_95db6a2710_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Beaconsfield's elegant waterfront façade.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14687676556" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="427" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2904/14687676556_c37957fb44_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The unrivaled view from the porch and gardens of Beaconsfield.</span></em></div>
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James Peake was a highly successful merchant and shipowner, and his wife's father (one of the "Fathers of Confederation") was named Lt. Governor of the Island a couple of years after James and Edith finished construction on Beaconsfield. Both the family and the house thus served eminent and highly visible functions in the social world of Victorian Charlottetown, playing host to fashionably grand gatherings and parties, with guests including Princess Louise, the daughter of Queen Victoria.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14523954918" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3849/14523954918_7a8181d07e_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14708177104" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/14708177104_6e44cc1e78_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14523778540" title="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3867/14523778540_ce6a5f404b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14523777628" title="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3841/14523777628_d03fbb53c2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14524160177" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5592/14524160177_cef1df85d0_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14710611635" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="427" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2924/14710611635_d30db6c4f5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14523925118" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="427" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/14523925118_71b623e5c3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As "the most luxurious and expensive private residence on the Island," Beaconsfield featured a number of modern conveniences, like running water and gas lighting, The ceilings are decorated with elaborate plasterwork and the house's grand fireplaces, formal staircase, and stunning stained glass windows has all been painstakingly restored, providing a glimpse into the fashionable elegance and grandeur that distinguished the house to all who visited it.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14523872889" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/14523872889_eafc289dcb_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14730405673" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="427" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5489/14730405673_130c5167d7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14730281473" title="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI" height="640" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2913/14730281473_45e7c4a33f_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14709997052" title="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3849/14709997052_8f9ab77f61_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14687135976" title="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5558/14687135976_5952a17324_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14523673807" title="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/14523673807_8f798db7bc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14708149694" title="Beaconsfield Historic House by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House" height="427" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/14708149694_18cfe010ba_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14710111065" title="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown PEI" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5585/14710111065_30c0a41d88_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A decline in fortune compelled the Peakes to sell the house in 1883, only five years after they had moved in. The property was purchased by Henry Cundall, who, with his two sisters, called Beaconsfield home until the end of their lives. Cundall obviously thought highly of his sisters and their accomplishments, for his 1916 will stipulated that the house was to be used as a residence for young professional women. Over the years, it served as both a YWCA and a residence for nurses working at the city's hospital. The property came into the hands of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation in 1973, and fully restored and opened as a museum twenty years later.<br />
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We first visited Beaconsfield the summer after the house was opened as a museum, in 1994, and made a point of returning on this trip, twenty years later. With even more appreciation now all these years later for the house's fascinating history and its architectural beauty, we thoroughly enjoyed our tour and highly recommend a visit to anyone who might find themselves in Charlottetown in the future!<br />
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For more information on Beaconsfield, take a look at:<br />
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- <a href="http://www.peimuseum.com/index.php3?number=1043026&lang=E">PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation's Beaconsfield page</a> for information on visiting the property.<br />
- This <a href="http://www.edu.pe.ca/gray/class_pages/rxmacdonald/pei/museums/beaconsfield.html">fantastic historical overview</a> by <br />
- The <a href="http://www.city.charlottetown.pe.ca/searchaproperty.php?propid=1935">City of Charlottetown</a>'s Beaconsfield's summary, which includes a picture of the Peakes and a historical picture of Beaconsfield in its Victorian heyday.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-61313786067927296882014-08-23T21:08:00.000-04:002014-08-23T21:09:18.471-04:00It's Time to Celebrate!Huzzah! We're celebrating the one-year anniversary of our <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">Etsy Shop</a>!<br />
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To mark this momentous occasion, we invite you to join in the celebration! From now through August 31st, we're offering 10% off your TOTAL PURCHASE on any in-stock items. Simply enter the code ANNIVERSARY1 at check-out to take advantage of this super-special limited-time offer! <em>Please note that this offer does <strong>not</strong> include custom orders</em>.<br />
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And no, it's never too early to begin thinking about building up your cold-weather wardrobe with a new muff or cloak! :-) Many of our ready-to-ship items are one-of-a-kind and made with materials that are no longer available, so if you see something you like, snap it up before it's gone forever!<br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">Happy Shopping</a>!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-15550417057015239432014-07-15T10:04:00.001-04:002015-02-02T01:12:14.442-05:00The Prince Edward Island Chronicles<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14474884487" title="Prince Edward Island by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Prince Edward Island" height="425" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5154/14474884487_7e4f0e2592_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As many of you have undoubtedly surmised from our Facebook updates, we've just concluded a 12-day tour of Prince Edward Island. This trip was the culmination of 18 years of collective dreaming and reminiscing on behalf of the two of us and our parents. In <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-footsteps-of-lm-montgomery-on-prince.html">1994</a>, our family made the two-day drive up to Canada and took the ferry across the Northumberland Strait to PEI, in search of one of our literary heroes, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and the magical world she describes in her books. As anyone who has visited PEI can attest, the island's "spirit of place" swiftly casts its spell; we fell in love and ended up visiting the <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-footsteps-of-lm-montgomery-on-prince.html">two following summers</a> as well.<br />
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After that, life got in the way, as it does, and eighteen years have passed, but in that intervening time, each of us held the special memories of those three summers in a sort of sacred place, and we always talked about going back "one day." Last summer, we finally decided that "one day" had come at last, and with gleeful anticipation, we began planning and dreaming all over again, so grateful to be given the chance once again to return and experience our memories once more as a family.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14681241123" title="Prince Edward Island by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Prince Edward Island" height="425" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/14681241123_1f6b51504e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Much has changed on PEI in the last 18 years, and much has stayed the same, but it's still one of the most beautiful places we've ever visited. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll share a tour of our favorite bits of the Island - LOTS of pictures, lots of history, lots of literature, lots of breathtaking landscapes and seascapes, and even a bit of fashion here and there! So make a cup of tea, sit back, relax, and enjoy some vicarious armchair traveling as we transport you to Prince Edward Island...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14681222243" title="Prince Edward Island by Ashley & Rebecca, on Flickr"><img alt="Prince Edward Island" height="425" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14681222243_0746d1453b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-41839889260313193502014-06-07T14:59:00.001-04:002014-06-07T15:05:06.117-04:00The Great Fabric De-Stashing - Now Available on Etsy!We've just done a massive - and I mean <em>massive</em> - purge of the fabric cabinet and have listed all of the de-stashed treasures in our <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">Shop on Etsy</a>, hoping to find someone who can give them a new home!<br />
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All of these fabrics are out of print; many are vintage, some are a bit more recent. Some of the prints are reproductions, others strongly representative of period motifs, colors, and styles, but all quite acceptable for use in historical clothing and costumes. Most are 18th century, with a couple of 19th century options thrown in for the fun of it. :-) The only reason we've decided to part with all of this is because the stash has gotten WAY out of control and needed some serious taming. That, and we needed an excuse to buy more fabric and no excuse works better than having room in the cabinet for it!<br />
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So if you're in the mood to add something new to <em>your</em> stash (and help us make a bit more room in ours!), check out <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick?section_id=15328584&ref=shopsection_leftnav_7">our new fabric department</a>!<br />
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Here's a sample of some of the prints now newly available. We hope you find something that captures your fancy!<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/191991892/18th-century-inspired-cotton-print?ref=listing-shop-header-1"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/191991892/18th-century-inspired-cotton-print?ref=listing-shop-header-1" border="0" height="240" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/042/0/8522805/il_570xN.611662275_cu85.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/191698150/williamsburg-18th-century-reproduction?ref=listing-shop-header-2"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/191698150/williamsburg-18th-century-reproduction?ref=listing-shop-header-2" border="0" height="284" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/031/0/8522805/il_570xN.610189213_ebjh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/192221306/winterthur-museum-18th-century?"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/192221306/winterthur-museum-18th-century?" border="0" height="240" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/027/0/8522805/il_570xN.612054565_2a4c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/191459375/dar-museum-reproduction-fabric-1780-1790?ref=shop_home_active_6"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/191459375/dar-museum-reproduction-fabric-1780-1790?ref=shop_home_active_6" border="0" height="240" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/029/0/8522805/il_570xN.609290129_b5k3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/191893969/1860s-cotton-print-fabric-per-yd-klassic?ref=listing-shop-header-3"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/191893969/1860s-cotton-print-fabric-per-yd-klassic?ref=listing-shop-header-3" border="0" height="295" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/026/0/8522805/il_570xN.610850923_3259.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-323311667198961722014-05-21T23:35:00.002-04:002014-05-22T00:19:30.776-04:00Threaded Bliss<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Reproduction Cotton Print Shortgown</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">from the collection of the Chester County Historical Society,</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">1780-1790</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14238562961/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="295" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2912/14238562961_687ecf6be1_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">The pattern:</span></strong> This shorgown is reproduced almost exactly from an extant garment in the collection of the Chester County Historical Society. A scaled pattern and several photos are included on pages 23-25 of Sharon Burnston's <em><a href="http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/fittingandproper.aspx">Fitting and Proper</a></em>. Another photo can be seen on page 142 in <em><a href="http://www.wmboothdraper.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_46&products_id=1009">Cloth and Costume 1750-1800</a></em>. Unfortunately, I can't find any pictures of it online, so you'll have to refer to these printed sources to compare mine to the original!<br />
