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Sydney Regency Weekend Experience

Posted in costumes, Fashion, Regency, Regency Dancing, tagged , , , , on May 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »

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.

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A Regency Affair

Posted in A writer's life, Cosplay, costumes, Crafting, Creative passion, events, Fashion, Regency, Regency romance, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 30, 2025| 1 Comment »

A last minute cancellation. An offer of accommodation and lift to the event each day. That’s me. From 16th to the 18th of May, I was at A Regency Affair event in the small town of Exeter, just south of Sydney in the Southern Highlands. Just like a Regency House party only better. I got to use a real loo and go back to our accommodation.

I had an amazing time! Totally, absolutely, enjoyed it. Not only was in unexpected. I only just learned about the event after lamenting for some time that the Jane Austen Festival stopped before covid. I wanted to sew more dresses and things but wondered what for. Now I’m linked back in. As well as this event, there are balls, Historic picnics and other stuff going on. Because it was short notice, I only had time to dig out my gear. There were a couple of bonnets I couldn’t find but I had enough. No chance to make anything new, except I did find my very special soft bonnet only needed a few stitches to finish it so I did that. Sorry about the cross over bra showing. My stays had a malfunction as I have grown somewhat since I last wore them.

I went up on the Friday but there was a dress making workshop on the Thursday that I wasn’t quite in a mental space to sew. Friday I managed to get squeezed into a few workshops. Not all the ones I wanted but hey I was grateful to get the ones I did. First up was thread buttons and then I did historical stitching which was very cool. We learned edge stitch, mantua makers stitch and English stitch, with cartridge pleating as well. Friday night there were no tickets to the banquet but the organiser thought she might be able to squeeze me in. Bronwyn and I went back to the accommodation to prepare. I figured I should get dressed just in case they said ‘yes’. The plan was to drop Bronwyn and use her car to come back if there was space. However, the text came through that I was in so off to the Regency themed banquet we went.

There was music, dance exhibitions, poetry recitals and singing. So Regency. The food was spit roast and a lemony syllabub, which was so yummy.

I did a bit of shopping during the day on Friday. I bought a turban style headdress for the ball, a tea cup set and some lovely gloves. From Bronwyn’s stall I bought sewing notions of many kinds and some long socks. The cup and saucer are so lovely. I just love the green addition to my collection.

Saturday came and we were off again. I had a basket making workshop after lunch. The only downside is that it clashed with the guest speak talk by Caroline Jane Knight, a fifth great niece of Jane Austen who had lived at Chawton House until recent years. It is impressive that any family lives in the same house for generations and the Knights have lived there since her fifth great grandfather Edward Austen Knight inherited it. The cottage in Chawton where Jane, her sister and mother lived was on that estate in the village. It’s a must see if you get there. Next time I’ll go see the great house too. While I didn’t get to hear the talk I did chat to Caroline a bit and bought her book.

Other workshops that I eyed off jealously were the fletching workshop and theatrical sword fighting. I did do some dancing workshop but thought it best I not cause frustration by trying to dance. There were mustet firings and a duel and so many very impressive costumes. The numbers are limited so intimate and I made myself talk to people and made some lovely and interesting new acquaintances. Catering including morning and afternoon tea. Lunch on Saturday consisted of a pie or quiche, whatever you ordered.

We went back to the accommodation for ball prep. I did Bronwyn’s hair and turned her scarf into a turban.

My new turban head dress was so very cool.

Pre ball there was soup and bread and we all contributed something for supper which was around 9pm. To start off the ball they do a grand promenade. I was going to sit the dancing out and hang with Bronwyn to admire the general splendour. However, a lovely young woman came up to me and asked if I would be her promenade partner. She said our gowns would look very well together. So up I went. Then when the promenade finishes it becomes a dance. I tried to offer up a better partner given my fumble footedness in the dance lessons. However, my young escort said she would defend me from bodily harm if people got upset with me. I am pleased to say that we passed ourselves off creditably and after that five set dance, I introduced to a much better dancer that I met in the workshop earlier.

Supper was bountiful. There was Jane Austen birthday cake, in traditional style, fruit, marzipan and fondant. I had two small pieces. Then Bronwyn and I retired for the evening. Sunday was a picnic at a National Trust historic house, with carriage rides, archery, maypole etc. The weather by now had turned a bit brittle and cold. However, we were lucky and it didn’t rain while we were there. Picnic sorted at the hall we drove over to Goldhaven. I did a house tour, got my carriage ride in early and did one set of arrows. I haven’t touched a bow for many years and only had one lesson. I think I am better but the target was way too close! Hahaha.

I scrurried out of there as fast as I could and walked about the beautiful garden, ate my lunch, chatted and watched the Maypole dancers.

I will definitely do this event again.

I did not take a lot of photos as I didn’t want to walk around with my phone spoiling people’s fun but I hope I captured enough. I have this is in my calendar for next year.

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