On the weekend, I popped up to Exeter for a four day Regency Weekend experience. I’d been sewing like crazy in the days leading up, even though my eye wasn’t the best. April was definitely a sewing month! I also helped a friend make her first Regency dress but that was over a few months.
I went to the Regency Weekend last year. It’s a smallish event, in that it’s not huge. Last year I managed to get a cancellation ticket. This year I bought the ticket in time and managed to choose a number of workshops.
My first workshop was a one on one consult with Adrienne Unger on making a Regency gown with a sari. I had two saris with me. One I bought at the Jane Austen Festival a number of years ago and one was from Matthew’s mother. We spread the saris out on the floor. Unfortunately, Matthew’s mother’s one, which was silk Georgette had been damaged, probably by moths. The other one was fine. With my pattern pieces we worked out how to make the most of the fabric and embroidery. Adrienne had a couple of amazing dresses to show me too. We took photos so I would remember which bit went where. Then I went to our accommodation.
I shared with Bronwyn again and it was fab. We did our hair, helped each other tie up dresses and do up buttons. It was lovely.
Here is a pic of me doing my bun. I was trying to guage if the hair covered the insert.
I had decided I wasn’t buying anything. Hahahaha! There was so much stuff this year. I bought a cloak (had no idea I wanted one) from Ericka’s table and a bum roll and sparkly buttons, a chemisette and lovely reticule from a lady called Kerry. Kimberley had a table of the most amazing hats. She was really talented. I was tempted but the one I liked, a yellow soft bonnet was taken. I did by a fancy ruffled cap though. I bought fabric, which I swore I would not do but it was a pretty white cotton with green block print. And I am a sucker for green.
This year I had a number of workshops. I would have done more but I can’t be in two places at once. Imagine that. First up was Regency Water colours, a sort of beginner thing and it was great. I loved it. I’m not a great artist. See I am showing this below.
My next workshop was a ruffled cap. Which was great as I have been meaning to make one. The fact that I had bought one earlier in the day was not important. A girl needs more than one cap.
The ruffled cap under my bonnet. The one I bought, not the one I made.
Here is me in the sprigged muslin print that I made the day before.
That night was the banquet and I wore my new white frock, made from cotton Ikea curtains, a sort of homespun feel, I think and an overdress made from Kimono fabric that my friend Maxine gave me for a birthday years ago. It had been moth damaged on the outer part of the roll but the rest of the fabric was fine. See pic below.
I found I forgot a shawl, gloves, ribbon and a few other things. I had to buy shoes because I remembered my jiffy slippers with the shoe roses had fallen apart. Dinner was yummy. All of my table mates just coincidentally came from Canberra. There must have been some kind of ethereal tie there.
Saturday
Two more workshops. I swear I felt busy. The first began at 9.00am and it was a double session to make a walking bonnet. Now I have bonnets galore and aspirations to make more, trim some and so on. However, the shape of this bonnet is not one I have attempted before. Even as a double session, we did not finish. I managed to get the structure done and I will need to cover it and so forth. Here is a pic of what we were attempting.
Stunning isn’t it?
Today I wore a sari based dress I hand sewed because I like to now and again. The fabric appears to be a fine cotton or muslin so hand stitching seemed to be the way to go. I figure I might wear it four or five times before it distintergrates.
The one below is an outdoor shot. See my lovely reticule I bought from Kerry?
The afternoon workshop was on turbans, where we played around with scarves. I forgot to bring mine but I did have left over fabric. This is what I came up with, but I think I would make it into a headdress, rather than a wrap around turban.
Sunday is picnic day so around 9.30 we front up to the venue and pack our picnic lunch and then have morning tea. There’s a coach to take people to Goldenvale, where there is carriage rides, archery, music, maypole, house tours and sitting around eating and chatting.
This dress is an older dress I made for one of the Jane Austen Festival. I am a bit plumper than then so wrap around was a tad, not wrapped enough.
Curious ornament on the tackle. This was a beautiful horse.
I did not do the maypole but I watched. There was live music and you can see the musicians in the background. It was a lovely afternoon as the weather was mild. Last year was freezing.
I fear my archery skills have not improved at all, even with a lighter bow the second time. Also, my petticoat fell down. I used bias binding as a tie and that has seams which separated. Next time I’ll use tape. The blue dress next to me is the dress Kristy and I made together. Isn’t it great. Ikea curtain and such a lovely drape on it.
I want to go next year too so must put it in my diary. The catering was wonderful. Morning and afternoon teas, Rout biscuits, scones, jam and cream, some kind of yummy biscuit with carraway seeds. I must get the recipe for that. A lovely roast meal and syllabub for the banquet, soup and bread before the ball, then a late supper. I tried the Regency white soup and it was yummy.
So many nice people, some from New Zealand, as far aways at Queensland and Victoria. I swear most people are looking at other people’s gowns. Mmmm I didn’t know you could do that. Oh what a nice way to do a trim. Oh my your spencer is to die for. Triple capes on your pelise? And so on. There were a few children there and that was lovely too. I’d call it wholesome fun.
I have had some trouble with my feet so I did not dance at all. Usually I can fit in a dance workshop or two but didn’t. I watched the dancing from the sidelines and loved it.
I know I’m a nerdy weirdo but I do not care. I loved it.
Donna Maree Hanson, Author, Phd in Creative Writing 