At the Hemwick Regency Society picnic, i learned two things – the first, that croquet is surprisingly intense for a laid-back lawn game, and the second – that i am really really bad at it.
A DIY Georgian Parure
I enjoy turning pretty things into other pretty things. In this tutorial, I turn a glass-and-brass necklace into a DIY Georgian parure.
A Blonde Silk Gauze Mantelet
One of my favorite 18th Century costume references is a portrait by Sir Nathanial Dance-Tolland. I love the puffy blue stomacher bows. I love the enormous pearls worn high on her neck. I love her pet squirrel. But mostly I love the lace mantelet that she is wearing over the top of all of it. While less heavily textured, this embroidered silk gauze from FabricGuru has such a similar scale and vibe to the fabric in the portrait that I reckoned it was MEANT. I would make the blonde silk gauze mantelet from the portrait!
A Midnight Silk Sultana
Last spring at a workshop, I came across a silk sultana hanging on a peg. I tried it on – and I wanted it. I didn’t NEED one, so of course I immediately went fabric shopping and found a piece of suitable-enough silk shantung – just enough of it for a midnight purple silk sultana.
A Regency Card Party in Virginia
My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen! I had been visiting with a Miss W– (lately removed to Virginia from the newly declared Republic of Chile) and together we attended a small – and very select – card party!
18th Century Girandole Earrings: a Tutorial
Remember when I made a rhinestone 18th Century Stomacher Brooch? Here is a tutorial for making a pair of 18th Century Girandole Earrings to match!
18th Century Stomacher Brooch: Tutorial
In the collection of the Victoria & Albert museum in London, there is a stunning antique Portuguese brooch. Thanks to an aliexpress seller who likes the piece as much as I do, today we’re going to make our very own 18th Century Stomacher Brooch!
The Fitting and Proper Chintz Banyan
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it another wrapping gown? It’s the Fitting and Proper Chintz Banyan! Let’s talk about how to put it together.
The Giant Christmas Squid
It began with fiberfill – fiberfill and a dream. Mr Tabubil was getting one serious Christmas present – the biggest, most giant-est Christmas Squid ever seen in Santiago.
Alphonse Mucha Inspired Summer Wreath
I made an Alphonse Mucha Inspired Summer Wreath for a turn-of-the-century-poster event this summer. For a quick hot-glue job, this is shaping up to be one of my prettiest costume pieces! (There’s probably an important life lesson in there somewhere.)