Published On: 12-24-2009 02:05 PM
Blog Category: No Category
Blog Tags: victorian christmas stegmaier mansion victoriana lady lisa lewis washington irving night

Living history actress/speaker Victoriana Lady was asked to make a cameo appearance, by request, at the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis Christmas party last evening.

The Party was held at the lavishly restored Stegmaier Mansion B&B, which is featured in Victorian Homes magazine this month.

 Victoriana Lady Lisa Lewis was honored to be introduced in the magazine article, on sale now.

Victoriana Lady read The Night Before Christmas from her original Victorian scrapbook from 1836,
which belonged to Washington Irving’s nephew, to the guests at the party wearing an authentic dress and hat from her personal collection, dated 1906.
The same year Mrs. Stegmaier lived in the mansion.

For more information on Living history actress Victoriana Lady, The Stegmaier Mansion B&B & Victorian Homes article-
www.Victorianalady.com

Published On: 12-24-2009 01:29 PM
Blog Category: No Category
Blog Tags: stegmaier garden party tea jim thorpe victorian friendship society victoriana ladystegmaier garden party tea jim thorpe victorian friendship society victoriana lady

We were quite fortunate to have a perfect warm weather day for the Victorian Friendship Society of PA's Garden Tea Party, held yesterday at the Stegmaier Mansion. Several new memebers were in awe as they walked from room to room, one more amazing than the other. The finished library, and I use that term loosely since owner Joe Matteo is always brainstorming, was breathtaking. The ceilings alone are a sight to behold with fine art replica paintings between each of the beams. The ambiance there is purely magical, like walking back into the Gaslit Era.

We were enticed by a lovely array of delectables as we entered the formal ding room. The elaborate table, laden with every sort of silver & china imaginable, was pure eye candy! Our menu consisted of scones with clotted cream & jam, assorted tea sandwiches, fruit salad, quiche, and assorted chocolate bite size desserts. Beverages were a delicious peach blend punch, assorted herbal & traditional teas, coffee and hot chocolate.

After our tea luncheon guests were delighted to have a personal tour of the mansion, soon to be featured in Victorian Homes magazine in 2010. There were flashes everywhere, it was like being on the red carpet, as everyone was taking pictures furiously of every angle of every room and hallway.

We assembled in the lovely garden to take pictures by the Victorian inspired fountain. I had a display out on the patio with some examples from my Ephemera collection for the ladies to enjoy. These consisted of calling cards, trade cards, greeting cards, photos, ladies magazines such as Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, antique magazines, sheet music and more, all circa 1890-1920.

We also played a few parlor games in the Victorian spirit. Ladies shouted out names, adjectives, verbs, body parts, etc. at random, then we plugged these into a story, the results were hilarious! The Victorians loved to start a story where each person going around had to add to it, so by the time it came back to the first person, it was a tall tale!

As always, the time went by too fast and it was time to depart. We can't wait for our next event with the society, next month shopping and tea in a traditinal English Tea Room, The Albright Mansion in historic Victorian Jim Thorpe PA. Anyone care to join us?? http://www.victorianalady.com/stegmaiermansiontour.html

Published On: 09-06-2009 09:32 PM
Blog Category: No Category
Blog Tags: victorian, bridal, shower, bride, groom, love, titanic, corset, gowns

Why A Victorian Bridal Shower Program?

Published On: 01-15-2009 06:46 PM
Blog Category: No Category
Blog Tags: victoriana, lady, lisa lewis, reenactor, speaker, history, wedding, fashions, edwardian, jim thorpe, gettysburg, civil war, hillside farms, antiques, manners, 
, etiquette, esther, tinsley, hospital, documentary, catering, traditions, bridal, shower, tea parties

Dear Victorian Friends,

It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to my first newsletter.

My dream and passion became my business in 2003.

At the time I was catering adult & children’s  afternoon tea parties

while wearing antique Victorian clothing from my own personal collection.

 

I put together a short program, The History & Etiquette of Tea, to present

at the tea socials. More often than not, during the question and answer segment

instead of asking me about tea, the ladies wanted to know everything about

my Victorian outfit. I quickly realized that I was doing the wrong program!

