The Costume People

07/12/2026

Here we are … the Dress In A Day ladies.
This year we made a regency era dress and overdress/jacket completely by hand. The time was 7 hrs. Who who! Our dress was made of silk? Voile and the size was REALLY small. So small, none of our group came close being able to model. Kudos to Mya for running her first Dress in a Day. Lots of fun! Hope to see everyone next year
Right now it’s 530 am and I’m sitting in the ThunderBay airport. I can’t believe the number of people who are up and moving this time of morning. I am barely hanging on. Gotta go get that first cup of coffee ❤️

07/11/2026

Today, we made a “Reticule in an Afternoon”.
We worked like busy little beavers for most of the afternoon to finish a lovely tulip reticule. Well… they worked… I talked…. 🙄. Everyone did a fantastic job and should be proud of their work. I hope to see a few finished bags around the fort tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, I will be participating in the dress-in-the-day sewing challenge. This year’s project is going to be a round gown and jacket. Myself and my buddy have been assigned to lining duty. Check back tomorrow; it’s sure to be an interesting day.

07/10/2026

Well, here I am in Thunder Bay.

Tomorrow afternoon will be the workshop to show how to make the Tulip reticule pictured below .

Tulip Reticules first appeared in the French Court around the mid 1700s. They were something a little different from a regular run-of-the-mill reticule. In fact, they were so different, and hence popular, that they were seen all throughout the late Georgian and Victorian age. Our reticule is a version of one I saw in a museum collection. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the museum. Anyway, she’s nice and rustic, and I think it would be perfect for a re enactor lady to carry to any social activity around Fort William Historical Park

Reenactors - extra signup will be at the Friday morning meeting.

07/09/2026

You're probably wondering what the new costume is for…
This weekend, I’m going up to Thunder Bay to instruct a Reticule workshop. ❤️. This workshop will be at Fort William Historical Park as part of The Great Rendezvous.
The Rendezvous is a reenactor weekend where the participants reenact the arrival of the animal skins that were crucial to the livelihood of the people who lived in the fort. The weekend is full of activities and demonstrations of tasks that would have been performed during the daily lives of the fort inhabitants. I'll post pictures over the weekend. Watch for me!

Fort William historical park

07/06/2026

Here I am in my brand new 1800s rural woman’s costume. Not the most flattering look. But.. we do what we must for the sake of history. This costume will be worn at The Great Rendezvous at Fort William in Thunder Bay
I don’t have the full costume on. It will also have a white linen chemise underneath everything. The lace will show on the outside of the bed jacket. I’ll also be wearing a white day cap, crème colored socks and ankle height moccasins and historical looking glasses (because I’m blind as a bat!)
I’m very excited as their costumer, Mya has offered to show me how to make the moccasins suitable for reenacting. Thanks Mya!

07/06/2026

https://fwhp.ca/events/

Here I am in my 1800s rural women’s dress. Not one of the most flattering silhouettes I must say, but hey..we do what we must for the sake of historical accuracy.
This weekend she will be worn to the Great Rendezvous at Fort William - up in Thunder Bay
I’m looking forward to participating in the Dress Book Camp. I’ll post a pic of the dress later on this week

Congratulations! Fort William Historical Park is delighted to extended congratulations to the Canadian Corps of Voyageurs as they celebrate their 50th anniversa

06/21/2026

We finished the bustle dress just in time for the lang steam show. Ms Hailey looks just like Mary Poppins ( as a little girl told her this morning). I’m really pleased how this turned out. I was short fabric to do the skirt the way I wanted to and had to rejig at the last minute. Wow! That took a lot of lace. But….she still looks lovely.

06/12/2026

Another outfit to show. This little beauty is being added to the Lynde House Museum & Warren General Store costume collection. The jacket is called a Spanish Jacket. It’s been put together with tone on tone antique lace and black twill. The shirt is a Garabaldi, also with antique lace. Come see its debut (with a proper skirt) at this weekend