This year has been full of cancellations, social distancing, and quarantines, no thanks to COVID-19. I’ve been fortunate to be able to work from home since mid-March, and though I refuse to put on make-up, or even shower on some days, I’ve worn a costume every work day to keep my spirits up. Surprisingly, it […]
Happy Home
Our Christmas Cards Have Gone Digital
As much as I loved making Christmas cards every year for our friends and family, it became a seasonal stressor (like we needed more things to do and worry about). We’d blow through printer cartridges, bark at each other whenever cards would get stuck or ink would bleed, spend days making picture prints, cutting, stuffing, […]
How to Make Your Very Own Fabulous Witch Hat
A guest blog post by Sarah Going out with girlfriends to Witches Night Out at Granny’s Korner in Tomball, Texas for a little pre-Halloween fun calls for a special witches hat! Inspired by the “best hat” contest, exceeding craftiness and my lack of funds, I decided to go online and find a tutorial for making a witch’s hat. I didn’t […]
The Art of Saying No Commissions
I’ve been crafting all my life, costuming for about a decade, and last month my blog, Red Shoes. Red Wine., turned four. And for at least the fourth year in a row, especially in the months leading up to Halloween, I’ve politely declined an overwhelming amount of requests for costume commissions. Thank you, truly… I’m […]
Fall Newsletter & Quarterly Round-Up
It’s Fall, Y’all! Well, it doesn’t really feel like fall down here in Houston, but we’re ready!! It’s been a busy quarter for me, but when is it ever not?! We’re settled into our new home, I’m sewing like a mad woman, and we’re gearing up for what is already a busy holiday season. Here’s […]
DIY Georgian Lover’s Eye
I was first introduced to eye miniatures in season 1 of Outlander when Geillis Duncan wore a Lover’s Eye brooch on her Arisaid at the Gathering. And then diving deeper into 18th century fashion, I started to see them everywhere. When Natasha (Sewcialist Revolution) organized a Hogwarts inspired 18th century quidditch costume group for DragonCon […]
Costuming Brianna from Outlander: Season 4 (Patchwork Shirt)
I usually costume Claire from Outlander, and I have outfits from the first 3 seasons. But in season 4, a costume worn by Brianna (Bree) caught my eye, and I started working on it before the first episode even aired. I made Brianna’s patchwork shirt that she wore while hunting with Jaime in episode 409, […]
Ghosts of Costumes Past: DragonCon 2018
Every year during Labor Day weekend, I attend DragonCon in Atlanta, one of the largest pop culture conventions in the United States. While it’s not the largest and the most widely known, it is my version of a costuming Super Bowl. As I’m currently on my way to Atlanta for this year’s convention, I’m taking a look back at what I […]
Hair Cushions: An Experimental Book Review of The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Beauty
I’m no stranger to 18th century costuming, but my knowledge is relatively new and limited to Outlander and Black Sails, and I am still learning (always). I attended Costume College last month and sat in on the 18th century beauty lecture led by Lauren Stowell and Abby Cox from American Duchess. My husband, friends, and […]
From Suburbs to City (Part 3)
Continued from: From Suburbs to City (Part 1) and From Suburbs to City (Part 2) And now for the third and final update on our transition from the suburbs to the city! What a busy two months it has been! From our last update two months ago we finally unpacked everything, and we had just accepted […]