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I made only two changes when reproducing the original. The body of the original shortgown is fully lined in an off-white linen, with the ends of the sleeves lined in a linen printed with brown flowers. I elected not to fully line the body of mine because the fabric is a little bit heavier than usual, and I plan to use this primarily for summer camp wear, when the least amount of fabric layers one has on, the better! I did line/face the ends of the sleeves in a reproduction printed cotton, however.<br />
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The only other change I made was to eliminate the two sets of pleats on either side of the front of the shortgown, which were used to help tailor the shape a bit in front. This is a feature that you don't normally see on shortgowns, so I felt completely justified in omitting it. Because of the weight of the fabric, I found that these pleats just added some awkward-looking, unnecessary bulk to my stomach area just below the waistline where they flared out. This being hardly desirable, and since such pleats aren't at all necessary to shaping the garment, and especially considering that it will always be worn under an apron to hold it in place, I instead simply followed the curve of the neckline of the original and the fit worked out beautifully.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14240454765/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="275" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5313/14240454765_e9b643325b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Construction details:</span></strong> I started out by scaling up the pattern of the original and cutting out the basic outline. Because the shortgown is cut from a single piece of fabric, and because the pattern of this fabric has a defined direction, I followed the original in choosing to have the design "upside down" in the front and "rightside up" in the back.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14218710336/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="341" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2904/14218710336_79c0372fcd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cutting out the basic outline from a single piece of fabric folded into quarters.</span></em></div>
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I then double-checked that the original neckline shape would work on my body and, once concluding that it would, I carefully cut it out in both the front and back. The sleeve facings were then pieced on, as per the original.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14239615862/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="300" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2929/14239615862_f50a6e76bd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The turned-back sleeve facings in a contrasting fabric,</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">a feature copied directly from the original.</span></em></div>
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Because I elected not to line my shortgown, the two side seams are finished with tiny flat-felled seams, a feature I copied from an unlined extant shortgown from the same collection, found on pages 20-22 in <em>Fitting and Proper</em>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14055205378/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="400" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2912/14055205378_0d5c599475_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Matched stripes in the side seams!</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14238556261/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="300" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5277/14238556261_e2b81a4577_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The interior side seam, flat-felled to protect it from wear.</span></em></div>
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Next, the back pleats were set in and top-stitched, just as in the original, and the sleeve facings folded under and slipstitched down into place inside.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14055274887/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="300" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5073/14055274887_3cd2af28d5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Back of the shortgown...</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14055207958/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="400" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2925/14055207958_0599f8fb54_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">...with two sets of pleats top-stitched into place.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14241555904/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5318/14241555904_fca00ec97a_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Back pleating detail.</span></em></div>
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Finally, the neckline, center front, and hem edges were finished with a narrow hem. A facing strip covers the raw edge of the center-back where the pleats are turned in, another detail copied from the unlined shortgown.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14238559901/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="238" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/14238559901_521047c79a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">A facing strip covers the interior back neckline and helps secure the back pleats.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14239624692/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="265" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5236/14239624692_1a58c39b1d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14241866955/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="255" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2898/14241866955_f08da33bc1_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The interior of the unlined shortgown.</span></em></div>
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Further construction details on this shortgown can be found in Claudia Kidwell's article, "Short Gowns," which appeared in <em>Dress: The Journal of the Costume Society of America</em>, volume 4 (1978), pp. 30-65.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14240157384/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="365" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/14240157384_b1b32a5930_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><strong>The fabric:</strong> </span><a href="http://www.durantextiles.com/">Duran Textiles</a> reproduced the original textile in the document size and colorway (they call it "Daisy"), and when I discovered that <a href="http://www.wmboothdraper.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_6&products_id=2526">Wm Booth, Draper</a> was adding it to their stock, of course I just had to take advantage of the opportunity and use it to do a true reproduction piece. The print itself is lovely and I always appreciate access to true reproduction textiles. It is a little pricey, but since I only needed a 1.25 yards, it ended up being quite reasonable.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14241569154/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="297" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2908/14241569154_0978a58138_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The sleeves of the original shortgown were lined in linen printed with a simple, stylized pattern of brown flowers. Luckily, I had a small piece of a reproduction brown print (on cotton) done by Windham several years ago, which was a perfect approximation for this project. I love the way it looks against the stripes of the primary textile.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14239608392/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="295" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14239608392_342d297be5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Finishing the look:</span></strong> I apologize that the "model" pictures for this project aren't very interesting! I wore this for the first time a couple of days ago when doing a cooking demonstration at a local state park, and we were so busy talking and working all day long that I didn't have a chance to get any pictures taken until the very end of the day. As soon as I get some more exciting "pretty" shots, I'll be sure to add them!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14240445225/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5154/14240445225_495534790f_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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For the school program, I paired the shortgown with a brown linen petticoat and a blue/yellow/natural cross-barred linen apron - the perfect outfit to wear while working around fire, soot, grease, and dirt all day long in the heat of a sunny late-spring day! It's worn, as always, over my fully-boned stays, a shift, and a linen underpetticoat. Forgive all the wrinkles - that's what happens after 6 hours of hard work bending and lifting and working over a fire! :-)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/14217304836/" title="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="reproduction printed short gown, 1780-1790" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5491/14217304836_7d28794aa3_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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If you'd like to see larger versions of any of the pictures, just click on them to access the full size. Additional photos can be found in <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/sets/72157644369994510/with/14241555904/">this project's flickr set</a>.</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-47383091801367820082014-04-25T20:49:00.001-04:002014-04-25T23:29:15.362-04:00A chance to add something new to your reenacting wardrobe!For those of you in need of a new wardrobe for the campaign season, we currently have <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/calash512/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=">listed on Ebay</a> three of our earliest 18th century creations.<br />
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The first is Ashley's first "<em>Costume Close-up</em> jacket," the first completely hand-sewn jacket I ever made, and the first project I created using a scaled-up pattern from an original garment. For more on the jacket's fabric and construction details, check out its previous Threaded Bliss posts <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/05/threaded-bliss-postscript.html">here</a> and <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2010/08/threaded-bliss-reproducing-costume.html">here</a>. Clicking on the image below will bring you to the <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/18th-century-hand-sewn-cotton-jacket-Rev-War-colonial-costume-sz-XS-or-girls-14-/261463005440?pt=US_Reenactment_Theater&hash=item3ce068d900">current Ebay listing</a>, which includes condition and measurement details.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/18th-century-hand-sewn-cotton-jacket-Rev-War-colonial-costume-sz-XS-or-girls-14-/261463005440?pt=US_Reenactment_Theater&hash=item3ce068d900"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5116/7162356902_9374172112_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The second item on offer is Ashley's sea green fitted-back gown. Like the jacket, this garment, too, represents multiple firsts for us. This was the first gown I'd sewn completely by hand, and this was the first petticoat Ashley ever completed by hand. This is also the first gown I draped from start to finish. I'd purchased the fabric on sale, and Ashley fell in love with the color and wanted it, so I decided it was time for an experiment. I started pinning and folding and cutting and pleating and trimming, and taught myself to drape in the process, and she ended up with this gown, which remained her favorite for years. The original post on it can be found <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2010/10/threaded-bliss.html">here</a>, and the picture below will link you to <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/261462957473?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649">the Ebay listing</a>. Measurements and condition details can be found there.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/18th-century-cotton-gown-w-petticoat-robe-a-langlaise-100-hand-sewn-sz-s-/261462957473?pt=US_Reenactment_Theater&hash=item3ce0681da1"><img alt="http://www.ebay.com/itm/18th-century-cotton-gown-w-petticoat-robe-a-langlaise-100-hand-sewn-sz-s-/261462957473?pt=US_Reenactment_Theater&hash=item3ce0681da1" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9hgWsvZMWiw/U1sAeaWX8jI/AAAAAAAAAiw/6Ke08F0hmE0/s1600/April+2011+flickr+1+cut.jpg" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
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The third item is another gown, the first I ever made completely by hand for myself. It's made of a beautiful medium-weight dark indigo wool that has a lovely heavy drape to it that helps give the gown an ideal period shape. I wore this gown only once (to what was probably the hottest reenactment we've ever been to) and realized only long after the fact that I never even got a picture of myself wearing it, which is why it never got its own Threaded Bliss treatment. Ah well, that makes it perfect to pass on to someone else, who will be able at long last to give it an identity. :-) The <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/261463026992?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649">listing</a> is linked through the picture below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/261463026992?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649"><img alt="http://www.ebay.com/itm/261463026992?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80u603DCRww/U1sCRUcJx7I/AAAAAAAAAi8/9J5heGbvqVc/s1600/P1100067.JPG" height="400" width="257" /></a></div>
