Lets do this old school style

Who's feeling an old school proper event write up? I'm feeling chatting and not like getting off my bum to go cut skirt pieces for the Alphabet Dress.

Yesterday was the Washington's Crossing Market Fair and in the evening the colonial dance. First year on the dance, but we'll get to that later. The market went 12-4 but as we knew we'd be hanging out later for the dance we aimed for noon. hirami nicely picked me up so Rob could have the car and we made it there at 12:07! Which for us is basically on time. I drove up in my bloomers, stockings, shift with bra OVER it and captain america sweatshirt. It was a great look. We had intentionally decided to be peasants so I made a wildly unflattering and not-documentable-print short gown, hemmed a kerchief and borrowed petticoats from miss_philomena .

When we decided we wanted to go as peasants mandie_rw started making all the derpy peasant caps she had patterns for...and I have to say I think I called dibbs on the derpiest! That said it hides your double chin magnificently!

Parking lot changing complete we loaded baskets and started wandering around looking for a place to eat our picnic lunches. Last year they'd set up table so we took for granted they would have them again this year. They didn't. But then we bumped into one of the ladies who works for the park and she directed us to an empty room in one of the historic buildings. I'm fairly certain she mistook us for reenactors or volunteers? either way WE'LL TAKE IT. Did end up feeling like we were a display. No sorry I can't tell you what the building was. Yes they did eat lunch in the 18th century.

 

I mean how can you blame her? we looked so much like we belonged ;-) One vendor was unable to grasp the concept that we're just a bunch of friend's from the internet. But what regiment are you with? But what group? THEN HOW DID YOU LEARN!? We had a good chuckle.

There were more vendors than last year which was nice to see. Sadly they weren't vendors I wanted or needed to shop at. The same sutlers as last year, the things that were new were kitchy home goods type things. Which is good for the fair I'm sure, as it was VERY well attended by the public. And I want the park to thrive so I don't begrudge them that at all. Just meant I spent less money. There was a new historic vendor selling beautiful box looms, but sadly not in my budget.

After shopping we played graces which is apparently our new WC tradition. We...should practice more. But had a ton of fun.

miss_philomena was recruited to "Molly Pitcher" aka haul stuff. I thought they'd include her in the demo but apparently the male soldiers walk too fast and spill.

 

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveThey did cannon demo that made me jump seven feet in the air. Every. Time. When I   knew it was even coming!    Apparently I'm just really jumpy as a person. (Rob could tell you that). We spent a while just sitting on the wall watching the delaware, while Alice knitted and Adrienne, Amanda and I chatted.  Then we spotted some other philly costumers I'd recently met on Instagram and wandered over to stand awkwardly and hope they'd talk to us. They did and were very nice....Then we headed to Adrienne's Aunt's house to change and eat pizza before the dance...this got long as I'll do a separate post about that.

Washington's Crossing Part 2.

When last we left off our Cinderella's were headed off to to miss_philomena 's aunt's house to change for the country dance.




pre- changing. obvs. SaveSave

We stopped for pizza. got to the house, let ourselves in (felt only mildly creeptastic) and proceeded to strip down to shifts. hiraimi stayed in her stays the whole time...as she's weird. Pizza consumed we started to get dressed. I re-wore my lavender anglaise but accidentally had super high hair. I didn't have a good plan, just piled on some rats and teased the front a bit, pinned it up and...SHIT THAT'S HUGE. WHOOPS! Oh well I rocked it.



fun fact I forgot to put mascara on...which looks SO WEIRD. I also used a white powder foundation base that jennylafleur gave me. And that takes some getting used to. I mean I'm fairly pale to begin with..buuuut. Still WEIRD. So glitzed out in our party clothes we went BACK to the park. They had lighted the way with lanterns and candles which is the easiest way to my heart.


(This woman in a lovely fitted jacket and quilted petticoat walked in and Alice leaned over and goes "she has little penises all over" and then I couldn't see ANYTHING ELSE)

We didn't really know what to expect as it was the first year, and the staff told us it was about half the size of what they were hoping for. And I agree it definitely has some room for growth. There was only one musician which it's quite as much fun, but the caller wasn't the worst we've met. Probably not my favorite, but I was able to follow along. Perk of lowish attendance (40ish people?) was that there was plenty of space and if I'd had the stamina I could easily have danced every dance.




People were friendly, and there were some nice outfits and some truly impressively bad outfits (and who doesn't like pondering why you have a snood AND a head doily).

I have started to tease out what I like best in a dance now that I've been to a few. My first choice is a period setting. I don't care how perfect the music, the costumes etc all are. You just are missing something when the atmosphere is..totally modern. Not that you can avoid it all the time. Obviously locations work with what they have, but if I tease out what gives me the most joy it's an immersive experience. Secondly I love dancing reels. So much more woosh and fun. That said I had a wonderful time and I feel I 100% got the value of my $17. I would consider going next year, if friend's were going or they continued to grow it.




The dance ended with a Virginia Reel (referred to by some other name but we'd talked to the caller earlier and she said yes we'd do that one and asked how we knew it) I felt hella proud that our set of six couples were able to do the dance pretty much without instruction as the OTHER set was a hot mess and she was over there walking them through it. I CAN LEARN STUFF! Virginia Reel is hands down my fav.


When it was all over we piled into the parking lot to strip down to indecent levels to drive home.



If you're massively bored and want to see all my photos here's the link. Now back to cutting alphabet wedges.

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