This has indeed been a weird, challenging, rough year. I think I’ve left my house, like, 20 times max for 10 months. During this time I feel I sewed very little, but…
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The Annual 2019 Sewing Slump – My Tips for Self-Care in Sewing
The Letter, Pietro Longhi, 1746 It’s that time of year! It seems right about this time, on an annual basis, I go into a dreadful sewing slump. I’m not motivated to even…
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American Duchess on Patreon
Hi Lovelies! I have some big news – we are now on Patreon! Patreon is a way to support creators with small monthly contributions that help us make more and better content.…
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The American Duchess Historical Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Happy Holidays! Welcome to our big mega huge list of holiday gifts for the historical costumers in your life (or yourself!). This year we have lots and lots of goodies to recommend…
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The 7 Stages of Piecing
There are very few historical projects I’ve made over the years that have gone totally smoothly. In fact, I can think of one. Every other gown I’ve made, and a heck of…
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The American Duchesses: A Tale of Two Consuelos
Hello Lovelies! Welcome to part two of our stories of real life American Duchesses, rich stateside socialites who married into the British aristocracy. Today we have the Tale of Two Consuelos. The first…
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A Trip to England and Wales
Lauren here…. ….here in Reno, and not in the UK where I have been and would like to still be. 😉 For the first time in years (and for the first time…
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Research: We See What We Want to See; We See What We Know
Dress research is one of the great pleasures of the historical costuming hobby, and it’s also a necessity. We all start off along this interest in old clothes knowing nothing, then slowly…
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The Great China Adventure, Or, How Jet-Lag is Evil
Hello Lovelies! Abby here – sort of… Jet lag is evil & mean. But I’m here in body, even if that means my circadian rhythms are still totally bananas and I now…
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Review: Hand Bound 18th c. Style Book by Paul McClintock, From Common Hands Studio
Hand made sketchbook with historic marbled paper cover and tooled leather binding – From Common Hands Studio I recently received a fabulous gift: a hand-made custom blank book from Paul McClintock of…
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What It’s Like to Be an Extra on a Historical Documentary, pt.1
This time last year I was cast in a Weather Channel documentary on The Donner Party, filming right here in Northern Nevada where the ordeal took place. Casting It was an interesting…
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I’m No Pinup
The actual me: I can’t draw a cat eye; I don’t often wear dresses; my car isn’t vintage; I’m covered in dog hair. I’ve been into vintage fashion a long time now.…
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American Duchess Historical Stocking Stuffers
Christmas draws nigh (squee!), and you may be thinking of some last minute gift ideas….or seeding certain folks with last minute gift ideas for *you*. I have a number of small items…
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The Historical Costumer’s Holiday Book List
I don’t know about you, but about 90% of what’s on my Christmas list this year is books on historical costuming. We in the community are lucky to have so many excellent…
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#ShopSmall With These Great Indie Historical Companies Today
In the madness that is Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it can be quite difficult for us little gals to stand out. So today, Small Business Saturday, have a gander at the…
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8 Easy Historical Halloween Costume Ideas
It’s nearly Halloween time, and I’m sure you’re all thinking about (or working feverishly on) your costumes! Halloween can be a weird time for historical costumers. We costume all year long, and…
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Enter the Royal Vintage Halloween Photo Contest!
It’s October! Enter all things pumpkin, the spreading of polyester spider web on *everything*, and the sudden sprouting of Spirit Halloween Stores all over the country. In 31 days it shall be…
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“Is This The Real Life? Is This Just Fantasy?” – The Myth of Perfection
This past Saturday, Lauren M. of Wearing History posted a fantastic, soul-bearing article on Social Media and the Myth of Perfection. She urged us all to consider the real lives behind the…
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Friday Video: Costumers vs. CARS!
…We’ve all been here… …can you relate? This video was SO much fun to shoot with the ladies of the Great Basin Costume Society. We all met in a Starbucks parking lot…
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American Duchess In The News!
I was interviewed by a local news network last week, and here’s the little video! It’s another behind-the-scenes look at our home business. I have a tendency to say stupid things on…
