Fall 2011 Workshops

Breeches: December 3 & 4, 2011 Sat/Sun

Minute Man National Historical Park 9:30-4

Instructor: Henry Cooke

Fee:   $100 per person ("fitting models" may attend at no additional charge)

Max Class Size: 12

The workshop will guide both beginners and experienced sewers through the process of measuring, cutting, constructing and finishing a pair of linen or woolen fall front breeches. Students will have the option of bringing their own fabric, or purchasing a pre-cut linen or woolen breeches kit. Original garments will be available for study and inspiration.

Kit Prices: kits include pre-cut fabric pieces, thread, buttons for covering or metal buttons, thread, pattern, instructions. Buckles are not included 

Wool Breeches kit - $120 

Linen Breeches Kit - $ 80

To register, contact:  hcooke4@verizon.net

Staymaking Workshop: December 3 & 4, 2011 Sat/Sunday

Minute Man National Historical Park 9:30-4

Instructors: Hallie Larkin & Steph Smith

Cost: $150

Limit: 12 participants

We will be making stays in the 18th century manner. We strongly encourage participants to sew the entire pair of stays by hand in order to produce stays that fit well, are easy to remodel in case of weight loss or gain, and can easily be repaired in the case of any broken boning.  However, if you are unable to do so, one can sew the channels by machine, with the rest done by hand.  As people have discovered in our other workshops, when constructing items in the 18th century way, hand sewing is easier and produces better results than machine sewing.  Besides, you can do it anywhere and it's very relaxing!

All materials for your stays will be supplied for the workshop, including linen canvas, thread (please advise if you are planning on sewing your channels by hand or machine), boning, leather binding and stay cord.  

All skill levels are welcome, stay making is not difficult, but it is time consuming. Some knowledge of hand sewing is helpful but not necessary.

To register contact:  stephzsmith@gmail.com

Focusing the Zoom Lens: 1770-1783

The Hive blog in the next few months is going to be taking an in depth look at the styles of gowns worn during the time period of 1770-1783 from both the standpoint of fashion and social context.

A common error made by many reenactors is dressing “generically" 18th century.  If a re-enactor is wearing something that was worn sometime between 1740-1790  it is working for them. Many will read this and say why bother, it is just a hobby.  Get over it.  Why do the guys bother discussing uniform buttons for days on end and the lock of a musket or the strap on a cartridge case?  If those details are important for them, shouldn't our details as women be important to us?

 Here in the New England area, Revolutionary War reenactors participate in events that range in date from 1770 to 1783, a span of thirteen years!   That 13 year time period saw not only the Tea Party and the American Revolution, but also a revolution of style in clothing, especially for women.  It is our intention to focus as best we can on those stylistic changes over that 13 year time period.

 Up until the explosion of the internet, providing us ALL with access to newspaper archives, portrait and print collections as well as the treasures locked away in museum storage, this information was available only to a small circle.  Colonial Williamsburg with its many archives and collections, always had this advantage and has shared much of their research with symposiums, books and exhibits.  Now it is up to all of us to start doing our own work, the information is there.  Shame on us if we don't even look at it!

We are going to take a methodical look at portraits, extant garments and the social media of the day, the satires, to build a case for change over time in women's clothing among the various social strata, and how we should or should not be reflecting those changes in our dress.

Each of those areas of research has issues: portraits in the colonies reflect the upper class of society, extant garments are often undated or misdated with no provenance and the satires have pointed jokes that we often don't understand.  

We will do our best to look at all the research available and hopefully we can draw our own conclusions when presented with the data.  We will strive for frank discussions based on facts not opinions.  Please join us in our quest!

Hive Event: Preserving the Harvest-- Saturday, October 22, 2011

Preserving the Harvest – Preparing for Winter

Take an active part in a living history day at Hartwell Tavern on Saturday, October 22, 2011 where we will secure the abundance of the harvest to sustain us through the winter and well into spring. Throughout the growing season, a substantial portion of each crop from field or garden has been set aside for home use. Fruits and vegetables have been dried, pickled, cellared, brined, salted or preserved in vinegar, spirits or oil. Milk has been turned into butter or cheese. As we move into mid-autumn, households are a frenzy of activity; harvesting crops, preparing them for cellaring, repairing barrels, gathering herbs, cleaning the house, airing linens, compounding herbal cures, gathering honey and nuts, preparing fresh eggs for storage, renewing the husks in mattress ticks, readying the wood supply and making the necessary repairs to house, barn or outbuildings. 

