A Look Back In Time

It is a lot of fun dressing up my little boys in their Civil War reenactment clothing. It is even more fun watching them play with all the civil war period (reproduction) items laying around. It really sets the mood when we are civil war camping. My oldest boy gets a lot of photos taken of him when we our out on the field. When we are not too busy we get a couple of shots of him as well. These are two of my favorite photos of him. The photo on the left I call "Collecting Water" and the photo on the Right I call "A Look Back In Time"


The outfits my son is wearing I made for him. The shirt on the left was copied from an original in my collection. The outfit he has on in the right picture is a miniature outfit that matches his dad's. That's Dad's hat on of course!



Children wore dresses or long gowns during the civil war until they were potty trained. And it was not unusual to see a four year old boy or even older in a gown! Boy, haven't times changed. Both of my baby boys looked more like boys in their clothing rather than babies when they were newborn! Their outfits where complete with baby baseball caps, and even soft sold tennis shoes. Yet when we start pulling out our reenactment gear my three year old waits in eager expectation for his turn to play dress up!

Warm and Cosy

Here is my new dress. This dress is made out of soft and warm cotton flannel. It gets cold at some of the fall and winter reenactment events. When I bought the fabric for this dress I had the Dickens Christmas Fairs in mind. October is my big month for making Dickens dresses. The style of the dresses are the same as my civil war dresses only the colors are different. Most ladies I sew for ask for gem colored fabric (ruby, sapphire, and emerald) or dark Christmas colors (wine red and hunter green).

This dress is more of a ruby and sapphire colored dress. I have it listed in my store Victorian Times and I can't wait to see who buys it. This time of year it could be a civil war reenactor, a Dickens Fair reenactor, or even a Halloween shopper. Who ever buys it will stay nice and warm!

Here is a picture of the whole dress. It still needs to be hemmed. But I will hem it to the new owners measurements. Some people wear five and six bone hoops while I only have the dress on a four bone hoop. The bigger the hoop the longer the dress needs to be.

In the next few days I plan to feature some more Etsy sellers and some more wonderful Victorian items they sell.

Civil War Inspired Art

I would like to introduce a new seller on Etsy, Alissa Studio. Alissa set up shop last week and I just love her art work. I found out about her site after I wrote my last post. This is what she says of herself on her Profile:

"While working on my family tree, I became interested in those family members of whom I had no photos. I had piles of records, but no image of what they looked like. I began trying to create a visual reference for them in my paintings. Some of my paintings are inspired by these distant relatives of mine..." (Alissa Studio's Profile)

Joy

This is my favorite paint sold by Alissa Studio. I love the way Alissa captures the civil war look!

Here is an up-close view of Joy.

Caroline

This painting by Alissa Studio was inspired by an old photograph of Alissa's great great great grandmother, Caroline.

Here is the whole painting of Caroline.

Frontier Woman in Blue

Here is another painting that I like from Alissa Studio. If you like these panitngs you should check to see what Alissa's other paintings! Alissa paints pictures portraits from several different eras.

Thank you Alissa for letting me feature you on my blog! (This pictures were used with permission from Alissa Studio)

The Past at Your Fingertips

Yesterday I sold out of CDV's in my Etsy Victorian Times store. A couple of ladies wore browsing "Civil War" and came across my original Civil War CDVs. So today I am listing some new ones. While looking at the faces of the women in the photos it made me look back in time for a while. What were these women thinking as they were having their pictures made. Was the terrible war just starting and they wanted to give their loved one something to remember them by? Or had the war just ended and now was the time to celebrate!





The photo with the woman with her hair pulled back has chevron strips on her sleeves. The sleeves are called a two piece coat sleeve and resembles the sleeves worn on military jackets. Chevrons are what the officers wore to denote rank. Women during the civil war mimic military marking and designs in their own dresses. It was fashionable to do so. Was this woman's sweetheart or son an officer in the army? Her eyes are so deep and serious.




These things we will never know. There are no names written on the back and no way of finding out who they are. They are now just artifacts, relics of our nations (the United States) most horrendous war. I'm sure these women had no idea their image will become collectors item. The very photo they held in their own hands now out lives them over a hundred years. Their pictures have seen things that were beyond their own comprehension. I'm sure they did not think there picture would be posted on line for all the world to see. And yet here they are. I know they did not think these things. When was the last time we wondered where our pictures will be 150 years from now while the photo was being taken?

Civil War Doll Dress

I am back from the wedding and ready to start blogging again! Today I want to share with you another Etsy seller, Hannah's Handwork. Hannah is a new seller on Etsy but I think she will become very popular especially as the Christmas season approaches. Take a look at these cute civil war doll dresses she makes. They are just darling. What little girl would not want one of these!

This dress is a 3 piece set that includes the dress, a hoopskirt and a petticoat. That is a really good deal for $25! The dress will fit an 18 inch doll such as the American Girl dolls.

Here is an up close look at the petticoat!

Here's another three piece set!

This is my favorite! It is a 5 piece set that includes a bodice, skirt w/underbodice, hoop skirt, petticoat and bonnet. I just love the bonnet!

