Of Colonial Williamsburg & Pocahontas' Wedding Dress.

Back in December The Margret Hunter Shop of Colonial Williamsburg had posted about a volunteer opportunity to volunteer for The Pocahontas Project, and thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to visit my very dearly beloved Colonial Williamsburg, for what is most likely to be my last time before going overseas for a year. My heart could not say goodbye to American soil without saying goodbye to Williamsburg and the piece of my heart that resides there.
But December was such a flurry of activity, I really didn't think that it was possible at all!!! However, the project never left my mind and I decided to follow up and see if there was still space to volunteer. There was! So I asked for my little kit to see if my skills could possibly qualify me for assisting.

I was thrilled when it arrive in the mail, and my doubts if I should REALLY being doing this flew away when I saw what I was supposed to embroider. A raven. Which was so fitting for having just published Captive of Raven Castle, it was just one of those little signals that this was a YES.

My only terror, was taking this little darling raven...

And making him look like THIS.

Sure, I've done some cross stitch and embroidery before and have been getting more adventurous (see this unfinished pretty?)

But something that detailed? Scared me. 

However, I took up my needle and ventured forth and this was my final result....

I sent in my little raven and waited to hear from them.

Then came the fateful phone call. I COULD GO!!!! (insert much happiness and almost bridled giddiness.) Plan were laid out, however the car rental (because shocking wonders of wonders I was going all by MYSELF,) that we thought we had reserved for me...turned out wasn't reserved. The cost of the car itself ate up my tiny travel budget, leaving no room for hotel, food or anything else. 

The door seemed slammed in my face, except for one last possibility.

I messaged a friend who I knew I wanted to see while I was in V.A. to see if she would be willing to perhaps house and drive me...

The answer was YES, and though she wouldn't be able to drive me everyday because...she was actually working a few hours away and staying there, I could stay at her apartment, and walk the 20-30 minute walk to where I would volunteer at Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center. So my tiny budget was restored to me and I was whizzing off to V.A.

I arrived in Newport News airport...super early because of some minor details that went askew, I realized that I would be sitting at the airport for about 10 hours. After 2 hours of listening to the same things over and over and over again, and realizing how dull this time was going drag by. That and I could hear the fife and drum corps playing in my head and was dying to be in Colonial Williamsburg. After talking to my Mom over the phone, she encouraged me to see if I could rent a car for the few hours that I would have to wait for my ride. So I did.

I rented a car.

A little sapphire blue beauty.

With bare bones directions I ventured out into the unknown. I had never been to Newport News before, and certainly had no idea what I was doing, but I went anyway.

And was it worth it!!!
Once I arrived at CW, I started scouring the streets and shops for familiar faces, and at last came upon someone we had met last September and had a lovely long chat with her.

Gov. Palace

The Court House

Fife and Drum Corps

More fife and drum corps with troops

Much to my delight, my Hero...the Marquis de Lafayette came charging on the field to urge the troops onto victory! HUZZAH!!!!!

I managed to talk with the fabulously wonderful Mr. S (the incredible man who portrays the Marquis more than brilliantly.) He gave me a few words of encouragement, that I more than needed as I turned back to the airport.
Somehow I became a little more....than lost...in what seemed to be the wrong side of town. However I made it back, sorted out some horrible problem with the rental car company, and was found by my friend who whisked me away from traumatizing experiences and for a late night of chatting. The next day, we spend time together of all random sorts, including a visit to Age Croft (which everyone around there pronounces H Croft, I kid thee not, it took me forever to figure out how to find it with google. Age, not H.) But, it was like stepping back into England and was very lovely and educational.

Sunday came, and after a devotion time...I struck out for the lovely streets of Williamsburg.
I was intending only to attend part of one program as not to miss Lafayette speak, however it became so engaging I rather lost track of the time, until it was too late. I was hoping to catch him once again on Monday, but due to snow that blew in after a perfectly GORGEOUS day, I missed him again too (though I stubbornly walked to the house on Monday, simply because...it always pays to be hopeful.)
The weather was perfect, so I splurged and took a carriage ride with the lovely driver Kate, (and Mr. S. had informed me that the Queen of England also sat in this carriage, and the Rockefeller's, so it was extra special.)

 One of the lovely horses whose name I can't remember but they were so pretty, I really miss the carriage lessons I was talking earlier this summer. They were so much fun. I also miss the pretty horses Draga and Julia...and spicy little Prince and Pepper.

Then I spent the day roaming about some more, meeting Mr. Madison and Rev. Andrews, who were so kind as to talk to me for a lengthy 45 minutes...in which I promptly forget very drop of Madison history I have ever known. But they were extremely kind, and as lonely as I was feeling, they made me feel so welcome and at home (I seriously adopted all of the CW cast members as my family that week, I feel so at home when I visit CW.) Mr. Madison, can also quote poetry like no one else I have ever met, apparently he used to write some in his college days.

