Hi Ladies! Whilst visiting Costume College, a lovely lady, The Ruby Raven, gifted me with a delightful little box of velvet patches, or “mouches,” the kind ladies would stick to their faces…
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V231: Indienne Chintz a la Waverly Window Curtains, 1780s
Good 18th century style Indienne print chintz can be hard to find. For some reason, rambling, graphic florals, in a limited color palette, on a white or light ground aren’t so much…
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V230: Small Biz Betties: When Are You a “Professional?”
Hi again! Welcome to this week’s Small Biz Betties, where I’ll be waxing poetical on how to know when you have taken the leap and become a “professional” in your field. It’s…
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V229: Analyzing Hedgehog Hairstyles
I am always on a quest to achieve bigger, better 18th century hair styles. Some hairstyles are super complicated, like the poufs of the 1770s. Some appear to be more simple, like…
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V228: New “Valois” Shoe Buckles
Finally, after forever in development, we’ve got the Valois buckles for your Kensington shoes. Chris is doing official product photos right now, so here’s a preview of how the new buckles look…
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V227: American Duchess Silks Stockings Are Dyeable, Yay!
Great news! For those of you who were asking, I did a little test yesterday, on a sample pair of our new silk stockings, to see if they would take dye. And…
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V226: Advertisement Fans, or Fans of Advertising?
I ran across this cool advertisement fan on Bobby Pin Blog awhile back, and thought it was a nifty idea… Advertisements on fans seem to have been pretty common in the past,…
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V225: Starting the 1790s “Robe Royaliste”
Before Costume College, I was making plans for a new 1790s gown in purple taffeta, called the “Robe Royaliste.” I decided on a chemise style like the lovely green/gold gown in The…
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V223: 17th Century Infanta Inspiration
Blargh, I hate being sick. I don’t want to sew or do much of anything, really, but it’s just so easy to look at pretty pictures….so I’ll do some of that. Next…
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V222: “Miss Nevada” 1890s Vaudeville Secret Gala Costume
I’m terrible at keeping secrets, but managed to not make a peep about my “super-secret Costume College Gala costume” for the greater part of a year. All the Northern Nevada ladies who…
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V220: The Parisian Gown – Finished!
Despite all the trouble this gown gave me, I’m so happy with how it turned out! I certainly learned many a lesson about fabric choice, sleeve construction, and general patterning. I’m ready…
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V218: Costume College 2012: Time Traveler’s Gala
The Gala at Costume College is overwhelmingly awesome. Everybody turns out with the most dazzling, stunning, out-of-this-world costumery you can imagine. Here are a few snaps I took tonight… Yay Northern Nevada!…
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217: Costume College Day 1: Ice Cream Social, Yay!
Costume College is *awesome* ! So far I’ve met tons of wonderful people, learned all about proper sleeve drafting, altering, and fitting, and made some indestructible 1770s rolls to clip into future…
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V216: Small Biz Betties: Making Public Appearances
Hello again! Today I’m in Southern California, attending “Costume College,” an annual event chock full of classes on all kinds of costuming stuff, along with shopping, and a sweet costume tea, ice…
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V215: Interview with Alicia of “Little Bits Clothing Company”
Hi All! Today I’ve got an interview with Alicia of “Little Bits Clothing Company,” a great little business creating reproduction historical gowns of the 18th and 19th centuries, along with a whole…
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V214: 18th Century Silk Clocked Stockings Now on Pre-Order
Okay, ladies (and gents too), it’s finally time. The new clocked stockings I’ve been working on are finally available to order. Purchase yours at www.american-duchess.com . White silk stockings with black clocks,…
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V213: Extant vs. Extent – What’s the Difference?
“I’m an extant gown with a skirt of great extent” In the historical costuming world, we talk and write a lot about original garments. It’s important to get the right terminology when…
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V212: Georgian Hair Hopping
Chris and I did a photo shoot the other night, for the clocked stockings pre-sale coming up in a couple days. I wore my new “Parisian Gown,” and wanted to do a…
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V211: I Like Big Bustles and I Cannot Lie
It is rather like an insect carapace, isn’t it. Last Friday night, I took a class with the industrious Mary Crawley, leader of the local Steampunk club, High Desert Steam, to learn…
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V210: Sugarpine Living History Day 2012, and 1933 Vintage Vogue Dress
As promised, here are pics from today’s lovely event at the Ehrman Mansion, Sugarpine State Park, Lake Tahoe. Our Great Basin Costume Society group – Oscar, Debbie, Baby Autumn, Sarah, Maridy, Carolyn,…
