Tags
WordPress was kind enough to point out that I’ve been blogging here for a year. Thanks, WordPress. Almost 200 posts later, what do I think? More to the point, what do you think? You can tell me in the comments.
Here’s what I think:
Pretty dresses are showing up on costume blogs as people get ready for Dress U, and I feel so very not shiny. I feel the way I felt when my mother made a pretty blue and white and pink roller print robe à la Française for a classmate to wear as Mrs. Washington or Mrs. Jefferson in the 5th grade play in which I played Sam Adams.
And I look back at what I’ve written, and I realize that I’m never going to have that pretty dress until I figure out who is wearing that dress, and why. It’s about the research, about the narrative, about the documentation. It’s a curse, but it keeps me writing.
That, and some desire to be as busy as I can manage to be. Even with classes to prep for Dress U in four weeks, two men to outfit for Monmouth in six weeks, I still signed up for a weekly Wednesday night writing workshop this month.
What can I say? Life is good. Thanks for reading. Here’s to staying interesting for another year.
Dear Kitty Calash,
Happy anniversary! I for one enjoy your posts a great deal, and appreciate the care with which you construct your persona and the physical items that build it out. Your museum training shines through :}
May there come a time when you can happily build a persona who wears the handsome rustling silk you sometimes long for,
Natalie
Thank you, Natalie! I’m so glad to know you enjoy my posts. They’re fun to write, and keep me honest— I hope– about what I’m doing.
And I’ll find the pretty dress persona some day; that’s what a stash is for.
All the best,
Kitty
Happy anniversary! And so much yes to “I’m never going to have that pretty dress until I figure out who is wearing that dress, and why.” That makes the difference between a costume (modern definition) and a cohesive ensemble!
Thank you!
Discipline is the thing, I know, for that coherent persona.
All the best,
Kitty
Happy anniversary!
I struggle with the desire to wear something frothy from time to time too. I even have some decent silk gowns. But you know, every time I wear them I feel awkward and out of place. It’s not who I am in this century and its not who I am in the 18th century. So as much as I want to want to be comfortable in those beautiful clothes, I’ve been trying to learn to be proud of who I am. Stained petticoats and fraying cloak and all.
Be proud of who you are, indeed!
Like you, I am not frothy “IRL,” but practical. I like who I am in the past, but aesthetics will turn my head…until I get down to having to produce the frills, which ain’t happening. I think I would also be bored trying to keep a pretty gown clean.
Doing more work (getting dirty) is actually a lot of fun!
All the best,
Kitty
Happy anniversary! I truly enjoy your site…and I think it’s highly interesting to get the window opened to a 18th century/19th century middleclass or sometimes lower sorts (was this the term, you’ve used) household.
Looking forward to reading many more exciting posts 🙂
Thank you so much, Sabine!
I find your work so beautiful and inspiring, it gives me great pleasure to know that you enjoy my writing.
All the best,
Kitty
Happy Anniversary, Kitty!
I very much enjoy your blog. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and yourself with us.
I love “The Studious Fair” print here. It captures the feeling of longing you describe.
And, by the way, I think that sometimes “shiny” is over-rated!
Christina
Thanks for reading and commenting! Yes, shiny can be over-rated. But sometimes, I think we all want it.
Best,
Kitty