It's been a crazy mid-month, and here's hoping things calm down. Lots of happenings and announcements and other zaniness ahead...

American Duchess Historic Shoes BlogFirst Up - Pogey Bait! Nicole, herself a fantastic seamstress and wonderful friend, got me an AMAZERING little teacup and saucer for Christmas, from Anthropologie. It's *divine!* So, so lovely, and I am drinking tea out of it right now. Thanks Nicole! This event of joy happened while visiting Cuthbert's Tea House at Dickens Fair in San Francisco, where I spent my weekend. Cuthbert's also sells sweet little tea accoutrements, and I found a delightful, classic, white porcelain teapot for a lovely little price (you see it in the picture behind the cup and saucer). There is something about white porcelain teapots, unadorned, and well-balanced, that I simply love...so, a Christmas gift to myself, shhhhh!

American Duchess Historic Shoes BlogTrim options for the suit - silver braid combos on
navy blue velveteen. On picture is with flash, one without.

Next- James' Ubersexlich 18th c. men's suit. I promise to inundate you with updates in the next month or so, but I just have to say that toiles and fittings are really not that interesting in the blog-iverse...that, and this particular fitting happened to take place in the men's room at Gaskells Victorian Ball. There were men. They were in their underwear. This is the reason for having no pictures. At any rate, the fitting went very well, with minor changes to the waistband, tightening up the legs, and making some aesthetic decisions concerning the back of the waistcoat. I can't wait to get started on the final version, and it better be quick - James wants the ensemble by early February (*ouch!*).

American Duchess Historic Shoes BlogWant the pattern for this 1790s jacket?

More - an announcement. I'm going to work up a couple patterns for sale and place them on Etsy. No timeline as of yet, and I'll need to perfect them, but I'm thinking of the 1790s striped jacket, possibly the 1840s ballgown bodice, maybe some headgear (like a coif + embroidery pattern). I'll have to dig through my patterns...

American Duchess Historic Shoes BlogAnd Finally - I spent the weekend in The Bay, at Dickens Fair and at Gaskells. Here's evidence of the latter - are you sick of this dress yet?
American Duchess