The Soldiers 'Faire' at Landis Valley reminds me of the Green Fairy from Moulin Rouge...


Life has been action packed since my return from college. Lately I finished a 1700s dress for a customer. Next up - two cage crinolines - one for myself ; ) and another for a customer. Then onto a paletot for a man who volunteers at Wheatland.

I recently purchased some red and blue changeable silk from the PA fabric outlet for the underskirt of the harem costume that I am making to display at my stand at the Landis Valley Soldiers Faire. At a recent event that I attended with the Hardtack Society (www.hardtacksociety.org) we joked relentlessly about the 'Faire' and other 'Olde Tyme' things. LOL How fun. Why is it spelled 'Faire' anyway - is there any historical documentation to that. It's funny stuff. ; )

I've spent many days at the Fulton cataloging their patterns. The people there are very nice and sooo creative. I'm also able to tag along with them to meetings and fittings, etc. when it's of interest to me. It's such a great learning experience.

Vince and I are hoping to take a trip to the Penn State Harrisburg campus soon to look at books on 'exotic' things partaining to my stand at the Soldiers 'Faire'.

Oh, I wanted to tell you - two recent costume flicks that I've been watching: BBC's 'North and South' and 'American Friends'. Both have lots of 1850s-60s style hats in them and the clothing is pretty authentic in both. I'm planning to do a hat decorating workshop for the Explorer Post again this summer so I'm trying to get inspired. Not that I actually take my research/documentation from the movie, but remaining in the same era of where I'm doing my sewing helps me to stay on track. Otherwise my mind is skipping off to who knows which other eras and thinking up creative ideas for them...best to stay on track in the 1860s this summer. Last summer I dabbled in many other eras because of the fashion show that I was doing at the end of the summer for the Conestoga Historical Society - it went from the 1700s to the 1960s, so I was making and purchasing costumes all summer in many different eras. I even made my poor Vincent purchase a 1940s suit which he hasn't had the opportunity to wear yet. =( I'll have to work on that...