Creating for the Feast

This year I'm paring down the variety of things that I take to sell at the Feast. I've realized that there are four things I really love to bring: 18th century clothing, sleeve buttons, blackened beeswax ornaments, and maple cakes. 

In the past I've also carried Williamsburg pottery, toques, fans, body powder, pin pillows, dish towels, hussiefs (housewives), hats, fabric, scarves, shawls, and more.

This is my fifth year in business; it's time to focus on making and doing what I like most. And while I have some inventory of just about everything on that discontinued list, I won't be replacing anything. When it's gone, it's gone.

There is just one month left to prepare and I am in pretty good shape. 

I just finished this bed gown and I am hoping I can get more of that gorgeous fabric.

This chemise is for Leslie. I am sworn to secrecy, but now that she's no longer the director of the Feast she can go hang out and have fun at the event. That, of course, calls for new clothes and I am making her entire outfit. Stay 'tooned on that - I think she and I are going to have fun with this.

The sleeves on her new chemise are pleated

and she has a new pair of sleeve buttons

to wear in her sleeves. (She chose my favorite pair.)

That's two of the three things I need to make her that are finished. She's bringing the petticoat fabric to me later today.

Yesterday I spent four hours making blackened beeswax ornaments.

I had two "volunteers" who wanted to help or at least just hang out with me while I worked.

Molly could not have been in a more inconvenient place for me. But I didn't mind working around her - carefully. LOL

I'd made 60 ornaments by the time I was finished.

Normally I make around 40 per session but this time I was using some of my smaller molds.

I hope to make one more batch before the Feast, but if I don't get to it, I'm in good shape and should have enough for selling.

Leslie has been stitching up items for her business, Chien Noir. For years her business has been importing and selling hand block printed fabrics, but now that she is no longer in charge of the Feast, she can spend more time in her booth as well as at home sewing things from the fabric she has imported!

She just sent me pics of fourteen petticoats that she has completed; here are a few of my favorites.

The bands at the bottom are all different - that's very unusual.

Look familiar? This is the same fabric that I used for the bed gown. The colors are so vibrant.

A more subtle pattern, but I love that pop of turquoise at the hem. (Can you guess Leslie's favorite color?) 

This picture is because - Eddie! 

Leslie and I are heading to Kokomo together later this morning. I'm going to pick up my embroidery machine that I'd had serviced, and I think she is going to drop off her sewing machine as she's having trouble with the buttonholer. (Hers is a Pfaff but the store tech will work on other machines besides Janome.)

I'm also going to take another look at that professional grade Janome while I am there. 

Stay 'tooned!

Kalamazoo 2025: Setting Up

Huzzah! Frank gave me permission to use his time lapse of Friday night's set-up in the North Expo where Jolis Chevaux was located. Thanks, Frank!

For background, vendors don't have hours and hours to set up. We gain access to the building Friday at 7:00 PM and can stay and work until 10:00 PM. Then, Saturday morning, we can work from 7:00 AM to 9:00 when the event opens to the public.

When you consider how much is brought in and the displays that are assembled and then stocked... wow. It is pretty incredible as you will see. (Time lapse video by Frank Jarboe and used with permission.)

Wasn't that amazing?

Frank and Carol help Leslie by selling her block print fabrics so they were setting up while I was. (They also helped me.)

I don't buy from Leslie at shows; I don't want to buy things that might be a sale for her. I buy later because she can always order me something I want.

She also made a lot of petticoats to sell (and they sold well.) The walnut-dyed shirt was Rick's, I think, and he decided to sell it. (It did.) 

When the show opens, people cluster around Leslie's tables and the block prints fly off the tables. It's a very busy spot in the building.

She also sells block print scarves that are made from a lighter weight fabric. That gold one called my name, but it sold. But, just like the other block prints, she can always order me another one.

Frank is a minister in both the 21st and the 18th centuries. (Parson John.) He has a Bible from 1723 (it's 302 years old!!) that he brings for the Sunday church service he conducts each year.

I always ask if I can see it - there is something about holding a Bible that is centuries old in your hands, 

or turning the pages and knowing that that book has been used by many, many people of faith over the centuries. I always get a shiver and feel connected to those people through our shared faith despite the gulf of time between us.

Carol offered to help me get the rest of my things out and then Leslie sent Anita, a staff member, over to see what else I needed help with.

My newest display - the sleeve buttons! (They garnered a lot of interest during the event and I sold several pairs!)

My booth was finished well before the closing time of 10:00 thanks to those who helped me. (Grateful!)

I had some of Rick's books on my table and Gretchen brought some wool blankets she wanted to sell - there was plenty of room for all of that. (Can you see the Francis Rumps hanging on the left of the rack?)

Staff had to stay after 10:00 and clear the building and then check in the security crew for the night. Because Gretchen is staff and I rode to Michigan with her, I had to stay late with her. We finally got back to our hotel rooms around 11:00. I called Craig and spoke to him briefly and then set my alarm for 5:00 AM as staff had to be back at the Expo Center early the next morning.

Normally I don't need an alarm, but as tired as I was, I set it. Good thing I did - I was asleep as soon as my head hit my pillow.

Stay 'tooned for a busy, busy, BUSY Saturday!