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If you'd like any additional details or pictures of any of these items, please let us know and we'll be happy to share them. We very much hope these will go to good homes and be used and loved for many years to come!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-37546390812803961812014-04-20T00:44:00.002-04:002014-04-20T00:44:35.600-04:00"Millinery Through Time" Conference: Day Four: The Wokshop DayThe fourth and final day of the "Millinery Through Time" conference was an option day consisting of a selection of workshops on various millinery items or accessories. With eight to pick from and each being offered at the same time, you can imagine what a difficult time we had making our final choices!<br />
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In the end, we both opted to take Jay Howlett's workshop in felt hat basics. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to make hats for <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-b-workshop-marathon-concludes-with.html">our in-progress riding habits</a>, and with appropriate, accurate felt hats for ladies being nearly impossible to come by, we simply couldn't pass up this chance to learn how to make our own.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13944220025/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop" height="300" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2913/13944220025_e6cd201089_z.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our felt hat blanks at the start of the workshop.</span></em></div>
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To save some time on the workshop day itself, we had each forwarded our individual head measurements to Mr Howlett so that he could prepare custom-sized hat blanks for us before we arrived. Though our basic hat shape was already done, he began the workshop by demonstrating the techniques he used to block our blanks, sharing some tricks of the trade and explaining some thrifty methods we could use to achieve the same process for ourselves. We talked about period felt hats - materials, descriptions, terms for the parts of the hat itself - and then proceeded to learn how to line our hats to help protect the felt from hair oils, powders, and sweat (hey, they're for riding, after all!).<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13944276083/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop" height="365" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2936/13944276083_89535c5253_z.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Demonstrating how to re-size the crown of the hat.</span></em></div>
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Once we'd all finished stitching in our linen linings, we examined a large collection of period images and discussed the differences in styles in hats that were seen across the last half of the eighteenth century. Once we'd each selected our personal favorite style, Mr Howlett set to work helping us to capture it on our own hat, showing us how to trim and finish the brim, and how to steam and shape it to match our respective sources. Finally, we talked briefly about trim options and various techniques for attaching that trim. Let's just say it involves lots and lots and lots of feathers! :-)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13944271513/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop" height="293" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/13944271513_1b85cb97f7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Adjusting the size of the brim to match the style of a period image.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13944215565/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop" height="327" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/13944215565_df71a09336_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">My hat beginning to take shape!</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13921107716/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference - felt hat workshop" height="309" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3677/13921107716_0496fde1e2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ashley's hat beginning to look like it's inspiration image.</span></em></div>
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We both left so excited to have our hats so close to being finished, and newly-motivated to get back to work on our riding habits. We're very much looking forward to seeing how our looks pull together from head to toe. So now...back to those waistcoats and jackets!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-66653396926286126292014-04-06T14:25:00.001-04:002014-04-08T20:45:53.958-04:00Recreating the Wedding of Pocahontas and John RolfeIn honor of the 400th anniversary of the wedding of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, <a href="http://historicjamestowne.org/">Historic Jamestowne</a> is hosting a number of <a href="http://apva.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=26">special events</a>. Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to attend a reenactment of their wedding ceremony at Jamestowne Island. It was the perfect day for a wedding, with the sun shining bright over the James River. I'd never been to the site before, and had some time prior the ceremony to explore before the big event, so there's more to come on that in my next post. But back to the wedding...!<br />
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A crowd was very quickly building up around the ceremony stage, so I found a spot off to the side and waited excitedly with the others. We were entertained with a few tunes from two musicians, followed by an introduction by Abigail Schumann. She set the scene by explaining how at the Jamestown Church "about the fifth of April" in 1614, the union of Pocahontas and John Rolfe marked the beginning of a peaceful period between the English settlers and Powhatan.<br />
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The wedding party filed down the center aisle to the front stage for the ceremony. While the ministers were reciting the wedding vows, the other members of the wedding party offered their own insight to the union. It was especially fun to see the wedding jacket that was made for the event by the Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center staff, with help with several volunteers. The jacket, which is based on <a href="http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O137739/jacket-unknown/">this extant</a> picture in the V&A, is entirely hand-embroidered in black linen thread and features stylized designs based on the plants and animals that populated the Jamestown region during the early seventeenth century.<br />
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Below are a few photos from the ceremony:<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13657766775/"><img alt="Historic Jamestowne" height="300" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2834/13657766775_0d71897248_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The wedding party begins walking down the aisle.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13657906003/"><img alt="Historic Jamestowne" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/13657906003_9cf50cbf2a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pocahontas, as portrayed by Wendy Taylor</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13657971423/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Historic Jamestowne" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/13657971423_a882cd2873_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Another view of the beautiful wedding jacket.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13658030735/"><img alt="Historic Jamestowne" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/13658030735_4470ac2f67_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Members of the wedding party behind John Rolfe.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13658398944/"><img alt="Historic Jamestowne" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/13658398944_15d1f03ee3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pocahontas and John Rolfe</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13657424583/"><img alt="Historic Jamestowne" height="400" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/13657424583_8626375be5_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The happy couple!</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13658175613/"><img alt="Historic Jamestowne" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7199/13658175613_ebd4bc3caf_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A lovely summary about the history of the marriage and the story behind this special project can be found <a href="http://whatsnew.history.org/2014/04/pocahontas-and-john-rolfe-a-match-made-in-virginia/">here on Colonial Williamsburg's page</a>. You can see video of the event at the link as well.</div>
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If you'd like to see additional in-progress and close-up pictures of Pocahontas's incredible jacket, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Burnley-Trowbridge-Company/286101116712">Burnley and Trowbridge</a> posted several sets of photos on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Burnley-Trowbridge-Company/286101116712">their facebook page</a>. Futher information can also be found on Colonial Williamsburg's <a href="http://whatsnew.history.org/2014/01/labor-for-love-volunteers-recreate-a-special-wedding-garment/">"wedding jacket" page</a>. And as always, you can find more of my photos in our <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/sets/72157643493509413/">flickr set</a>!</div>
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14678732507436621983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-11817325398562674652014-04-04T22:29:00.000-04:002014-04-04T22:29:28.554-04:00"Millinery Through Time" Conference: Day ThreeDay Three of the <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/search/label/CW%20Millinery%20Through%20Time">"Millinery Through Time" conference</a> maintained the trend of impressive and inspiring presentations. Paper after paper, lecture after lecture continued to introduce some pretty incredible research. The range of topics alone was staggering, and I only wish it could have lasted another day (or two or five) because there was just <em>so</em> much good stuff to soak up in such a short amount of time!<br />
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The talks before lunch spanned topics that included everything from early American shoe-makers' labels to an overview of the popular fashion for turbans at the turn of the nineteenth century. The morning saw two stand-out moments for me, however, the first of which was <a href="http://www.ateliermela.com/">Mela Hoyt-Heydon</a>'s consideration of the use of artificial flowers in eighteenth-century millinery. As fascinating as that is, what really made her talk so prodigiously awesome was that she then proceeded not only to discuss how these flowers were made in the period, but also how those historical methods can be reproduced today. I think the entire auditorium was just in awe, and I left fully motivated to go forth and make flowers in abundance! This made me (and probably everyone else who hadn't signed up!) really, really wish I'd elected to do Mela's velvet flower workshop scheduled for the following day... ;-)<br />
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The other notable paper from the morning was CW apprentice <a href="http://stay-ingalive.blogspot.com/">Abby Cox</a>'s exploration of the westward "expansion" of the millinery and dress-making trades at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Using information culled from city directories, she literally mapped the growth and change of the fashion trades in a completely novel way. Her approach was intriguing and highly original, using physical landscapes and spatial readings to document how "millinery" and "the milliner" evolved, simultaneously expanding and contracting her business to meet shifting socio-economic and fashion trends.<br />
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After lunch, we continued our chronological movement forward into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Samantha McCarty (of <a href="http://couturecourtesan.blogspot.com/">Couture Courtesan</a>) presented an inquiry into a long-overlooked and under-researched area of Civil War-era clothing: mourning millinery and accessories. As the "visible signs of sorrow," mourning collars, cuffs, and bonnets, specific fabrics and colors all occupied a broad (and lucrative) spectrum of the fashion industry. In an age when clothing was "read" and interpreted as an outward expression of an individual's place in society, tiny details like those distinguished by Samantha spoke volumes. She's hinted that there's a mountain of additional research left to pursue, and I know I, for one, am most eager to hear more!<br />
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Then it was on to the final panels on the conference schedule. From a study of the life and career of a single, enterprising milliner in turn-of-the-century Newfoundland, to a consideration of the millinery trade in Ontario, to a glamorous overview of the distinctive, defining style of American millinery in the years surrounding WWII, to a first-hand glimpse into the career of modern-day milliner-artist <a href="http://www.ignatiushats.com/">Ignatius Creegan</a>, each of the speakers that contributed to the concluding afternoon helped to round out the incredible range of scholarly contributions on millinery and fashion history that we'd experienced over the course of the two previous days. I sincerely hope that it won't take another sixty years before we get the opportunity to do this again! If this conference confirmed anything for me, it's the sheer wealth of untapped information left to be uncovered in the study of historical fashion.<br />
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Many thanks to all who contributed their knowledge, skills, and time to make this conference such a rare and special treat!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-89144705146304482802014-03-25T15:30:00.001-04:002014-03-25T15:31:25.036-04:00Are you missing the Frolicks on Facebook?<div>
How much would you "LIKE" a chance to win a discount coupon to the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">Fashionable Frolick Shop on Etsy</a>? We want to thank our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick">Facebook</a> subscribers for their support and encouragement by offering them a very special, exclusive opportunity!<br />
