Announcement: Speaking Engagement

I am excited to announce I will be presenting Unveiling Rural Milliners during the

Fall Fashion & Textile Symposium

at the Genesee Country Village and Museum on Saturday, November 9th. You can attend in-person or virtually. The full day program features 4 presentations:

  • Opening: “Unveiling Rural Milliners” with Anna Worden
  • Keynote: “Turning the Shoe Wrong-side Out: 19th century Construction Revealed” with Nicole Rudolph
  • “‘A Different Habit’: the Public Universal Friend, Gender and Clothing in 18th America”with Tricia L. Noel of the Yates County Historical Society
  • “Textiles in 19th Century Ontario County Or Did Our Fore-Mothers Really Spin, Weave and Make All of Their Fabric and Clothing By Hand?” with Wilma Townsend of the OCHS

To round out the day, in-person attendees can explore the textile vaults with Curator, Brandon Brooks.

You can register for in-person or virtual attendance through GCVM’s website. Follow the event on their Facebook event page. I would love to know you are coming.  Please comment below.

Published in: on August 30, 2024 at 4:37 pm  Leave a Comment  

Whimsy Witch Hat Pattern – Revised!!!

My Whimsy Witch Hat Pattern is back & Revised!

The pattern now includes the original size and a larger size. The original size fits an average to smaller size head. (It seems to work well for children too.) The larger size is meant for an average to larger size head, 23″-24″.

I revised the price as well.

$1.58

I call this the “everyone should have a witch hat” price.

You may notice I created a new shop section called “Digital Whimsy.” This is a reminder to myself to share some of the other small patterns I’ve created over the years as well.

Published in: on August 25, 2024 at 8:50 am  Comments (2)  

Barrell Letters

First, I want to say thank you to all readers and subscribers who have stuck with me over the years. I know it has been a roller coaster ride in terms of content, both amount and type. I appreciate each of you.

Coming back to the Barrell Letters – I’ve spent the morning uploading letters to Patreon from this incredible collection I have been transcribing.  While I have a vision of the letters in a single publication accompanied by information on each of the places mentioned in the letters, I find I am eager to share some of the letters now.

I am setting up a letter to go live on Patreon each Saturday morning for the next several weeks. I have letters uploaded through October with a couple more left to transcribe. 

Published in: on August 17, 2024 at 10:11 am  Leave a Comment  

Pocket of the Month (& Updates)

I forgot to post on Saturday that August’s Pocket of the Month design went live on Patreon.  This month’s pocket is a pair of shadow cats, a historicly inspired design. The cats are meant to be appliqued. But, I can see them quilted or embroidered as well. Done in applique, I can picture nearly endless possibilities.

Updates:

Fancy Work Fair – I am still trying to decide if the online Fancy Work Fair is feasible and when I can do it.

Millinery  – I find I have hit a sewing funk and lack any motivation to sew. Thus, a hiatus on new millinery. Flip side of that is my Etsy shop is a third of my income. So, I must find a way to get myself back on track.

Mystery Boxes  – As yet another summer migraine set in, my mind wandered to Mystery Boxes for fall. I am picturing Fanciful Utility themed boxes this year. I think I have 10 boxes to fill. This will mean making lots of little things. (Hopefully, this will inspire me to sew again.) Please comment ideas of what you would like to see in boxes this fall.

Research  – I have two research projects in progress,  one of which will be excitedly announced soon-ish. The other will be shared soon-ish as well.

Published in: on August 13, 2024 at 3:37 pm  Leave a Comment  

Fancy Work Fair

Who would be interested in an online Fancy Work Fair?

Please respond in the comments.

For much of my life, I have enjoyed participating in a 19th-century style fair alongside family and friends. I always love seeing what others create, the effort they put into their work, both in craftsmanship and research. 

For several years now, I’ve toyed with the idea of an online fair, giving others the opportunity to share their work as well. I have absolutely no idea if others are interested. I acknowledge this could be lots of fun for people, or it could be an utter disaster.

This is what I have in mind:

  • Something very small to start, focusing on small pieces of Fancy Work. This would be 3 to 6 categories set on either function or materials. (Potential categories based on function: Needle-books, Pen Wipes, Frames. Potential categories based on material: Reclaimed objects, Flora, Leaves, & Twigs.)
  • Participants would enter by submitting photographs and a description with context & documentation. There would be a minimum & maximum number of photos, including interior and detail photos. I think this would need to be done with either a Google form or a Facebook group. 
  • Images of entries would be shared either on a website or Facebook group (tbd) for all participants to enjoy.
  • A small group of judges would award virtual ribbons. I would love to be able to award real rosette ribbons if I can afford it.

What do you think?

Published in: on August 1, 2024 at 4:34 pm  Comments (12)