JASNA Syracuse Meeting in Binghamton, Saturday, May 12

JASNA Syracuse will hold its May Day meeting on Saturday, May 12, at RiverRead Books, 5 Court St., Binghamton, at 2 pm.  Our topic, as suggested by an attendee at the November meeting there, will be "Jane Austen's Villains."  Certainly JA created a memorable and varied gallery of "bad guys"--and certainly some of these "guys" were "gals," so we don't have to restrict the discussion to male characters by any means.  Who's your favorite villain (or villains--no need to pick just one, either) in the Austen canon?  Bring your choice(s) and some quotes to share!

Also, we've finally settled on Saturday, June 9, as the date for the joint JASNA Syracuse/Jane Austen Book Club-CNY "Box Hill" event.  (This is a bit earlier in June than the traditional Midsummer Day date of June 24, but it's the only date that suited all of the planners!)  Details about the event itself, and its location and time, will be announced ASAP.  In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you at RiverRead on May 12.

A Jane Austen Singing School Summer Session!

We were delighted to learn this week that Dr. Joanna Manring will be returning to Skaneateles in mid-June and is planning to conduct a summer session of the Jane Austen Singing School for Young Ladies (JASSYL).  Rehearsals may begin as early as the third week in June and continue into July, with a concert in mid- to late July (possibly Saturday, July 21), but the details are still being worked out.  Your JASNA Syracuse Coordinators will of course be assisting as needed, particularly Lisa Brown with the dance instruction.

Also, there are still openings for Young Ladies (ages 12-18) for both singing and dancing, and Young Gentlemen (ages 15-30) for dancing.  If you are a Young Lady or Gentleman in those age groups who is interested in participating--or know someone who is--please get in touch with Joanna at joannamsoprano[at]gmail.com (substitute the "at" symbol for the word when you email her, of course).

JASNA AGM Registration Begins May 2

It's just been announced that registration for this year's JASNA Annual General Meeting in New York City will begin May 2 (go to this link for full details). All members in good standing of JASNA at the national level are welcome to attend. But, take it from us, you must register as soon as possible if you plan to attend; this AGM will sell out quickly! Check out other pages on the NYC AGM site (you'll see the options at the top of the registration page) for full details about plenary and breakout speakers, special interest sessions, hotel/travel, tours, etc. (Full disclosure: C0-Coordinator Lisa Brown is presenting one of the special interest sessions, and Regional Coordinator A. Marie Sprayberry is one of the breakout speakers.)

Our next Syracuse Region meeting will be Saturday, May 12, at 2 pm, at RiverRead Books in Binghamton; our topic will be "Jane Austen's Villains." We'll be posting more details about this meeting, and our "Box Hill" gathering in late June, in due course.

Photos from the Regency Fashion Show

Your Regional Coordinator writes:

The Regency fashion show held on March 24 at the Colgate Bookstore was a great success, and JASNA Syracuse heartily thanks the Bookstore and the JABC-CNY for their co-sponsorship and generous assistance! Herewith, some photos from the show. While I greeted the large and enthusiastic audience...
...our dauntless Co-Coordinator and fashion expert, Lisa Brown, contemplated the task of assigning outfits to all of the models (and, in some cases, more than one outfit per model) in very limited time!
Although there were a few tense moments backstage...
...the models and their "ladies' maids" soon began to relax and enjoy themselves.
In the next several photos: (1) Mother-and-daughter models--Denise and her daughter Angel. (2) Shelley and Shannon (?). (3) To spare the ladies' blushes, Lisa discussed Regency unmentionables with the aid of a mannequin. (4) Several garments among Sandra Stevens' beautifully detailed doll clothes perfectly mirrored the mannequin's attire. (5) Some elegant headgear...and (6) Nadia's elegantly dressed hair.

Nor were the gentlemen neglected! Jason cheerfully modeled civilian attire...
...while Duane demonstrated the eternal attraction of an officer's red coat to his wife, Sami.
Lisa and all her models accepted a well-deserved round of applause at the end of the show.