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To enter for a chance to win <em>10% off your total purchase in our Shop</em>, simply "LIKE" <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick">our Facebook page</a> and then post a comment on the official contest entry post there by answering the question provided. Sorry, comments here on the blog cannot be accepted for entry purposes.<br />
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TWO discount coupons will be awarded, drawn at random from the names listed in the Facebook comment replies. The drawing will occur on Friday, April 4th at 5pm and the two lucky winners will be posted on our Facebook page then.<br />
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SPREAD THE WORD!!!! Good luck, and thank you again to all of our FF Facebook friends! :-)</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-40421149260889923852014-03-23T15:41:00.000-04:002014-03-23T15:41:30.395-04:00"Millinery Through Time" Conference: Day Two<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13360811105/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7136/13360811105_3b440825dc_z.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Janea opens the conference with a brief history of the</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">millinery </span></em><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">and mantua making trades.</span></em></div>
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Monday morning convened with Janea Whitacre offering a comprehensive overview of the milliner’s trade and all that it encompassed in the eighteenth century. She explored in fascinating detail the various divisions of the trade (black millinery vs. white millinery, shop milliners vs. private milliners, etc.) and described how the millinery
trade was often paired with other similar trades to help maximize the milliner’s offerings, clientele base, and profits. Mantua-making was one of the trades most often practiced alongside millinery, so Janea’s presentation even included demonstrations of the mantua-maker’s art of pleating an early-century mantua and of cutting a later gown bodice directly on her client.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13360958253/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="351" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/13360958253_01ee4d6293_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Explaining the fashion for mantuas, with Angela playing the role of model!</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13361188624/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="396" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/13361188624_7130c55925_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Demonstrating the pleating of the mantua.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13361186124/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7247/13361186124_687dc38e99_z.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Apprentice Sarah demonstrating the cutting of a gown bodice on Miss Aislinn.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13360951003/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="285" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/13360951003_5dc3fa125d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The day continued to bring one inspiring talk after another, with papers exploring a plethora of topics including everything from Monsieur Beaulard, “man milliner” to Marie Antoinette, to the milliner’s vulnerability to theft, to an examination of an extant whitework apron, to a tantalizing glimpse at the rather curious eighteenth-century fashion for black velvet masks. Angela Burnley (of <a href="http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/">Burnley and Trowbridge</a>) spoke at length about eighteenth-century textiles and their availability, sharing slide after slide of pictures from her extensive research into period sample books and the Foundling Hospital’s tokens archive. Addressing not only the names and variations of common fabrics, but also their identifying weave structures and most popular colors, Angela offered a glimpse into an enthralling avenue of inquiry that can contribute so much to the work done by material culture historians, textile and costume specialists, and reenactors alike.<br />
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One of the highlights of Monday’s talks was apprentice Sarah Woodyard’s “live action” analysis of a 1782 print entitled “A Morning Ramble, or – The Milliner’s Shop.” Reading the details of the image like a text, she highlighted elements of the eighteenth-century milliner’s identity, work, and cultural stereotypes, exposing period connotations and nuances to words and objects that have largely become lost or obsolete over time. As she spoke, the print’s image literally took shape on stage in tableau, piece by piece and figure by figure, brought to life through reconstructions of both the physical image and its period meaning. For more on this particular paper, see <a href="http://twonerdyhistorygirls.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-morning-ramble-from-1782-comes-to.html">Susan's post on her Two Nerdy History Girls blog</a>. More about the costumes featured in the presentation can be found on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick#!/pages/The-Margaret-Hunter-Shop-Milliners-and-Mantuamakers/121002921252887">Margaret Hunter Shop's facebook page</a>, where the ladies documented the beginnings of<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick#!/media/set/?set=a.698168963536277.1073741841.121002921252887&type=3"> the "Morning Ramble" project</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13360969145/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="318" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/13360969145_99ccc6dbdd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13361347484/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="262" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/13361347484_eb9ccbf5d3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">"A Morning Ramble" brought to life before our eyes.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13360965805/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="323" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/13360965805_9f920f4c7b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">A brief discussion of the fashions featured in the print.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13360964045/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="265" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3718/13360964045_45541cdc9d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We all enjoyed a very special treat Monday evening with a staged performance of a 1780s comic burletta/operetta, appropriately entitled - of course, what else?! - "<a href="http://www.panglossian.org/lets-get-dandified.html">The Milliners</a>"! Hilariously acted with true period flair for satire, irony, and downright delightful silliness, the play took aim at both "man-milliners," perceived to be overrunning the traditionally feminine realm of millinery work, and French fashions, increasingly popular in England in the 1780s. We laughed until our sides hurt, relishing all of the fashion-related humor and the eighteenth century habit for poking fun at everyone and everything. The cast did a marvelous job and we were so impressed and most thoroughly entertained!<br />
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Day Three to come in the following post! In the meantime, there are additional photos available in our <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/sets/72157642519756234/">conference Flickr set</a>.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-20806866146810173782014-03-17T21:51:00.004-04:002014-03-18T23:11:34.334-04:00"Millinery Through Time" Conference: Day OneSunday found us at Colonial Williamsburg for the opening of the <a href="http://www.cvent.com/events/millinery-through-time/event-summary-4d9531e095d844c391bc08c69ac3da91.aspx">"Millinery Through Time"</a> conference celebrating sixty years of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Margaret-Hunter-Shop-Milliners-and-Mantuamakers/121002921252887">Margaret Hunter Shop</a>. The evening began with the Mistress of the shop, Janea Whitacre, sharing a "scrap book" history of the restored 18th-century shop building, along with an overview of the evolution of the trades of millinery and mantua-making as they are now practiced at CW. A presentation of media clippings from film, television, print, and digital sources followed, providing a fun glimpse into not only the impact that the Shop has made within the culture of Colonial Williamsburg, but also the deep impression its staff and the trades they interpret have had on the wider history and education communities. Next came a very special peek at a digitally recreated MHS as it might have appeared in the 1770s, and a quick summary of some of the antique costumes and textiles acquired by Colonial Williamsburg during the first years immediately following the shop's opening.<br />
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Then it was time for the party officially to begin! Two amazing millinery confections made of elaborately crafted pastel sugars, frosting, and cake were on display. They both looked good enough not only to eat, but even to wear! The details on each of them, from feathers to gathered gauze to flowers, were unbelievable in their meticulous attention to every minute little detail.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13232404334/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/13232404334_16899cbd32_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13232393774/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="300" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/13232393774_ce63f99e28_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13232054245/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/13232054245_d690fb0ff5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13232187303/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/13232187303_2c23e6f446_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We had a marvelous time catching up with old friends and making the acquaintance of new ones. Many of the participants came in their favorite period or vintage clothing and it was such fun strolling about admiring all of the beautiful finery. Recognizing fellow bloggers by their costumes became one of the pleasures of the evening, and we had such fun finally being able to put faces to some of the digital names we've grown accustomed to seeing! :-)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13232032415/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="400" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3666/13232032415_afb35d6771_z.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Emma and Ashley "going green" in silk!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13232350004/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7127/13232350004_4d83e70c49_z.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Leia, Ashley, and Aubry enjoying the evening's festivities.</span></em></div>
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We were so busy mingling and chatting (and eating cupcakes!) that we didn't even get a chance to take a picture of the two of us together all dressed up! We went as "silk sack sisters," both in our striped silk sack jackets. Hopefully some time later this week (praying the weather improves!), we'll try to get some quality pictures of our newest creations to share. In the meantime, look forward to further conference updates over the next few days!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/13232338534/" title="CW Millinery Through Time conference by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="CW Millinery Through Time conference" height="400" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/13232338534_c23b3cffe7_z.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of several creations on display during the evening,</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">a </span></em><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">timeless testament to the incomparable skill and</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">talent </span></em><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">of the ladies that are the MHS.</span></em></div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-67610108637270661942014-02-05T01:13:00.003-05:002014-02-05T01:18:23.602-05:00Another Victorian Bustle Gown Costume for Sale, Just in Time for Valentine's Day!Exactly a year ago, we did a cursory rummaging around in the costume closet and I uncovered a <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2013/02/1870s-costume-for-sale.html">green/blue taffeta 1870s-inspired evening gown</a> I'd made about ten years ago for a Victorian costume event. It was one of the very first historical "costumes" I'd ever made, and though I was sad to see it go, it was time to bid it farewell and send it off to a new home to make some room in the closet for new creations.<br />
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While Ashley was visiting a couple of weeks ago, we finally got around to doing a more massive purge of the costume and fabric closet and uncovered the gown I'd made for her for that same event back in 2005. This one is made of a stunning ruby red satin fabric. At first, she was tempted to keep it, as it's always been one of her favorite pieces in her absolute favorite color, but after she tried it on and found that it no longer fit, she decided she's ready to part with hers as well. It is <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261391060636#shpCntId">now listed on Ebay</a>!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1SbfDZihuo/UvHVKuq4vHI/AAAAAAAAAiA/VEAJ3eOcW4U/s1600/Summer+2005+170+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1SbfDZihuo/UvHVKuq4vHI/AAAAAAAAAiA/VEAJ3eOcW4U/s1600/Summer+2005+170+crop.jpg" height="400" width="332" /></a></div>
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As I mentioned in last year's post when the first gown was listed, this gown was made before Ashley and I really got serious and nit-picky about historical fashion on a research-oriented level. This means that if you'd like to bid on it, please be aware that this is very much a <em>costume</em>
- <strong>not</strong> a meticulously researched "reproduction" piece like those
