A Regency Retreat

Yes it may finally happen! We have found a location that will let us rent their space for a very fine price. The event will be held over a weekend in December. That gives us all plenty of time to plan and save money. Three nights with two full days of workshops and sewing time! Sounds fantastic! The price will include lodging, six meals prepared by the retreat center, two high teas by our chef, and some workshop fees. Certain workshops may cost an additional fee or materials.

There are three sets of dates available and we would like to take a poll of what you think would work best for you.

December 1st-4th
December 8th-11th
December 15th- 18th

Are there any workshops you would really love to see at the retreat? We are very excited and would love some feedback from you!

Longing for Summer and all its diversions

Good Day Ladies and Gentleman,

While it is dreary and snowy, many a daydream has centered on the wonders and comforts of a warm summer's day. Others find the careful planning of the summer season to be a fine consolation to being kept in. What keeps me in high spirits is the careful planning and dreaming of a summer wardrobe and the accessories to accompany it.

I have acquired over the holiday season a book that has become a great deal of joy to me as well as information. I received "English Fashions of the Nineteenth Century" by C. Willett Cunningham (no relation to our own Mrs. Cunningham).

While this particular volume has many different styles and over 1000 illustrations of various fashions. The first chapter in particular is of interest to people enamored of the regency and federalist era.

Here are a few peeks at the fashion plates from this wonderful book:







I hope that these are inspiration for hats and fashions for the delights of picnics, promenades, carriage rides and any number of pleasurable country diversions.

Your Humble Servant,
Mrs. N. Azevedo

Save Public Broadcasting!

We rely on public broadcasting for the period pieces we love the most! If we allow our government to slash public broadcasting, it will severely limit or completely wipe out any of the things we've come to count on. Call your government representatives today and raise hell!

Extraordinary photos from the Duchess's Feast.

Photographer: Michael Linn; see originals on his flickr page: CLICK HERE.

Shadow puppet show performed by Mary Kowal; author of Shades of Milk and Honey.

The Duchess of Beaufort's Midwinter Feast

Last year's Feast of the Twelfth Night was a revelation.  This year, the chef is making an expanded menu and we are able to squeeze in a few more seats.  The venue is changed as well. Our organizer has picked a lovely farm in Dayton called Red Ridge Farm; which is a winery, Olive orchard and herb farm. It's a beautiful setting and the venue itself is a lovely space with a nice stone-mantel fireplace.  We are very excited.

The menu last year featured the following dishes:

First Course

Lobster Bisque topped with a Tarragon and Lobster Chantilly

Deviled Eggs with Fresh Ground Pepper and Dill

Creamed Leek Pie

Lavender Blueberry Trifle

Roasted Leg of Lamb

Boiled Potatoes tossed in Butter and Fresh Dill

Steamed Mussels

Strawberry and Chocolate Trifle

Second Course

Meringues filled with Strawberry Mousse

Mushroom and Goat Cheese Vol-au-vents

Glazed Ham

Honey Mustard Carrots

Roasted Asparagus

Glazed Pear and Rosemary Cake

Prawns

Fresh Fruit Tarts

Third Course

Lemon Ice

Cheese, fruit, and Nut Board

Cornish Game Hens

Shredded Sweet Potato Pie

Glazed Lemon and Anise Cake

Crème Caramel

This year, there will be MORE dishes and we will also be featuring wines from area wineries, including Red Ridge's products.   This event can be an opportunity to make a weekend of exploring the wine-country here in the Willamette Valley. There are lots of really great lodging options in the area.

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The Event's 'Write-Up':

An exclusive event, the Duchess’s Midwinter Feast is an extravagant and decadent evening of riches. Join the Duchess for a succession of sumptuous dishes created by the Duchess’s chef; and sip an array of wines made from the fruit of local vines. Indulge in an evening of society, pleasant diversions and perhaps even partake in a lovely dance.

