2017 Events planned so far

SLD at Bellevue 2017

The photo above was taken at our friend Kristen Caven’s book release party, an event called An Afternoon at Caffe Florian. It was held at the Bellevue Club in Oakland, CA.

Just prior to the Afternoon at the Bellevue Club, our Proprietor attended a dance with friends in Alameda, CA that was a Hogwart’s Reunion Ball, hosted by PEERS. Evidence of her attendance is below.

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But wait! There’s MORE! Coming up in March, our Proprietor will be attending the Jane Austen Society of Northern California’s Mini-Con at the San Mateo Library. She will be instructing students in the art of letter writing, using a variety of historically appropriate quill pens, ink, sealing wax and paper.

We are getting sponsors for this event, and the most prominent is the San Mateo Public Library, where last year’s event was held and was a huge success.  So that’s on Saturday, March 25, 2017, from  Noon – 4:00 PM at 55 West 3rd Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94402. Many of us will be dressed up in our Regency attire, which is in no way required. There will be presentations, dance instruction, lectures on various Jane Austen related topics and of course hands-on workshops like this one on Letter Writing, entitled,  “Creating Regency Letters with the Tools of Jane Austen’s Time.” Who knows? There may even be tea served!quill

Recent event with Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild

Happy belated Bastille Day to one and all!

I wanted to share some photos of a unique gathering of costume enthusiasts that was recently held at the Bellevue Club in Oakland, CA. It was An Evening at the Petit Trianon, set in 1789. There is a large group of photographs via the Guild’s Flickr Photo Pool and they have a Facebook page.

The lovely and talented Claudine de Montigny brings us some great information about how she constructed her beautiful and detailed outfit for this event on her blog, Idle Hands. Lady Heather offered me a her ticket and I was able to attend the event. (I was poised to sit outside the event, on my historically correct wooden crate, wearing peasant garb, knitting) It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic party goers and craftspeople enjoying themselves.

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Vive La France!

costume pals in Williamsburg, PA

Update on our friends’ visit

Sahrye, friend and Ms. M. in Colonial Williamsburg, PA

Ms. M. and Sahrye report back from their visit to Colonial Williamsburg, PA

They went  in costume in their casual jackets and petticoats. (a promise of photos, forthcoming)  Then we got word that they paused in front of the web cam near the Magazine! Yes, our friends were caught on the web cam!

Our friends ran into another group of costumers from our own Greater Bay Area Guild who were also visiting before Costume Convention 27 in Maryland. They met up with Kendra V., Trystan and Sarah Lorraine, authors of  some of the finest and most inspirational costume blogs we have ever found. Kendra teaches at Costume College and at Bay Area Costume Academy; and she was visiting with a number of other very knowledgeable and well-dressed GBACG members who are also enthusiastic about 18th century dress.

Ms. M. said that she and Sahrye were pleased to look so authentic — they were asked for directions and whatnot by other visitors! They went to the Dewitt Museum and saw many of the open drawers in the Textiles section – they had the opportunity to study many lovely, hand-made items such as stomachers, quilting, jumps and aprons.  Sahrye got to be a living “model” and show off her many layers of 18th c. clothing.  They went to the Chowing Tavern for dinner with a couple from Denver, CO, and “closed down the Tavern” with Kendra and the other folks from the Guild.

Trystan and Kendra
Trystan and Kendra
Sarah Lorraine in Williamsburg, PA
Sarah Lorraine in Williamsburg, PA

The next day, Sahrye and Ms. M. received a personal tour of several pieces in the Conservation Collection from Linda Baumgarten. They were also able to take a peek at some upcoming exhibition pieces. I believe when these two return, we will have to share their notes and have at least one gathering.

Hat for M.’s 18th century costume

M. and H. talked me into going to the PEERS event in Alameda for Halloween. I hand sewed the silk covering on M’s hat with scraps of white silk from Betsy and some silver lacey trim from M. I think it came out well. It went well with her midnight blue outfit that she completed completely by herself. (She also made an outfit for her friend R.)