Here is an up close photo of the detail on the dress.

Check out Hannah's Handwork on Etsy. She has some more dresses as well as other items. Hannah's Handwork is a new shop so more items will be listed soon. (These photos were used with permission from Hannah's Handwork.)

I hope you enjoy looking at these beautiful civil war doll dresses as much as I do! If you would like more information about the dresses just click on the photos and it will take you to Hannah's Handwork.

Victorian Dolls on Etsy

I would like to introduce to you Uneek Doll Designs. See your favorite literary and historical characters come to life! All miniature dolls are made by Uneek Doll Designs and are made without a pattern. Each doll is indeed one of a kind! Fell free to look at all the dolls at Uneek Dolls Designs on Etsy. Bellow are a few of my favorite dolls.

Ah! What is the civil war era without Scarlet O' Hara

and of course you can't have Scarlet without the handsome Rhett Butler!

Here's a couple I was surprised as well as delighted to see! Jefferson and Varina Davis

The lovable Queen Victoria Herself!

My favorite literary characters The Little Women: Jo, Amy, Meg, Beth, and Marmee.

These are just a few of the dolls offered by Uneek Doll Designs! Just click on the pictures to learn more about each doll.

1861 Victorian Civil War Wrapper

The dress pictured is from my 1861 Godey's book and features a dress known as a wrapper. I love the trim work on this dress. Notice how the dress buttons all the way down the front? By buttoning down the front it made it easier for women to put it on. They could wrap the dress around themselves hence the name wrapper.

Many women wore wrappers in the early morning hours before visitors would come by. Much like we may wear a robe today. Wrappers were also very common among pregnant women and nursing mamas.

The dress in the picture is nicer than a basic wrapper and could be worn as a visiting or calling dress.

My Victorian Children

Living History Reenacting with children can be quite an adventure! My first son started reenacting with my husband and me when he was five months old, and my second son started when he was three months old. There are a lot of challenges to reenacting with children especially when camping over night! However it can be a lot of fun as well. Both of my boys love to dress up. And we are constantly being asked by photographers and spectators if they can take the boys pictures. But how can you resist!

Here is my two year old. He's an old pro at reenacting!
He even knows how not to smile at the camera!

I love to take my two year old's picture when he doesn't know I'm taking pictures.

The Shirt my son is wearing was drafted after an original boys shirt that I have in my collection!

Here's me and my three month old! Yes ALL Babies wore dresses!
Technically my two year old should still be in a dress but it does not go over very well even in the reenactment circle.

And here is my precious little boy!

White Garden Lily - Knitted Artificial Flowers

Here are knitting instructions form Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine March 1861. You are welcome to use these instructions however way you like. I have not made this myself, so if anyone makes it, feel free to live a comment about the difficultly of the instructions.

Six petals, six stamens, one pistil, are required to form each flower; two knitting-needles, NO. 19, and a skein of superfine white Shetland wool.

Cast on four stitches.
1st row. - Slip one, purl two, knit one
2d. - Make one, purl one, knit two, purl one.
3d. - Make one, knit one, purl two, knit two.
4th. - Make one, purl two, knit two, purl two.
5th - Make one, knit two, purl two, knit two, purl one.
6th - Make one, knit one, purl two, knit two, purl two, knit one.
7th - make one, purl one, knit two, and purl two alternately to the end of the row.
8th.- make one, knit two, purl two alternately to the end of the row.
9th.- Make one, purl two, knit two to end of row; knit last stitch plain.
10th- Make one, purl two, knit two to end of row; purl the last stitch.
11th - make one, knit one, knit and purl two alternately to the end of row.

You will now have fourteen inches, making seven ribs: continue these seven ribs until you have knitted a length of three inches from the beginning of the work. Break off the wool leaving a bit long enough to thread a rug needle with; with this needle take up seven stitches, which you must fasten off; then the other seven, and fasten in the same way, which completes one petal. Take a piece of fine wire sufficiently long to leave a small bit at the end for a stalk, and sew it neatly round the edge of the petal with white wood, which will make it in form.

Pistil. - cut a length of wire of about eight inches, fold a bit of green Berlin wool in six and split in two another bit of the same wool; place this lengthwise with the other wool, and place the wire across the wool, fold the wire down, and twist it as tightly as possible, thus in closing the wool; turn down the shortest end of the split wool, and twist the longest round it and the wire, so as to cover them evenly; fasten the wool with a slip-knot at the end of the stem. Cut off a part of the green wool at the top, so as to leave merely a neat little tuft of wool at the end of the wire.

Stamens are made in the same way as the pistil, merely using yellow Berlin wool instead of green, and covering the stem with white instead of green. Place one stamen with every petal, twisting the wires of both together. the pistil is to be placed in the centre of the flowers when made up. Sew the petals together, leaving them open about an inch at the top, as neatly as possible, and draw them close at the bottom, twisting the stems together.

