michaelsbagley

So if you don't care, why did you bother to ask? Why even bother to have, or pretend to have, standards? I think there is where the "What is actually authentic?" crosses into the provenance of what historic comprimises are re-enactors able/willing to make for the sake of safety, health, and to a greater degree convenience. While this conversation could (and very well may) lead to it's own thread, for now I will say, I do go through incredible lengths to dress the part well, and carry the correct accessories, but when it comes to drinking and staying hydrated... I will try to do my best, but if I have forgotten my period(ish) drinking vessel, authenticity be damned, I will be drinking that lemonade in a plastic cup!

3A favourite of mine as well! My guess, the coat is wool, the waistcoat is probably silk, perhaps even silk velvet? I would guess the same for the breeches. Around his waist would be a sword belt (for his hunting sword/knife), my guess would be that it is leather, although leather backed fabric was used in the period as well Hope this has helped.

Hey Diosa, You need to get in on this nagging the Canadian thing too!

My guess is probably yes, but if you are seriously concerned about it, I can contact Linda K (the director) and get a more solid answer. Another method (and another shameless plug here), is the Dead Man's Chest Auction, while this type of donation would likely not be tax deductable, you do get a goodie out of it... There are a few items that do not have bids, bidding $5 or $10 on one of those items is a donation to the ship, and if you don't like the item, you can use it as a "re-gift" item or a paper weight...

Just be careful with what yer keeping it full .... some events will nail you for alcohol during public hours OR outside of camp, last year Blackbeard's was one of them. My vote is hunting bag, wallet/ or snapsack... (I still question haversacks as to correct for our period) or hell, ye can do what I used to do in England, stumble around from pub to pub with the same glass as I was too polluted to know I had taken it from the first pub... Heck last year at Blackbeards I was asked to dump WATER (and yes it was really water with no additives) out of my mug. The security there was probably too tight, as drinks were expensive and it seemed as if we were not allowed to carry even innocent drinks out of camp. And then when I bought an overpriced lemonade from a stand, I got busted by the authenticity police for drinking out of a plastic cup... Personally I think the above combo of factors could have (and may still) lead to some serious heat stroke or other related heat related health issues if a practical solution is not come up with for that event... Either that or I will be telling off the festival security or authenticity police or both... (which I am guessing will not be a wise thing to do) EDIT -> Just to be clear and not be insulting to anyone, when I say "busted by the authenticity police" I was being tongue in cheek. The fact of the matter is a fellow re-enactor politely and nicely reminded me that we were supposed to be keeping up a high level of authenticity, and that I should have stayed "off duty" (reasonably hidden) or had my mug to dump said liquid into (which was problematic as I had no convenient means of carrying it).

Constance, this is a great event... There is a ball (Friday night), and it is a family festival. Lots of music, good amount re-enacting, plenty to do. Vendors are fairly varied, although there seemed to be fewer vendors atBlackbeards festival then there was in Key west... But it looks like that is expanding,.,, It would be awesome to see you and Silas there! And as many of the kids as you culd drag along as well!

Hi Lady Brower, you may have accidentally changed your options... The grey box in the upper right hand portion of your screen that reads "Options". Have a look and try that. Hopefully this will help!

Original I think I had posted that the September edition is likely not going to be an overnight thing... Well it seems now it MIGHT be an option.... Although there is much to work out. Regardless, the September edition (on Talk Like a Pirate Day) will be a smaller to-do... And the wife and I are toying with ideas on how we can make the next bigger one (likely the same weekend next May) more of an all weekend thing... One idea we are playing with is creating some stuff for Friday evening (perhaps a fund raising Masquerade ball if we can find the backing and locale). These ideas are all very much just in the idea stage so far. And really I am more focussed on unwinding and reflection now... with a bit of buzz in the back of my skull telling me that I should be prepping for the Hampton Blackbeards festival.... However, if anyone has some constructive criticisms or ideas for next year (or for September), please do feel free to share!

Happy Birthday again doll... Hope you enjoyed the prezzies! Next year we'll try harder to not get black powder burns all over the cake!

North?!?!?! Due West Silky darling, due west! But I do so hope you can make it out this way sometime, it would be great to have you! As for the big bad dogge (all lower case intended), he can always try my tactic of standing there pouting and stomping his feet... Maybe it might work for him!

I've wondered about that myself! Most particularly with my bandolier of cartouches (also commonly called apostles), I've only worn them a few times but the weight of the more powder bottles on the front tends to make them hang unevenly... I know having actual lead shot in the pouch would likely make a bit of a difference, but I truly wonder how much, and if there is other methods. I seem to recall the French having robbons on the shoulder their baldrics were worn over, but I can't an image clear enough to note whether the ribbons are a part of the suppost balancing system of the baldric or not. Anyone have some practical experience or know of some period sources to shed more light on this situation?

RANSOM!!! Your original set of Trading Cards finally arrived!!!! I am uncertain as to whether they showed up Saturday or Today (I was away all weekend), but they are here with the April 22nd pot mark on them. Hope you haven't put too much (or any) time into new cards yet.... And if so you can always save them for the next round. Whew...

Ya know, that is about one of my most favourite photos from the event! And lob looks happy! Callenish, great to hear you made it home safe. It was awesome to have you, Salty and Hamish with us all this past weekend! Specially with you all being able to get away from minding the store!

