A New Beginning

To be blunt, this is a bittersweet post for me, but it has to be done...so here we go...

I began this blog as an offshoot to my original blog, which was meant to document my time abroad. I was working on a fitted back jacket and posting pictures of it, but it simply didn't fit into my 'Abby travels around the world la la de dah blah blah blah' blog. So I started a new blog.

This blog.

And it was this blog that got the following, that put my name out there, that tried and tested me, introduced to me to some lovely and inspiring people, and also taught me that not everyone is as lovely as they seem. It was this blog that gave me the chance to give a paper on my own subject, which gave me the chance to meet some of the greats in our field. This blog inspired others to start writing down their experiences, this blog inspired a great deal of controversy, inspired laughter, and gave birth to friendships.

This blog, quite simply, changed my life.

And sadly, the time has come for the blog to end.

This is the last post on Stay-ing Alive.

Though I am sad to say good-bye to you all in this capacity, this is not the last you'll see of me. If anything, you're going to be seeing a lot more of me.

As of today, January 29, 2013, I will be starting my 7 year apprenticeship as the next Millinery/Mantua-Maker at the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop in Colonial Williamsburg, and and and I am so so so so so excited. My dream has come true. :)

The road leading up to this point has been incredibly long, painful, and arduous. I cannot tell ya'll how many times I didn't just have a door slammed into my face, but I ran full force into a brick wall of NO. I have spent the better part of this year doubting myself, my talent, my education, my passion, my abilities. Wondering, if I should just give it all up and go to massage therapy school and be a yoga teacher. (Note: I'm not hating on this, I was just planning on doing these things as my 'retirement' career, not as my 'first' career, but seeing as how my first career wasn't panning out, I was wondering if maybe my retirement career was my only career...make sense?...and I still would like to be a yoga teacher...anyways..I'm digressing).

Long story short, when the Millinery Apprenticeship job was posted, it was hard for me to apply...did I want to go through this again? Will this just end like everything else? Will Fredrik and I have to move back to Indiana and live in my parent's basement? Will I start growing a frightfully large amount of facial hair? After long talks with Fredrik and my family, I knew this is something I had to do. The last time the job was posted was in 2008 and I had decided to go to grad school instead of apply for the job. I watched good friends battle it out for the position with a mix of gratitude and pain. Grateful that I didn't have to go through that process, but also experiencing a deep pain that I didn't go ahead and apply for my dream job.

When it was posted this year, I knew, despite the fact the past year left me doubtful, exhausted, and cautious, I had to apply.

I wrote my cover letter, applied for the job, interviewed, and then I got the job!

I am so grateful for my experiences leading up to this, and I am excited for what is to come...it feels good...really good...it has been a while since I felt this way.

Now, as for Stay-ing Alive...

With the start of my new job, things will change, I cannot in good conscious write about my sewing, my research, my experiences, now that I will be working in the shop. My priorities are different. One of the reasons I haven't been writing over the past year is because of my work, and how it affects my blog. Now that I know what is going on in my life and career, it is clear that my time writing for Stay-ing Alive has come to an end.

The blog will not be removed, I'll leave it up here, for the time being, however I'm going to eventually disable the comments.

Finally, I just want to thank you all, so very very much, for everything. This blog has changed my life in so many ways, but I would not be here without you, either.

So thank you for your support, your challenges, your laughs, your inspiring passion, intelligence, and beautiful work.

Keep sewing.
Keep writing.
Keep challenging.
Keep laughing.

And, very seriously, whatever you do, if you have a dream, a goal, a plan... do not ever ever ever ever ever give it up. Not ever. Do you understand? You will succeed. You will meet your goals. Just keep trudging through the muck and the dirt, jump those hurtles, even when you want to give it up, and you'll succeed. I promise. 

And with that, I'll catch you all later...but this time, I'll see you at the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop's facebook page!

<3 <3

Abby

Symposium/Internships/Tinsmithing/ Oh My!

There's a lot going on in Colonial Land these days, and they're all way fun! Have a look-see below!! :)

(Copied from the Margaret Hunter Millinery Facebook Page)

Call for Papers: Millinery through Time

In 2014, Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Trades Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop will celebrate its 60th anniversary. To mark this event, from March 16 through March 19, 2014, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation will present a symposium highlighting Millinery through Time. 

