Merry Christmas

I have not posted anything in a while. I have been busy working on Christmas projects but I will be back to work on the apron for Sarah's Hanacky kroj after Christmas. Have a blessed Christmas and rejoice in our Savior's birth. Merry Christmas!

2009 Westfest Parade

Parade of Costumes at 2009 Westfest

Westfest is a Czech festival held annually on Labor Day in my hometown of West, Texas. One attraction of Westfest is the Parade of Authentic Costumes. Here are just a few of the beautiful costumes that were on display.

Getting Costumes Ready for Westfest

Westfest weekend is Labor Day Weekend in West, Texas. This Czech festival is in my hometown of West, Texas. (See Westfest link along the right side of the blog.) At Westfest you will see one of the largest selection of authentic Czech costumes anywhere. I am busy getting my daughters' costumes ready to wear at the Parade of Costumes on Saturday, September 5 at 2:00 and throughout the weekend. Authentic Czech costumes take a great deal of specialized care. For more tips, see my earlier post dated July 19, 2009.
The first thing I do is to wash, starch and hang to dry the petticoats because the petticoats provide the proper structure for the costume. If your petticoat does not stand on it's on, add more starch. I washed our petticoats in the washing machine but you may need to hand wash. I stopped the wash cycle and let them soak for thirty minutes in Clorox 2. After the rinse cycle I soaked the petticoats in full strength liquid starch and then let the spin cycle spin out the excess. Then, I hung the petticoats outside spreading them out as much as possible. I spread them out as much as possible to prevent them from sticking together and making ironing easier. After drying completely, I ironed them. I ironed them several times. 1) Just iron without using spray starch, both front and back. 2) Iron them with heavy starch, both front and back.
Check back later or follow this blog for more tips. If you have tips or just information on Czech costumes, email it to me. I welcome comments. This site is free and is a great way for us to help each other. Sharon.
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Congratulations to Brianna Tichy, 2009-10 Miss Czech Slovak US!

Each year the Miss Czech Slovak US Pageant is held in Wilber, NE during the Wilber Czech Festival.

In it's 23 years the pageant has hosted over 225 contestants viaing for the position as Miss Czech Slovak US Queen. The Miss Czech Slovak US Pageant has crowned 23 queens and has a strong history of producing proud Czech and Slovak Americans that continue to preserve the Czech and Slovak heritage around the United States. Currently 9 states have Miss Czech Slovak Pageants and we are always interested in starting more.

I am interested in any contact you may have of a female aged 16-26, single, of Czech or Slovak decent who would be interested in competing for the national title and over $10,000 in cash and prizes.

I understand your time is very valuable but the value that these young woman bring not only to the pageant but to all youth around the United States. Our 2008 queen traveled to over 20,000 miles promoting the Czech and Slovak heritage, preservation and continueing relationships.

For pictures or more information please see our website
www.missczechslovakus.com

Brianna can be reached via the national pageant website.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Thank you,
MaryElizabeth Lackey
Miss Czech Slovak US Pageant Director
785-317-5010

Results of the 2009 Miss Czech Slovak US Pageant

Dear Friends of the Miss Czech Slovak US Pageant,
 
The 23rd annual MISS CZECH-SLOVAK US PAGEANT is now history. As with each pageant there are many highlights stemming from all the contestants. Speech eloquence, poise and appearance and personality were outstanding among all 14 contestants. 

The pageant was held at the Wilber Outdoor Theater in the heart of beautiful Wilber, NE. 14 contestants competed for the title of 2009-10 Miss Czech Slovak US. The contestants were evaluated on four categories: Private interview, Onstage Interview, Kroj (costume) modeling and Talent Presentation. The competition was exceptional!
 
