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...
Tag: Motivation
Writing Morning Pages
Aside from being a seamstress… a dressmaker, I’m a writer. I wasn’t sure of that title until many years ago my friend mentioned all the writing I do in blog posts and ebooks and sewing instructions. Yeah, ok. I loved writing short stories in junior high and high school English classes too. I’m a writer. Read More...
What to Do With Small Yardages in the Stash
This week Elise sent me an excellent question on historical projects that can be made with little fabric. You know… The 1/2 to 2 yard pieces left over from other projects or the beautiful fabric you had to buy (and did so before you knew how much a period costume would actually use). To Elise, Read More...
6 Traits of Accomplished Historical Costumers
We all have those few REALLY good costumers who we look up to and admire. Your list of names may be similar to mine but both contain brilliant, creative people who astound and inspire us. We want to be them when we grow up! No matter the simplicity or detail produced by your sewing heroes, Read More...
Why keeping a sewing journal is important
If you sew you probably have bits of notes and scribbled text written in various places. You know – that measurement on the pattern sheet there, and that fabric content or yardage on the envelope over there. Could even be a sticky note attached to a pattern piece to help you remember a change you Read More...
Being real. A note from the heart
While listening to a podcast from Steven Furtick last week, a moment of inspiration and conviction came over me to share some thoughts with you. An honest confession of my (costuming) life in the last few months. Most of my readers think of me researching Victorian fashions and prancing around the house in bustle dresses Read More...
Everybody Has Different Goals
Maybe you’ve been there – a new costumer at your first dress-up event. You are so enthusiastic you didn’t even sleep much last night. (Either because you were too excited or you were finishing your costume… just like the rest of us.) But then you experience the horrible occurrence of someone telling you – to your Read More...
Life is Too Short to Quibble
Ever come across the term “for an elderly lady” when researching antique sewing patterns and designs? Yeah…. So what does THAT mean?? My mom is in her sixties. If you read about a 65 year-old woman in the news you might think that’s an elderly woman. But then I consider my 102 year-old living great-grandmother Read More...