New Blue Dress

Well Christine has done it again!

My dear friend has created another beautiful dress. We decided to have a sewing Saturday with dueling sewing machines racing away:).

I sewed one dress while she sewed this one.

The fabrics (stripe and blue) came from Walmart off the sale rack for $5 a yard.

About 2 1/2 yards were needed for the bodice and 5 yards for the skirt.

We used one of the Simplicity patterns from my stash.

The lace on the back is an antique piece I found years ago.

The small lace caplets on the short sleeves of the bodice are another set of antique lace I found and kept for just the right dress:).

The chemisette is a lacey blouse I found at a thrift shop for $4. I removed the collar and sleeves and hemmed the collar under. The under sleeves came from a blouse found at Goodwill. I cut off the sleeves and trimmed them with white lace and then affixed them to the short bodice sleeves.

The lace up boots were another thrift shop find for $4.

Reenacting can be a very expensive hobby but a little thrifting and a little sewing can have you looking like Scarlett without breaking the bank:)!

Having a Ball...

on the USS Yorktown.

This was the first Ft. Sumpter Soiree ball which was held on the lower deck of the USS Yorktown.

The music was provided by "Unreconstructed."

There was a great deal of dancing...

time with friends...

and a little bit of conversation.

Hubby and I had a lovely time.

But as the evening drew to a close we all bid adieu and headed home with sore feet and warm hearts.

The Conspirator Opens Tonight!

The Conspirator opened tonight and hubby and went to see it.

We were extras in the movie and I was cast as Mrs. Stanton, the wife of Mr. Stanton played by Kevin Kline.

The movie was excellent and we highly recommend it.

The dress I wore in the movie was made by my friend Christine who taught me to sew:).

My First Dress!

For years now my dear friend Christine has made my dresses.

A couple weeks ago she taught me how to make my own.

All of the supplies came from thrift shops and consignment shops.

I started with the petticoat which is made from a bedskirt.

I added the tarten trim to match the dress.

The bodice and skirt are trimmed with black grosgain ribbon.

Vintage black buttons and lace collar complete the bodice.

Back view.

The bodice is lined with an old sheet and the belt was made from a vintage belt and silver buckle.

Bedskirt-$4

11 yards of red tarten fabric-$6

Black belt-$1

Vintage silver buckle-$15

Sheet for lining-free

Being able to say I made the dress-priceless:)!

150th Firing on Ft. Sumpter

At 6:45 this morning Ft. Sumpter was fired upon by reenactors just as it was 150 years ago today.

The feeling at Moultrie House, General Beauregard's headquarters, was somber early this morning with soldiers quietly discussing the impending battle.

Campfires glowed in the encampment...

while men stood on the wall awaiting word...

and others stood watch on the beach.

Meanwhile, we enjoyed breakfast as the impending battle brewed.

Being good southern ladies, breakfast was accompanied by mimosas.

Then the first shots rang out startling all who were close by...

except for one brave pelican.

The chaos of battle thundered from Ft. Moultrie, Patriot's Point, and Ft. Johnson.

Flags billowed in the strong morning breezes as men stood ready for battle...

while others sat at the water's edge awaiting commands.

And still we watched.

As the sun made its ascent soldiers continued their preparations.

The fate of Ft. Sumpter hung in the balance.

We headed back to the porch of Moultrie House to chat about the battle and work on needlework.

As we enjoyed the cool spring breezes the battle raged aroound us with the sound of cannons echoing throughout the day.

150th Anniversary of the Civil War

Although the official anniversary of the firing on Ft. Sumpter, which triggered the four year bloody battle between the states ,is not until this Tuesday April 12th, Ft. Moultrie was swarming with reenactors today as  preparations for the upcoming battle were portrayed.

This is Moutlrie House which is across the street from Ft. Moultrie.

It is currently the headquarters for General Beauregard and our gathering place for the day.

As you can see orders are already arriving. 

 Soldiers gather across the street at the fort.

 The General's desk filled with documents about the impending battle.

 We crossed the street to attend the ceremony to present the flag that several of us sewed (see previous post).

 The president of the PSRS (in blue dress) was to present the flag to the Colonel.

 Roseanne stands behind Louise as the flag is given. Roseanne was the project coordinator.

 The flag is then presented to the troops.

 Those of us that worked on the flag gathered for a picture.

 The men raise the flag...

 as the trumpet sounds...

 and she flies proudly in the Lowcountry breezes.

 Back at headquarters Louise serves lemonade on the porch.

We sit for another photo.

 And then spend time relaxing in the coolness of the shade.

Later Louise served tea.

Along with the tea where a variety of sweet delicacies which all enjoyed.

Thanks for spending the day with us at Ft. Moultrie headquarters.

For more on this special event visit

http://thevictorianparlor2.blogspot.com/