Meet Our Team
Kara Bocek
Kara has been involved in 1860s living history since 1995 and making reproduction clothing since 1997. She earned a degree in Anthropology from the College of William and Mary where she also took costuming and patterning classes for fun. After several years doing archaeology Kara decided to put her sewing skills to more use and started her business Corner Clothiers, which focuses on civilian men’s clothing during the American Civil War. In addition to use by living historians her reproduction clothing and accessories are used at State and National Parks across the country and appear in several productions on television and the big screen. Collecting and researching original garments and photographic images are personal passions as well as key components of her business.
Kara has been an organizer and instructor since 2018. |
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2024 Instructors
Elizabeth Stewart Clark
Elizabeth Stewart Clark has maintained her omnivorous fascination with the 19th century from childhood, with a focus on the mid-century era since 1992. She is the designer of The Sewing Academy-Historic Moments pattern line for mid-century sewing; author of The Dressmaker's Guide; and owner and host of both The Sewing Academy and History in Situ websites. She lectures and teaches nationally, and serves as Director of Interpretive Development for a minuscule history park near her home in the Idaho Rockies, where she and her family volunteer as interpreters. She has an inordinate fondness for dinosaurs, interesting rocks, whitework and terrible puns.
Liz has been an instructor and featured lecturer since 2019. Liz will be teaching A Night on the Town in Quarter 2 of 2024. At the in-person conference, she will present Tiny Tidy Things, Second-Hand Clothing: Historical Truths and Interpretive Use, and Learning to Look, Looking to Learn: How To Do an Artifact Study. |
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Jackie Jacobs
Jackie started sewing at the age of 2 under the guidance of her mother and grandmother. She was making her own clothes to wear to school by age 8 and has always had a love of historical clothing. In 1984 Jackie discovered the Muzzle Loader’s Festival at Greenfield Village and became active in the historical reenacting community. This planted the seeds that, in 1986, led to her founding Past Reflections, which produces clothing, patterns, and accessories developed from original garments.
Jackie started collecting original garments and primary source references in1988 to study period techniques of garment construction and the historical use of garments and accessories. She has presented numerous lectures and workshops on period attire, accessories, and pattern making for organizations such as The Henry Ford, Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Fort Wayne Detroit, Costume Society of America, Military History Fest, Corsets & Cravats, Civilian Celebration, American Sewing Expo and many others. Having recently retired from being a manager of a Viking Sewing Gallery (for the 2nd time), Jackie now has more time to pursue her primary passion: Bringing history to life through educational and engaging presentations and workshops. Jackie has been a Corsets & Cravats instructor since 2022. She will be teaching "Brace Yourself" -Constructing Embroidered Men's Braces at the in-person conference in 2024. |
Maggie Koenig
Maggie Koenig started learning how to sew from a very young age from her very talented mother. She fell in love with historical fashions while still in middle school and has been learning ever since. A chance conversation at a living history event led her to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she graduated with a BFA of Fine arts in Costume Production. After graduation Maggie moved to Maryland and eventually Gettysburg Pennsylvania where she resides with her husband, Brian and their son Isaac in a house thats too small for 3 people who collect things. Maggie supports her fabric buying addiction by working as a dressmaker, pattern maker and sewing instructor.
Maggie has been an instructor for Corsets & Cravats since 2019. She will be presenting Don't Fear the Fabric at the in-person conference in 2024. |
Mindy Crawford
A part-time job typing National Register of Historic Places Nominations in 1982 turned into a long career for Mindy Gulden Crawford. She has been the Executive Director of Preservation Pennsylvania, a statewide historic preservation advocacy group since 2006, after spending 24 years at Historic York, Inc. (20 years as Executive Director). A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from York College coupled with a Master's degree in Historic Preservation from Goucher College has opened up many opportunities for work and volunteering. In 2019, she published a book, Historic Pennsylvania: A Tour of the Top 100 National Landmarks. Mindy is an adjunct faculty member in the Historic Preservation Master’s Program at Goucher College and has taught at several other universities since 2005.
