My husband and I go to the English Country Dancing Regency Ball every year at the Navy Hall of Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This week I had fun designing a Regency-style reticule.

Souvenir ball ticket with the reticule in our 1830s apartment window

3rd Annual Regency Ball at Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

I chose a fine Belgian Red willow to match the dress I made out of a lovely cotton fabric with a woven pattern of tiny white and red flowers. What a bargain table find at Fabricland and so very Regency.

My great-grandmother’s crocheted lace.

I am delighted to finally have a special use for the crocheted lace band you see woven in the basket. My great-grandmother in Germany crocheted it 80+ years ago. I have been holding on to it for 30 years waiting for a way to use this short length. Here it will be gently preserved woven among the stakes. I used black bias fabric tape behind it to keep it stiff and to highlight the delicate pattern.

Perhaps ladies of 1812 would not have used a basket when attending an evening ball, but I wanted something in which to hide my phone for photos!