Ladies Workshops for War of 1812 Domestic Arts

Please join me at a day of introductory workshops to War- of-1812-era domestic arts at Ogdensburg’s Dobisky Center Saturday, November 3, starting at 9:00 a.m. Enjoy workshops on chatelaine and bonnet making, a demonstration of English country-dance and readings from letters and diaries written by the women of the day.

            

“We have a full day of activities for the modest cost of $50 to cover lunch, basic materials and honoraria for our experienced workshop leaders,” said Barbara O’Keefe, President of the Fort La Présentation Association.  “Our presenters are Lynette Lundy-Beck from Sackets Harbor, NY and Mardi MacFarlane from Prescott, ON, and George Cherepon from Star Lake, NY, is the dance instructor.”

         

 A chatelaine suspended from the neck or a belt held the tools, such as keys and scissors, a woman may require. Participants should bring items for the chatelaine they will make and take home.



This is the style of Chatelaine you will be making in my workshop.  The brass thread cutter and beeswax amulet on the right side of the photo will be provided along with the chatelaine construction ribbon.  Feel free to bring any special sewing tools you may want to add to your chatelaine along with antique buttons or sentimental bits and pieces to make it unique.  

Participants will cut, paste and sew simple straw hats, supplied by the workshop, into bonnets. They should bring one-and-a-half-yards of fabric, as well as dried-flowers, ribbons, and small decorations to individualize their bonnets, which they will keep.

           

The St. Lawrence Valley English Country-Dance Club will demonstrate and lead participants in period dances. These dances were popular throughout the war and are mentioned in Jane Austen novels and other personal accounts.

               

“Ladies wishing to build on their dance experience are invited to return to the Dobisky Center at 7:00 p.m. for an English country-dance that will include lessons,” said Mrs. O’Keefe. “Dress is casual, and no partner is necessary. However, a number of experienced dancers will attend in period clothing.”  Soft-soled shoes are encouraged. Admission is $5.00

           

Women’s History Day has been planned the Ogdensburg Organizing Committee for the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 whose members are drawn from Forsyth’s Rifles, the Fort La Présentation Association, the Ogdensburg Library and the City of Ogdensburg.

               

The public is invited to register soon since space is limited.   Registration forms and further information is available at gcherepo@slic.com or 315-848-7736. 

September 29 & 30 1812 1/2 Quilt Show Reprise Details

This will be the last time the exhibit will be on display in Northern New York state.  

The exhibit is scheduled at a range of venues thru September 2014!

Send an email to Lynette@seawaytrail.com if you have any questions.

Two Pages in Canadian Quilters' Association Newsletter

If you are a member of the Canadian Quilters' Association look on pages 94 and 95 of the Autumn edition of the Newsletter magazine to read a article on the success of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail War of 1812 International Traveling Quilt Show. 

The article also has lots of details and inspiration for our 2013 Quilt Show and Challenge the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Beauty of the Byways. 

You can also keep up with all the details about this new event when you follow our Beauty of the Byway blog at:  http://beauty-of-the-byways.blogspot.com/

 http://www.canadianquilter.com/index.php

Important Early Quilt at 1812 ½ Show in Sackets Harbor September 29-30

The Pickering-Beach Historical Museum of Sackets Harbor, NY, will exhibit the 1859 quilt it has been given at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail 1812 ½ Quilt Show in Sackets Harbor, NY, September 29 and 30.

The quilt, discovered in a box of old packing blankets purchased at a rummage sale in Sackets Harbor 10 years ago, has been professionally appraised and authenticated.
 

Historian Jeannie Brennan and Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site Manager Connie Barone are currently researching the names, such as Westcott, Phillips and Hammond, that are sewn in tiny stitches in red silk thread into the album-style quilt. 

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail 1812 ½ Quilt Show at the Seaway Trail Discovery Center features the international traveling exhibit of 26 1812-style quilts, new Great Lakes Seaway Trail “Storyteller” interpretive panels about the War of 1812, and new works by American and Canadian quilters using patterns, colors and fabrics true to the 1812 time period.

Show hours are 10am-5 pm Saturday and Sunday. The $5 admission is good for both days For more information, go online to www.seawaytrail.com/quilting <http://www.seawaytrail.com/quilting> or call Lynette at 315-646-1000 x203.

