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Especially for Families
If you’re wondering just what to do with your child’s outgrown clothing, or are looking for a quick piece or two to round out the wardrobe, here’s a good option! Economy & Frugality Organized by...
View ArticleDancing!
I’m a big fan of dancing, and am so glad it’s such a prevalent form of entertainment at mid-century! If you’re interested in learning more about mid-19th century dancing, and even dancing for a good...
View ArticleAccessible Archives Subscriptions!
If you like to research from original resources, a subscription to Accessible Archives may be the thing for you! Through a special arrangement, members of The Sewing Academy community can get a special...
View ArticleIs It Really Important?
How important is historical accuracy in an interpretive plan? Pardon me a moment while I hop up on this handy stump and share a few thoughts… Patrons to any historic site (and extrapolating, to any...
View ArticleThe Wonders of a Winter Hood
With cooler weather reigning in most areas, you may be looking for those particular wardrobe additions that are both accurate, and designed to keep you warmer, safer, and happier at winter activities....
View ArticleA Blog Series You Won’t Want to Miss!
One of my favorite researchers is Anna Worden Bauersmith. She has such a lovely eye for detail, and goes beyond that to put thing into the larger context we all need for effective interpretive efforts....
View ArticleMeet the Editor: The Citizen’s and Soldier’s Digest
We’re very excited to sit down with Connie Payne, and bring you some exclusive details about a terribly keen new project of interest to anyone who enjoys living history and the mid-19th century! The...
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Fanciful Utility: The Newest Book from Anna Worden Bauersmith!
Are you ready? Are you a fan of historic sewing and particularly, historic sewing accessories? Would you like to be able to make gorgeous, functional, accurate pieces for yourself? For gifts? As...
View ArticleBook Review: I Like That Good Old Song
Imagine yourself strolling down a quiet village lane on a fine early summer day. A gentle breeze blows; dappled shade from the trees plays over your face as you walk. You can smell firewood in the sun,...
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Curious About Color?
The mid-19th century is a time of tremendous color… in everything except most photographic information. By the 1860s, photography had developed to the point that it was no longer just for artists and...
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How Much?
“My Dear, it was HOW much?” (Southworth and Hawes. Editorial liberties taken with all captioning.) It’s a topic that comes up quite frequently in living history circles: how much does a good repro...
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Get Thee To The Symposium!
Every March, something cool happens. It’s January right now, but you still have a month to get in on the cool March something, so I wanted to take some time and share it with you! And we all know I...
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A Quick Note
Just a quick reminder: you still have time to get “Early Bird” registration discounts for the Harrisburg Symposium, but only for a few more days. The full price is a great deal, but the Early Bird has...
View ArticleFitting Out A Sewing Box
Many of us sew in living history situations, and thus have need of an accurately fitted-out set of tools and supplies; others of us simply find the historic tools and styles charming, and wish to have...
View ArticleAdventures In Women’s Underwear
Or: What a Man Needs to Know about Dressing a Woman It is a typical scenario: a man comfortable in military impressions meets a nice woman. They fall in love, or at least deep like. He wishes to...
View ArticleWhat Did They Really Wear?
Just a quick cool thing today! Here’s a fantastic look at African-American clothing in the 2014 Daguerrian Annual, by Dr Karen Bohleke: Click Through to the Article
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Christmas for Your Old-Fashioned Girls
So many have already taken advantage of our new digital-download doll pattern! It’s very exciting to see pictures posted on social media of the various unique little cloth girls everyone is making;...
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Mr Sullivan, Lilly, and Me: A 19th Century Fan-Girl Moment
Lilly Martin Spencer Selfie about 1848 One of my all-time favorite genre artists of the mid-19th century is Lilly Martin Spencer, the England-born daughter of French immigrants to Marietta, Ohio. Lilly...
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A New Sunbonnet in the Compendium!
During workshops in Olathe, Kansas this February, I was pleased to be allowed to study an original slatted sunbonnet in the Mahaffie Stage Stop & Historic Farm collection… and then even more...
View ArticleChoosing Your Maker
Some questions from newer folk lately have sparked my own ruminations, and I thought it was about time to do a Part The Second to an older post about Why Things Cost Money. Hiring sewing work done is a...
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