Gregory Timothy Hector

The Texas Living History community has lost one of our own.  Greg Hector has been a Living Historian at Texas forts and as an SCV member for decades.  He was a mainstay with his bugle, banjo, and as an Artillery commander.  We will greatly miss him.  He passed away on Nov. 9, 2014 in Brady, Tx.  Our prayers are with Donna, his loving wife.  Greg's obituary and a fitting video tribute can be seen at http://www.leatherwoodmemorialchapels.com/home/index.cfm  

On-line Book: Draping Period Costumes: Classical Greek to Victorian

ISSUU is a very interesting site that offers free e-magazines.  Some are full magazines and others are just samplers from the issue.  The link below is a complete book with tips on draping various eras of period costumes.  If you are interested in the 1840 and 50s, there are some nice styles.  The eras continue through the bustle period.  Hope this will be something you can use.
http://issuu.com/sherifabid/docs/0240821335costumes

A New Use for a Vintage Tool

Sewing techniques have changed since the 1800s but many of the couture techniques come from that era.  That is one of the reasons I share these sewing tidbits with you.  Below is a video that shows a  vintage tool used in a new way.  Tell me what you think. Could you use these with your sewing demonstrations at events?

FWLHA Ladies School

Angela Grabowski

10:06am Oct 28

Howdy, Y'all!

Last year, Donna Hector, Beverly Wildes and ARNie Grabowski volunteered to organize the School of the Victorian Lady at Ft. Concho in March 2015.
We are in the final planning stages, and we'd like you to review our efforts so far, start reserving your classes.

To better disseminate the information, ARNie set up a blog just for the conference.
http://victorianladyschool.blogspot.com/

We have 4 to 6 slots open for anyone who would like to offer a lecture or presentation. We are asking folks to structure their lecture to a 20 minute time frame; you can certainly have more time if you want it, but the 20 minutes was hopefully not such a burden to prepare. This would be a great place to test a new interpretation, or just brush up on an old one.

ARNie is emailing various historical entities in hopes of securing some lecturers with a different angle on our passion: history.

Our Crafts Room is full! If you enjoy working with your hands we have 4 different classes, and a new type of weaving to try.

If you'd like to reserve a class, or volunteer to do a lecture/presentation email us at victorianladytx at yahoo dot com.

School of the Victorian Lady victorianladyschool.blogspot.com

Surprising Variations on a French Braid

French braids are so lovely.  The crown braid shown in the first box would make a lovely hairstyle  for both young and more seasoned reenactor ladies.  This website has a picture tutorial which might make it easy to do with a little practice.  http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2014/10/surprisingly-simple-french-braid-variations.html

Let us know if you try it out.

Victorian Hair Styles

Victorian hair styles are amazing.  I know that a lot of it was done with hair pieces and "rats" but I don't think I would ever have enough time to get it to look so perfect.  Certainly don't have a servant to help.   Not only that, but it would never stay that way in the Texas winds. 

This website has a number of great pictures as well as hair decorations and accessories explained.

http://www.victoriana.com/Victorian-Fashion/civilwarhairstyles.htm

Video of sewing for the soldiers in WW1

I chanced upon this video and although it is not of the Texas frontier it does show sewing and boot making for the war effort.  Many of the techniques were not that far removed from earlier times ...just translated into the industrial age.  The song accompanying it is hysterical.