Romantic

Civil War & Victorian

Titanic/Teens

It is difficult to imagine a Victorian lady without her shawl, bonnet, gloves, eardrops, and brooch. Indeed, accessories are often what makes a successful ensemble.

Our kind sponsor, Tudor Rose Vintage, offers beautifull floral combs and clips for a feminine touch. Enjoy!

This quarter, Anna Allen offers an overview on Civil War era heargear, with tips for recreating popular styles. While her article is intended for reenactors, we should all enjoy her lavish photographs and be inspired to revive the charming custom of wearing hats!

Warmly,
Ashley Middleton, editor

P.S. Do you have suggestions for recreating period accessories? A link to share? We'd love to see!

Ready-made Accessories:

~Treasures from a Bygone Era, Amber crosses, luxurious shawls, and more

~Raymond's Quiet Press, Buckles, brooches, crosses, pendants, earrings, cloak clasps and more with more of a "medieval" slant!

Online Suppliers:

~Blue Fire Beads, This little store is actually a block away from me; I've purchased from them before, my mother has taken a beading workshop from them, and we both plan to go back.  Unfortunately at this time, they do not have online ordering, but they do have photos of their stock.  It's worth a visit if you're in the southside Chicago area.  Tons of pearls, Bali beads, found beads, Swarovski crystals, and other high quality beading items from around the world.

~Cheep Trims,Most if not all trims here are sold by the spool, but at such low prices, they're often quite worth it.

~Fire Mountain Gems, Only for the strong - tons of beads, gems, cords, wire, tools and organizers, books, chains, clasps, and even ready-to-wear jewelry.  One could get lost in this pretty site!

~Hedgehog Handworks, Books, buttons and clasps, needlework tools, metal threads and more.

~Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. 18th Century reproductions, clothing, and books.  Buckles, buttons, clasps, some fabric, 18th and 19th century hats, tea, writing accessories, costuming and textile books, and tons more.

~Wooded Hamlet, All-natural fiber trims, ribbons, needlework tools and supplies for the historically minded.  One of the most recommended companies in the historical clothing community.

How-to & Help:

~DIY:  The Do-It-Yourself Network, This site has everything! There are TONS of topics here, so be sure to check this site out.  Just give yourself some time to browse through it!

~The Renaissance Tailor, A bit earlier than the reaches of this site, though the owner seems to be getting more interested in the 18th Century, and will be adding to the site in the coming year.  (For now, there is a sneak peek link on tons of possible future topics from the front page.)  Fantastic, easy-to-understand demonstrations not only concerning basic and advanced sewing strategies, but also hand-bound eyelet holes, hand-made trims, buttons, embroidery and applique techniques, cardweaving, ruffs, collars and cuffs, gloves, fans, and more!  Wow!

About the Editor

Ashley Middleton has been interested in the little bits and gadgets of life from an early age.  She amassed rather interesting collections of "accessories" - from 25-cent vending machine jewelry to bitty hats and shawls for her dolls - and the madness hasn't stopped yet.  Inspired by the historical dolls in the American Girl collection, she became fascinated with historical fashion. After a two-year flirtation with the Elizabethan era, her current focus is on the American Civil War and decades priorg.  She also designs websites (www.diochra.com/host/), runs a large Irish dance-related website (www.diochra.com) and will be launching a website dedicated to historical fashion, The Sewing-Bird (www.diochra.com/sewingbird) shortly.