Throughout history, the millinery trade has changed, adapted, and thrived. Beginning as dealers of Milan wares, milliners evolved to encompass a business of a thousand things, and lately to specialize in a single product, hats. This symposium will explore the rich contribution that milliners and their trade have made to the past and present and look to future possibilities. Papers should address the people, fashion, merchandising, and trade work of the milliner from the 18th to the 21st centuries.

Researchers and designers are invited to submit 300-word abstract proposals for illustrated oral lectures 25 minutes in length. Paper proposals are due to Colonial Williamsburg for peer review by March 25, 2013; acceptances will be announced May 10, 2013. Those whose abstracts are selected for presentation will receive free symposium registration. Abstracts will be published in the symposium brochure.

Submit abstracts to:

Millinery Abstracts
Attention: Janea Whitacre, Historic Trades Milliner
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, Virginia 23187
Or by email at jwhitacre@cwf.org

http://www.history.org/history/institute/institute_about.cfm

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***SUMMER INTERNSHIP WITH THE MARGARET HUNTER MILLINERY SHOP***

So, looking for a summer internship where you can wear pretty clothes, sew pretty clothes, learn about pretty (old) clothes? Then I highly recommend that you apply for the summer internship with the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop, where you'll be gaining great hands-on experience in not only constructing 18th century clothing & accessories, but you'll also expand you knowledge of dress history, material culture history, american history, and art history as well! Other perks include: resume building, excellent museum experience with a world class/famous museum, Cheeseshop sammiches, and a really really really fun summer! I promise!

For more information email Sarah Woodyard at swoodyard (at) cwf (dot) org

:)

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With the upcoming completion of the Tinsmith shop in the historic area (associated with the anderson armory project, etc) Colonial Williamsburg is now hiring a Journeyman Tinsmith (major experienced required) and an apprentice tinsmith (I don't know how much they need...).

So if you're into metal work, wanna make some cw history, and get health insurance while pursuing your craft (let's just be really real right now..don't lie...the health insurance and 401k are preeeety inviting!)  then I think, you think, that you should apply.

Here are the links to the website:

Apprenticeship Tinsmith

Journeyman Tinsmith

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Oh SNAP! While I was posting this, I just saw they posted some paid intern positions!

Here: 

Curatorial Intern (1-year, paid @ 12.07 per hour) 

Curatorial Intern (3 mo, paid at 12.07 per hour, focus on Ceramics/glass, furniture, and 19th century toys...this sounds like too much fun...with a slight level of creepy...cause they're old toys...and let's be honest, old toys are super creepy...)

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Ok! That's it for me!

<3 <3

a.

2012

Hello all of you lovely lovelies out there!

How have you been? Well I hope! As I'm sure most of you (officially 201 followers...huzzah!) have noticed (or maybe..not...noticed?) I have not updated this blog for...well..basically...2012. I have a really good explanation, and some wonderful news to share with you.

As I mentioned before, the one of the main reasons I have been silent on the blog is because I work for a very large living history museum. With that, I still work at the museum, but some things have changed a great deal over the year...but I'm simply not ready to discuss that...I have other news first.....

On July 11, 2012, Fredrik and I got married in my hometown in Indiana!

Doesn't he look like the Doctor?

We got married in the office of the County Clerk, in a very intimate ceremony consisting of my parents, grandparents and two very close and dear friends (to act as witnesses). Fredrik and I were also blessed, clothing wise, because we both wore our grandparents' clothes. I wore my grandmother's wedding suit from her wedding to my dear dear grandfather in August of 1945 (including her hat!) and Fredrik found his grandfather's Tiger of Sweden suit from the 1960s...both fit us...and we wore them together. My bouquet was also made from two grocery store bouquets and some herbs. The past few months have been an amazing and trying time. Immigration is challenging enough as it is, but we are also going through our first year of marriage. Needless to say, I've been a bit too busy to blog. My goal was always to come back to this blog to write, but as things are going now, I simply don't see that happening. Not that I don't want to, it's just not in the cards.  :)

That other thing I mentioned above, about my work, that will come later. I will share the news as soon as I can.

<3 <3

Playing Dress Up and a New Pair of Stays!

