Kristen: Kelly Middle School Speaking Engagement

I have returned dear reader! I am proud to say that I earned an "A" in every one of my classes this semester. The stress-induced ulcer after was no picnic, though now I feel much better. My favorite medicine: wearing 9 layers of clothing in public.

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a speaking engagement at Kelly Middle School in Eastpointe, MI. I played the role of an upper middle class woman, complete with my lavender silk dress with Greek key trim and bright pink silk bonnet. This dress is actually my first ball gown I made last year; I went back, changed my mistakes, and turned it into a fancy day dress.

After speaking in front of a classroom for several years and researching this era extensively, the prospect of talking to a crowd does not bother me in the least. In fact, I enjoy the questions.


At times, a few of the students were squirrely. Even after I bared my ankle! To catch their attention, I reminded them that I was pretty. I am so modest...


One of the reasons I love this hobby so much is because it educates others. My family has always supported all educational endeavors, and I enjoyed seeing that spark in the students. I think it is our job as reenactors to educate the public. Even if you hate public speaking, simply sitting at your campsite in an accurate setting speaks for you. It's no wonder that so many reenactors are in some way related to the field of education.

We had such a good time! I am lucky to be a part of such a friendly and helpful group. I was able to spend time with Larissa, who I have previously mentioned as the "donor" of my practice hair jewelry. She brought along her journal from her experiences doing a "hardcore" reenacting campout, and it reminded me of how I used to write at reenactments. While I do enjoy this blog, there is something missing. She called it "in the moment," and I agree. Maybe a tattered leather journal will find its way to Greenfield Village this year...

I had such a lovely time! Thank you for reading, and enjoy the rest of the pictures!

~Kristen

I was supposed to eat bland foods. Eventually I ate pizza...

Showing off ankles became fashionable!

A bit of prettiness from my bonnet

Larissa dressing up a student...his friends thought it was hilarious!

Little Cesar's Pizza, established 1860

The military even drilled for the students!

By this point, I was exhausted, sunburned, and completely content

Becky: Blond Bonnet Form

Yay! My bonnet is done!

I still need to remove the parchment paper and finish the edging.

But look where it began!

I completed both bonnets up to this stage. I had to wait to borrow a ham, then later buy one to form the back of the bonnet.

I find the most difficult part of making a bonnet is getting that tab of straw to fit over the gap. The back of this bonnet protrudes more than what I would like it too.

I hope the forest bonnet, Im making for a friend, will have a little cleaner back than this one for me. 

P.S. There is 33 more days until Memorial Weekend at Greenfield Village! 

Kristen: Easter Sunday

No, I did not plan on blogging.
Yes, I did it anyways.
Apparently just the thought of not having to work this week is making me restless. I have already made myself incredibly busy, so I though, why not add more?

So dear reader, forgive me. I wanted to do something about Easter. I took out all of my many books, searched my usual websites, even checked pinterest. Do you know what I found about Easter during the Civil War?

Almost nothing.

Christmas seemed to be the big holiday back then. I'm completely okay with that, since Christmas is an awesome holiday that needs to be celebrated completely. But what about Easter?! It turns out that Easter didn't really become popular until after the Civil War. Still, I had to find something! And then I did, via Elizabeth Aldridge on Facebook (thank you!). The FIDM Museum Blog is amazing, and I reccommend, that you check it out:

http://blog.fidmmuseum.org/museum/2013/03/sarah-elizabeth-crafts-easter-bonnet-1852.html

Credit FIDM Museum Library, 1852

Apparently, this bonnet was to be owned by a Ms. Sarah Elizabeth Craft. It is custom on Easter to wear something new, or you'd have bad luck for the rest of the year.

"At Easter let your clothes be new, or else be sure you will it rue." -Poor Robin

Aha! I have found an Easter tradition! And then I kept reading about Ms. Craft:

" Purchased as a Christmas present to be worn the following spring for Easter services, the gift was never opened, as Sarah died on the twentieth of December. After her death, Sarah's cherished possessions—her dolls, needlework, and letters—as well as this bonnet with its original bandbox, were packed into a small wooden trunk and placed in an attic, where they stayed until their discovery more than a century later."-FIDM Museum Library Blog, Rachel

Wow! I have found what I am looking for, but it's not what I intended. I imagine Sarah as a lively girl at 11 years old, always getting into trouble. She must have known that she would be receiving an Easter bonnet, and after her death, it was shoved away. Of course that preserved it nearly perfectly for our generation, but I can't help but being a little sad about this. She could not have known that her story would be told over a century later with the help of a bonnet she never wore.

Credit FIDM Museum blog

So with that, I leave you dear reader. Please go home and hug your children a little tighter, thank your parents for all that they do. I will be wearing a new orange shirt in honor of Sarah, and spending the day with my family.

 I will of course spill copious amounts of everything on it, but I do adore the color.

HAPPY EASTER!

This is the day the Lord has made;

Let all the earth rejoice!

~Kristen