Plying my trade at Opsail

This past weekend was spent down in Norfolk for the big Opsail event, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.  I had promised to attend months ago, portraying a portrait artist/miniaturist of that era.  Both days I was there with Nicole, who was demonstrating shoemaking, while Samantha was only able to join us on Sunday.

Prior to the event, I didn't really know what to expect, and had the idea that I'd simply end up talking to people about artists and miniatures during the early 19th century, but that otherwise I'd be able to wander around and visit the tall ships and fort and whatnot.

To my great surprise and delight, people were genuinely interesting in my drawing, and, most specifically, in having me draw them.  I ended up doing a fairly brisk business with the small charcoal portraits, and aside from food breaks I did almost nothing but draw portraits straight the entire weekend.  It was definitely different to be at an event in a historical vendor type of mode as opposed to strict living history, but I must say I quite enjoyed it (even though I never did get to see all the ships). 

Apparently when I draw I look rather serious... I guess that must just be my 'concentrating' face, since I was actually really happy to be doing art again!

Naturally, I didn't get pictures of all the drawings I did for people, but I did get a quick snap of the sketch I did of the scrimshaw artist/sutler who was set up just a few tents down from me and one of Samantha.

The War of 1812? Say what?

Last weekend my housemate, Nicole, and I spent a couple hours at Military Through the Ages, an annual timeline event at Jamestown.  Since it was a timeline event, we had the option of dressing in any era we felt like, and ended up wearing 1812 impressions for comfort reasons and simply because we wanted to. 

For me, the 1812 period is kind of a default... after all, I originally started this whole costuming thing because of the Richard Sharpe series and various Jane Austen films.  Granted, I know a lot more about English history of the time than American and could tell you more about Napoleon and Wellington and the Peninsular Campaign than I could about the War of 1812, but the general time period, fashions, and aesthetic are resoundingly familiar.  Perhaps because of this, I was floored by how many people came up to us at the event and asked us what time period we were from.

Seriously?  SERIOUSLY?!

I realize the the War of 1812 is vastly underrepresented in reenacting circles (though things are picking up as the bi-centennial approaches) and that it's almost never talked about in history classes... but one assumes that the general public has at least seen some of the Jane Austen films and could make a connection to that.  In fact, 1812 was barely represented at the event, having only one very small group (one, I may add, with NO ladies) which was wedged tightly between much larger Rev War and Civil War units.  Even the incredibly niche 1920 IRA group had a larger presence!

On the bright side, all of the good reenactors there (and there were some very impressive groups, including a wonderful 14th century camp that was enough to make me want to go temporarily medieval) knew exactly when we were from.  It's really the general public that I was appalled by.  Including the woman who called me a "damn yankee" when I said my 1812 group is mostly Michigan based as that's where I'm from.  She wasn't joking.

Location might have something to do with it too.  1812 doesn't seem to be nearly as significant in reenacting circles in the south as it is further north... though I haven't yet figured out why.

1800-1810 Cotton Print Dress... and Bonnet!

When planning my hypothetical 1812 wardrobe, one of items on the top of my extensive ‘to do’ list was a serviceable cotton dress in a dark color that could withstand cooking and tearing down camps etc.   I made this dress to wear to the annual Siege At Ft. Erie 1812 reenactment in Canada.

Since I just wanted a nice, basic everyday sort of dress (with nothing crazy design-wise), I worked from the Past Patterns Lewis and Clark Era dress pattern.  The only major change I made was to the sleeves which I shortened, made fuller, and added a drawstring at the bottom.  I also raised the waistline at the back, as it seemed too long for the 1812 period.  The fabric is a dark violet cotton print with cream flowers and tiny cream and dark green geometric patterns.  At least, I am calling it a violet fabric... it’s rather hard to pin it down exactly as in some lights it looks brown, in others blue, and others purple.

I paired this dress with a cotton lawn chemisette based on the 1800-1825 chemisette in Janet Arnold, but putting a double ruffle at the neck instead of the triple mushroom pleated frills of the original.  Also worn is the straw bonnet which I had made the year previously.  It's made from a light-weight straw braid, which was stitched into shape after being soaked in water to become more pliable.  The crown and brim were made as two seperate pieces before being stitched together.  A wired hemp trim decorates the edges, and the bonnet is trimmed with a simple silk ribbon band and a spray of feathers.