I have quite a bit to write on, but I'm going to try and space it out between posts so that way I can actually give you all something to read before I disappear back under my rock for another 3 month span or so. :P

First post first, a week or so ago, we had a dinner organized by a friend that was an opportunity for a group of us crazies to dress up and go have dinner in a tavern at Colonial Williamsburg. Since I wear these clothes everyday, it holds little excitement for me anymore, sadly. Bbbbbbbuuuuuuuuttttt with Lyze being an intern at the Millinery Shop with a fresh new pair of stays (excuse me while I brush my shoulder off), and no silk gown of her own, it became far more fun for me to dress her up and allow myself to be more casual in my approach.

So that's exactly what I did...I dressed her up and gave her the biggest hedgehog I've EVER done. It was insanely huge....HUGE! But it was awesome! Fredrik also dressed up in his little ensemble so I just got to enjoy seeing him in costume again (more about him/us/costume/dress up...SOON!)

Shot of Lyze in my gown..stole from her blog Ornamented Being

Stays in need of binding

A nice, even back gap....makes me giddy!

I had her move the tail of her 'hog out of the way so I could get a clear shot of the back of her stays. That nice even space is what you want in a pair of stays, and I'm very proud to say that I measured, patterned and fit those stays to her following the 18th century tailor methods that were taught to me through the Burnley and Trowbridge workshop I took over a year ago!!! So far Lyze seems quite pleased with the stays and I'm very happy with their fit. She's got the binding on finally, but I don't have photos of the fully finished project. I'll post photos of her in them all finished when I'm back in Virginia in a week or two. 

As for her hair, I did the same exact thing I did with my hair in Sweden. Rolled in pillow curlers, made her sit with it ALL day, and teased it within an inch of her life for about an hour before the event. Here's my tutorial: Hedgehog Tutorial. Her hair was and is a lot longer than mine has ever been, and so hers was a bit wider than I would have preferred, in an ideal world, but I doubt she would have let me cut a few inches off her hair. (Unless I asked very very very very very very very nicely...tee hee hee.. :) ) But overall, I was happy with the final product, and I was very happy that Lyze was happy. It was great to see her feel like an 18th century princess. :)

The funny part? Everyone...seriously....EVERYONE kept getting Lyze and I confused because of her being in my clothes...even Fredrik! (though no serious faux-pas was made...though it would have been funny...to me...) :)

<3 <3

Two Things

1. I've spent the weekend marathoning stays for Lyze at Ornamented Being and Mended Soul. We're almost done. Everything is handsewn minus the channels. This means my hands hurt, I'm tired, and ready to be done. Almost there...just keep sewing, just keep sewing, just keep sewing sewing sewing...

2. Fredrik is at JFK airport waiting for his flight here. Visa was approved and he's moving here as of....NOW!

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

<3 <3

Pinterest Issues

So, I'm a casual user of pinterest...I have one board and then I usually just surf around pinterest without even being signed in to look at the humor, fitness, and everything sections. A lurker, if you will. But this morning I clicked on a pin about natural weed killer which first took me to a scam that looked like this:

Now I circled the URL because at first glance, it looks legit, but there were 2 massive things wrong. 1: The URL is spelled with too many 'S's and I was signed in at this point in time so the question then is why was the login/abby option not in the upper right hand corner? AH. Yes. Because it is a scam. Oh, silly me, it is both a scam AND a bug. I took screen shots for posting warning purposes and then left the page and went on my merry way. Everything was peachy while I was using the computer for a few minutes afterward, but once I set my computer down to go get ready for work...all hell broke lose.

I came back to my computer with my cursor going apeshit crazy. I had windows everywhere and it was just onscreen chaos. I coldboot my computer, hoping this would solve my computers temper tantrum (it is going on 3 years old), but no. The cursor was moving on its own free will, opening things, DVD player (wtf?), search, finder, etc so on and so forth. I realized this wasn't just my computer being hormonal, something was actually wrong. Long story short: I had to delete Mozilla and all my bookmarks (wompwomp) from my computer. Restart my computer and then everything *seems* to be alright. I have a Mac. This is where the "Macs don't get viruses" comes in to play. Macs can get viruses, but the problem is easier to fix. I deleted Mozilla and whatever crap that was screwing with my computer through Mozilla (at least, this is how my brain has justified it, as now everything is better once Mozilla is gone, and this is after the computer sitting for 8 hours turned off so it could think about what it had done. bad computer! Bad computer!) So, if you have Windows, I have no idea what would happen for you all.

