Instructor Profile:

Marna Jean Davis

As long as I can remember, I have been sewing. My mother is an excellent seamstress, and I learned much from her, since she was always willing to share her sewing machine. One of my first, vivid sewing memories is "hemming" the skirt I was making for 4-H to my pants legs! Sewing wasn't my only strong feature, though. At the age of ten, at the prompting of my brother, I learned how to spin wool into yarn on a real, honest-to-God spinning wheel. He thought it would be a good way to promote the sheep we raised. After I began doing handspinning demonstrations, I discovered a need for period clothing. The quality of "old-fashioned" clothing at historical reenactments and celebrations was not of the best quality! As a result of having two much younger sisters that mom needed to sew, I decided that I needed to make my own clothing. By the time I was in high school I was drafting patterns thanks to the encouragement of my Home-Ec. teacher Mrs. Prickett.

Now I create custom historical clothing from patterns I draft myself- the result of being frustrated with a hard to fit figure and a strong streak of individuality. My especial area of interest is the bustle era 1869-1889, but I love to study both the Victorian and Edwardian eras. I have assisted many small museums with dating their clothing collections and on basic conservation practices. My clothing won many competitions, and my favorite compliment has always been, "Where did you find an original dress in such good condition?" When it comes to other living historians' clothing, I take the same views on "policing" as the military does: "Don't ask, don't tell."

However, I am always more than happy to share information I have gleaned from my library and the collections of "good stuff" (The aforementioned good stuff consisting of period sewing tools and drafting tools, 19th century photographs and fashion magazines, and antique clothing.). And I always do my best to lead by example. My insight and skills go beyond just putting ladies in pretty dresses; I strive to show the ladies of the mid-late 19th century as they were. Some of my hobbies/skills are riding sidesaddle, hunting, embroidery, cooking, and studying herb lore.