Shocking though it may be, this is what I look like “normally,” not wearing a costume. Boring, right? I know you are all chomping at the bit for updates to the Baroque…
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17th c. Costuming
I have taken on a commission (actually 2) for a lovely lady in New Hampshire, who is a 17th century reenactress, and greatly in need of both a shift/shirt/smock, and a jacket.…
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Evidence of Time Travelled and Costume Worn
Here are some photos from Saturday, our trip up to Valhalla Renaissance Faire at South Lake Tahoe. I’m ever so pleased with this 1570s Elizabethan jacket. I’ve wanted to make it for…
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What I Haven’t Been Showing You…
Sometimes we seamsters embark upon a project with such gusto that we forget to photograph and post about it. Mostly this happens when there is very little time in which to complete…
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Ladies, Your Opinions Please…
Please vote for your favourite Robe a l’Anglaiseonline surveys
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American Duchess’ Monster List of Resources
Dear Readers, I’ve decided to move all my resource links off my sidebars, and onto this one page. To get to this page in the future, just click the “RESOURCES” label…
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The Most Brilliant Shoes Known to Man…
…or at least known to me….or at least IN MY POSSESSION. Last night I had the opportunity to “raid” Lady Carolyn’s rack of costumes she’s decided to get rid of. There were…
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Depressionista’s Guide to Cheap Frenchie Decorating
A bit about myself: I live in a three bedroom apartment in a town you’ve never heard of, next to a city you don’t really want to visit. I’ve lived here for…
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Pogey Monday
This weekend I took a drive (in excellent company of man and dog) down to Grass Valley, CA, one of my favourite places ever. I hadn’t been in ages, years in fact,…
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Going Baroque: Mucho Progresso!
Much has been accomplished since last I posted. For one, I worked on the skirt, cutting the front length and making the swooping curve that creates the train in back. I sewed…
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Hey, Whatever Happened To…
…that 1940 vintage summer dress? Well, I’ve been bad. I’ve worn this dress three or so times, but have only gotten pictures of it today! And not very many pictures of it…
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Friday Review: Fugawee “Connie” Shoes
Okay, this is as much a post of excitement and *glee!* as a “review,” but I wanted to show you my new Fugawee shoes, and talk a bit about them. I’ve held…
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The Baroque-o-Files: Tidbits and The Backs of Things
Please forgive the messy messy room! However, dogs are always included 🙂 The tabs will be *under* the skirt when it’s worn. I’ve cut the skirt to length, with a big swooping…
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Baroque-Orama: Lace Reform, Etc.
I’ve done so much hand-sewing today that my wrist hurts and I have to stop! I don’t wanna stop!! This morning, being clear, bright, and only minorly breezy, I undertook The Spray…
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Going Baroque: Progress Bit-by-Bit
I could say that this is going slowly and tediously, but each piece is exciting to me! Last night I stitched on another piece of the satin bodice covering, and now have…
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Going Baroque – The Danger of Satin, and a Tale of One Sleeve
This 1660s bodice is coming together in bits and pieces, in no particular order, with no particular sense, yet is somehow coming out alright. I’ve run out of bones, but that didn’t…
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Going Baroque: De-Bling-ification
That’s just TOO MUCH BLING! Yesterday I acquired my trim, 8 yards of stiff, shiny, blingy silver goodness, about 2″ wide…but unfortunately blisteringly, blindingly blingy. Too much bling – baroque though it…
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Going Baroque – The Guts of the Beast
So excited about this costume am I that I spent tonight sewing the lining (simple white muslin) and the interlining (canvas) together and beginning my boning channels, to make the structured base…
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Going Baroque : Patterning Extravaganza
Ah, the joyous process of draping and drafting. There is nothing quite like developing a pattern from nothing, finding the shapes, getting the exact fit. I don’t claim to be *good* at…
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Adventures in the Forgotten Century – American Duchess Goes Baroque
There comes a time in every girly costumer’s seamstressing career when she wants a pink polonaise, a huge, fluffy, crispy, pink taffeta 18th century polonaise. She salivates over the mere idea of…