I finally finished the 1790s wrap-front gown I’ve been working on foreeeeever. I will be wearing this gown, plus its accompanying accessories – pashmina, pineapple reticule, and Pemberley 1790s Regency shoes –…
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Shoe-To-Do of the Week: Blue and White Flowery Bits
This week I painted up a pair of Devonshires inspired by an extant pair held in Manchester City Galleries. I used Angelus Leather paints to color the latchets and heel blue, and…
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Shoe-How-To of the Week: Pretty Pretty Pink Princess Shoes
One of the coolest things about the Devonshire leather 18th century shoes is that you can paint them and decorate them easily, using leather paints, rhinestones, bias binding, trims, lace, anything really.…
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What Makes a Historically Accurate Regency Shoe?
The Met: 1790-1810. Before I got into making historical shoes for costumers and reenactors, I spent a lot of time looking for modern shoes that would “make do.” I did things like…
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1790s Wrap-Front Gown … Finally Again
You know those projects that get postponed, only to pop back into your life and demand to be finished? This 1790s voile gown is one of them. I originally intended to wear…
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A Revolutionary Ice Cream Social
This past Sunday a small group of Great Basin Costumers got together to play dress up and eat ice cream. The theme was 18th century, roughly the time between the American Revolution…
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The Snakes of the American Revolution
Betsy Ross and company, how pastoral they all look, sewing the stars and stripes…. While we enjoy watermelon and baby back ribs, fireworks and parades this 4th of July, let’s not forget…
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Gaskells Victorian Ball, Norcal Pirate Festival, Red Polonaise
Lady Rebecca and me on the schooner. It was a lovely sail. I was out for a lovely afternoon, but Rebecca was being transported to Barbados to be tried for crimes unmentionable.…
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Setting 18th Century Sleeves the 18th Century Way
This was my *first* time setting sleeves “the period way,” and it definitely takes some practice. But here’s a little insight, for those who are completely confused about how to do this……
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Revolution Dress – Coming to the End…Sortof
I’ve spent all day sewing on the Revolution Dress, for this weekend’s festivities, Gaskells Ball and Pirate Faire. The gown is done (yay!). I’m proud of it! Lilly’s not wearing stays, so…
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The Rag-Curled Hedgehog Wig of Win
Why…so…serious? A few days ago I was chatting with Lauren M, Lady of Portland House, and I asked her about her fantastic hedgehog wig, and how she got it so freakin’ awesome.…
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Revolution Dress – Skirting the Issue
The back with the skirts down, no hem yet. So I’ve been procrastinating on The Revolution Dress because I got kindof stuck with those front rumples, but thanks to all your encouraging…
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Revolution Dress – Front Meets Back
Some more progress and problems on the Revolution Dress… First, I was having trouble getting the front pieces to lay smoothly after I stiffened the silk with fused interlining. Bugger. I decided…
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Revolution Dress – Baby Got Back
Just a quick update on this gown I’ve been procrastinating on. I cut it out, there’s a start, and pinned up the en fourreau back pleating, using pgs 49 – 50 in Costume…
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On Wiglets and Hair Pieces, Part 1
I say “Part 1” because this is a work in progress. I would also like to say up front that I am not a hair genius, in fact I suck really really…
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Revolution Dress – About Those Stays
The Dreamstress asked me to share a little about the stays I’ve been working on. Those extra grommets at the bottom are me messing up. Ignore those, pls. 🙂 I apologize for…
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Revolution Dress – A Better Idea of What the Heck I’m Doing
The idea of how this gown, “the Revolution Dress,” is going to come together has been milling around in my head for a couple weeks now, in a somewhat nebulous form. Luckily…
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Revolution Dress – Undies!
This is just a quick post on underwear, in all its glory. As you know, I’ve started this latest 18th c. gown project with the basics, a proper set of proper undies.…
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The Revolution Dress – Beginnings, Again
Last time, I wrote about a new 18th c. project concerning a Robe Retroussee dans les Poches, but since then the project has been morphing and smooshing around trying to define itself.…
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Starting Small on a Big New 18th c. Project
I finally have a new 18th c. project in mind, yay! I want to make a striped red Robe a l’Anglaise, but to be worn either polonaise’d (verb) or “dans le poches,”…