we typically share on the blog. The gown is entirely machine sewn. Like the blue/green gown, this red one was one of my very first sewing endeavors and
as such, it certainly has its flaws, though Ashley still adores it and I do have to admit that it came out looking quite pretty.<br />
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As you can probably tell, I made this gown using the same pattern base as mine, though it was so long ago now that I honestly can't recall which pattern it was. The gown comes in three pieces: bodice, skirt, and bustle. Please forgive the lack of detailed photos this time around; the dress is too small for my dressform, so we've opted to just use the original pictures because they give the best sense of how the dress drapes when worn.<br />
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The sleeveless bodice has a deep V-neckline in front and back that is trimmed with matching patterned red satin ribbon. It is stiffened with interfacing and plastic boning and fully lined in red as well. The armscyes are bound in the same red ribbon that surrounds the neckline; this same ribbon also edges the bottom of the bodice, following along the center front point that dips several inches beneath the natural waistline. The back has a short peplum that flounces out over the bustle and the back laces closed.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AD4eSA6o9G8/UvHWFxejFkI/AAAAAAAAAiY/hZhPcbxaZOo/s1600/Summer+2005+187+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AD4eSA6o9G8/UvHWFxejFkI/AAAAAAAAAiY/hZhPcbxaZOo/s1600/Summer+2005+187+crop.jpg" height="400" width="322" /></a></div>
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The skirt hemline is edged with a row of red ribbon. It has an apron front that is attached at the waistband; its bottom edge, too, is finished with the same red ribbon. The bustle attaches to the skirt with hooks and eyes at the waistband and with a series of ties and plastic rings down the back of the skirt. The bustle is fully lined and is interlined with crinoline to give it fullness and body.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GDQmTXw944c/UvHWBfEAvrI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/fD2rYO3s6Y0/s1600/Summer+2005+176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GDQmTXw944c/UvHWBfEAvrI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/fD2rYO3s6Y0/s1600/Summer+2005+176.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Four large deep red roses are suspended on a fabric strip down one side of the bustle, in imitation of period fashion plates (the other side of the bustle is left plain). Beneath the roses is a large, wide bow in the same coordinating ribbon.<br />
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Please see <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261391060636#shpCntId">the listing</a> for measurements, pricing, and further details. Let us know if you have any questions. We'll be thrilled to know that this is going to go to a new home!<br />
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And if you're in the mood for shopping in another period, we also currently have <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/calash512/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=">listed a couple of 18th-century pieces and some taffeta fabrics on Ebay</a>!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-14548078207138553802014-01-22T12:54:00.000-05:002014-01-22T12:54:37.151-05:00Exciting news for Downton Abbey fans in the United States!Exciting news for <em>Downton Abbey</em> fans in the United States! This February, <a href="http://www.ladycarnarvon.com/">The Countess of Carnarvon</a> of <a href="http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/">Highclere Castle</a> (the spectacular setting of <em>Downton</em>) will be visiting a few states to promote her latest book, <em>Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey</em>. On <a href="http://www.ladycarnarvon.com/">her blog</a>, Lady Carnarvon mentions a couple of different stops on her tour, including one in Nashville, TN, just before heading to Virginia; I have not been able to find a more detailed tour schedule listing, however. Colonial Williamsburg will be hosting two events with Lady Carnarvon on February 9th & 10th. You can join her for tea on February 9th at the Williamsburg Lodge to hear her speak about Highclere and its past inhabitants. And February 10th she will speak about life at Highclere at the DeWitt Wallace Museum in Williamsburg. A book signing will follow the lecture. You can find further information and <a href="http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/do/special-events/downton-williamsburg/">purchase tickets online here</a>. If anyone has heard about additional stops on her book tour, please let us know so we can post those here as well!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzJjn6GI_Hc/UuAEddJsU7I/AAAAAAAAAGo/Erwds6dz9V0/s1600/CountessCarnarvon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzJjn6GI_Hc/UuAEddJsU7I/AAAAAAAAAGo/Erwds6dz9V0/s1600/CountessCarnarvon.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The second of the Countess' books will be the subject of her</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">upcoming book tour in the U.S.</span></em></div>
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Don't forget about the <a href="http://www.winterthur.org/Downtonabbey">upcoming exhibit of fabulous <em>Downton Abbey</em> costumes</a> at Winterthur, starting March 1, 2014!Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14678732507436621983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-884629724621289562014-01-15T20:25:00.000-05:002014-01-15T20:25:28.154-05:00Threaded Bliss<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><strong>A Fitted Back Gown</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><strong>in a Reproduction 1780 Cotton Print</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716123764/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/11716123764_74059abb8a_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Oh my. Was September really the last <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/search/label/Threaded%20Bliss">Threaded Bliss</a> we did? That's minorly embarrassing. It certainly isn't a case of not having anything new to share, but between creating items for <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">the Shop</a>, finishing up some commission projects, and doing some "real work" in between, we've been so prodigiously busy that the blog has slipped silently by the wayside. I had to laugh this morning when I saw that Samantha sent up a similar cry, and all I could think was, "Oh, I'm *so* glad we're not alone in this blogging backlog!"<br />
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So...here's the beginning of what I hope to be a quick succession of make-up-for-lost-time posts! This gown was finished back in January of 2013 and I wore it a number of times over the past year. Unfortunately, as these wearings included a couple of school programs, a <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-evening-of-english-country-dancing.html">dance</a>, and our town's 225th anniversary parade, I didn't manage to get any pictures of it at all. During the Christmas trip to Williamsburg, then, I made it my mission to finally get some quality proof that yes, indeed, I have finished this gown, and yes, indeed, I have actually worn it!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11715740985/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/11715740985_39102fc6be_z.jpg" height="346" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">The pattern:</span></strong> Draped by Ashley at a <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/11/burnley-and-trowbridge-gown-draping.html">Burnley and Trowbridge workshop in November 2012</a>.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Inspirations:</span></strong> The inspiration for this gown was the fabric, which, as I will detail below, is reproduction exactly from a cotton gown in the collections of Colonial Williamsburg (acc. no. 1991-450). The gown was featured in Linda Baumgarten's <em><a href="http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductView?storeId=10001&categoryId=30621&ssr=1&catalogId=12122&langId=-1">What Clothes Reveal</a></em> (pp. 48-9).<br />
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<a href="http://emuseum.history.org/view/objects/asitem/search@/0?t:state:flow=0ad9746e-8778-4643-80d1-fa1d31214fc9"><img alt="http://emuseum.history.org/view/objects/asitem/search@/0?t:state:flow=0ad9746e-8778-4643-80d1-fa1d31214fc9" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_5QHY9JxmpI/UtYKS_WEXsI/AAAAAAAAAhw/mcJo7VeDFXY/s400/CW+1991-450.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">1780 cotton print gown (acc. no. 1991-450).</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image linked from <a href="http://emuseum.history.org/objects/viewclassifications?t:state:flow=e918fa6f-2771-47d9-bb91-13bda45f89a7">Colonial Williamsburg's Online Collections</a>.</span></em></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Construction details</span></strong>: Since the construction process of the gown was partially described in the original <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2012/11/burnley-and-trowbridge-gown-draping.html">workshop post</a>, and as it is exactly the same as all of our previous fitted-back gowns, I won't spend any time reiterating those details here.<br />
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The most challenging part of making this gown (and the reason I saved this fabric specifically for the workshop!) was matching all the viney curves on both the front and the back. I had forgotten to bring a picture of the original gown with me to the workshop, but of course Janea had the benefit of experience of having already made a gown out of this fabric and she worked her magic figuring out how to make the printed design balance and flow as it ideally should. I'm so chuffed at how perfectly it came out, thanks to her expertise!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11715801295/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/11715801295_d90a823fae_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The front of the gown...</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716101313/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/11716101313_51cdb498d8_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">...and the back pleats.</span></em></div>
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Here are a couple detail shots, including the back waistline,<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716093513/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7432/11716093513_3d9f0cab76_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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the pleating of the skirts,</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716089873/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/11716089873_8f05933509_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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the top-stitched back pleating that helps to fit the gown closely to the back of the body,</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716086293/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2860/11716086293_1c486180bb_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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and a detail of the shoulder and sleeve from the back.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11715810445/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/11715810445_0d6711b3e7_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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The interior of the bodice reveals the construction process of the gown, with the stitching of the back pleats visible, along with the overlapped front linings,<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716568406/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/11716568406_b38b50a4c4_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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as well as the unfinished armscyes, common in 18th-century gown construction.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716045533/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3797/11716045533_5d72370a50_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The edge of the bodice neckline and center fronts are finished by turning the edges in towards each other.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716074294/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3694/11716074294_825d70993f_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><strong>The fabric:</strong></span> As I mentioned above, the fabric is part of Colonial Williamsburg's exclusive line of fabrics that are reproduced from pieces in their collection. This particular one is taken from the block printed and penciled English cotton used on a fitted-back gown dating to 1780 (CW acc. no. 1991-450).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXRor2oJUOo/UtYKdRq0N6I/AAAAAAAAAh4/aM_gI-x8jsE/s1600/P1080708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXRor2oJUOo/UtYKdRq0N6I/AAAAAAAAAh4/aM_gI-x8jsE/s400/P1080708.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11715919713/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/11715919713_94ef89d1c5_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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An eerily similar English chintz textile appears in <a href="http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O140029/album-unknown/">Barbara Johnson's album</a> (V&A acc. no. T.219-1973), and her dating reaffirms the 1780 date of the CW piece. Johnson records that she purchased her fabric in June of 1781 and paid thirteen shillings a yard for it. I still can't get over how very similar the motifs are.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjB8TXjoAm8/UtYFz1LrGYI/AAAAAAAAAhk/4ztxt34qSEc/s1600/P1010850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjB8TXjoAm8/UtYFz1LrGYI/AAAAAAAAAhk/4ztxt34qSEc/s400/P1010850.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Finishing the look:</span></strong> The trouble with only having a single set of photos to share with an outfit is that they don't give any sense of the sheer variety of ways that I've worn this gown. For one, it's got several other petticoats that look splendid with it (you can see one in the workshop photos), and for another, I regret that I decided to leave my neckerchief out when I wore this for the pictures because it obscures the front of the gown. The front is visible in the <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-evening-of-english-country-dancing.html">dance video</a>, but not to any real satisfying degree because it's so far away (and moving!). I suppose this just means that a "Threaded Bliss Postscript" post is necessary in the near future! :-)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11715774215/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/11715774215_2933302d17_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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When I wore the gown at Christmas, I accessorized it with a windowpane checked linen neck handkerchief, left untucked and secured in front by a breastknot of purple/yellow changeable silk taffeta. A string of deep purple glass beads further underscored the "best" middling impression suggested by the gown's textile.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716091154/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/11716091154_1dd1ea4a8c_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I also added my favorite hat, which is trimmed, edged, lined, and tied in a blue/green changeable silk taffeta, and my <a href="http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/">B and T</a> red shoes. Somehow, both accessories just seem to coordinate so perfectly with every outfit. I especially love wearing them together!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716075304/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3677/11716075304_18dd5d4c1c_z.jpg" height="400" width="299" /></a></div>
