An Online Conference: Costume On!

I county myself as very lucky during my time in quarantine. I've been able to stay home and safe while we ride out the storm that is coronavirus. My fiance's work still makes me anxious, but I think I've begun to build some coping skills over the past month. Distractions are wonderful! As are long walks with the dog. Recently though, I've decided to participate another conference-online!

Chantal is a costumer from California that took one look at all the event cancellations and put her foot down. There must be learning! Thus Costume On was born, complete with 18 online seminars/workshops. I will be teaching classes on punch paper and jewelry, but there is a variety available. You can select a class a la carte from the list and take as many as you would like. It is a wonderful idea, and I appreciate the efforts to promote social distancing too!

Click Here to Learn More

So if you're hanging out over the next few weeks and are looking for something cool to do, here's your chance! I've already registered for a class, and plan on taking another!

Stay safe and Costume On!

~Kristen

An Etruscan Hand Screen

Part of my quarantine plan is to spend some time looking over my primary sources. I love reading the stories, catching recipes, and just taking a deep breath of history, even if it is electronic. Click here if you're looking to do the same, as I've compiled a digital list of sources I use often. Have fun going down the rabbit hole!

In the meantime, I keep finding little projects that I'd love to try. This hand-screen is a good example of something I absolutely DON'T NEED. Usually I'm reenacting outside in the elements, so much like my punch paper, I'd be terrified I'd ruin it. Even when I'm presenting in a house, I'm typically too busy to be fanning myself. Also, I'm probably eating, which means I shouldn't be fanning.

Nevertheless...I desire to make such a trifle.

Peterson's Magazine, 1862

I'm also somewhat interested in turning this into a rug. Why yes this quarantine is driving me down the road to insanity! Beep beep!

Kristen

Quarantine Kristen

Since my last post I've had time to think, to ruminate about the virus that's infiltrated our lives and robbed us of our freedom. I've not left our apartment for more than a grocery run and a dog walk, so I've really been able to reflect about the quarantine and how I feel about it. Have to say I'm not a fan!

It's still building steam here in Michigan. We went from a few cases, to hundreds, to thousands. Our death count is currently at 1,487 with 24,638 people infected. The predictions are quite dire, and I can't imagine another day when 205 people die. There is hope that the aggressive social distancing has made an impact, and we will slowly start to see those numbers drop. My fiance works in the medical field, and it took me about two weeks to sleep okay. I was terrified something might happen to him, and no amount of melatonin would help me. When he continued to be his slightly ornery self I felt better.

The governor ended the school year, so I will be teaching online for the foreseeable future. Just when I started to recover from my lack of sleep, I had lesson plans and emails to attend to. Sometimes I'll read a chapter from a book to my students on Google Hangout. I think they're getting antsy, based on the fact that they all suddenly want to email me to say hey.

I am finally starting to feel like myself again. I'm working on projects, doing yoga, and walking the dog as much as possible. I'll probably finish my second book soon too. Creatively I'm starting to do different things. Rug hooking has been a favorite, along with paper collage. I have some ideas for a third book that may come to fruition, though we'll see how long quarantine lasts.

We've not come to a decision yet about the conference. While there is hope we may be released from quarantine in the next month, it is difficult to plan. I'm throwing around some ideas as of now, but we'll see what we can work with when the time comes. I'm cautiously optimistic, if not a little tired still. As soon as I get enough information, I'll let everyone know the plan.

I hope you're all staying safe and healthy. It's a crazy COVID world out there, and I plan on seeing you on the other side of this!

~Kristen

The Postponement

As I sit at my laptop writing, the sun shines happily through the window and onto my sleeping puppy. My orange cat grooms my black cat in a show of feline brotherhood. My fiance reads a book in the other room. In an hour I'll settle in with a cup of tea and we'll watch an old movie.

This could be any March day. But it's not.

There's an odd sense of normalcy amidst a panicked country, and I find it trapped in my apartment now. A deadly virus crept into our lives, case by case, until it infiltrated the very air we breath and the surfaces we touch. I'm probably not going to suffer serious health consequences, but I could carry this and hurt someone I care about. So here I sit, honoring the self-isolation requested by the state and national government. My school has suspended classes for the next three weeks, with the possibility of another three to five weeks more.

The Citizen's Forum of the 1860s was meant to bring people together, and that's exactly what we don't need at this time. I could live with cold-like symptoms but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I'd contributed to some else's illness. I made the call to postpone the conference, and the swing of emotions that accompany that decision. It has taken about a week to really come to terms with it. After a year of planning and hard work, it's hard to delay.

