American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
V261: American Duchess For The Cure - Fundraising For Breast Cancer Research
Hi all! Did you know it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Many of us have been through or have loved ones who have battled breast cancer, myself included. To help raise...
V260: Tasty 18th Century Pomatum For Your Hair
"Maybe she's born with it...maybe it's beef grease pomatum." 1775 (Reynolds) Jane detail This year at Costume College, I attended a wonderful class given by Kendra of Demode, on the...
V259: Starting on the Snowshill 1730-50 Riding Habit
You know when you have tons of stuff to get done for a major costume event or trip, and yet Costume ADD strikes and despite being ridiculously short on time,...
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...
V257: Hello From San Francisco et al
Hi! Chris and I have been down in The Bay Area these past two days, for a Pompadour photoshoot with Laurie of Daze of Laur. I will share those shots...
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...