In 2015, Mindy and her husband Rodney attended their first Civil War ball in borrowed clothes all the way down to their drawers. Since then, both of their wardrobes have grown. Mindy is passionate about research and writing and expanding her knowledge of the period. She works with Beth Miller Hall, researching, writing, and learning about her reproduction jewelry business. Mindy lives in Hanover, PA (about 14 miles from Gettysburg). Mindy has been an instructor for Corsets & Cravats since 2022. She will be teaching Touring America as a Nineteenth Century Pilgrim – The Places Our Ancestors Visited and Exploring the Profession of American Architects and Their Iconic Buildings (1830-1870) at the in-person conference in 2024. |
K Krewer
K Krewer started reenacting in 1981 and collecting garments and accessories from the
mid-nineteenth century in 1994. Items from her collection have been displayed at conferences, historical events, and museums, and have formed the basis of numerous research projects and presentations. She continues her project of photographing the printed garments in her collection for a digital swatchbook. A retired civilian Army attorney, she holds a B.A. from Upper Iowa University; a J.D. from the University of Iowa; and a Master’s degree from the Army War College. Moving for various Army jobs gave her the chance to be a member of the Ladies’ Soldiers’ Friend Society of Nashville, the Michigan Soldiers’ Aid Society, and the 16 th Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry. She and her husband, Tom Flaig, care for a small menagerie of horses, barn cats, chickens, and a dog; and babysit the world’s cutest toddler. K has been an instructor for Corsets & Cravats since 2019. She will be presenting "The Work was Never Done." - Women in 19th Century Agriculture, and "Send to the Butcher for a Fresh Oxgall" - Laundry and Garment Cleaning in the 19th Century at the in-person conference in 2024. |
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Samantha Bullat
Samantha has been involved in the living history and historical clothing community for over 15 years. In 2012, she served a ten week internship with the Margaret Hunter millinery shop at Colonial Williamsburg learning the arts and mysteries of mantua-making and millinery. Since 2014 she has worked as the tailor for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation where she is responsible for researching, designing, and constructing garments from the early 17th and late 18th centuries for historical interpreters. Her reproduction historical clothing has been featured in exhibits and programs at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Mount Vernon, the New York Historical Society, and the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
Samantha has been an instructor for Corsets & Cravats since 2018. She will be teaching Learn to Love Buttonholes and Stroked Gathers at the in-person conference in 2024. |
Amie Clark
Amie Clark is a long-time living historian with over 25 years of experience traveling the country
portraying historic figures and presenting first-person demonstrations. This has led her to a career at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum as the lead Historical Interpreter. She is published author who enjoys writing historic fiction and poetry. Most notably Amie has written regularly for the Homefront Herald and Mississippi Market Bulletin for many years. She holds undergraduate degrees in Art and Social Work as well as a Masters of Humanities with an emphasis in Creative Writing. She is the proud mother of three children. Her goal is to keep history relevant and fun for current and future generations. Amie is new to Corsets & Cravats this year and will be teaching The Significance of the Insignificant in Oxford at the in-person conference. |
Yulanda Burgess
Yulanda Burgess is a historical interpreter, researcher and advocate for inclusive public history. For the past forty years, she has been a guest speaker, consultant, interpreter, and writer on the African American experience in the late eighteen to early twentieth centuries. She has been a member of various living history organizations and has interpreted at numerous historical sites and events throughout the United States and Canada. When not pursuing her love of history, Yulanda is an investigator for a non-profit regulatory agency. She is a graduate of Wayne State University.
Yulanda is new to Corsets & Cravats this year. She will be presenting Where are all the Black Folks? Inclusive and Integrated Historical Interpretation at the in-person conference in 2024. |
Jessica Craig
Jessica Craig has been involved in reenacting and living history for more than 40 years. She grew up surrounded by history in Plymouth, MA. Her parents dragged her to museums, cemeteries, and old houses. It rubbed off on her and Jessica graduated from Roger Williams University with a degree in historic preservation. She continued her “career” in living history throughout her life - meeting her husband through reenacting and later bringing their twins along with them to events. Jessica has been planning authentic, civilian-only events for more than ten years. She enjoys researching aspects of mid-19th century life, especially travel and tourism, and bringing these experiences to life through her Steady Habits Travelers group. Jessica also has a vast collection of CDVs and a modest collection of original garments. In “real life” Jessica is the Director of Prospect Development at The Hotchkiss School (nothing to do with history) and lives in Torrington, CT.
Jessica has been a Corsets & Cravats instructor since 2021. She will be continuing to present Image Share in 2024. |
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Eric Smallwood |
Heather Hook |
Lana Lily |
Eric Smallwood is a self-taught craftsman and historical tailor, as well as a skilled historic interpreter and museum professional, who has obtained extensive experience working for and with museums, historic sites, and agencies at the federal, state, local, and privately owned levels, focusing primarily on mid-19th century American history and Living History Interpretation. Originally from Fairmont, West Virginia, his career has taken him across the country, working with sites and museums in numerous states. He has spent his career handling, studying, and recreating historic textile artifacts to better his understanding of specific eras and their contexts, and in turn, to provide the best quality of interpretation he can to others. Eric is currently employed by the Kansas Historical Society as the Site Administrator of Grinter Place State Historic Site, and also serves as a Curator with the Merchant Tailor Museum.
Eric will be teaching Protect Ya Neck in second quarter virtually in 2024. |
Heather Hook became involved in living history in 1990. Authenticity was important to her, and she bought her first 1850’s extant dress to study construction techniques. This launched an extensive collection of material culture from 1650-1980 which she loves to share.
Heather has been a friend of Corsets & Cravats since its beginnings. She has been a virtual instructor on multiple occasions. She will be teaching The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly with Dannielle Perry at the Corsets & Cravats in-person conference in Oxford, NC. |
Lana Lily is a lover of history with a degree in Fashion Design from FIDM and more than 30 years experience as a historical reenactor. As a reenactor her goal is to present a full historical impression from head to toe; but an impulsive chin length bob 2 weeks before an event required a creative solution. Using primary sources for research and modern materials she created her own hairpieces to hide the modern hair. Years later she still uses hairpieces just like many of our foremothers and enjoys helping others have modern hairstyles AND the ability to recreate historically accurate impressions.
Lana is a new instructor to Corsets & Cravats this year. She will be teaching two classes on hair-styling at the in-person conference in Oxford, NC. |