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A set of removable windowpane checked white linen ruffles - part of the suit of kerchief, apron, and ruffles - are basted into the sleeves.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716445486/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/11716445486_1dbb20a327_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the pictures, I have the gown drawn up through two sets of interior loops and ties to create a double draped look, giving a bit of extra body to the skirts. This feature it copied from the original inspiration gown.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716137834/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/11716137834_506e5c2b4f_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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These ties can be easily let down to allow the skirt to hang free. Next time I wear the gown, I'll be sure to get a view of the back left undraped.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716492766/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/11716492766_44f43ce784_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Many more photos can be found in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/sets/72157639324969993/with/11715919713/">this project's flickr set</a>. Stay tuned for a Threaded Bliss Postscript for more variations on this outfit soon!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716102034/" title=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt=""Williamsburg" WCR 1780 reproduction cotton print gown" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/11716102034_6531720dd5_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-34918591182457327392014-01-13T14:01:00.000-05:002014-01-13T14:01:21.831-05:00Christmas Decorations from Colonial Williamsburg, Part Two: WindowsFollowing up on the preceeding post, here's a collection of 18th-century windows bedecked with holiday cheer!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11763005226/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="327" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/11763005226_2a936c4786_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762670563/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="300" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3742/11762670563_7998e1bb6f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762662374/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7386/11762662374_ef58ea43ef_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762467983/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5550/11762467983_b3e9c5cfec_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762763204/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="300" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2836/11762763204_0255174603_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762636594/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/11762636594_4a2db20e43_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762593104/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/11762593104_4086ddab86_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762726574/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/11762726574_9d7da45578_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762658934/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="400" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/11762658934_483f55d914_z.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11763106556/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7353/11763106556_3c64b5d1a4_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762626534/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="300" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/11762626534_45e114d003_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762599744/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" height="300" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2863/11762599744_49b2cf038d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Additional photos from Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg can be found in our flickr album <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/sets/72157639324938494/">here</a>.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-45333528047192858062014-01-07T14:22:00.000-05:002014-01-12T00:04:56.660-05:00Christmas Decorations from Colonial Williamsburg, Part One: DoorwaysAs we mentioned in the last post, one of the highlights of every Christmas season at Colonial Williamsburg is the decorations. Made entirely from natural and hand-made materials, these festive wreaths, garlands, swags, and sprays add a splash of color to the often drab landscape of the winter city.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762582194/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/11762582194_64ab08003f_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Christmas decorations were an integral part of the holiday season in England and Colonial Virginia, with candles abundant and evergreens, mistletoe, holly, and bright red berries brought into homes and churches to drape across mantles, wind around banisters, and frame windows and doorways. Yet while archival sources in the form of written descriptions and prints attests to the popular use of indoor decorations, there is little to no evidence to suggest anything similar was done out-of-doors.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762260965/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5532/11762260965_2e1eab6a99_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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With newly-restored Colonial Williamsburg less than a year old in 1935, researchers and historians were challenged with a way to cater to elaborate visitor expectations of what a "colonial" Christmas might have looked like. Using only natural materials, they envisioned a historically-inspired but not strictly historically accurate holiday display full of "old-fashioned" and "homemade" charm and character. As Oliver and Theobald explain, "Christmas in Williamsburg was never meant to be a re-creation of the eighteenth-century version" (41).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762389865/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/11762389865_9f65b130e5_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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We took so many pictures of the decorations that we've decided to divide them into several posts. Here's a selection of doorways to Christmases past.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762596854/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/11762596854_36a9a9aab7_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762603254/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/11762603254_a9203d9f38_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762622494/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/11762622494_3bd99af432_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762453293/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3798/11762453293_b523310a8f_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762479023/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/11762479023_c2a48515ce_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762995236/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7414/11762995236_aa5a9c4334_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762262515/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5543/11762262515_eb461aa54a_z.jpg" height="400" width="283" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762523473/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/11762523473_36861cac1b_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762286515/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/11762286515_e6c768f355_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762713494/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2813/11762713494_249933c4de_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11763086046/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3781/11763086046_70a8c88be3_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762582083/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7365/11762582083_e9a26c7c97_z.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762589353/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/11762589353_2452ff44aa_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762775454/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5506/11762775454_9773d7bfd5_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762776894/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3738/11762776894_276baa23d7_z.jpg" height="400" width="358" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762640253/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/11762640253_73d0e60871_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11763153666/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3673/11763153666_76baf9e752_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11763171486/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/11763171486_f555c2bd2c_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762678693/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3733/11762678693_79af2e4dbc_z.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11762837334/" title="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg 2013" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/11762837334_c9be5b41ff_z.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><em>Sources and Resources:</em></strong><br />
- Colonial Williamsburg's <a href="http://www.history.org/almanack/life/christmas/#decs">"Christmas in Colonial America"</a> page<br />
- Kostyal, <em><a href="http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductView?catalogId=12122&storeId=10001&langId=-1&categoryId=28919&itemOrDescription=christmas+in+williamsburg&matchType=contains&sortBy=featured&priceRange=">Christmas in Williamsburg</a></em><br />
- Oliver and Theobald, <em><a href="http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductView?catalogId=12122&storeId=10001&langId=-1&categoryId=15008&itemOrDescription=christmas+book&matchType=contains&sortBy=featured&priceRange=">Williamsburg Christmas: The Story of Christmas Decorations in the Colonial Capitol</a></em><br />
- Rountree, <em><a href="http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductView?storeId=10001&jspStoreDir=wmarket&categoryId=14239&catalogId=12122&langId=-1">Christmas Decorations from Williamsburg</a></em>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-3529008982378655092014-01-02T22:54:00.000-05:002014-01-03T00:30:32.705-05:00A Boxing Day Visit to the MillinerFor the second year in a row, our family congregated in VA for the week of Christmas to celebrate the holiday together. The highlight of any trip to Colonial Williamsburg during this season is, of course, the incredible all-natural decorations that festively gild the 18th-century restored city for five weeks of the year. We've got a picture-packed post full of images of those to share with you, but in the meantime, here's another glimpse into one of our personal favorite all-year-round Williamsburg stops: the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick#!/pages/The-Margaret-Hunter-Shop-Milliners-and-Mantuamakers/121002921252887">Margaret Hunter Shop</a>! And how appropriate that I visited on Boxing Day, for one never knows what tempting treasures might be lurking in the mysterious white boxes that line the shop's many shelves!<br />
