18th century – Malvena Pearl's Emporium

history in fabric

Some friends shared an article with me. It’s about a collection of fabric samples from the eighteenth century left with children at the Foundling Hospital in London. The hospital was opened in 1739. The article looks at the pieces of fabric that were left with the children as a tiny window into the lives of working class women. These were women who felt they had to give up their babies and some left a piece of cloth with the child as means of identification.

“The clothing of elite groups – fashionable merchants’ wives, duchesses with an eye for style – have survived in countless stately homes and museums. You can feast your eyes on silk and velvet, on silver buckles and pearl buttons, but you will search in vain for evidence of what ordinary working people wore to keep themselves dry and more-or-less warm.”

Read the piece about an exhibition of the fabric called Threads of Feeling.

Alice Through the Looking Glass costumes

Wow, a lot of events have been happening and business is certainly picking up since Jacque and I found the studio!

The Beeper Egg Hunt (and Mad Hatter’s tea party) for Blind Babies Foundation is tomorrow. I’ve had some generous help from members of the House Elf Committee, Ms. Dawn-0 and Ms. Helena, in getting the outfits made for Queen Alice, Red Queen and White Queen. We based the designs on the original Tenniel illustrations from Alice Through the Looking Glass, since that is the theme of this year’s Beeper Egg Hunt. We also found a Mad Hatter this week, Mr. KC3. Our kind supporter and inspiring pattern and costume-maker Lynn McMasters is loaning us a gorgeous Mad Hatter Top Hat!

Our feline Zac “assisted” with the construction of the White Queen’s dress. We have photographic evidence.

Now on to the crowns, sleeves, collars for the Red and White Queens, several pairs of bunny ears for the Foggy Gulch Band members and some top hats to cover for them, as well!

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18th c. hat progress

It has been unseasonably hot in our region of late. I don’t know about where you are, gentle reader, but the area of Oakland, CA has been very sweaty. So warm in fact that Roo the Magnificent, (the Cat of the Emporium) has been lolling about on the floor under the sewing table for several days now, flicking her tail and consuming vast quantities of water. And making ungodly noises –not unlike a screech owl –in the wee morning hours to get her Minion to feed her. Ahem. (Minion is what she calls the lowly human who feeds her and cleans her box.) The single, industrial sized electric fan has been on full, in the studio and the heat just let up this morning thanks to some fog that may have rolled in last night. Phew. It’s been tough to sleep, especially with all the chocolate left over from the egg hunts at the day-job.

The seamstress/Minion has been hard at work helping Ms. Mia with her hats, chemises and other garments, for her impending visit to a Costume Convention in Baltimore, MD, to see her family and to join our pal Sahrye in Williamsburg, VA at the historical village there.

Thankfully, the fog came in tonight and there’s even a breeze. I’ve been reviewing books on ribbon work. I got more work done on Ms. Mia’s hat. Here is the evidence.

inspiration for 18th c. hat for Ms. M.

So, I’m sewing away on M.’s chemise and she calls me today and tells me to get ready to see the inspiration for the hats I’m going to help her create to go with the rest of her 18th c. wardrobe! Whoa. Here’s the first one:

beautious hat image found on web site by Ms. M.

I think she even found the right ribbon to emulate this effect. She’s going to look lovely in Williamsburg. That’s our goal.