michaelsbagley

French Maids! Unfortunately my trip to Toronto was cut short so I didn't have time to visit the museum and take photos, nor did I get to do any book shopping...

After re-reading Kass's post a few times... I just have to ask... I know this information could be heavily questionable, but I have been told that soldiers during both the American Revolution and during the North American War of 1812 were required to provide their own uniforms and that they were not issued, and it was the soldiers wife that made the uniform more often than not (not a sexist comment, just stating what has been posed to me as history). Also, that while the uniform had to match the criteria of the military unit, there often was slight variation in the colour (different fabric suppliers and/or variable dyeing results) and to a lesser degree variation of cut as well to the uniforms. Have I been mis-informed? Or possibly only half informed and is there more to this? If what I have been told is true, would it not hold for earlier history as well?

Rats, I'm going to be in Toronto visiting again this weekend... I've been considering a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum while I am there visiting... If I make it to the museum, I will make sure I bring my camera and snap some pictures of any colonial military uniforms/clothing they may have. I visited Historic Fort York last time I went to Toronto, but the few uniforms they have on on display (I beleive they are extant peices) are from much later time frames (War of 1812 or later). I'll also be checking out some of the book stores while I am in Toronto... You'd be suprised at how many more "British-centric" books are readily available in Canada than here in the US. If I find anything really good I will definately buy, and send any pictures that may be of use.

If your going to suggest Osprey as a starting point, there are these two books as well for the time frame... British Army 1660 to 1704 Marlborough's Army 1702–11

It's not a primary source... but here is an artist's rendition of what a historian told him... This is from the "Canadian Military Heritage" web site... British Red Coat circa 1697

My answers would be: a. 0 Pirate / 7 Other period re-enactments (Attended 3) b. One historic, one movie/fantasy style, although they are both similar, one is just over the top c. Both historic and movie/fantasy but leaning more towards historic d. Escapism

I haven't dealt with directly in a long time.... But know many people that have dealt with them over the last few years... All say the same thing, it takes forever to get your sword (I have heard that 6 months is the recent average for North American deliveries from Armour Class), but anyone I have spoken with all agree that they are usually reasonable about responding to emails....

"I'm here to kick some ass and chew some bubblegum.... and I'm all out of bubblegum..." I forget the character's name, but the quote is from the rather terrible (but very funny) "B" movie "They Live"

As I am still pretty new to pirate re-enacting and am still getting my first set of kit together, I was thiking that I would keep my tent/shelter or whatever firmly closed and sealed at all times... Further down the road after I have gotten all of my personal kit together and am at the point where I am working on camp accoutrements, then I would try to hide or conceal the air matress and leave the tent open. I guess I have been running on an assumption here. In another period of re-enactment that I do, the rule for camps/tents is basically: "If your tent is closed and always remians so, put whatever you want inside of it (including obviously modern stuff), if you plan to have your tent open/viewable, make sure everything inside is period accurate or camoflauged to look so." Is that type of cnvention being used for the PiP encampment? Or is there too much of a concern of the audience possibly peeping into closed tents to go this route?

Why not get drunk and murder a few small trees? They're cheap, period, and look great -CS The above photos of the crude lashed together shelters look great... and that is definately the way I would camp at PiP.... But.... Assuming I can make it of course, I will most likely be attending with my girlfriend and a bit of privacy would be needed at the very least, although in light of her "need" for creature comforts, something that looks crude and authentic(ish) as the above samples do, but closes completely for privacy, ad possibly is spacious enough for a double sized air matress would be ideal... Anyone have suggestions or ideas for something that may suit my needs. I'm guessing there may be others attending with similar needs. I've seen some posts (I wish I could remember on which thread thread) of the larger tents some people would use for this type of event, and I may go that route should an option more suited to my tastes and needs provide itself... I just so want to take it more to the rough and tumble while still maintaining m'ladies comfort... I'm not asking for too much here am I?

The boss in Nova Scotia is called the Premiere... But I think that the east coasters would probably have a good enough sense of humour to be willing to try and pass a motion in the provincial parliament to have the title of "Premiere" to "Bosa Nova"... After all, I've been there and there really isn't much else to do unless your really into sea fishing (which I am not)... It would actually work pretty well for them... The accent there would make the phrase "Boss of Nova" sound almost exactly like "Bosa Nova" anyway...

You are an evil (but very helpful) woman! But you already know that... I was haviong an internal debate over using buying and using some hemp canvas for a tent for my "other" period... I was asked to see if anyone (meaning probably Kass) knows anything about "underpinnings" for this period.... I should just get the woman to sign onto the list herself and ask her own questions...