Making sausages

We will be demonstrating these activities using 18^th century methods for the public or other re-enactors who want to learn and use these skills.

Interested in participating? Contact SabraWelch at dsrwel@metrocast.net with the activity you would like to demonstrate – either household chore or food preparation.  Participants are encouraged to prepare a bibliography for the documentation of their activity.  Want to participate but not sure how?  Contact Sabra, we'll find something for you to do.

Nooning will be available for volunteers in kit at $5.00 person plus a contribution of an 18^th century sweet, bread or condiment to add to the fare per family and/or group.

Preparing apples for cider

Vegetables to be cellared

Fruit for drying

Sunday Hives 2012!

Announcing The Hive 2012!

Here's the schedule for the Sunday Hives at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, MA. The Sunday sessions are free of charge to reenactors and Park Volunteers. See our website www.thehiveonline.org prior to Hive dates for exact locations and directions as well as changes/cancellations due to weather.  For questions and additional information email hiveworkshops@gmail.com

***Stay tuned for the Saturday and weekend workshop sessions, we'll be posting them later this week***
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Sunday January 15, 2012

Lectures 1pm–1:45pm

18^th Century Hosiery

An in-depth look at 18^t century leg wear, including stockings for men and women. From production thru distribution, this very important and often overlooked accessory will be explored in great detail.  Speaker: Carol Kocian

Kit Tune-up: Men

New to the hobby or perhaps your kit just needs some tweaking; this lecture will explore the ins and outs of obtaining a good kit for Battle Road, and help you make appropriate choices and avoid expensive mistakes.

Getting Started for Women & Children

Are you new to the hobby?  This lecture will explore the basic clothing needs of women and children and help the newcomer assemble an authentic kit for themselves and their families. 

“Had on When She Ran Away”

Expanding the usefulness of garment data in runaway advertisements.  Recently published in Textile History, the author will be sharing her research and the methodology used in collecting and analyzing runaway data, with a special focus on fabrics, their frequency and use in particular garments.

Speaker: Rebecca Fifield

Clinics 2pm–4pm

Breeches Fitting

Period breeches fit snugly around the leg and feel just below the knee. Bring in your off-the-rack breeches and learn how to make them have a more period correct (and flattering) appearance.  No sewing experience necessary

Kit Tune up

New to reenacting or does you kit need a tune-up? Join our team for an overview of Battle Road clothing standards. Separate clinics for men, women and children.

Fine Tune Your Bayonet Scabbard

Make some simple changes to your scabbard will make it more period correct.

Making an Apron*

An easy beginner project and a great refresher for experienced sewers.  An apron is an essential part of a woman’s wardrobe; let’s make a new one!

Making a Market Wallet*

Sewing 101 for men.  Learn basic hand sewing stitches as you make a practical and useful item for your kit.

Using Props as Interpretive Tools for Living History

Sometimes when talking to the public it’s hard to know where to start. We’ll look at the things you know about, like your clothing, your musket and other props as a way of breaking the ice and feeling confident in your interpreting.

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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Lectures 1pm–1:45pm

“Good Day”

The first part of this Hive will explore 18^th century speech patterns. Since they didn’t leave us tape recordings of how they actually sounded, we will listen to examples of period writings to get a better sense of how they really talked. Each 20 minute session will be repeated three times to allow participants to enjoy all three performances.

Life’s A Stage

The Hive Players will perform a period comedy for your amusement. Our skit will  introduce you to 18^th century humor as well as the use of a wide range of common expressions.

Dear Diary

Diaries can be an essential element in portraying a particular person of the 18^th century. Our speakers will share their process of building their personae using original 18^th century diaries and documents.

Once Upon a Time…

What better way to learn how people expressed themselves than in period literature? You will hear excerpts of favorites from our Hive instructors.

Clinics 2pm – 4pm

Deportment

Develop your 18^th century persona as we review how to walk, sit, stand and cross a room. Making a bow and giving a courtesy are not second nature to us, but practice does make perfect! Instructors: Elizabeth and Matthew Mees

Binding a Pocketbook*

Learn the fine points of binding an 18th century pocketbook. Master bookbinder Dave Kinghorn will show you how to make a period correct notebook to keep in your pocket.

