Made by Hand: A Suit of Clothes, a Cup for Tea.

Saturday, October 15: Don Carpentier demonstrates English ceramics 10:30 – 4:00; Henry Cooke demonstrates tailoring 10:30 – 4:00.

Henry Cooke, who will demonstrate the art of tailoring this coming Saturday, knows better than most what clothing can tell you about a person.  In 2005 Henry Cooke was commissioned to assist with the installation of a mannequin display of Ben Franklin. “I got to look at the original Franklin clothing, and see how it was constructed.” Cooke had to reproduce the original suit to exacting specifications and even had to replicate the period silk. Since then he has done similar work with the wardrobe of George Washington – this time using evidence provided by the period textiles to suggest adjustments to the shape and stature of the mannequin. “I was asked to join the forensic team to help determine the real shape of George Washington with the idea that clothing is a mold of the body underneath.  I spent 10 months working with forensic anthropologists and the original George Washington clothing to develop the real shape of him.”

Cooke’s interest in historic clothing began as a teenage re-enactor during the bicentennial era when he needed something to wear. He used patterns from Sketchbook 76 , a Smithsonian publication that drew on their collections to recommend appropriate Revolutionary war era fashions. Before long he was taking commissions from other re-enactors. He kept sewing period clothing as a hobby while pursuing a history degree, but the research part of his history work and his knowledge of sewing did not come together until 1989 when he made contact with some museums and starting carefully examining period textiles. “This was a remarkable opportunity. From then on I studied every original garment to learn from it how the clothing was constructed.  I started doing research into original tailor’s accounts. I was studying a few tailoring guides that were extant. I learned about tools, techniques, tricks of the trade. I was apprenticing myself. That’s where my current career got off the ground.” Cooke’s work today with the clothing of America’s founding fathers combines his expertise in textiles with his professional skills as a historian.

Henry continues to practice the art of tailoring and enjoys doing demonstrations such as the one coming up on October 15. He is still learning, and enjoys sharing what he learns. He particularly enjoys showing some of the period garments in his own collection. “I’ve been lucky to look at and study original garments. I now collect them. I bring some pieces to programs and people can see them closely and handle them. I like seeing people have the joy of discovery when they get to see things up close.”

Don Carpentier will present a demonstration on the techniques used to create English ceramics. Don is the proprietor of Eastfield Village in upstate New York – a fourteen acre property that is home to nearly 20 buildings that he personally moved to the site and restored himself since the 1970s.

An extensive collection of trade buildings and tools provided him with reasons to develop an extensive set of technical skills. Over the years Don has taught himself tinsmithing, woodworking, blacksmithing and pottery. Please visit the website of Eastfield Village for more information about Don, and Eastfield Village: http://www.greatamericancraftsmen.org/aboutdon/aboutdon01.htm