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Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

Our favorite civil war event of the season

I've written before about my (sort of secret) hobby of civil war reenacting.  Since I was a little kid I've been tagging along with my mom, who has a business making historic clothing and sets up a little tent shop at civil war events in Oregon.

The 4th of July weekend is a big civil war event for the organization we reenact with, and it's our favorite event.  We'll be out at a state park on the Willamette river this weekend, cooking over a camp stove, handsewing, wearing corsets and hoopskirts... I know some of you do reenacting, as well--are you out camping with your region's group this weekend, too?

Here are some pics from last year's 4th of July event.  Lots of junk to haul out there in a trailer and set up...

All set up, our kitchen area:

Sleeping tent:

Cooking over the fire:

Looking grand in a new dress...

Anyway.  Sewing for civil war events and other era historic events is part of how I learned.  It's definitely an odd hobby in some ways, but we've been doing it so long, we're pretty good at it by now. =)  Can you tell I'm not thrilled about leaving the comfort of my home and jeans?  Kidding... it'll be fun, it always is, but it's a lot of work!

Hope you all have a great holiday weekend.

9 comments

  1. Have a wonderful weekend! Looks to be a lot of fun!!
    I really enjoy reading and learning about history, I am the family historian and have a whole room dedicated to it. Not only family but what was happening at the time of that persons life.
    We have the renaissance faire that begins next weekend for a month up in Wisconsin, I will be doing that for fun this year. Dress up time :) I do need to buy a few more items for my outfit and I will be ready.
    xx
    callie

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  2. Looks like a nice set up. I learned to sew from reenacting French and Indian War and from working at a living history museum. I haven't been able to do as much of it since going to grad school, but learning to sew historic clothing has made the modern stuff seem a little less daunting (for me at least).

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  3. Wow that's an awesome hobby! I grew up in Dallas,Oregon,whereabouts in the willamette valley does this take place? (My nephews would dig this!maybe next year on vacation we can check it out)

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  4. I really wish I was out re-enacting this weekend!! I can't even go to my group's event next weekend. :( I re-enact the Rev. War with my husband. :) Unfortunately, we are living in Idaho right now, and our group (and activities) are in the east/Midwest (ohio/Kentucky). Doesn't stop me from creating new things to wear when we DO get to an event though! Lovely dress!! I hope you have a great weekend!! Equest2005

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  5. I grew up in minnesota and we'd always go to fort snelling. I'd love to find a place in LA thta does re-enactment that I could bring my children to. To me that was such a fun part of the summer and I would love to show my husband and children what its like.

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  6. It looks like at lot of fun.
    I do viking age reenactment (I am a Dane and I do it to teach people about our history, not of any other reason...), and I also learned a lot of the basics of sewing and fabrics through that. And also got the interest in sewing.

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  7. Yes, it is fun!
    @themonkeyunderground, this event was at Willamette Mission State Park north of Salem, but the Northwest Civil War Council (www.nwcwc.org) has events at several parks in NW Oregon throughout the summer.

    @Shevy, there is probably a very large group of reenactors in the LA area! Try Googling "civil war reenactment los angeles" or something...

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  8. Solange7/13/2011

    As a European, I find the American preoccupation with and enjoyment of the antebellum colonial period both shocking and horrendous. Very bizarre people.

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  9. Solange7/13/2011

    I would love to see the reaction to something similar for the Jewish Holocaust. We would never do such a thing here, it's awful and in bad taste!

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