Brianna Tichy, New Jersey, of Wodwich, New Jersey was crowned 2009-10 Miss Czech Slovak United States, along with winning Talent Runner Up. Brianna attends the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. She is working on her Bachelor's degree in International Studies, with a focus on Eastern Europe and Post-communist countries. She is the daughter of Fred Tichy and Bridget DeFiccio. With the title Brianna will recieve $1500 cash, $2500 towards a trip to the Czech or Slovak Republic and a special $250 special scholarship in memory of John Rokusek and much more. Teresa Mahoney, Oregon, of Portland, Oregon was 1st Runner Up, Authentic Kroj Winner and the Alicia "Fiala" Rokusek Oratory Award. Carrie Brown, Nebraska, of Omaha, Nebraska won 2nd Runner Up. Christine Dowling, Kansas, of Hays, Kansas won Americanized Kroj and Grand Talent Winner. Leilani Kurtak, Arizona of Tucson, Arizona received the Lois Fiala Spirit of Czech/Slovak Heritage award. Tanya Jech, Illinois of Westchester, Illinois won the Heritage Involvement Award. Olivia Cada, Minnesota, of Shorewood, Minnesota received the Sokol talent routine award and Miss Congeniality.

Other than our above 7 winners, we had 7 other outstanding contestants, Michelle Barak, Texas; Olivia Buydos, Ohio; Amanda DeHoedt, Iowa; Samantha Hlinicky, Oklahoma; Kristy Kleinhans, Wisconsin; Valerie Smith, Missouri; and Cindy Syrovatka, South Dakota.

For pictures of our wonderful contestants, award winners and 2009 Queen and Court, please see our website www.missczechslovakus.com. Please feel free to utilize these pictures with your organization.

I would like to thank my pageant committee, Board of Directors, and all that helped to make this pageant a success.

If you are interested in competing in the 2010 Miss Czech Slovak US pageant, please contact myself or see our website for complete rules and regulations. .

I am excited to look forward to the Miss Czech Slovak US 2010 pageant August 6, 7, and 8 held during the National Czech Festival of Wilber, Nebraska.  

Sincerely,
 
MaryElizabeth Lackey
Miss Czech Slovak US Pageant Director
mary_eliza@yahoo.com

Proper Care & Cleaning of Czech Costumes

The McLennan-Hill Chapter of the Czech Heritage Society (http://www.czechheritage.org/) met on July 19, 2009 at the Community Center in West. The program was presented by Maggie Grmela of Czech Costume Creations (http://www.maggiesfabricpatch.com). She presented a program on the proper care and cleaning of Czech costumes. A few of her tips for Americanized costumes include:
1. She recommends cleaning the whites (blouses and aprons) at home; professional cleaners tend to yellow the fabrics. She suggests that all whites be cleaned after each wear, body oils will stain and yellow and will make it harder to clean.
2. Soak the whites in sink of cold water with small amount of regular detergent or use a gentle detergent along with Clorox-2 (all fabric bleach) or Biz all fabric bleach. Let stand for at least 30 minutes. Finish by hand washing then rinse and spin out in the washer (delicate cycle). Hang to dry or put in dryer on delicate for a short time to fluff. A helpful hint for ladies blouses is to fill the sleeves with netting and spray with spray starch. Let dry and leave netting in sleeve until the time time to wear. Items can be steam pressed or ironed if necessary. If item has beading, put a towel on the ironing board and press from the wrong side.
3. Items that can be machine washed need to be washed on the delicate cycle. Hang to dry or dry on the delicate setting. A safety measure for machine washing is to use a laundry bag or a pillowcase to protect any laces, trim or beading. Maggie suggests use Clorox 2 or Biz for machine washables. Let stand and soak for a while before completing washing.
4. All blouses and skirts that are poly cotton can be hand washed or gently machine washed in cold water. Hang to dry or put in the dryer on the delicate setting.
5. Vests and skirts that are velvet or brocades should be dry cleaned.
Maggie had a few tips for authentic costumes. They include:
1. Authentic costumes can be very delicate. She recommends treating them with extreme care. Before cleaning, make any repairs that are necessary. Some lace and trims may need to be removed before cleaning. Maggie recommends Clorox 2 or Biz for those fabrics that are washable. Test for color safety on a small piece of the fabric.
2. She recommends keeping costumes in cardboard boxes with acid-free tissue paper. Authentic costumes should not be kept on coat hangers. This tends to pull on the fabrics, embroidery and trims. Costumes should be stored flat in boxes with tissue between each piece.