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To mark the Christmas season, the shop had on grand display one of their masterpiece creations: a shimmering changeable red silk taffeta gown elaborately trimmed with self-fabric ruffles, poofs, and ruching. The stomacher features paste jewels and bows trimmed with lace.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716374104/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="400" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/11716374104_041cacbc64_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716281923/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/11716281923_653096548c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cold-weather winter fashions were strewn about the shop on the counters and shelves, with muffs of silk and fur neatly stacked,...</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716786686/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7427/11716786686_e51154e4c3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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...and that absolutely gorgeous fox-fur-trimmed silk pelisse that we all drool over every year when it comes out of hiding for the season...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716014635/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5541/11716014635_2f7ae19c41_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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...and an impressive display of quilting on the counter, with a quilted ivory silk petticoat and a quilted and embroidered waistcoat.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716023655/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/11716023655_515ae2fb39_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716031715/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="400" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/11716031715_47a89a2307_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716290363/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="400" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3782/11716290363_9828086436_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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And no holiday season is ever complete at the Margaret Hunter Shop without a visit from the dolls and their own wee millinery confections! I love seeing how the ladies of the shop set this up every year, and can't decide which miniature delight I like the most (though the bonnet on the doll at the left is quite smashing!). There's just so much detail in each of the pieces and I never tire of looking at it all.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716040505/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="301" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/11716040505_0fb35b8055_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716815246/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="400" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2871/11716815246_28c79c60e5_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716402834/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="400" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5550/11716402834_98cd2bde5d_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The usual display of completed and currently-in-progress projects was of course also on view, the afternoon sun casting a golden glow across the silks hanging from wall pegs behind the work table. One could easily spend days in here and never be able to take in all there is to see and admire! For instance, do you see the ladies' newest completed project, the pink silk "Morning Ramble" jacket, hanging all the way to the right? Did you happen to catch the recent "live" Facebook chronicles of its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick#!/media/set/?set=a.698168963536277.1073741841.121002921252887&type=3">progress</a> and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick#!/media/set/?set=a.698497636836743.1073741843.121002921252887&type=3">finished photo shoot</a>? It's even lovelier in person!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/11716264913/" title="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="Colonial Williamsburg milliner's shop" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/11716264913_3a86eaa0fe_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-74688013074873368442013-12-16T22:58:00.000-05:002013-12-17T00:50:37.179-05:00Counting Down the Last Days of 2013!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/172903375/18th-century-black-silk-taffeta-covered?ref=shop_home_feat"><img alt="18th century black silk covered hat and matching muff" height="400" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3772/11412495106_4cde749685_z.jpg" width="379" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Currently available in the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">Shop</a>: a matching black silk taffeta hat</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">and muff </span></em><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">with "petal" pink silk satin ribbons.</span></em></div>
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We've kept ourselves so very busy over the last month! We've got a whole host of blog posts coming, including several that detail a special project for the <a href="http://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/">Noah Webster House</a> and a review of the <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/interwoven-globe">MMA's "Interwoven Globe" exhibit</a>. We also have a bunch of events - holiday and otherwise - to look forward to in the next three or four weeks that will provide some excellent material for blogging!<br />
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Because we've devoted so much time to sewing for the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">Shop</a> over the past few months, our own projects have been sorely neglected and we've been missing them terribly! As a result, we've decided to take a brief intermission from "business" sewing for the next few weeks, both to enjoy some quality holiday time with the family and to allow ourselves a bit of self-indulgent time to work on a couple of our personal sewing projects. Oh yes, and to catch up on the blog! ;-) We're hoping to have two or three special 18th-century projects done in time for Christmas, so stay tuned for some new <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/search/label/Threaded%20Bliss">Threaded Bliss</a> additions very soon!<br />
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As you await all those goodies, here's a glimpse of some of the newest creations that have recently been added to the Shop. You still have four more days to make Christmas purchases, so if you haven't looked around <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">our Etsy premises</a> in the last couple of weeks, take a stroll through there now to see what's new! Purchase by 11:59am EST on Friday, December 20th to ensure Christmas delivery!<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/172903375/18th-century-black-silk-taffeta-covered?ref=shop_home_feat"><img alt="18th century black silk covered hat trim detail" height="300" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/11412627963_3c9c60e02f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Detail of the trim on the black silk-covered hat.</span></em></div>
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Still looking for a gift to give to the historical costumer who already has everything? Why not consider one of our favorite newest addition to the Shop: pillows that feature reproductions of 1780s-1790s fashion plates from the "Journal de la Mode"! The colors in the prints are so pretty and have so much variety that they're sure to coordinate with any room decor.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/172755796/18th-century-1780s-1790s-journal-de-la?ref=listing-shop-header-2"><img alt="18th century "Journal de la Mode" fashion plate pillows" height="336" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5532/11412524476_5c13a6a21e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Journal de la Mode" fashion plate pillows!</span></em></div>
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A mock-quilted Marseilles petticoat or a long wool broadcloth cloak are winter necessities...<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/172902818/custom-order-18th-century-hand-sewn-mock?ref=listing-shop-header-0"><img alt="18th century "mock quilted" marseilles petticoat" height="320" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/11412768103_233cae5228_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>A mock-quilted petticoat in white Marseilles fabric, perfectly suited for use</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>either as an underpetticoat for winter warmth or as a fashionable</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>outer petticoat to compliment any gown or jacket.</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/171806893/18th-century-hand-sewn-royal-blue-wool?ref=related-3"><img alt="18th century royal blue cloak" height="400" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3752/11412614486_b666093edb_z.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">A long royal blue wool broadcloth cloak.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/171806893/18th-century-hand-sewn-royal-blue-wool?ref=related-3"><img alt="18th century royal blue cloak ties" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/11412614076_0d17fbb2a7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The hood is fully lined with white silk taffeta and the cloak ties with matching blue wool tapes.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/171806893/18th-century-hand-sewn-royal-blue-wool?ref=related-3"><img alt="18th century royal blue cloak hood detail" height="400" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/11412626424_1b2b90333d_z.jpg" width="369" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The signature generously full 18th-century "fan" hood from the back.</span></em></div>
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...as is a fashionable silk taffeta muff! The blue/green changeable one looks lovely with the cloak, if I do say so myself! ;-)<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/171810253/18th-century-bluegreen-changeable-silk?ref=related-0"><img alt="18th century blue/green changeable silk taffeta muff" height="300" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/11412562056_a331d1b0e9_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">A muff of blue/olive green changeable silk taffeta.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/172026252/18th-century-coral-pink-silk-taffeta?ref=related-7"><img alt="18th century coral pink silk taffeta muff" height="305" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/11412562275_5e3e3d748c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">A coral pink silk taffeta muff trimmed with white silk satin ribbon.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em> </div>
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And after our housewife/"hussif" sewing kits were featured on <a href="http://americanduchess.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-historical-gift-guide-stocking.html">American Duchess' Historical Gift Guide</a> (thanks, Lauren!), we've only got two currently left in stock! Here's the newest design, perfectly sized for the ideal stocking stuffer!</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/172654433/18th-century-housewifehussif-sewing-roll?ref=listing-shop-header-3"><img alt="18th century "hussif" sewing kit" height="333" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3784/11413242786_15e7c712b3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-74842486883608829862013-11-24T17:27:00.002-05:002013-11-24T17:27:37.150-05:00A Thanksgiving Weekend Shop Promotion!To thank you, our loyal readers and friends, for your continued support in our humble efforts, our <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">Fashionable Frolick Shop on Etsy</a> is offering <strong>TWO promotions</strong> over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend!<br />
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<strong>From Friday 11/29 through Sunday 12/1 only, for every $25 you spend</strong> in the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FashionableFrolick">Shop</a> (before shipping, but including custom orders!), you'll receive a FREE <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/166888581/18th-century-historical-fashion-costume?ref=listing-shop-header-2">notecard</a> as our holiday gift to you. Choose from any one of our five designs and indicate you preference(s) in the "notes" section when you complete your Etsy checkout.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/161702121/18th-century-historical-fashion-note?ref=related-1"><img alt=""Milliner's Delight" note card" height="308" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5489/9674166647_47058947c7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/166888581/18th-century-historical-fashion-costume?ref=shop_home_active"><img alt=""Cold Hands, Warm Heart" notecard collection" height="297" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/10890946926_3c0187d048_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/166888581/18th-century-historical-fashion-costume?ref=shop_home_active"><img alt=""Cold Hands, Warm Heart" notecard collection" height="299" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/10890948166_170a15efe2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong>If you spend $100 or more (before shipping) between Friday 11/29 and Sunday 12/1</strong>, you may opt instead to receive one of our <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/161385477/18th-century-red-wool-pincushion-pinball?ref=shop_home_active">red wool pincushions</a> in thanks for your purchase. Simply indicate your color choice of ribbon in the "notes" section when you check out.<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/161385477/18th-century-red-wool-pincushion-pinball?ref=shop_home_active"><img alt="red wool square pincushion/"pinball"" height="347" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/9652501436_fd7358b928_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And as you consider your holiday purchases over the next few days, remember that 11:59pm on Thanksgiving (11/28) is the deadline for guaranteed Christmas delivery for all custom orders!<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Shopping! :-)Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6489139608814644917.post-91337849766010408082013-11-14T23:26:00.000-05:002013-12-16T22:58:55.894-05:00The B&T Workshop Marathon Concludes with a Weekend of Riding Habits!Last weekend was the second and final workshop in the <a href="http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/">Burnley and Trowbridge</a> fall workshop series. Both Ashley and I have been very eagerly anticipating the chance to do a riding habit workshop for years now, so when the opportunity finally came up, of course we couldn't resist!<br />