And Sandra's daughter Mimi models more of Sandra's work--this exquisitely detailed full-size ensemble. In the final photo, JABC-CNY moderator and JASNA member Heather Elia joins Mimi.

In conclusion, we won't rest on our laurels: See the "Events" column at right for a full listing of Upstate JASNA and JABC-CNY events through mid-May. Plans are also under discussion for the end-of-season "Box Hill" event, to take place about Midsummer (June 24 or thereabouts).

Joint JASNA/JABC Meeting and Regency Fashion Show, Sat., March 24

For the last several years, JASNA Syracuse and the Jane Austen Book Club (JABC) of CNY that meets at the Colgate Bookstore in Hamilton have held at least one "official" joint meeting per year, in addition to a good many unofficial contacts. And a very special event is planned for this year's joint meeting, Saturday, March 24, at 2:00 p.m.: a Regency fashion show co-sponsored by the Bookstore, and involving both live models and exquisite costume dolls!

JASNA Syracuse/Rochester Co-Coordinator Lisa Brown--proprietor of Regency Rentals, and a veteran presenter of Regency fashion demonstrations to JASNA chapters and other groups--will focus on every aspect of genteel clothing of the time for day and evening wear. Gowns, gloves, fans, jewelry, bonnets, reticules, jackets, breeches, waistcoats, uniforms, swords, and more will be on display as volunteer models proceed elegantly down the Bookstore's large third-floor meeting room. Lisa will also discuss how contemporary ladies and gentlemen can obtain or make Regency-style outfits on a variety of budgets.

In addition, Sandra Stevens--a member of both the JABC and JASNA Syracuse--will display a selection of her handmade Regency costume dolls. Sandra's creations are not only lovely and elegant, but unbelievably detailed, and we're delighted to have the opportunity to view these.

So do join us at the Colgate Bookstore, 3 Utica St., Hamilton, for an afternoon of fashion and fun! We look forward to seeing you.

Early Spring Announcements

As we begin moving toward spring in Central New York (in fact, did we ever really have a winter?), we have several announcements:

• The Syracuse Post-Standard ran a feature article today about the War of 1812 quilt show in Sackets Harbor next weekend (March 17-18). See our February 19 post.
• If your inclination is to head west rather than north on the 17th, Syracuse Regional Coordinator A. Marie Sprayberry will be giving a presentation titled "A Field Guide to the Royalty, Nobility, and Gentry of Austen's England" at JASNA Rochester's March meeting, to be held as usual at the Pittsford Barnes and Noble at 1 p.m. This is an updated version of a presentation Marie gave in Syracuse several years ago; the discussion will include some questions of rank in Downton Abbey and the most recent Royal Wedding!
  
• Despite her recent move to Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. Joanna Manring has not forgotten her Syracuse-area admirers: She writes that in addition to forming a new Jane Austen Singing School for Young Ladies (JASSYL) chapter in Lexington, she hopes to hold a "JASSYL Summer Camp" in Skaneateles this summer and to conclude it with a concert. We'll pass along further details as we acquire them.
  
• With spring, of course, our thoughts turn to the annual Jane Austen Ball in Rochester, co-sponsored by the Country Dancers of Rochester and JASNA Rochester. This year's edition will be held Sunday, May 6. To download a registration form, go to the CDR website, click on the "Jane Austen Ball" link at the top, and then scroll down to "Further Details." Bear in mind that even if you don't dance, a gallery seat includes the delights of spectatorship and chaperonage, as well as an elegant tea at intermission.
• Finally, Syracuse/Rochester Co-Coordinator Lisa Brown (seen above with "Captain Eric" Borresen of the CDR at the 2010 ball) has begun a personal blog called "Mostly Maggots," to be dedicated to her adventures in English country dance and Regency costume. (A "maggot" in this context is "an archaic term for a whimsical or fanciful dance"; the best-known example is "Mr. Beveridge's Maggot," which was made famous in the 1995 BBC P&P and will be danced at the ball on May 6.)
  

