We've been having rather wintery weather lately on the weekends, which means a lot of time for sewing! So far this month I've completed my 18th century shift and cap, and made progress on my 1860s evening bodice. Yay! Next project to tackle is my stays. I'm leaning towards German faux whalebone for support, but haven't found an in-country supplier. Shipping from Farthingales, CA. is more than I really want to pay. Anyone else know of suppliers?
Despite trying to stick to my list, I have been seriously wanting a new mid 19th century sheer dress lately. Maybe I'm hoping to be able to make it to more (or any) events this summer than last.
In fact, I've been thinking a lot about reenacting in general lately. In a very short nutshell, which one day I will expand upon, about a year ago the reenacting group I was president of broke up under the most unpleasant circumstances. We had a prospective member wanting to join that from a lot of members perspectives was "immoral". Some of the members wanted to change the rules of our group to include moral clauses. Of course, these moral clauses pretty much wrote myself out of being able to be a member of the group, or anyone else who wasn't fundamentalist/conservative Christian! A lot of unpleasant words were said, I received numerous pieces of hate-mail, threats, had property stolen and/or never returned, &c. There was very little aspects of my being that I feel was not attacked by one or more members of the group. It was very, very emotionally straining on me to go through all this, because I had thought of these people as friends, and they were then stringing me up for being, well, tolerant. Group totally dissolved. Funny thing is, the prospective member probably wouldn't have become a member anyway unless they could have brought up the accuracy of their impression. So now, I don't even talk to any of the former members. I still get unpleasant emails from a good number of them periodically.
I was not emotionally able to do any events last year after that. I was afraid of what these people might say or do to me. I wanted to throw the whole hobby out the window. The thought of going to an event brought waves of depression and anger.
In October of last year, I attended Boonsefield in Mo. I was scared nearly the entire time that this group of reenactors would turn on me like the other had. It turned out to be one of the best things I could do emotionally for myself in the hobby. I even talked to a few people about my situation, and instead of cussing me out and kicking me out, which I emotionally was expecting, they were sympathetic! I felt so much better when I got back from that event then when I had left.
Since then, I have done one local event with some friends who, while aware of the above situation and pretty neutral on who was "right" and "wrong", never took to bashing, threatening, or seeing the situation as some serious threat to their lives. I can respect neutrality, especially if it's not something you are smack in the middle of.(at least, that's how I took their viewpoint, correct me if I'm wrong). I am very glad to have them as friends!
I'd really like to be back in the swing of the hobby this upcoming season, but I still am not ready to be around the former members of my former group. So what do I do? Only go to events really far away to avoid them? (costly) Move? (not practical in this economy) Start a new group? (maybe, but where to get members) Go independently? (yeah, but having a least a small group to do things with would be nice). Entirely give up 19th century for 18th and 20th? (still would run into former members, just not as much)
So yeah, that's why I'm hesitant to buy anything for mid-19th century anything. I'm afraid it will go to waste, given that as of right now, I have two foreseeable events to go to in the next year (and both in Mo!)
But man, nice sheer fabric is sounding fun to play with right now...
Comments
Stormi - so sorry about your troubles. I, too, broke with the group I was with under unpleasant circumstances. And I am familiar with being on the outside because I am not fundamentalist Christian. I hid for about a year, then decided that was stupid. The members of the small group I eventually found are aware of the difficulties and run interference if they become aware of malicious gossip. I just do my best to stay pleasant and bid them a good day as I pass by. Perhaps letting organizers know there is a history with these folks, but you intend to never let it affect your behavior towards them, will turn anything they say back on them?
Having fun should not be this difficult!
Take care,
Joanna Jones (from Liz Clark's SA)
This happens so often. Everyone needs to learn how to coexist. I don't mind if someone's moral code is different than mine (more strict or more relaxed.) It really isn't my business and I can be friends with people of all morality beliefs. My regiment is really good with this but my former one was not and have since broke up although I like all of the people individually. It gets down the the point where it's like "Okay so two of age guys in the unit are drinking." Instead of getting offended, just avoid them for the night.