*Indicates pre-registration necessary and materials fees

Linen Neckstock*

A gentleman’s neckstock is the 18^th century equivalent of a necktie, made of pleated linen and closed with a buckle, This class will teach all the construction essentials necessary to make a neckstock for a gentleman.  Instructor: Stephanie Smith,

Trimming a Woman’s Straw Hat*

Learn some simple techniques of trimming a woman’s straw hat.  Hats and Ribbons available, Instructor: Hallie Larkin

 

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Sunday March 11, 2012

All Things Tavern!

1pm–4:00pm

This entire Hive Sunday will be devoted to exploring the many facets of 18^th century taverns.  This promises to be a fun and informative Hive programs, don’t miss it!

Topics will include:

Licenses & General Operation

Who could run a tavern and what made a tavern different from an inn or coffee house? How did you get a license in Massachusetts?

Potent Potables: Tea, Rum & Spirits

Learn about the beverages that are synonymous with the Revolution. Where they came from, how they were drunk, and who drank them.  Speaker: Emily Murphy

Punch

What is punch? What are the ingredients? Need a receipt? How to drink it and how to serve it!  Speaker:  Sabra Welch

Money, Money, Money

Pennies, pounds, shillings, dollars, pistoles, escudos… Colonial currency can be completely confusing! Speaker: Matthew Mees

Music

We’ll take a look at the songs that really were sung in taverns

Gaming

Learn about games of chance, lotteries and cards.

Interpreting a Tavern

When putting together the elements of a good tavern impression, what are the basic requirements?

Myth Busting

Fact or Fiction? Many of our ideas of tavern life are based on Hollywood and their interpretation.  What is the real story?

* Indicates materials cost and need to pre-register hiveworkshops@gmail.com 

 

Here We Are! Where are we going?

Old Sturbridge Village - 2009

At a recent event, I had a chat with someone who has been away from the hobby for a few years.  She noticed something remarkable about how the women were dressed at the recent BAR event in Needham, Massachusetts.  She noted how just a few years ago there was a real bell curve when it came to accuracy in women's clothing.  A few were really bad, most fell into some middle ground of generally acceptable, but not really great either, with only a few really outstanding impressions on the other end of the spectrum.  Her current observation was that most of the middle ground have joined the ranks of the good and she noticed a larger gap between poor impressions and ones that were really well done.

Hartwell Tavern 2010

What this seems to indicate is that we, as female reenactors, have made great strides in presenting ourselves as 18th Century women.  It is especially noticeable at events at Minute Man National Historical Park where standards have been in place for several years.

Foodways Preservation Program - Hartwell Tavern 2010

The majority of women are now in stays and gowns. There is a nice diversity and selection of fabrics, very few bad cotton prints, and for the most part, women in our New England area are reflecting the recent scholarship on how people in greater Boston were dressed in the 18th Century.   This has all happened in the last 5-6 years, and not by accident.  The Internet has made the dissemination of information easier, museums are putting their collections on line, specialized yahoo groups have emerged, new clothing patterns have become available, there are more quality sutlers out there, new books published, and a community of sharing at Minute Man NHP, through the Hive Programs, have all combined into a perfect storm for reenactors to create and wear more historically accurate clothing.

 Hartwell Tavern - 2009

So what's next, now that the basics are well in hand?

Though we’re looking much better overall, if we zoom in the lens of the time machine a little closer, it becomes evident that we should focus our efforts on paying closer attention to time, place, social status, and the details of our overall look.  Over the next several months, this blog will be looking at how we, as women in New England, can fine-tune our impressions.  We will do that by examining the documentation and hopefully opening up a dialog that will bring additional findings to light and start the process of bringing our 18th century impressions to the next level! 

 Shift Race - Hartwell Tavern MMNHP

Please feel free to comment and make suggestions, a dialogue takes more than one person!

 The Hive Collective

What Does a Newbie Need? Let's start with Shoes!

Getting started in 18th Century re-enacting, what do you really need? That is a frequently asked question as new people enter the re-enacting world.  Let's start from the bottom up with shoes!  The focus of all newbie posts will be the Rev War time period.

Shoes

Shoes are one of the biggest expenses a newcomer makes when starting out.  It is part of the outlay of entering the hobby and it can be expensive to provide shoes to an entire family when first starting out.  It is one of the items that you must purchase and cannot make for yourself without training.