1812 Quilt Show in Sackets Harbor March 17-18

One of our northernmost JASNA Syracuse members, Lynette Lundy-Beck, has sent us the following press release about a March event in Sackets Harbor that should be of interest to many groups--Janeites, quilters, and War of 1812 enthusiasts! Here it is:


1812 + Quilts + Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway = International Cultural Heritage Showcase March 17-18

Great Lakes Seaway Trail, NY and PA--On March 17 and 18 the New York State 1812 Heritage Community of Sackets Harbor, NY, will recreate its claim on history with a unique showcase event--the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway War of 1812 Bicentennial Quilt Show.

The event includes an exhibit of 1812 period-true quilts newly-made made by individuals, quilting guilds, historical societies, and reenactors from 18 U.S. states and from Canada. Three historic sites and living history interpreters and quilters in period dress will lend an historic ambiance to the event.

The former Union Hotel, a three-story limestone structure built in 1817-18 and now the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center; the Sackett Mansion, built in 1801; and the Samuel F. Hooker House Arts Center, c. 1808, will open from 10 am to 5pm each day with displays of “cot-to-coffin-sized” quilts.

“The 'cot-to-coffin-sized' quilts--made to cover a sleeping or deceased soldier--promise a most unique and dramatic display, along with the interpreters in period costume lending to the 1812 authentic atmosphere throughout our 1812 Heritage Community,” says Show Manager Lynette Lundy-Beck.

Lundy-Beck is a project manager with Seaway Trail, Inc., the not-for-profit organization promoting quilting as a cultural heritage travel theme along with other theme-based (natural history and birding, architecture, agriculture, water recreation, geocaching. . .) tourism opportunities along the 518 miles of St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes shoreline in New York and Pennsylvania.

The show guidelines for size, fabrics--linsey-woolsey, silk, and fancy cottons, etc., colors, quilt patterns, and embellishments such as broderie perse (Persian embroidery)--were developed by Seaway Trail, Inc., in concert with American quilt historian Barbara Brackman of Lawrence, Kansas.

1812 and English Regency period living history interpreters lending atmosphere in the exhibit buildings and on the village streets will include “President James Madison,” and members of Forsyth’s Rifles with the Fort La Presentation Association of Ogdensburg, NY; MacKay’s Militia from Genesee Country Village and Museum, Mumford, NY; and the Sackets Harbor Battlefield Alliance.

Quilters have been invited to also attend in period dress. 1812 period reenactor Ted Schofield will exhibit his early 19th century reproduction sewing implements.

The event’s youngest quiltmaker is a 12-year-old girl from Himrod, NY.



The living history ladies of Upper Canada Village researched and designed a pictorial quilt (shown above) with embroidery and appliqué depicting soldiers, Natives, moose, and a sailing ship bordered by a traditional Irish Chain pattern.



DeAnne Rosen of Lawrence, Kansas, has dedicated her quilt (shown above) to her two great-great-great grandfathers and two great-great-great uncles who fought in the war. Her floral work is based on quilts she saw in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England.

A special memorial exhibit of quilts will pay tribute to the late Seaway Trail, Inc. President and CEO Teresa Mitchell, who developed the concept for the Seaway Trail scenic byway and for quilting as a cultural heritage travel theme along that byway.

The event also features quilting demonstrations and vendors.

The $5 show admission benefits the Seaway Trail Foundation. The show is co-sponsored by Orleans County Tourism and the 22-mile Country Barn Quilt Trail loop off the Great Lakes Seaway Trail to barns painted with quilt block patterns.

For more information, call 315-646-1000 x203 or visit this website.



Lynette adds that she and members of her family (her daughter and granddaughter are shown above) will be among the costumed reenactors, and she encourages any JASNA members who attend to wear Regency costume likewise. In addition to the website link given above, your RCs encourage you to visit the beautiful blog Lynette has created solely for the quilt project (we're also adding it to the "Links" list at right). The plan is for the project to continue well beyond the March show: A traveling exhibit based on the show will be displayed at several venues across the U.S. Northeast and in Ontario.