We all have those – I’ll call them moments – when our blood boils and we escape to the sewing room to blow off some steam. (That, or we have a pressing deadline so move to the sewing room because we have to.) When this happens it’s a good idea to know what you shouldn’t Read More...
Category: Jen’s Musings
The Magic of a Drool-Worthy Costume
Most often people come into making historical costumes because they love a particular antique garment they saw in a museum or book, or because they fell in love with some fabulous costuming in a film or TV show. I like to think that we are all striving (at least in some aspects) to make that Read More...
Dispelling the Myth of the Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Waist
It’s true when you look at photographs from the 1800s or observe antique dresses on custom-made mannequins it’s not hard to envy those petite waistlines. Do you do this? This perception usually leads to the generic thought: “Teeny, tiny waists are what women strived for back then. Everyone wanted an 18″ waist!” But did they?… Read More...
A Controversial Red Dress
Last month there was all of this kerfuffle going on about the new Simplicity pattern released, designed by American Duchess, and inspiration taken from “The Red Dress” seen in Outlander, Season 2 designed by Terry Dresbach. I thought I’d share my rambling ideas on this [apparently] controversial sewing pattern. Read More...
30 Days of Sharing Historical Costuming
Happy Happy New Year!! May it bring many blessings and new challenges in your creative projects. As a way to get our creative imaginations flowing, I’ve made a list of concepts relating to historical fashion and sewing to prompt the sharing of ideas we can use to spur on our projects for this new year. Yay! 🙂 Read More...
The WHY We Are Involved with Historical Costuming
“How in the world did I get here?!?” In the middle of a making a costume, do you ever stop and question how you got into this hot mess? “Why am I sewing this project today??” Costuming isn’t just a “thing.” We are “involved.” As in a close relationship. As in, we show love and Read More...
Knitting Myself into a Frenzy
Ah… life with a newborn. It’ll make you re-think your life. Ha! Well, yes and no. As a new, older mom (one they call “Advanced Maternal Age” or what I jokingly referred to as “geriatric mother” 😛 ) I have found that my sewing time has been reduced dramatically* and of course I want to Read More...
What I Learned from NOT Going to Costume College
Costume College 2016 just ended. If you don’t know about it, it is a 3+ day annual conference held in the Los Angeles area and is for all costumers wanting to “up their game” through learning and being challenged by others. I’ve been attending since 2000 and been teaching since 2004. This year, my plans Read More...