Buds.- several buds are required; the large ones are of a very pale shade of green, the smaller ones of rather deeper color. they look best in double knitting, and should be done in different sizes from twelve to twenty stitches. Knit about an inch of these different widths, and open them like a little bag. Take a piece of coarse wire, double some common wool about the thickness of your finger, put it across the wire, which must be folded down and twisted very tight; put this wool into the little bag, and gather the stitches of the bud at the top, catching the wire with your needle to fasten it. this will form the shape of the bud; fasten the stitches also at the bottom, and cover the stem with green wool split in two.

Leaves- Different shades and sizes are required. Begin them all at the top, casting on four stitches; they look best in double knitting, without putting the wool twice round the needle; increase one stitch every second or third row, till you have eight stitches for the smallest, and sixteen for the largest size. Continue to knit without increase, till the leaf is the required length. The longest should be about a finger length, the smaller in proportion. the longest must be placed at the bottom of the stem when making up.

To finish a leaf, pull your needle out, and thread a rug needle with the wool, and pass it through the stitches so as to form a little bag, into which you must insert a bit of double wire; catch this at the top or sides to fix it, and it will keep the leaf in shape. Draw the wool tight on the while the stitches are threaded, and twist the wool at bottom round the little stem.

The next operation consists in mounting the branch. Begin at the top with the smallest bud, round the stem of which some green wire must be twisted. fix it at the top of a piece of bonnet wire, the length required for the long stem; continue to twist the wool round, and thus fasten the second bud, and the rest in the same way, at very small intervals. the flowers are fastened in a similar manner, according to taste, adding the leaves as needed.

Six buds, three flowers, and eight or ten leaves, form a beautiful branch.

Although the petals of the lily can be made up with the wool as it is, they look much better if, after being knitted, they are washed with a little blue in the water, and quickly dried, before the wire is put round them.

"Gen. Robert E. Lee" Cake

Here is a recipe from Housekeeping in Old Virginia published in 1876!

10 eggs

1 pound sugar

1/2 pound flour

Rind of 1 lemon, and juice of 1/2 lemon

Make exactly like sponge cake, and bake in jelly-cake tins. Then take the whites of two eggs beat to a froth, and add one pound sugar, the grated rind and juice of one orange, or juice of half a lemon. Spread it on the cakes before they are perfectly cold, and place one layer on another. this quantity makes two cakes. - Mrs. I.H. (Mrs. Isabella Harrison)

I love Housekeeping in Old Virginia. The title page has the bible verse, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies... she looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." Prov. 31, 10,27

Christmas in July!

I make a lot of Dickens Christmas Dresses! In November and December a lot of people attend Christmas Dickens Fairs. At those fairs Ladies dress up in gem colored or Christmas colored hoop dresses, and men sport top hats, white gloves, and look very handsome in their Victorian suits. For onlookers, Dickens Fairs look like The Christmas Carol has come to life. Tiny Tim or even Scrooge himself might be around the corner!

This year I am taking Dickens Dress orders beginning July! I enjoy working with ladies as they share their idea of the perfect dress and then watch the dress take shape on my dress form. Some ladies like their dresses to be simple yet elegant. While other ladies like their dress to be very eye catching. The picture is one of the dresses I made last year as a custom order.

I am offering custom made dresses in my Etsy story. If you mention this blog I will discount the custom order 10%. Just type in Victorian Blog in the message to seller and I will refund you the 10% or send you a new invoice.

http://victoriantimes.etsy.com/

Civil War Fashion - Right or Left?

The Civil War was a time of turmoil and distress in our nation, but it was also a time of beauty and elegance in women's clothing. While studying original garments, pictures, and fashion magazines of the era, I have come to find out some very interesting information on the construction of these beautiful dresses.
In our day and time women shirt's are buttoned right over left and men's left over right. Did you ever wonder how that got started? One day while finishing up a custom order dress I noticed that I had sewn the dress to button left over right. At first I was greatly troubled and thought I would have to start all over on the order. Then I decided to do a some research on the issue. I pulled out my CdV's (civil war photos), and my Godey's Lady Book to see if there was a right way to close the front of the dress during the civil war. Half of the CdV's in my collection were buttoned right over left, while the other was buttoned left over right.
I posted my discovery on on one of the civil war message boards, and asked if anyone knew any information on button preference. One person said that it depends on whether the lady was right handed or left handed and which way would be easier for her to button and unbutton. Another person said that it depended on whether the lady had a maid servant, who dressed her. My favorite answer was the following. Though out history men and women had a distinction in their clothing. There is a verse in the Bible that states a woman is not to dress like a man. During the civil war and after women's shirts started to become popular. To make a difference between men's shirts and women's the right over left and the left over right started to become the norm. So no in our time men wear their shirts left over right and women wear their shirts right over left.
I still don't know which answer is correct, but I do know there was not a preference during the civil war era. So if you want to add a little to you civil war impression think about having your next dress made to button left over right. And when someone tells you that your dress is buttoned wrong, you have a little piece of history to impart to them.

The dress pictured is one of my creations! You can see more of my dresses on Etsy

http://victoriantimes.etsy.com/