Never having worn stays... I couldn;t say for sure or not... But as someone who makes a lot of garments and has made a lot of mistakes in learning to make garments, the one peice of fabric idea does not sound wise. Fabrics have some give and strecth to them, even fabrics that don't seem to, often actual do have some stretch... By using one piece of fabric, you will be altering the direction of the grain of the fabric you are using which may actually make the garment not fit as well, or not "move" as well, or drap well etc. Just my two cents worth. But I have thought of it before myself, it is a great idea in theory.... :angry:

Okay, now that I have slept... I really want to thank everyone who helped make this event happen and those that have supported it (whether you were able to make it or not!) I really want to thank Lady Constance for letting her incredibly well mannered and great guys to come play with us. And an even bigger thanks to Lady Constance for all the cooking and food she sent with those boys. She spoiled us all rotten! Thanks to Silas, Miles, Alex, and Andrew for coming up and looking like you all had a great time! Thanks to the Beach boys (M.A. d'Dogge and Tiger Bill) for coming out and being a right riot. You guys are nuts and all too fun to hang out with in all the best ways. The pics of you climbing up top and sword fighting on the mainyards will live on with me forever! Thanks to Matty for being so entertaining and for taking time taway from the family to come out and play. Always a pleasure sir! Mission, it is always great to see you, and thanks for lugging all the medical gear and presenting it all day in that special way you do. And an even bigger thanks for not using any of the medical gear on any of us present! :angry: Callenish and Salty (and Hamish too), it was great to see you all again as always! To Perkeo, Grizz and Afira(hope I spelled it correctly this time!), it is always a please to have you guys (and gal) out to play with us. Thanks for bringing enough booze to sink the entire crew! A big special thanks to my Florida girls, Diosa, it is always a pleasure to have you around.... Apparently I do need another women on my back to keep me in line... And you can always do it with bringing a smile to me face as well. Red Jessi, thanks so much for coming up and spending your birthday with us! The pair of you travelled so far, and it really was great to see you both. I truly hope it was worth the trip! A special thanks to Mark and Jennie for doing so much of the leg work to make this happen, and specially to Mark for bringing his boat out and letting many of us play in it! And to Jennie for spending so much time cooking and caring for all of us (as she does too often). A big special thanks to those who have been bidding on the "Dead Man's Chest items" and to all of those who wanted to come out and for whatever reasons couldn't make it! And do remember there is still a few days to bid on the earlier posted auction items, and more days for the later posted items! There are so many more thanks to give for this. but my mind is blanking out, and I think most of the other thanks need to be said where those who deserve them can see them (as in people not on this forum).

Finally home and settled in (and we only live across town), but I must say this was an awesome event! Pictures and a more well thought out post to come, just wanted people to give us a shout out when they get home safe and get a chance. Diosa, Salty, Callenish and little Hamish are staying the extra night to rest from the weekend before heading home. Cheer

Some more items have been added to the auction... Of most interest to those here may be... Some passementerie buttons There is even two lots of them And a completely hand sewn shirt is also up for grabs.

Just woke up from a nap (at home Ill today, ugh), but it is my sleep laden eyes, or did Haunting Lil take the extra time and effort to line the pattern up on the pattern of the fabric? Wow! freaking fantastic!

Thanks for the quote! As for the Queen, even as a loyal subject I think I can happily turn a blind eye to this one.... Special since the transgression has happened outside of Her jurisdiction.

While it is no where near as good as Firefly, Nathan Fillian's new show "Castle" is pretty good. I've been enjoying it immensely... But then I have always been a bit of a sucker for murder mystery shows.... Specially ones that can use humour.

Bump again, because it has come up in a paralell thread,

This is the common rebuttal to the Admirality Contracts.... But the Admirality Slop Contracts for clothing was something that all ships operating under the British Admirality had to adhere to, which included some/most/all? merchant vessels as well. The Navy didn't have uniforms yet, and the slops contracts were not uniforms (as there is some variety in the contracts) nor are slop contract clothing restricted to the navy. While dressing ALL pirates thusly would be aesthetically displeasing (and likely historically innacurrate as well), seeing the slop contract clothing more commonly/more often wouldn't be bad or wrong. Two out of the three main components of my set of pirate clothing are from the slops contracts (the green waistcoat is where I deviate), so even using partial slop contract items still allows for tons of variety!

A bunch new stuff added over the last couple of nights. There is still almost half of the items yet to be added to the auction!

Okay, to keep the below image with the rest of the other soldier information... and to delve further and carry on the conversation started on this thread These are supposed to be dragoons? Dismounted..? right then off track... On looking more intently at the image, I would guess that those are not dragoons. The dragoon comment comes from a half remembered conversation I had with John Machate of the Baltimore Rangers, and I think I may have grossly misremembered the conversation. The long arms in that image look too long (not carabines) to be dragoon arms is the biggest indicator to me that your seeming incredulity of me calling them dragoons may be well founded. (of course that is if I am reading your post correctly, and what I thought was you expressing doubt about them being dragoons is what you intended).

If you look up the thread on uniform colours in the Captain's Twill area, you will see that soldiers while similar were not at the perfectly uniform stage yet... Coats tended to be the same colour, and they tended to have similar accessories, but from one soldier to the next differences could be seen... Even more so in the colonies thanover in Europe and Great Britain. But that is another discussion entirely...