 

Since I had acquired quite a unique and large collection of Victorian clothing and

accessories over many years, I was well equipped. The program was an instant

success as I  presented each article of clothing the Victorian woman wore and

explained why she wore it.  From authentic corsets to hat pins and everything in

between, the audience loved it! Manners, etiquette and lifestyle also rounded out

the program. The audience especially liked when I would ask for volunteers to

model the hats and outer wear. They adored having their picture taken while

wearing a true piece of Victorian history.

 

With a change in Pennsylvania  health codes in 2005 cooking at home was now

impossible, I was forced to change direction and give up the catering.

 

During this same time I began to get more calls to do the Victorian Fashion Programs

instead of the tea parties.  Another wonderful opportunity was presented to me that

helped me to decide the direction in which I was to go. The Greater Pittston Historical

Society was starting a documentary film called Haven On The Hill. One of the creators

 and his wife attended one of my programs .  

 

After my presentation I was approached and he asked if I would be interested in

portraying a nurse from the turn of the century. She was not just any nurse, but the

first female hospital administrator in the entire country in 1910, he explained.

It sounded fascinating and I agreed on the spot to re-enact Miss Esther Tinsley.

 

Miss Esther Tinsley was a red head, as I too have red hair, and since I own several

dresses from 1910, I was a shoe-in, as the old saying goes!  It was an honor to portray

this amazing woman who was truly ahead of her time. It was thoroughly enjoying to

research Miss Tinsley and to experience  the production of the film was fascinating .

I realized then that I had found my true passion, public speaker of Victorian era

programs and historic re-enacting. The rest, as they say, is  history.

 

I am delighted to take my authentic clothing, accessories and artifacts, circa 1865-

1920,and share them with others who can appreciate the Victorian era. Many of my

pieces are truly unique, often items you would expect to find in a historical museum.

Other programs have  been added to my repertoire since the first one, Victorian &

Edwardian Fashions.

  

I am in antique heaven when I  am traveling around with my museum quality collection

of historical couture! Let Victoriana Lady make your next event unique and most

memorable!

 

New Program: Victorian Wedding Traditions & Authentic Fashions.

Forget the silly games and trinket gifts, host an elegant and memorable Bridal Shower.

 

For a list of programs, calendar of events, prior engagements, articles, photos, and

 more information please enjoy my web and blog sites.

www.Victorianalady.com

http://Victorianateasociety.zoints.com

 

 

 

Published On: 12-05-2008 01:35 PM
Blog Category: No Category
Blog Tags: swetland, victorian, home, society, museum, mourning, civil war, living history, lisa lewis, victorian lady, 

SWETLAND HOME

JANUARY 2007-
This month's meeting proved to be interesting for those of us native to the area, and to our visitors.
Luzerne County is celebrating its Sesquecentennial this year.

Administrator Clara Hudson put together a wonderful display highlighting points of interest and artifacts notable to this area.

We were treated to a tour of the home as Clara explained the history of the home and the Luke Swetland family.

Docent Nancy took us through the dining room sharing one of the challenges of cooking in the 1800's; trying to regulate the temperature of the stone oven.

She explained that if the hair singed on your arm when you stuck it in the oven than it was ready for baking.

The home is filled with marvelous furnishings, paintings of the Swetland family, and various accoutrements found in a well to do 1800 home. The pianoforte is an exquisite piece alone, and well worth seeing.

The rooms were laid out as if the family still lived there.
Each room had a mannequin dressed in Victorian fashions which displayed the popular and wealthy style of the era. 

The parlor is where a Victorian funeral re-enactment is held each October. You can see pictures by clicking on the Swetland Home Mourning page above.

After our tour we made our way upstairs to the meeting room.
The guests were treated to an antique estate sale where they could purchase items. Everything from furniture, Limoge China, to Victorian greeting cards were for sale.

Clara's dessert table was laden with assorted sweets, fruit punch and a crowd favorite, Bourbon brownies.

The serving table was decorated in red hearts for Valentine's Day. A nice touch was the authentic Victorian Valentines adorning every table.

After everyone was served we played our parlor game What is it? The items included an antique cigar cutter, poison ring, darning egg, bustle form, cigarette purse, embosser, handkerchief skirt holder and an electric massage instrument.

This meeting marked the last day for administrator Clara Hudson. She is taking a new position in Virginia. Clara has done a tremendous job over the years at the Swetland Home.
It has always been a pleasure for me to work with her, she will be greatly missed in the society!

Her very capable daughter Marciana willl be taking over the administrator position at this time.
We wish them both much success!


LAND HOME