The Menu will be expansive; larger than last year’s fine dinner. A larger selection of locally made wines will be provided as well. Set in a vineyard, herb farm and olive orchard, we dine by candle and firelight.

This event calls for Formal Regency Costume only – no daywear, please. Your dress should be appropriate for sharing a dining table with aristocracy.

There are only twenty-eight total spaces available.

Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.oregonregencysociety.com/events.htm#feast

Miss Charlotte's Shoe Tutorial

Greetings readers! Today we are going to follow a lovely tutorial created by ORS member and ORS leader Charlotte. She made her own regency slippers recently, and did a bang-up-job of it, so I've decided to unapologetically plaigiarize her work over here on the ORS blog so we can share this wonderful, and entirely manageable project.

Finding appropriate flats for regency costume is always a challenge. I've been prone to using soft dance shoes, khussa shoes and flats I find commercially. Regency dance-slippers should be flat and comfortable, with some measure of softness, and it's hard to find that at a store--except perhaps a pair of ballet flats, however they take it a step further by reducing the sole to nothing, and being ultra flexible. But starting with a basic pattern, and using some really minor modifications, Charlotte shows us that it's easy to make your own customized pair of regency shoes where you can go as simple or as elaborate as you like.

She begins with a pattern:

"This is a good basic pattern to start with." Charlotte writes.

"My second alteration involved removing the tongue and squaring off the toe, to match the length of the sole."

"My first alteration involved squaring off the toe and widening it a bit. I also lenghtened the tab for the ribbon casing."

Charlotte chose to use a soft, synthetic leather; however your options are unlimited when it comes to this project. You can use extant shoes as inspiration.  Here are some links gathered by some RSA members:

Purple late regency - http://tinyurl.com/28udb7

Pink Kid Leather - http://tinyurl.com/2zx5ex

Leather - http://tinyurl.com/2gxgv6

1870-1810 Satin - http://tinyurl.com/3bsetz

Chartreuse Green Satin Half Boot 1818 - http://tinyurl.com/35rm95

Leather 1830s http://tinyurl.com/2ou3ue

Here is another collection.

On with the tutorial. ..

"Cut 2 lining and 2 facing for the sole and the top. Cut 4 lining of the tab. Use a 1/4 inch seam for all stitches."

"Right side together, sew the ends of the top of the shoe together, for each lining and facing piece."

"Right sides together, sew both tabs. Leave a space open for casing, as shown. Turn right side out."

"This particular lining was fraying pretty badly so I hand stitched the edges of the casing to keep this in check."

"Stitch a line above and below the casing to allow for a clear channel."

"On right side of lining, stitch the tab to the bottom at the back seam. Make sure the tab does not extend above the top of the lining, or it will show outside of the finished shoe."

"Right sides together, and matching the back seam, stitch around the upper edge"

"Clip the curve at throat of shoe."

"Turn lining to inside. Pin carefully so that the lining is secured to the inside and then edge stitch the upper opening to secure the lining."

"Another view of the edge stitching."

"Stitch the outer edge of the lining and facing of the upper part of the shoe."

"Add another stitch on the outside around the heel. I extended mine from about the middle of the shoe back around to the other side."

"Clip the curve of the toe."

"Trim purchased inserts to fit with a comfortable seam allowance."

"Stitch lining to facing, sandwiching the cushion between."

"Finished view of the soles stitched together."

"Right sides together, stitch sole to upper. Take care to match the toes and heels together and ease the sides to match. The heel is the tightest part to stitch, and I recommend a second seam there. I also recommend following the seam of the upper part of the shoe, to avoid showing that seam when turned right side out."

"Just a view of this as I stitch."

"Trim the toe."

"Turn right side out, check the seams and you're done!"

"A view of the ribbon in the casing."

The creator models her handiwork. Very nice!

They were so fun to make, she made two. :)

Thank you Miss Charlotte for this wonderful tutorial! Imagine what you can do? You can change your toe shape, add embellishments, long flowing ribbons, the options are limitless!  I hope this tutorial will inspire you to try for yourself.