Anyways. There are two warnings to be had here. 1: There's a scam on Pinterest. Do not fall for it. Check your URLs.  2. That scam seems to have a trojan/virus/alien/pest/annoyance/thingy thing attached to it.

Later
Abby

Back from the dead

Hello!

So, um...I've been gone for a while...a few months actually...wow. I have a good reason, but I also have something really cool to show you all! A lot has been going on in my little world and I've feel like I haven't even had time to sit and think about blogging. (it's a full time job you know? and when you have a full time job, laundry, dirty house, fiance and parents to talk to, dinner to cook, errands to run and the gym to go to...blogging and sewing kind of takes a back burner to life).

Amazingly...shockingly...I've won a couple of awards in my absence for my comatose blog. Most specifically from the blog Sew 18th Century and she awarded me with the Leibster Blog award! YAY! Thank you Elizabeth! (and thank you for the lovely fb message...sorry I haven't written back...I can be quite terrible about those things)

Wee!

It's been a really interesting few months for me. It's been approx. 1 year since I moved away from Sweden, gave my talk about blogging and how important it is, got a full time job with the foundation and now live in an old farm house with a roommate while waiting for my fiance to get his visa and move here (US Immigration...hello? Hello? Is this thing on?). My life has completely changed.

With all these changes have brought about a new sense of responsibility. Most importantly with my job. I have a full time job with my museum, which means I am wearing 18th century clothes 5 days a week. I wear stays 5 days a week. Shoes with buckles, gowns, jackets, bedgowns, and a cap. I don't wear makeup anymore unless it's my day off, and I do have to admit, bathing habits get a bit...um...interesting when you wear shifts, stays, jackets and gowns everyday and your hair is covered...let's just say it doesn't always become your first priority. (kinda gross...i know...)

Since I wear these clothes every single day,  the pretty pretty dress up has lost it's appeal. This is not just a costume....these are my clothes...they don't sparkle and go "dah dah!!!" when I put them on. In fact, I spend part of my morning interrupting my roomie to lace me up in my stays because they're back lace only and lacing myself in would take up almost an hour. I can tell when she's annoyed with me when my stays are tighter than normal.

Speaking of, I wear my stays so much looser now than you would expect. I still have some support, but there are more days than not where my body has sunken into my stays to some degree instead of coming out of my stays (if you get my drift).

But you want to know the coolest coolest thing, like, ever?

My stays have completely molded to my body. As in, I can take off my stays and wrap them around and you can see the shape of my body in my stays. When they are on, it's like a second skin. It is the coolest thing.

And also insanely comfortable.

This is me after work one day...and before I got a ribbon for my cap

This shows better how they have molded to the curves of my back, bum, and hips

And a side shot to also show the shape of the front

These stays are those stays. Yes. The ones I boned with baleen. And I am so thankful I did. The baleen has lived up the expectations I had and my body is incredibly thankful for the daily comfort. Stays boned with oak or ash splint will also take on the same characteristics too. Metal boning does not do this. It does not mold. (I have an old pair of stays that show this very clearly.) They'll go right back to their original shape, unless they're bent. They're too flimsy..I can't even imagine making stays out of metal boning anymore...my waist and hips hurt just thinking about it.

You can also see how loose my stays are. This is how I wear them everyday. I'll take them into 1" space only if I'm wearing my silk gown...but for my day to day, they're nice and functional and loose. I'm also going to try and remember to get a photo of my stays standing up on their own, just to show you what exactly I mean when I say they've molded, but that'll probably take me 6 months. :P

Another reason I've backed off the blogging, is because of my job...I still haven't figured out the balance of my work and my blog and where things are acceptable and not. I'm still trying to figure that out, and hopefully I'll find a balance soon... I would like to start writing more...though I feel as though this blog might undergo a sort of transformation in the process....we'll see I guess?

Anyways, I've missed you all, I've been blog stalking you all and now I'm signing off...it's time for yoga!

<3 <3 <3