Our goal is to postpone for at least a month or two, possibly run the conference in June, or even a smaller version in the fall. Time will tell how the virus runs its course. In the meantime, I'm home for at least the next three weeks. We're doing our best to participate in social distancing, so no trips or visits with anyone for the foreseeable future. I could really use a family visit right now.

I hope you are safe and well. I think I'll feel a bit better in another few days. My puppy and kittens are certainly working their therapeutic magic.

~Kristen

Punch Paper Needle Book

Oh the pre-conference bliss...between the tiny details and planning, I find myself yearning for a creative outlet. Punch paper is easy enough for that, as well as inexpensive.

All the materials for this needlebook was available in my stash. The little paper squares took the longest to set just right. I attached the finished punch paper piece to silk-covered chipboard. The blue fabric on the inside is a bit of leftover wool. It's not perfect, but it's adorable and would make an excellent gift!

I have a few more goodies set aside to photograph. I'll be creating posts for them soon!

~Kristen

A Rug Hooking Class

Recently I've had the opportunity to take a rug hooking class. I have no desire to crochet or knit, though they seem to be pretty popular hobbies for people in living history communities. Too much counting for me (ha!). Give me teeny tiny beads all day.

Rug hooking is an old craft. After using every conceivable bit of fabric for clothing, quilts, and anything else, the final stop could be a hooked rug. Ladies cut them into strips, then pulled it through linen or burlap, and voila! The designs are adorable and very economical for the time period. Waste not, want not.

I saw a kit online, and the little sheep looked cute, so I Amazon Primed that thing to my doorstep. And it only took a few minutes to realize that the materials weren't great and I was in over my head. Hence the rug hooking class, from someone who knew what they were doing!

The instructor showed me the actual materials I should use, as well as explained the different techniques available. Then I saw some of her work; I'm excited to see what I can do next! She was very kind and helpful, and showed me enough to get started in this new craft.

We pulled out the terrible yarn and I got to work with the real wool strips. It's slow but steady work, and it didn't take too long to do a small area. It was very relaxing, and I can imagine myself finishing a whole rug in no time! I had fun playing around with the colors.

I'm almost done with my little sheep. I plan to fill in the background and border over the next week or two. It's the perfect project to do in front of the tv at night. I'll show you the finished piece when it is done!

~Kristen

Helpful Hints for Reenacting Groups

When I published last week's post, I understood that many would respond. Most were quite positive, as they were observations others have noticed over the years. It seems many have responded with positive conversations that may lead to growth. If even one group benefits, then it was worth the effort.

People have asked me specifically, in comments and personal messages, about how we move forward. There are many solutions! It's not a one-size-fits-all sort of thing. In fact, I teach a workshop at my conference about inspiring youth participation, and we barely scratch the surface with well over an hour. Here are a few ideas for helping your event or group grow. Take what you need, ignore what you don't, share if you think it will help others!

Recruiting New Members

1. Attend events that align with your mission

2. Post online often with images showing your research/fun

3. Keep updated with social media sites

4. Create an event specifically run by group

5. Offer a mentorship to help them feel welcome

6. Connect with schools/teachers to find interested youth

7. Keep a webpage with easy contact information for the group

8. Keep an extra kit/clothing available for a day visit

9. Designate a person in charge of interacting with new members

10. Create flyers/cards for members to promote at events

Retaining Current Members

1. Offer payment plan options for new gear

2. Have a "Members Only" page for communication

3. Share resources for future impressions

4. Mentor and put young people in planning positions

5. Provide fun events for members, such as potlucks or sewing days

6. Make dues, if any, affordable

7. Bring in instructors for group learning.

8. Connect with similar groups to team up for events

9. Donate to nonprofits that promote similar group goals

10. Support current members' businesses or side projects

Create a Plan for the Future

1. Keep accurate record of all board positions for future participants

2. Make a yearly "theme" for certain events

3. Create a dialogue with members who actively espouse hateful ideals

4. Invest in members with scholarships if possible

5. Find new events for participation

6. Incorporate people of color into impressions or conversations

7. Create a timeline for improvements in the group

8. Create a research project for current members

9. Invest in a camera or other technology to improve the group experiences

10. Provide members with a yearly goal setting workshop

Don't feel like you have to do all of these! And there are many, many more. Some of them I've seen in executed perfectly in groups here in Michigan. For others, I'd like to see them plan. We are human after all, and Rome wasn't built in a day.

If you'd like to brainstorm more ideas, feel free to comment below with your email. I'd like to help!

~Kristen