Thanks Kass! That answer gives me all the confidence I (I should say her and I) needed to put scissors to the fabric and have at it... we'll will read the historic notes on order to help further the costume and her accompannying persona along... We probably should have done that before raising the question of context... (Stupid lazy pirates we be) I'll post pics as progress goes on (and with two of us sewing, it should go faster than my stuff did). I will also try to talk her into a mantua (you extortionist ) for more day to day wear.... It looks like I have a few patterns more to order (grumbling about extortionist again )... A waist coat for me, and a mantua for her and the accessories pattern when it comes out... Might as well get the justacorps pattern for when I want to be all spiffy... and maybe a Brandenburg for cooler weather and a great coat for really cold days... Am I forgetting anything? Oh, the new black powder weapons have been whispering my name late at night... Shall I just start having my boss deposit my paycheques to the RH's account?

Hi there, I've done a brief search on the Ladies riding outfit, and have found that there hasn't been a really good converstaion about this style of outfit here yet. After getting most of my authentic(ish) garb together, my other half is bugging me to help her get hers started, and she has chosen to go with the ladies riding outfit (pattern bought from none other than Reconstructing history of course ). So I have a number of questions, and I hope I don't take up too much digital real estate with this post... What reasonable context(s) would a woman wear this type of outfit in near or around pirates? Perhaps a travelling merchant woman? Any other suggestions or thoughts? And would it be reasonable for a woman of modest means (middle class, as in the merchant lady example above) to have an outfit of this type in a plain wool rather than a brocaded fabric? As for colour, is a dark peacock blue pushing the limits of the reasonable period colour wheel (so to speak)?

Hmmm... Patrick's comments have stirred a couple of questions that have been knwing at the back of my skull for a while... Waistcoats... Were they worn with the short style of jacket? I know Reconstructing history sells a long waistcoat pattern, but it looks like the long waistcoat would be too long to fit under the short style of jacket, and hence just look funny or otherwise be impractical... Maybe I should have posted this question in the thread about waistcoats.... If a moderator thinks it appropriate please feel free to move this post to that thread... I've read a bit about the hanging tankard thread... Wish I could offer some useful advice or help with that one...

Kass, you should never appologize for waffling, or at least to me you shouldn't... I am the king of waffling on decisions! Although the thought of having both a blue and a grey jacket is appealing...

Thanks to everyone for your compliments... There actually was a reason for my using cotton canvas/duck cloth on this... but I won't get into that... And your arguments in favour of both the grey and the blue wool are not helping Kass! The main reason I'm reluctant to use the grey wool is it is a very even grey (not mottled as the Kersey looks in the photos on your site), where as the blue is slightly mottled and a bit more natural looking (although possibly a bit dark for a period accurate blue).... Then there is also a chance I might use something altogether different (I still have some ochre/mustard coloured wool that is slightly fulled in I beleive a taby weave, and I picked up some medium brown worsted herringbone when I was in Canada last weekend.... On clearance for $5/yard!) Far too many decisions for my poor little brain to make at this moment.... I think I am going to do something simple like a period shirt first... then maybe I'll have a stab at a wool jacket... I didn't base the jacket off any existing extant samples, or any specific art and went with something generic and customized o my tastes... Which is why I added the collar, and pockets (I am a pocket freak, I always think I need more)... I also like the "poor man's" turned back cuffs with the contrasting coloured lining showing...

Going from the advice and wisdom gleamed from both this thread and the other thread about the Common Man's or Sailor's jacket and using the Reconstructing History pattern RH 705, I have made a jacket for myself. It took about 20 to 25 hours spread out over two weeks (although I didn't pay too close to how much time it took). I did hand sew everything (including the button-holes). The jacket outer shell is constructed of green modern canvas/duck cloth, and lined with a brick red 100% linen (plain tabby weave). I used some brass buttons I found at the local JoAnns.. The size is accurate based on what research I could do on the internet concerning period buttons, although the posts on the back (which are invisible anyway) are not consistent with the period examples I could find pictures of... Here's how it looks... Now I'm going to work on some other projects... And maybe in a month or so, I will try another made from 100% wool... I have some blue wool in a tabby weave, or some grey in a simple twill that I am debating between using... Love to hear what some of you think about the jacket.

