Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Younger Set: Miss Kristin

Hi, I'm a Sewing and Reenacting Newbie, taking part in this massive project to further my education and knowledge of the 18th century (specifically, the American Revolutionary War).

I'm not a blogging newbie, nor a newbie to history. I have my own 18th century blog chronicling my first gown, and I'm an emerging museum professional, nearly complete with the Tufts University Museum Studies certificate program. History museums are my thing, as is designing exhibits. I'm a graphic designer by trade, and that allows me to have one hand in the non-profit world, and the other in the for-profit world.

My focus for now is panned out to the max. I love material culture, so I plan on blogging about that, as well as showing the costuming, history, and blogging community what it's like to be a neophyte again (and maybe over your head just a wee bit). Expect posts on what a newbie may need, a reading list/library of books, inspiration posts, and just general discoveries. As we get closer to this part-ay, the focus will become smaller, and I hope to venture into a bit of primary source research for a persona. And, of course, the entire process of making a gown. Oh yes, the good stuff.

I hope to inspire other newbies to take the leap into handsewing, reenacting, and history. I plan on absorbing all the knowledge I can from the people I'm working with. And I am counting on you--yes, you!--to come along for the ride!

- S.R.N. (aka Miss Kristin)

3 comments:

  1. Hi! We're sort of in the same boat - I'm just coming off a museum studies program and I'm just getting into re-enacting.

    I was wondering what you thought about the Tufts program. I got into it and the FIT one, and I went with FIT, so I'm curious. :D

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  2. Hey there! So good to hear from someone else in my similar situation. I only applied to Tufts, as I live in one of the towns it straddles. I looked into the Harvard program, but I'm really glad I chose Tufts (I've met several people who went through Harvard and wished they'd done Tufts). From just glancing over the FIT page, it seems that it is really specialized and focused on fashion and textiles, whereas the Tufts program is much broader. If you want to focus on fashion and textiles, you definitely made the right choice!

    In any case, I really loved the Tufts program. It was very hands on; for instance, we got to plan, design, install and take down an exhibit (I'd already had experience doing this, but many others did not). I met a lot of really awesome, well-connected museum professionals who aren't just well known in New England, but nationally. And through them, I've gotten to meet even more people! Just last week I went to my first exhibit development meet-up and everyone there was a senior level or director of some part of a big institution. Whoa!

    Also, I didn't end up going doing a Master's, just a certificate. One day I'll hopefully get a Master's in Graphic Design.

    So, I've rambled quite a bit! Thanks for reading, and for commenting! I'm going to add your blog to my other one (Stuck in the 18th Century), and I hope you'll keep reading this one for this really crazy thing we're doing!

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  3. It is definitely specialized! Some of the general museum theory we learn is applicable to a lot of situations (using TMS, writing catalogue entries, using archival materials), and towards the end we have an optional dec. arts course to help those of us going into historic houses, but overall it is all about the clothes.

    I just saw your post on the What's Under Things exhibition, and WHOA. I love it!

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