AN ONGOING LOVE AFFAIR

I have a weakness for early fabrics. The texture from years of numerous washings and the wear of generations can not be easily duplicated today. I not only adore the fabrics themselves but also their names: baize, fearnaught, everlasting, linsey-woolsey, moreen, dimity, diaper, tammy. Such creative names. The list of stuff * is almost endless. But my all time favorite is a simple fabric, homespun linen. I love the feel, the texture and the look of linen. And when I think of all the many steps and the work involved to produce a homespun linen sheet, well I'm in awe. When linen comes off the loom it is brown. It can be dyed or it can be bleached. One would think that after all the work and the many steps involved to get raw flax to a linen sheet, the bleaching process would be easy. Not so in the 18th century. Before 1760, the bleaching process was time consuming and labor intensive.
1. Soak the linen 30 to 40 hours in warm water, rinse and dry.
2. Soak in lye and cow dung for 48 hours.
3. Stretch cloth over the grass in bleach-yard.
4. Wash off the cow dung.
5. Beat cloth with "bat staffs" for 2 to 3 hours.
6. Place cloth into boiling lye and soak 24 hours.
7. Wash cloth. Stretch it over the bleach-green 4 hours.
8. Beat with bat staffs.
9. Repeat the last three steps for 8 to 10 days.
10.Place cloth in buttermilk for 1 or 2 nights.
11.Wash and beat the cloth again and then stretch it over the bleach-green.
12. Sour it again with buttermilk.
13. Repeat the process for another week, until the cloth is white enough.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! This process takes a month to complete. If I didn't have a respect for our ancestors before I sure do now.
*Textiles in general and especially a lustrous, English fabric of cotton or wool.

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY BEAUTY TIPS

It is no secret that women go to extreme lengths to be attractive. Million of dollars are spent on cosmetics each year for the sake of beauty. It was no different in the 18th century. Face patches were extremely popular for both women and men. They were made from the gummed pieces of taffeta, silk or even leather and were placed on the checks to heighten the brilliancy of the complexion and to hide the pock marks. They were made in different shapes, like stars, crescents & lozenges & were often dyed brilliant colors. Other people who did not want to wear patches choose to use a thick coat of face powder. Recipe: Several thin plates of lead, a big pot of vinegar, a bed of horse manure, water, perfume and a tinting agent. Steep the lead in the pot of vinegar, and rest it in a bed of manure for at least three weeks. When the lead finally softens to the point where it can be pounded into a flaky white powder(chemical reaction between the vinegar and lead causes the lead to turn white), grind it to a fine powder. Mix with water, and let dry in the sun. After the powder is dry, mix with the appropriate amount of perfume and tinting dye. Yuck! Since the base of the powder was lead it was also very poisonous! All for the sake of being fashionable and beautiful.

GOOD, OLD REMEDIES

I love early American history; the way of life, traditions and customs. So ever now and then I will be writing about different aspects of early America. Recently while going thru my books I came across a favorite of mine titled "The Pocumtuc Housewife". The chapter "The Physical Director" is charming, innocent, funny and the remedies are oh so NOT to be tried.
1. A slice of salt pork spread with pepper and bound on with a strip of red flannel will cure a sore throat. Or in a pinch, a stocking taken warm from the foot and bound about the throat is efficacious.
2. For an ordinary headache take a shovel full of clean wood ashes, put them into clear cold water. When it has settled drink the water. It may cause vomitting; if it does the headache will be relieved the sooner.
3. For an earache soak the feet in warm water, roast an onion and put the heart of it into the ear as hot as can be borne and bind roasted onion on the feet.
4. An ointment made of ground worms simmered in lard, and rubbed on with the hand is excellent when sinews are drawn up.

A GRAND ADVENTURE

If you are very lucky, every now and then you get an opportunity to do something unusual and exciting. May 16th and 17th I will get that opportunity. My very talented and gifted friend Susan Havens-Morris , who is the sole owner of Middleburg Folk Art Studio (www.middleburgfolkartstudio.com.), will be exhibiting at the Colonial Faire at The Endview Plantation in Newport News, VA. (www.colonialfaire.com.) The best part is that I get to help! But wait. It gets even better. Both Susan and I have to be attired in proper 18th century clothing. That includes petticoats, caraco jackets, stockings, hats and more. Oh my!! The absolute best part is that instead of displaying her wonderful paper mache items under a tent, Susan has envisioned creating a modular Mount Vernon. That's right. Mount Vernon as is George Washington's home . How cool is that? I told you she was gifted and talented. The room at Mount Vernon Susan choose will be the "Green" dining room complete with a fireplace mantle and windows that open. A beautiful and historic setting, being dressed in 18th century clothing and helping a dear friend sell her wares in a reproduction of Mt Vernon is a true fantasy. I can't wait to go.

Good Times at Fox Valley

The March Fox Valley Antique Show is now over and I must say it was GREAT! The show was visually a feast for the eyes, with a treasure waiting for everyone. The participating dealers are all top notch professionals who tirelessly decorate their booths and always produce stunning results. The five-minute presentations were well attended as was the lecture on "Collecting Lincoln." Such fun! As always it was a delight to see my customers who have turned into such good friends over the years. 

Sharing the love of antiques and history has given me the opportunity and privledge to meet some really great people. And then there is Pat, my dear friend from Michigan, who drove in on Friday to specifically help me set up my booth. She has done this for years out of the goodness of her heart. I could never begin to repay her kindness. 

Also this show I had the help of another friend, Susan, who drove all Thursday night from Virginia to make sure she was with me on Friday for setup. How wonderfully crazy is that? Thank you, Thank you and Thank you again! I am truly blessed to have both Pat and Susan in my life. If you were one of the many people who came to the show I say thank you and please come again. If you were unable to attend I hope to see you at the next Fox Valley Show in October. Please come by my booth, introduce yourself, say "hi" and join my circle of friends.

Bring History Home...

The Fox Valley Antique Show is next weekend Saturday, March 14th and Sunday, March 15th and I am really excited. Besides showcasing in a new exhibition hall at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, IL , my booth will have a fresh look. It will be full of wonderful finds from my recent buying trips. Displayed will be painted pantry boxes from Maine, two large wallpapered boxes, indigo blue and cream homespun blankets, a pristine stamped grain bag complete with it's original ties from PA, a couple of wonderful petticoats from PA., a nice selection of 19th century woman's everyday dresses, painted six board chests, a red painted dome box, a large painted brown dough bowl, an early & rare woven mattress for a rope bed plus lots, lots more.

In addition to 54 other superb dealers, the show will offer three five minute presentations; Saturday at 2:00 "Make-dos", at 3:00 "Silhouettes and Portrait Miniatures of the 19th Century" and at 4:00 "Antique Jewelry". On Sunday at 12:00 Ray McClaskey, a member of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Foundation Board, will speak on collecting Lincoln.

The image above is just a sneak peak at some of the New pieces we will be bringing. These two large, 19th century, wallpaper boxes have great floral patterns and colors.

Hope to see you all next weekend! 

My booth is #21.