Meet Your Board: Michelle Atno-Hall, Member at Large

Why costuming?  What brought you here?

I have always been a history buff; it’s the Atno family curse. My dad’s family lived in West Orange, New Jersey; my grandmother took him when he was three to see Thomas Edison’s funeral procession when he was buried there. She knew it was an important historical moment that she wanted her son to be able to say he had witnessed, and he never forgot the black ostrich feathers on the heads of the horses drawing the hearse. So, I guess you could say it’s the combination of history and its swag that brings me here.

What’s your costuming focus?

Mostly women’s historical costumes, from the late medieval period on. Many of the costumes I’ve built are from the 1840s-1860s, since I do a lot of Civil War/Victorian Christmas events.

Do you do anything else crafty or artistic?

Knitting, crocheting, and jewelry making are all things I do now. I wrote a novel years ago that I have been planning to either rewrite or pick for parts, one of these days.

What’s your day job?

I’m on hiatus from classroom teaching; I taught for over thirty years in upper elementary/middle school grades. Currently, I am volunteering at the SS Jeremiah O’Brien (the WW2 Liberty Ship at Pier 35 in SF) and at Camp Reynolds (Civil War era) at Angel Island.

What was the first costume you made?  Is there a picture?

I made an 1860s skirt for a Victorian tea after I saw how expensive it would be to buy one. I had taken a sewing class years before with a teacher who was, shall we say, less than encouraging, and didn’t think I could pull it off. But just by following the simple rule of measure twice, cut once, it came out fine, and it was fun to make! There must be a picture somewhere…

What’s on the sewing table now?

A 1930s silk dress for an ‘end of Prohibition’ event this week.

What was your first/most memorable costuming disaster/ learning moment?

I started a 1900-era outfit for a 1906 Quake and Fire event in SF and the skirt was not done in time for the event. So I pinned that first skirt I made into a more turn of the century shape and wore it. It worked fine and I learned to budget twice as much time as you think you need for an outfit.

Costume you’re most proud of?

My 1880s natural-form gown and matching hat, made for the 150th anniversary of San Francisco’s cable cars. I call it my ‘Aunt Ada’ outfit, because it reminds me of that character’s costumes in The GIlded Age.

What’s your holy grail costuming project?  The one you dream of doing?

The 1897 Worth tea gown that was made for the Countess Greffulhe. Look it up…it’s jaw-dropping. Total wicked queen vibes!

Tell us one (or two or three) things about you that others might not know.

I am married with two daughters (24 and 20), a dog (Monty) and a crested gecko (TicTac). I am also a football fan: go 49ers and Ducks! ( my younger daughter’s college team). Finally, I have reenacted as a Civil War artillerist and have actually fired cannons; it’s fun!