 This pair of shoes was sold at the Karen Augusta Auctions, dated to the 1770s,  it is one of those rare common shoes that survives.  Simple leather shoes are not in abundance for study, so it is especially helpful to view this pair with such good closeup views.

This heel is described as an Italian heel as the style of heel is progressing from the earlier Louis heel which lands more to the back of the foot.

The Female Bruiser,  c1770

The Polite Macaroni, c1774

Statute Hall, c1770

The Female Bruiser, c1770

The above images are details from several British Satires online at the Lewis Walpole Library, if you follow the links you will see the full image of the print.  Notice that the lower class woman waiting to be hired as a servant has a lower clunkier heel than the others, but it still is a higher heel than a man's shoe.  Most of the shoes have rectangular buckles, one has a ribbon rosette in lieu of a buckle.


Sources for Shoes!

There are vendors for historical footwear online and sutlers at Revolutionary War Events.  If you have extremely hard to fit feet, it might be advantageous to wait for an event that you will attending and try on the shoes if at all possible.


Sarah Juniper

Sarah is well known in the re-enacting world for her custom made shoes.  Located in Great Britain, she takes custom orders via mail (not email) and her prices reflect the labor and materials of hand made shoes.  Prices begin at 178GBP

Advantage: High Quality, Custom Fit, Choice of fabric or leather uppers
Disadvantage: Expensive, Currency Exchange not favorable, Overseas Transaction


Burnley and Trowbridge

Offers an excellent choice of leather heeled and low heeled shoes and slippers for women.  These shoes are high quality leather, very well made and durable.  The price is extremely reasonable for such a fine quality shoe. Prices  $90.00 -$120.00

Advantage: High Quality, Choice of Leather Color, Excellent Customer Service, Timely Delivery
Disadvantage: Not available in half sizes


Fugawee

An online vendor with a variety of historical footwear Fugawee offers machine made shoes that are well made and durable.  The Connie style is the best choice for the Rev War time period, with the Debbie as the next best choice.  Prices begin at $85.00

Advantage: Available in half sizes, Good Quality
Disadvantage: Internet sales


American Duchess

New to the marketplace, American Duchess is now offering a satin shoe with a choice of custom dye colors known as "Georgiana".  A good option for fancy dress and indoor events, since up until this time only expensive custom shoes were available in any sort of color besides brown, black or red.  Shoes will be offered in leather in the near future.   Prices begin at $100.00

Advantage: Custom Colors, Available in half sizes, Excellent customer service and return policy
Disadvantage: Internet sales


Flying Canoe Traders
These sutlers will not sell shoes through the mail unless you have already had the opportunity to try them on for fit.  Low heeled and rubber soled, these shoes work for lower class impressions.  Prices begin at $160.00

Advantage: Extremely durable and comfortable, Sizes available for trying on
Disadvantage: Rubber soles,  Available only at re-enactments

Standards..Who Needs Them!

There is a current buzz in the 18th Century re-enacting community about clothing "Standards", how to impose,  why have them at all, elitism as a result of standards, the debate goes on and on and on and on.........

It is the belief of this member of the Hive that "Standards"are a good thing!  Standards allows everyone to know up front the rules of the game, so we are all playing the same song, rowing in the same direction, driving down the same road, etc etc. But meeting those standards without the support of programs, presentations and workshops by peers, subject matter experts and experienced re-enactors is very difficult, mistakes can be costly and also dim enthusiasm for change as money and time is wasted.

It is also very important to allow time for change, imposing clothing standards over several years is the path to success.  Sudden imposition of rules from on high can accomplish two things: annoy and aggravate long time re-enactors or frighten newbies into thinking they can never be good enough!

For many of us our 18th century life encompasses more than the occasional event, it is our passion, hobby, social life and sometimes even an occupation.  Some can construe that as elitism, but in my experience, those who know the most about things 18th Century are the quickest to share their knowledge, help with a project or provide sound advice.  The snarks are generally those with little knowledge and research who for some reason believe their limited experience allows them to intimidate others and make them feel inferior.  

The Hive will be soon beginning it's seventh season of programs and workshops and it is always our goal to provide a welcoming environment for learning and sharing information.

Comments are welcome, but must be moderated due to the odd people of this world who feel a keyboard entitles them to make anonymous rude remarks.

Best Regards, Worker Bee Hallie