![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Harvest Ball, etc!
Oct. 26th, 2009 06:07 pmThe past two days were wonderfully pleasant.
Saturday was the day of the Civil War Harvest Ball held in Lansing (in the same church as the regency balls). True to form, my dress was re-trimmed (up-trimmed? I added lace medallions and beads to the bodice and the ruffle and and zig-zags to the skirt. It still needs a couple more ruffles and beads on the skirt) at the last minute, and I finished the headpiece about half an hour before walking out the door.
The ball itself was great! I couldn't help but compare it to the regency balls I've attended in the past, and, while I enjoy English Country Dancing, I can't help but think that the mid-century dances were a whole lot more fun. I went with Mike and Katie, and while Mike divided his time pretty evenly dancing with both of us (and a couple dances with other girls) I didn't experience such a lack of partners as I have at past events, and only sat out two or three dances. The dancing was also of higher quality than at regency balls... with more experienced dancers and fewer children to clog up the dance floor.
Perhaps the best part was at the end of the evening, when, after the last 'official' dance, the band struck up a polka. Mike popped up, seemingly out of nowhere, grabbed my hand and whirled me onto the empty dance floor, where we basically led everyone else galloping and flying around the room. Best polka I've had in ages, but I was completely out of breath at the end of it!
Mike, in his annoying habit, made his entire outfit (sans shirt) in the week before the ball. I don't think I've ever met anyone who can churn out full outfits as quickly as Mike, and still have them look that good. My only consolation is that he still has a lot to learn about making ladies clothing, but once he does, he'll be unstoppable.
The whole event was quite an ego boost as well. Got more compliments on the dress than I could count, and had a great time chatting with Jackie of Past Reflections and Kimberly from The Dressmakers Shop, both of whom were really lovely (and very complimentary!). We also received several flattering comments from the dance caller, Glen Morningstar, after the ball was over.
After the ball, we went back to Mike's house, where Katie and I spent the night. We all parted ways on Sunday, and I went back to Grand Rapids where I spent the afternoon with a couple good friends. Had lunch at a wonderful vegetarian restaurant, and then listened to old records and played Scrabble and card games over tea and cookies all afternoon. It was beautifully relaxing.
Saturday was the day of the Civil War Harvest Ball held in Lansing (in the same church as the regency balls). True to form, my dress was re-trimmed (up-trimmed? I added lace medallions and beads to the bodice and the ruffle and and zig-zags to the skirt. It still needs a couple more ruffles and beads on the skirt) at the last minute, and I finished the headpiece about half an hour before walking out the door.
The ball itself was great! I couldn't help but compare it to the regency balls I've attended in the past, and, while I enjoy English Country Dancing, I can't help but think that the mid-century dances were a whole lot more fun. I went with Mike and Katie, and while Mike divided his time pretty evenly dancing with both of us (and a couple dances with other girls) I didn't experience such a lack of partners as I have at past events, and only sat out two or three dances. The dancing was also of higher quality than at regency balls... with more experienced dancers and fewer children to clog up the dance floor.
Perhaps the best part was at the end of the evening, when, after the last 'official' dance, the band struck up a polka. Mike popped up, seemingly out of nowhere, grabbed my hand and whirled me onto the empty dance floor, where we basically led everyone else galloping and flying around the room. Best polka I've had in ages, but I was completely out of breath at the end of it!
Mike, in his annoying habit, made his entire outfit (sans shirt) in the week before the ball. I don't think I've ever met anyone who can churn out full outfits as quickly as Mike, and still have them look that good. My only consolation is that he still has a lot to learn about making ladies clothing, but once he does, he'll be unstoppable.
The whole event was quite an ego boost as well. Got more compliments on the dress than I could count, and had a great time chatting with Jackie of Past Reflections and Kimberly from The Dressmakers Shop, both of whom were really lovely (and very complimentary!). We also received several flattering comments from the dance caller, Glen Morningstar, after the ball was over.
After the ball, we went back to Mike's house, where Katie and I spent the night. We all parted ways on Sunday, and I went back to Grand Rapids where I spent the afternoon with a couple good friends. Had lunch at a wonderful vegetarian restaurant, and then listened to old records and played Scrabble and card games over tea and cookies all afternoon. It was beautifully relaxing.