However to get to the POINT of all this rambling! The Pocahontas Wedding Jacket. All the credit goes to Preservation Virginia. Mr. Hammond of the CDC however drew all of these and it is stunning work.

The little dear, strawberry leaves, butterfly, and five petaled flower were embroidered by moi,
as well as all of the outlining and details and little flowers
 along that line, save for the one on the far left and the musical note like detail.
The bunny (Christened Thumper to go with my Bambi.)

It took me over 18 hour to complete all of that lovely work, and was so worth volunteering for.

here is a completed panel.

It is going to be an amazing jacket, and a beautiful wedding.

Awesome Podcast about the project if you are wondering how they decided on what to put on the jacket etc.

My trip ended just as it has begun...with the Fife and Drum Corps, and Lafayette rousing the troops, cheering along side wonderfully marvelous Mrs. Randolph. It was storybook like in it's beginning and ending, it was with the dearest fondness in my heart that I said goodbye to my Colonial family and flew back to my real one.

Of Muffs and Mitts

In preparation for a trip to my dearly beloved Colonial Williamsburg in the not too distant future. I have been working on some small sewing projects, a few Colonial items I have looooong coveted to have for myself.
Muffs and Mitts.

I started with the muff, following the muff instructions from this blog. Because it's awesome to have a muff that can have multiple covers and "match" your outfit on any given day without having lots and lots of muffs lying about. Or as my brother quotes it, "Elegant Economy". 

Everything I had read about making muffs, everyone had said that they needed a lot more stuffing than they thought, so I was well prepared. Well, a little over prepared perhaps, It still have a LOT of that stuff yet. Though I followed the blog STEP by STEP. Mine turned out considerably different than hers, at least in my mind. This was a project my sister and I did together. The white is mine while the ivory is hers, her's is already folded in half while mine is still very long.

 Our little doggy helper Bridget who likes to think that she can supervise.

 My little sister's was more narrow than mine and was too snug for her hands, so I made her a new one, that isn't pictured.

 Here it is all pinned and almost ready to be sewed shut.

 My little hand pink hand-strap just in case I get tired of wearing it, but don't want to risk dropping it.

 After I followed the instructions for the cover, I was trying how to decide, how EXACTLY I should trim my muff. I like the idea of faux fur, but having none on hand or the means to purchase it really at the moment I decided to fall back on one of my very favorite colonial accents. Puffs! Aren't they fun? Hand sewn puffs every two inches, They could be better, I am still learning. By the by the camera really isn't doing this red justice, it look simply outrageously red here, it real life it's a few shades darker

 Getting adventurous...as I was sewing on my puffs I suddenly realized that I had one accessory available to me that would be the perfect accent, I am not sure if it's terribly historically accurate. I am not sure how many ladies would have risked showcasing pearls on something as simple as a muff, however, it makes it fun and ever so pretty so I added them.

Halfway done.

 Without hands...

With hands.

Our muffs, my little sister chose brown, I chose red. I still have a really faint pink I want to make up into a muff cover, we'll see how it all works out.

If I were to make them over, I would probably make mine a little bigger, it's a really nice snug warm fit, which I like, but I would probably give myself some more space. Though small, it seems that it can still fit in the historical period around 1777, from what I am reading and looking at through various muff pictures and historical sites, just don't quote me on that.  

I was thinking of making some space...just not this much space

via Pintrerest

                 

My next project was mitts. It took me a little while to come back to this project. I had tried making a pair before with this pattern however, somewhat to my distress. I found the pattern much too small for me. I was far from certain as to what I should do but after getting my courage up and scouring the internet for pictures and reading this post about a dozen times. I decided to reembark on the journey to create my mitts. this time, disregarding the patterns instructions, (after looking at several historical models) drafting up a pattern using the original for a base but adding inches and a few other things, so I could fit my hands and long arms into the mitts pattern. 

Which resulted in this.

the tip was off so thus it's pinned back and made a few more alterations from this mock up.

So today after some embroidery, much sewing and I finally took pictures of my mitts! I decided not to go with the traditional herringbone stitch on the back of the glove and around the thumb opting for something similar to what I saw Martha Washington wear at Colonial Williamsburg. I did my own little nod to France and my colonial Hero the Marquise de Lafayette.

Martha's Mitts at CW...don't you just LOVE HER DRESS!!!! 

Just to show you why the pictures feature our unpretty driveway, I wasn't about to slog through snow.

Want to put your hand in and stay warm?

My cute little bunny, a recent adoption, that just had to sneak into a few pictures. 

How to carry your hands in Colonial way, I am not sure about why the seem keeps turning, but it seems to be the way of it in more than just my pictures. I shall have to give mitts a through examination when I get to CW.

Detail, once again...

I am glad my sleeves go this far down and my gloves go this far up. Let's just say that watching the Olympics doesn't always make up for the straightest and neatest stitching?

I just couldn't resist an action shot.

Someday I want to make mitts that look like these. (Pictures found Via Pintrest from the met).

Then to conclude...a snack that matches my gloves.

Hope you enjoy all of these pictures. :D