My Birthday at Rippavilla Plantation (Marian's First Historical Event)

On my birthday in July we attended an event at Rippavilla Plantation. It was Marian's first event in historical attire, so I was definitely very excited. Rippavilla was having a big fancy craft/antique sale on the front lawn, and they requested that some living history people attend to populate the house and grounds for the day to give visitors a more authentic experience. That was our role.

Here we are in the back courtyard.

Marian and I spent a good part of the day sewing with the other ladies in the sun-room.

Some of the time she played happily in her basket.

We also got to hear some wonderful period music.

 

  

 Marian was such a show-off that day, she wore herself out smiling at everyone. 

She finally fell asleep on Dad's shoulder, and then napped in her basket.

 Several people thought she was a doll at first.

  

 More pictures of the inside. It was a beautiful house! I wish I had gotten pictures of the upstairs.

 This is a new sheer dress I made for myself. Finished it the morning of the event, actually. lol. 

(Not the most ideal thing for your sanity.)

Some of the time we spent outside, admiring all the neat booths and antiques, 

and enjoying the shade of the front porch. Marian was quite the star attraction wherever we went.

Marian and Mommy in the rose garden

 We wondered our way home that afternoon via back-roads looking for old houses, it was quite a fun day!

Marian's First Historical Dress

 

Marian's first historical outfit! A little 1860s petticoat and dress. I made these for an event we planned to attend on my birthday back in July. It was so fun making her tiny little things! The dress is sheer dotted swiss cotton, and has little puffed sleeves and a gathered bodice. It closes in back with two buttons, at neck and waistband. The skirt is gauged and very full with two decorative tucks.

Below is a picture of the little full petticoat, its made the same as the dress, the only difference is it has plain un-puffed short sleeves, and is from cotton batiste with three skirt tucks. (Sorry its not a better picture!)

The two pictures below were my main inspiration as far as style. See how the sleeves are 'raglan' style? Those were my 'aha' moment in making the pattern. I pulled out an old chemise pattern that had the same type of sleeve seams, and it was no time until I had a tiny version for Marian's bodice.

 

And, below an original dotted swiss dress...

 

Originally I had planned to make Marian's dress with the long infant skirts like above. But then I realized that she will be crawling very soon, and is already so wiggly and active, that perhaps that wouldn't be the best idea. So, I started looking to see if I could find pictures of babies Marian's approximate age (5 months) that had shorter skirts. Sure enough, it seemed quite common. (I'm very new to baby wear, so forgive me if everyone already knows this!) I know there are probably some basic do's and don'ts of baby wear and skirt lengths, but I am so far quite ignorant. If anyone is knowledgeable about Victorian baby wear, please do chime in.

Examples of shorter skirts on infants:

I was also glad to see that Marian wasn't alone in the 'poofing bodice syndrome' when she sat down.

Pictures of Marian at her first event to follow...