I finished my “Curtain-Along” dress in time to wear to Colonial Williamsburg, but it rained the day I had planned to wear it, and only donned it for a couple hours, so…
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V287: My 18th Century Pocket
So…I did make a pocket. It only took me 7 months to complete because of my intrepid laziness when it comes to hand embroidery. Luckily, flying on airplanes is a perfect time…
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V282: The DeWitt Museum at Colonial Williamsburg
Today was another rainy, soggy, cold day in Colonial Williamsburg, so we checked out of our hotel and went for an inside-activity, touring the fascinating displays of 18th century furniture, arms, ceramics,…
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V278: How To Fit & Seam Your American Duchess Stockings
So you’ve purchased a pair of pretty silk stockings from my shop, and you love them, but perhaps they are a little big in the foot, or you would like to add…
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V269: A Baby Neckerchief from a Baby Gown
I’m a sucker for fancy embroideries, but I just plain suck at doing them myself, so I look for textiles that already have nice embroideries on them. A tantalizing source is old…
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V247: Making a 1790s Gainsborough Hat
Yesterday I made a Gainsborough hat to go with the new purple 1790s “Robe Royaliste”. I researched many a fine fashion plate from Dames a la Mode, and raided the craft store…
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V199: Georgian Man Candy
Oh, I know you’re disappointed this post isn’t about sexy, be-wigged gentlemen on the 18th century. It’s about the kind of bling a man would have worn on his shoes (shoes, of…
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V184: My First Real 18th Century Shoe Buckles
Ebay is such a wonderous place. I won an auction for these awesome 18th century shoe buckles – only $35!! They were quite brown when they arrived from England, but a little…
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V162: My First Re-covered Victorian Parasol
Yesterday I showed you some lovely extant Victorian parasols that I looked at for inspiration in re-covering a long-handled polyester parasol I bought at Valhalla last weekend. This is the original: Here’s…
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V161: Pretty Victorian Parasols
Happy Saturday. I’m a bit late with this entry because I was away at the Carson City Rendezvous for most of the day, but better late than never. These are some inspirational…
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V160: Progress on My 18th c. Pocket…and Then More Pockets!
I’ve been embroidering on and off since early May, on my first Georgian pocket. I originally used a pattern from Costume Close-Up: Clothing Construction and Pattern, 1750-1790, but decided not to follow…
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V159: 18th Century Bow Jewelry – What to Look For and Where to Get It Today
1780 In the 18th century, bows were a very popular motif found in just about everything aesthetic – architecture and interior design, textile and clothing, and jewelry. For today’s topic, we’re looking…
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V158: Pocket Trash
What is Pocket Trash? I first heard this term used by the lovely Miss Emily Waterman and her Doctor, in regards to items carried on your person, while re-enacting, or dressed in…
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V149: Taking Stock of Stockings
Those of you who follow me on Facebook will know I’ve been asking around about stockings. What material, what color you like, etc. Some more questions are to come, but first, let’s…
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V135: Pompadour French Court Heels Pre-Order, and MORE
Back to work! It’s time FINALLY for the Pompadour French Court Heels PRE-SALE! (big cheer!) I’ve been working on this shoe for what feels like forever, getting the toe just that right…
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V126: A Colonial Williamsburg Pocket for Colonial Williamsburg
I’m about to leave on a West Coast cruise for eight days and I thought I’d take along some embroidery. I’m not much of an embroiderer, but it interests me, and I…
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V120: 1912 Titanic Ball, Hair Stylings
I just got back from The Other Side of the Mountains (Californialand), and my trip down to Gaskells Victorian Ball. It was an amazing evening, full of beautiful 1912 gowns that I…
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V101: How to Make Miniature Portraits
Awhile ago I posted about lovely little 18th century miniature portraits, and what a nice addition to one’s costume they can be. Well here’s how to make them! What You’ll Need: Clear…
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V96: The 1780s/1910s Double-Period Hat
A few posts ago I staked lampshade style bonnets of the 1780s against similar chapeaus of the 1910s. My idea was to see if one hat could be used for both periods,…
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V89: Fashion Face-Off – Hats of the 1780s and 1910s
As we all know, history repeats itself, and fashion especially. Nothing is ever “new” on the runway (well, maybe if it’s a suit made out of bubble wrap, etc.), and this was…