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The decision to go was also motivated by the fact that we both already had pre-purchased fabric, so <em>technically</em> (ahem...) there wouldn't be the added expense of needing to purchase materials. Back in <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2010/09/philadelphia-campaign-1777-brandywine.html">2010 at Brandywine</a>, I found some green worsted wool at <a href="http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/">B&T</a> and bought it specifically for the purpose of making a habit - the habit below, to be precise! It's been maturing in The Stash ever since, awaiting the day when it could be brought to life, and I'm tickled to death at how close it's going to look once it's finished!<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Jane_Duchess_of_Gordon_in_green_riding_dress_by_Daniel_Gardner_around_1775.jpg/479px-Jane_Duchess_of_Gordon_in_green_riding_dress_by_Daniel_Gardner_around_1775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Jane_Duchess_of_Gordon_in_green_riding_dress_by_Daniel_Gardner_around_1775.jpg/479px-Jane_Duchess_of_Gordon_in_green_riding_dress_by_Daniel_Gardner_around_1775.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">My riding habit inspiration image: Jane Maxwell Gordon, </span></em><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Duchess of Gordon,</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">painted by Daniel Gardner circa 1775.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image linked from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jane_Duchess_of_Gordon_in_green_riding_dress_by_Daniel_Gardner_around_1775.jpg">wikipedia</a>.</span></em></div>
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Ashley also already had some wool gracefully aging in The Stash, set aside for this express purpose. A couple of years ago, she found a rich chestnut brown worsted at <a href="http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/">B&T</a> and snapped it up with a habit project in mind. Not too long after, though, she stumbled across a small piece of a gorgeous red silk velvet and decided it would be perfect as cuff and collar accents on a black habit, so she got some black worsted as well. Finally forced to make a choice as to which color would become her first riding habit, she ended up selecting the chestnut at the last minute, and I think she was most pleased with that choice in the end.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846555173/" title="P1080381 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080381" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7427/10846555173_f0ab936aef_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some of the goodies created by the CW tailors, laid out at the workshop for our inspiration.</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846368424/" title="P1080383 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080383" height="400" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3718/10846368424_75a81ab799_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846211985/" title="P1080414 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080414" height="300" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/10846211985_960876c6ea_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our weekend of fun with riding habits began last Friday afternoon with a fantastic lecture by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TailorsOfWilliamsburg">CW tailor</a> Mark Hutter. Mark used a rich and comprehensive collection of period images to lead us on a fascinating journey of the evolution of female riding attire from the seventeenth through the early nineteenth centuries. Talking through changes in cut, fit, style, trim, and regional differences, we learned how to "read" and date habits by deciphering the clues found in these details. We also discussed common habit textiles and colors and even addressed fashions in head wear and footwear. Before the first session concluded, our instructor demonstrated the process we'd undertake the next morning: the draping of the habit waistcoat. I even had the pleasure of playing model for this first demonstration! :-)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10864696463/" title="B&T riding habit workshop, November 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="B&T riding habit workshop, November 2013" height="400" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/10864696463_e7080e9a33_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Behind the scenes at a B&T workshop! Here's Angela in</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">the process of uploading one of her "live" Facebook updates.</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10864400056/" title="B&T riding habit workshop, November 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="B&T riding habit workshop, November 2013" height="400" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3762/10864400056_2887425d65_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Beginning to look like a waistcoat, eh? No, this wasn't my</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">waistcoat fabric, but I really liked it and wanted to keep it!!</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10864501694/" title="B&T riding habit workshop, November 2013 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="B&T riding habit workshop, November 2013" height="400" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2843/10864501694_1f915d069e_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The back of the waistcoat.</span></em></div>
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When we arrived on Saturday morning, we thus went straight to work pinning and smoothing and tucking waistcoats on each other. Ashley and I and our friend <a href="http://mode-de-lis.blogspot.com/">Lily</a> were grouped together as draping buddies, and we all agreed that having that third set of eyes was infinitely more productive and helpful than just being paired off in twos; when one of us forgot a step or needed an extra hand to help wrangle fabric, the other was there ready to help.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846366334/" title="P1080388 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080388" height="400" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5543/10846366334_81d8e4c214_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ashley and Lily helping out (and getting a bit more practice!)</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">by draping the back of another participant's waistcoat.</span></em></div>
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As we proceeded step by step with the process throughout the morning, Mark paused to review and re-demonstrate. For those of us "raised" on the techniques of the mantua maker, forcing the brain and the hands to act instead like a tailor was a bit of a challenge, so the constant reminders as we went along were prodigiously helpful.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846548133/" title="P1080391 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080391" height="400" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5526/10846548133_9c1feb75e9_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mid-morning waistcoat front draping reminder...</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846276496/" title="P1080407 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080407" height="400" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/10846276496_540a9a8da7_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">...which was concluded around lunchtime with the re-demonstration of the final step.</span></em></div>
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It took us most of the day to perfect our waistcoats. This was crucial because our waistcoats would also serve as the patterns for our habit coats, so achieving the perfect fit the first time around was essential before we could proceed. Once Mark was satisfied that we were each meticulously fitted, our attention turned to the acquisition of yet another new skill as Mark instructed us in the art of transforming our three-dimensional draped waistcoats into flat patterns that would be used to cut our coats. Homework that night was to cut and baste our waistcoats and coats for a further fitting the next morning.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846539233/" title="P1080439 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080439" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5516/10846539233_aec100ee9f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Learning how to transform our three-dimensional draped waistcoats into flat patterns.</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846350014/" title="P1080449 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080449" height="300" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/10846350014_0efff7bd5e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">These flat patterns will be used to cut both our waistcoats and our coats.</span></em></div>
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With all the pieces (mostly!) together, Sunday morning was spent trying on and tweaking the fit of everyone's waistcoats and coats. This got a little complicated because it involved remembering we needed to adjust seam allowances to be sure there was sufficient overlap for buttons - something we mantua-making ladies have never needed to consider before!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846531663/" title="P1080473 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080473" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7381/10846531663_8aea5349ca_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Checking and tweaking the fit of the basted coat.</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846256926/" title="P1080521 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080521" height="400" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/10846256926_a57eeb5d7c_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lily and Ashley checking the fit of Ashley's coat over her waistcoat.</span></em></div>
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Then we moved on to patterning our sleeves, which introduced yet another new set of skills to learn because, like good tailors, we were working off patterns and using measurements, rather than draping directly to the shape of the body. We learned how to take a tailor's measure of our key arm measurements (snipping that strip of paper brought back fond memories of <a href="http://fashionablefrolick.blogspot.com/2011/04/burnley-trowbridge-stays-workshop.html">the stays workshop</a> oh so long ago!) and how to apply those measurements to adjust a sleeve pattern in the flat patterning stage.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846198425/" title="P1080492 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080492" height="300" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/10846198425_0274051e97_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Learning the tailor's techniques for measuring for a sleeve.</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846259326/" title="P1080501 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080501" height="300" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/10846259326_4c873e5b1d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Applying our measurements to a sleeve pattern.</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846338034/" title="P1080523 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080523" height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/10846338034_b21843a38d_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Measuring Ashley for her sleeves.</span></em></div>
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After basting our sleeves together, our final bit of instruction was in how to fit the sleeve to the coat body. We each got at least one sleeve attached by the end of the day and strategically posed for our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick#!/photo.php?fbid=10151815445421713&set=a.10151776438316713.1073741835.286101116712&type=1&theater">traditional end-of-workshop picture</a> being careful to reveal only that one be-sleeved arm! ;-)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846519573/" title="P1080555 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080555" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/10846519573_e5d9d8c30c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ashley being prodigiously diligent working on her sleeve pattern.</span></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846186905/" title="P1080560 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080560" height="400" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/10846186905_c734e79b9a_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fitting the first sleeve onto the coat body!</span></em></div>
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If you couldn't tell from the pictures we posted on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick">Facebook</a>, we had a splendid time and thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the weekend! The group dynamics between all of the participants was the best we've ever experienced, and we all indulged in lots (and lots) of laughter as we learned and sewed together. To Mark goes an immense amount of thanks for tolerating all our giggles and general hilarity, and an even greater appreciation for showing such dedication in teaching us, even to the point of taking hours of extra "over-time" to be sure we left with all the information we needed to complete our projects. And thanks go, too, as always, to the lovely folks at <a href="http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/">Burnley and Trowbridge</a> for yet another most excellent workshop experience! You guys are the best and we're already eagerly anticipating the spring series announcement!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/10846249126/" title="P1080563 by Fashionable Frolick, on Flickr"><img alt="P1080563" height="300" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/10846249126_c02a752b68_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Historical accuracy is a hallmark of all B&T workshops and is strictly</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">observed at all times. Well, just about... ;-)</span></em></div>
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Additional photos from the workshop can be found on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FashionableFrolick#!/pages/Burnley-Trowbridge-Company/286101116712">Burnley and Trowbridge's Facebook page</a> and in our <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31539376@N08/sets/72157637648241395/with/10846249126/">habit workshop set on flickr</a>. If you're interested in participating in a spring workshop, keep checking back on <a href="http://www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com/">B&T's website</a> for updates!<br />
<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14386242750046278577noreply@blogger.com3