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...
Tag: Motivation
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...
Using a Pizza to Help You Make Historical Costumes
So it’s a bit cheesy (sorry…) to compare pizza to sewing. I mean, how alike are they really? Not very much. The only thing I know of pizza being even remotely good for helping you sew is when you’re on a deadline sewing crunch and you order out. (Here’s hoping you keep it FAARRRR away Read More...
The Big Scary World of a New Time Period
You keep coming back to it. Over and over. It draws you in with its delicious appearance as a moth to a gaslight flame at a Victorian ball. It calls to you; speaks your name. Torments your dreams…. Ruthless in its pursuit of your desire to make it come to life. That long ago fashion Read More...