New Witch Hats!

     I'm hoping to go to LeakyCon, the Harry Potter convention that's being held in Portland this June, so I've been having some fun lately making witch hats.  I've tried both wool and brocade, some with wired brims and some without.  Here are some that I've just listed in my Etsy shop.

I've also been making a cross between a witch hat and my Regency bonnet, a new and bizarre form of headgear I'm calling a "Witch Bonnet."  They have ribbons on the sides that can be tied under the chin like a bonnet or in a bow at the back so the silhouette is that of a traditional witch hat.

More Regency Picnics

Yesterday the Emerald Valley Regency Society had another lovely picnic, this one at the Owen Rose Garden in Eugene.

We enjoyed an alfresco luncheon under a tree.

We had a spirited game of Bocce.

We strolled among the roses.

  

And posed for pictures under a 150 year old cherry tree.

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I just realized I never posted any pictures from our vineyard
picnic in July.  Every year (well at least for the last three) I
have my Regency friends out for a picnic by our winery.

We always practice our archery skills.

This year we ate under cover because of a slight drizzle.

But the weather cleared when it was time to go to the lake.

We had all seen the BBC’s Regency House Party and
thought that bit where they throw rocks at little ships
looked like fun.  Wonderful member Lynn made these
lovely little French and Spanish boats for us to attack.

We launched them on the water.

Then we watched as they sailed away…

…before pelting them with rocks, both thrown by hand and
shot with a slingshot (which is harder than I imagined). 
It is more difficult then one would think to sink a little
milk carton boat, but also lots more fun.

I’m so lucky that I have such lovely friends and routinely get to
escape into the world of Jane Austen’s England.  This is indeed,
as Jane would say, “good company”.



A Lovely Day For A Regency Beach Picnic

          Last weekend I went to the coast with some friends from the Emerald Valley Regency Society and we had a lovely picnic on the beach at Tierra Del Mar near Pacific City, Oregon. 

          I had a jaunty new bicorn, and with my blue dress and red spencer and cape, I looked very French Revolution.

          It was a gorgeous day for a picnic.  Saturday was warm and sunny, with just a light breeze.  We were lucky, because on Sunday there was a fierce wind and even some rain.

          As we strolled down the strand, we were enveloped by a fog so dense we couldn’t see more than a few yard in any direction.  It was deliciously spooky, like we could step out the other side and be transported to another time and place- Regency England, perhaps.

          The ocean was swirling around on the beach, creating islands and peninsulas, and lovely safe pools to wade in.

          After a long walk, a little rest was in order for some.

          How wonderful to relax on the sand with good friends and good food.  Not to mention the fun of dressing up.  It was a glorious day altogether!

         

Unique Wedding Hats

     I’ve been making lots of fun new hats lately, and since its wedding season, I decided to make a couple of unusual bridal hats.  I love how they turned out.  Imagine how fun it would be to have a historical wedding with a Regency or pirate theme?

Regency Bridal Bonnet

Wedding Tricorn

New Creations

I haven't blogged in a while, but I have been busy and creative lately.  I've had lots of custom orders through my Etsy shop.  A pirate festival in Connecticut, 1812 celebrations on Canada Day, and an Australian Lady Gaga.  People are having fun all over the world, and I'm thrilled that they are wearing my hats and fascinators!  Here are a few non-Etsy projects I have been working on in the last month.

We updated our Maypole, a tradition in my family.  It was a little late this year, because my parents were in France over May Day, but we did it as soon as they came home.  I use strips of taffeta fabric instead of ribbon, because I can make them nice and wide so they wind around the pole beautifully.  We have a variety of colors every year, and they sometimes change, except for my brother-in-law, who will only participate if he gets a “dirt brown” ribbon.  Here is our maypole this year.

Every year at our winery’s Memorial Day open house, I hang my hand-dyed silk scarves on makeshift clotheslines.  They look particularly lovely when blowing in the breeze.

I recently made a special birthday crown for the little boy of a lady I work with.  I made the numbers out of felt and attached them with velcro so it can be changed and used when he turns two next year.  I got to use a fun new product (new to me, at least).  It’s a fabric that you run through your computer printer.  You can print words and pictures on high quality cotton.  It works wonderfully and I can’t wait to try it again.

One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to wear more skirts, so I have decided to make myself some fun ones.  Here is my latest.  A pretty blue print with an octopus wrapping his little tentacles around the edge.  I like that the polka dots look like little suckers. I plan to wear it to the beach-themed end of year party at work this week.  I love how it turned out!