Well, this event happenned this past Saturday night, and it was a good time! There was a good size crowd out, enough people to keep the smallish hall looking full, but not so crowded as to make things feel claustriphobic... the drinks were plentiful and not too overpriced ( consistant with regular bar pricing, and not highly overinflated in other words), and the prizes and giveaways were amusing and fun... There was a raffle, and a 50/50 draw, tickets were $5 for one, $10 for three or $20 got you a boob load of tickets ($20 got you the privelage of measuring your strip of tickets around the pluntiful chest of the bellydancer while she shimmied), and at the end of the night, there was a contest for best dressed pirate, conveniently one by yours truly.... The band was good, the other acts but humourous and entertaining, and all around it was just a good fun light hearted night perfect for staying warm during a long cold Toronto night... So much good I can say about this fundraiser for the Toronto Pirate Festival... But space and time limit me....

Thanks BlackJohn, that does help... I was confused as to when the American army actually developed their own uniforms (pre or post revolution). Patrick, the goblin mask looks great! Keep up the good work and keep posting the pics as woprk progresses (or as long as your camera cooperates)

That just sounds like someone who can't get their Australian and Canadian accents straight!

Yeah, but my sympathies lie to what would be considered "the other side"... I would be a very lonely Red Coat.... Did the American's have uniforms for the revolution? Or was it pretty much the Red Coats vrs. "irregulars"? I've seen a lot of the guys that do "irregular" or "militia" use most of the same garb and accoutrments for both Rev-War and 1812... Although I imagine from the closer proximaty in time, almost all the garb and accoutrments could be used for both Rev-War and F&I War (also known as 7 Years War?) Ya know, it might be better if you don't answer those questions.. I still have a lot to learn about GAoP, and keeping up with my Dark Age stuff anf the GAoP is already as consuming as I should realistically allow myself to get... Asking questions about other re-enactment genres is just me begging for trouble...

Thanks for clearing that up for me... Coming from where the other side of the border... I've heard a slightly different side of the story... You make a good point with the Loyalists didn't flee until after the war was settled and done with... I think my having been around 1812 and Rev-War re-enactors as little as I have, and the fact that it's a lot of the same guys and gals doing both, I've confused and mixed a lot of the stories from each genre a bit... I think if I ever seriously branch into either Rev-War or 1812, I'm going to have to do a lot more reading...

What a strange (to me) way to measure who you'd want to spend time with. (No offense meant here.) Have you ever seen one photo of a person that makes them look ok and then seen another that makes them look fantastic? It may even be a picture of them taken on the same day at the same place, wearing the same kit. Photographs (and all appearances for that matter) can disguise an awful lot. I think it's a pretty poor tool for making such a decision. This reminds me of a philosophy I like (and I'm not sure who came up with it) that people can go through four stages in their life. The first is the Athlete - where you show your talents off. The second is the Warrior - where you pit your talent against others. The third is the Statesman/Stateswoman - where you use your talents as a benefactor, working on others' behalf . The fourth is the Master - where you teach others what you have learned. Some people get stuck and never go beyond a particular level. Appearance is down there at level one. I'll take a higher order mate over a lower order one any day. It's a thread that is based partly on superficial attraction, and partly on the likability of fictitious characters... Does that help explain why one picture makes someone more desirable than another? I've found my perfect woman, and if I wanted to be completely serious, I wouldn't want to spend time with any of these women, as I'm perfectly happy with my current lot in life.

The idea was to NOT become a Canadian.... it just didn't work out that way..... I live in California, so there isn't any Rev. War stuff going on out here.... (OK.. there may or may-not be one or two displaced Easterners out here.... I just don't know of them...) The batterys died in my Digital camers, so I had to re-charge them.... but I'm planning on taking pictures of the goblin, and my browncoat stuff... hopefull by this weekend....... Okay, now I'm confused... Either that or my brain is shutting down... The Loyalists in the American Revolutionary War (or War of Independance as some prefer)... Weren't they the ones who did not want to be independant and remain British? And hence many (most? all?) fled to what is now Canada (then still a British colony)? Or are you saying that they weren't trying to be Canadians, it was just a matter of time before it just happenned.... Am I following this right? I've always wanted to put together a Rev-War "King's Royal Yorkers" uniform... I like the fact that they wore green uniforms rather then the typical Red Coat... A project to think about for a future year(s).... I also favoured the "Glengarry Light Infantry" uniforms in the North American War of 1812 as well, also because they are green... it's kind of funny, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing green in my day to day life (okay that might be exagerating a bit), but it seems to be my favourite colour for re-enacment clothing....