American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
V258: Small Biz Betties - Your Ready-Made Focus Group
Hi All! It's been awhile since I've done any Small Biz Betties posts, but I'm back, and ready to share more business tips and tricks with you. Today I want...
V256: My First Shoe
No, this isn't about baby shoes, but the first shoe I ever designed and made (with my own bare hands!), back in 2001, in my first university art class, Art...
V254: Fitting Mom's JP Ryan Jacket(s)
JP Ryan Jacket in progress Today my lovely Lady Mother came over for help fitting sleevils into two of her Colonial Williamsburg pieces - both swallow-tailed jackets, in different materials,...
V255: The Festive Attyre 18th Century Curtain-Along
I was so tickled to see that the wonderful Jen, of Festive Attyre, has started an international sewing "curtain-along," for everyone who is making an 18th century something-or-other from any...
V253: 1940s "Bomber Girl" Photoshoot with Stephanie
Today my buddy Stephanie and I got together to take her submission photos for a local "Bomber Girls" 1940s pageant coming up in October. I did Steph's hair and lent...
V252: Midnight Vintage Shoe Finds on Etsy
Nothing teaches one the construction and detailing of a vintage or antique shoes as, well, an actual vintage or antique shoe. I was thrilled to find quite a few shoes...
V251: Starting the Indienne Gown, 1780s
With only about a month left until we leave for Williamsburg, I have rather a lot of sewing to do! I was giddy when I found this Indienne print cotton...
V250: Finished 1770s Parisian Chapeau
Awhile ago I posted a little page of sketches for a late 1770s hat to go with my striped "Parisian Gown." I went out and bought all the materials for...
V249: Georgian Beauty Myths BUSTED!, by Elisa of Isis' Wardrobe
Glenn Close in "Dangerous Liaisons" Hi all! Today I'd like to turn the floor over to the wonderful Elisa of Madame Isis' Toilette, and Isis' Wardrobe, who has been studying...
V248: 1772 Colonial Spice Tea by Litttle Bits Clothing Company
This morning, with the power out and no internet to eat my soul, I had a chance to slow down and enjoy a fine cuppa new tea I got from...
V247: Making a 1790s Gainsborough Hat
Yesterday I made a Gainsborough hat to go with the new purple 1790s "Robe Royaliste". I researched many a fine fashion plate from Dames a la Mode, and raided the...
V246: My Regency Papillote Curls
After seeing this wonderful little video on how to use your flatiron and tissue paper to make 18th century and Regency "papillote" curls, I was itching to give it a...