Living History Day-A-Fair

Hi you all!

I set up Saturday at an event that is unusual from my main stream craft shows. It was at a Farm called Still Hollow. They hosted "Living History Day-A-Fair", and it was a really fun and educational show for me.

The 1860's Living History and Dance Society sponsored the event. This group formed in the summer of 2009 by a group that home schools their children. The children have a sewing class where they learned to make their 1860's dresses, pantaloons, and bonnets. The boys make the dress boys wore then, too. They learn the etiquette and dancing of that era, as well, and offer demonstrations or instructions on civil war dancing, etiquette, and dress of that time period.

Still Hollow Farm is located a few miles outside of Greeneville, Tennessee. Their farm is available for weddings, birthdays, and tours, as well as farming 180 acres yearly. The original farm was established in 1857 with 560 acres and grew to well over one thousand acres.

It was a wonderful show. We learned Saturday about how the men, women, and children wore their hair back in the 1860's, and what kind of bonnets, hats, and hairnets were standard in that society. We have some storytelling time. The Civil War Dance demonstration was awesome. The live music that was performed using instruments of that day and songs popular then was just a hoot, because we all know these songs and we allowed to sing along.

Then, there was an 1860's fashion show, baseball demonstration, and Ladies Tea in the afternoon.

I enjoyed all this and some sales, too.

I learned that all the people (men and women) wore gloves to keep from touching each other in public, as well as hygienic motives. I learned that hair was slicked back and not allowed to escape the "hair do" of the day....again, men and women. I learned that bonnets were worn straight on the head, no tilting for fashion's sake; they were worn to keep the sun out of their faces. A tanned face, hands or any part of the body showed someone who was not well off; one who had to work for a living. (Even those who did strove to keep the sun off their skin.)

I had a good time, and I look forward to more of the same. I haven't done a lot of shows in the last couple of years, but this year, I'm doing more. The shows I'm choosing, however, are of a different nature than those I normally do. My next show is in a couple of weeks at a place called "The Exchange Place" in Kingsport, Tennessee. This place was known for a "meeting" place that was the crossroads for going many different places. People would bring their wares to trade, and many would stop there on their way west or south. It is a place where many vendors dress that part, too.

I will write about that one when I do it. For now, enjoy the pictures of the show I did Saturday.

Thanks for your interest, Kathleen