The Dirty Little Secret of the Paris Opera
The Palais Garnier was built for the Paris Opera from 1861 to 1875, at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III. Like many of Paris’s newly refurbished establishments, what it offered to the public was far...
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The Best Old Things Money Can Buy
One of my very favorite humans in the world was Diane Cucci. Not only did she love, love, LOVE old fabrics and trims, she knew where to get amazing stuff. She was...
The Joy of Old Things
There's something very gratifying about finally using your stash. But there's more to the satisfaction I'm feeling than that. Old things aren't just old, they're different than their contemporary counterparts. They were...
Hemingway, Cats, and Me
The first dress for any doll is always a learning dress, because a new doll means fashions I haven’t sewn before and techniques I’m not familiar with. I never use my favorite...
The Headache of Sleeves
Even after fifty odd years of sewing, drafting a sleeve pattern is still a challenge. It starts, the night before, with trepidation. "Stop worrying," I tell myself as I toss around in...
Another Small Step
Some days I need to remind myself that it’s okay to just keep plugging along - even if it's at a snail’s pace. I think we all do. Maddie’s dress is coming...
Sheer Summer Dresses
Until I started looking into whether the bodice of Maddie's dress should be lined or unlined, I didn't know Sheer Dresses were a "thing". I mean, I knew there were sheer dresses....
Maddie’s Cage Crinoline
During the hours and hours of hand sewing involved in narrow hemming bias cut dimity, I remembered that Maddie still needed a crinoline. Yes! A break from ruffle making was just what...
The History of Cage Crinolines
Women's skirts reached their greatest circumference in about 1860. But what happened before, and after, this point makes for a fascinating read. One of the most interesting articles on the topic can...
Maddie’s First Dress
In the beginning, there was a woman. Her favorite dress was sewn from a lovely piece of single bar dimity - pink stripes, light as air, and adorned with lace. She made...