More Information:
The Pickering-Beach Historical Museum consists of the circa 1809 Pickering Cottage and the circa 1817 Pickering-Beach House literally just a few steps from the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site in Sackets Harbor, NY.

A local legend says the cottage may have been used as a War of 1812 “hospital.”  The house was first built by Massachusetts native Joshua Pickering and rebuilt in the 1830-40s, probably by his son and Great Lakes Captain August A. Pickering.

The properties are today managed by the Pickering-Beach Committee of the Sackets Harbor Area Cultural Preservation Foundation.  

New American Girl Doll is from 1812 and Lives in Sackets Harbor!

American Girl debuted their newest historical doll earlier this week. Blonde, blue eyed Caroline Abbott hails from 1812.   Living in Sackets Harbor, NY Caroline witnesses first hand the events of the ‘War of 1812.′ The war was fought on land and sea all along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail from Erie PA to Northern New York State and the St. Lawrence River. The war lasted until 1815.

According to the American Girl website: “As the War of 1812 begins, so does the story of Caroline Abbott’s bravery. She loves sailing with her father, but when he’s captured, Caroline must help keep the family’s shipyard running. When she sees a chance to rescue her father, Caroline discovers that she must use her mind and heart to guide her decisions.”

I’m a huge American Girl fan and the best part of every American Girl doll in my mind is always the story behind the girl.

Like other American Girl historical dolls, Caroline stars in a series of five books: Meet Caroline, Caroline’s Secret Message, A Surprise for Caroline, Caroline Takes a Chance, Caroline’s Battle, and Changes for Caroline.

Find out more about this historical doll and all the books that tell her story at: http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/static/carolinedoll.jsp

What do you think of 1812 Caroline? Are you planning on giving her as a gift or purchasing her for yourself?

Share your thoughts!

World Quilt Show New England - August 16 -19

On August 16 -19 the Great Lakes Seaway Trail War of 1812 Bicentennial Quilts Traveling and Educational Exhibit will be at World Quilt Show New England in Manchester, New Hampshire. 

The 30-piece exhibit includes 26 quilts made in 1812-true style by McCarthy, other quilters, quilt guilds and historical societies in three Canadian provinces and 11 U.S. states.  New Hampshire resident Martha McCarthy is among the quilters whose work was selected for the international traveling exhibit.

Much of the war was fought in the freshwater shoreline region that is now recognized as the 518-mile Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway in New York and Pennsylvania. McCarthy, who grew up in Buffalo, NY, on the byway, now lives in Londonderry,  just 12 miles from Manchester, NH.

“The War of 1812 was emphasized in our school history classes and we were familiar with the (Buffalo) area attacked by the British. Through the Great Lakes Seaway Trail 1812 quilt challenge I could be involved in commemorating the war even though I now live in New Hampshire,” McCarthy says. 

McCarthy’s quilt titled “For Thomas” is made in the unique “cot-to-coffin” size,
30 inches wide and 70 inches tall, meant to cover a sleeping
or deceased soldier, sailor or militiaman. 

 “I was thrilled to have my quilt selected for the traveling exhibit and it’s an honor to have it displayed at such a highly-rated show as the World Quilt Show in Manchester,” McCarthy says.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail “Storyteller” cards displayed with each quilt share true facts about the quiltmaker’s family history; others are creative imaginations about a woman sending her man off to war with a quilt made of scraps of fabric from her apron, his son’s coat, his mother’s dress, etc.

Quilt Show Hits the Road - Off to World Quilt Show New England

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail War of 1812 Bicentennial Quilts Traveling and Educational Exhibit is on the road to the World Quilt Show New England in Manchester, New Hampshire August 16-19, 2012.

The exhibit includes 26 quilts made in 1812-true style plus educational interpretive panels, designed by artist Bob McNamara, which depict various aspects of the war, including the civilian effort.

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail War of 1812 Bicentennial exhibit will travel from now through 1814 in recognition of the War’s Bicentennial. It has already visited historic sites in Canada, including Upper Canada Village, and Fort Wellington in Prescott, Ontario.

The traveling exhibit is supported by a grant from the New York Council on the Humanities.