Book Review: Victorian Secrets

Usually if there’s any sort of buzz about a new blog post, book, class, etc. regarding corsets and the wearing of, the historical costume community is apt to proceed forth either carefully with trepidation or with full zeal. Which one of these viewpoints the reader comes from is based on one’s current view of corsets Read More...

Cleaning & Storing the Costumes We Make

If you’ve been making costumes for any length of time you KNOW the space they take up in the house… the closets… the garage… the bathroom… under the bed… How does a flat bit of fabric suddenly need a stretch limo to take it home? Or its own bedroom to pout in? And what happens Read More...

Year in Review: Costuming in 2012

I rarely go back and tally all I completed over the past year. My perpetual journal has records noted when I finish a project so I can go back anytime I wish to review my sewing progress. However, I’m usually so absorbed in the forward movement of the coming year’s sewing & activities that by Read More...

Identifying Which Way is Up on a Corset Busk

Your corset order has arrived. You rip open that box or cardboard priority mail envelope and out you pull beautiful white bones. And there’s the busk too. How pretty it looks! You examine it’s little bumps attached firmly to the steel bone. The knobs that easily fit through the rounded loops. You figure out how Read More...

Sifting Through Endless Edwardian Patterns

With all the fervor surrounding the centennial celebrations of the Titanic sinking, statehoods for Arizona & New Mexico, the Girl Scouts and LL Bean, and many other Edwardian events, I wanted to put together a list of clothing patterns available. Please note that this list is certainly not exhaustive. I only want to give a Read More...

Getting off the Couch & into the Sewing Room

Everyone who crafts whether it be sewing, knitting, quilting, or whatever, goes through phases where the inspiration is bland or even non-existent. It may last only a few days or weeks or even months. Somewhere along the way, we crash. We take a break. Life happens. Have you been there? Yeah, me too. You’re not Read More...