Category Archives: PIONEERS

Put your feet up and meet Elena Chien, whose beautifully crafted jewelry always tells a story. WORDS: Elga A tiny leaf here, some fine stitching there, and rows upon rows of little electric-blue beads on gold-banded driftwood. Fine details are Elena Chien’s cup of tea. A Los Angeles-based photographer, Chien has quite the following on…

One of my favorite things about watching a film or television series set in a historical period has to be the costumes.  I love seeing the fashion of a particular era represented on screen.   Let’s face it though- some films just do it better than others.  I’m sure we all have our favorites, and…

Today, we talk to Christine about sewing garments with linen.  Christine was a contestant in our Halloween Costume Contest.  Her sewing skills really come to life through her re-enactment garbs.  Hearing someone talk about their passion is the best way to get inspired! Hello Christine!  Please tell us a little bit about yourself and how…

 Today we are talking to Erika, the creator of  Yellow Wallpaper Handmade.  Her Etsy shop offers unique designs that use linen in creative and ways.  Maybe you will be inspired to sew something new with linen after hearing how her passion developed! Hi Erika! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Hi!  My…

When the word linen comes to my mind I think of myself relaxing outdoors on a day off from work, decked out in a lightweight linen outfit and enjoying the sun. I can close my eyes and just feel that subtle breeze breathing through my shirt right now — Ahhhhh yes. What doesn’t come to…

The Colonial period had a particular style of dress that determined the types of garments worn.  Styles would vary depending on the occasions and temperatures.  Each Colonial citizen dressed according to their occupation, economic power, and social status.  This is similar to other historical periods, in which your status was apparent through the appearance and…

 Name: Becky Occupation: Works at the feathered arts booth at the Faire; Student. Is this your first time woking at the booth? Yes, but I’ve been coming for about 10 years now. Handmade costume?  Becky’s boss at the booth gave her the outfit she is wearing. But she says "I am working on one right…

 Name: Matt Graves, aka Mortimers Skully Occupation:  Plays with the Belles of Bedlam at the Faire.   A massage therapist outside of the Faire. How many times have you been to the Renaissance Faire? This is my fourth year. Did you make your costume? No, actually my costume was made by a friend. Does it incorportae…

This weekend we were at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Irwindale, California to enjoy the nice weather and have some fun.  Artisans, guilds, and troupes all gathered in this realm of merriment to show off their skills and to just have a good time.  The entertainment and music made the the mood and atmosphere even…

Let some light shine into your home by pulling your curtains up.  Bows add a nice decorative feature to sheer linen curtains. A thick cord makes tying curtains back easy and looks beautiful.  This simple trick will only take but ten minutes of your day.   All you need to do is find a cord…

‘  When I was a little kid, I always wondered how money survived a trip through the washing machine.’  I would often leave dollar bills in my pocket and look at the crinkled aftermath slightly bewildered.’  Even as a child, I knew that paper plus water equaled mush. As much as I enjoyed toying with…

‘  A Renaissance Faire is where you can really let your creativity run wild and shine.’  It is a chance to express your love of history and passion for reenactment while amongst friends and family.’ ‘  The best way to enhance your Faire experience is to put together a show-stopping outfit. You can assemble the appropriate…

     I feel guilty sometimes thinking about how wasteful I am.  Sure, I do my part to try to recycle and buy organic, but those didn’t really require much thought on my part.  I suppose banning the use paper and plastic goods in my house was a mini achievement, but a year has past now…

How you let linen do its thing in order to do yours a little better. You love the way linen falls gently on your body, allowing you to feel free and unfettered. So why not let linen do what it does best to make your life a little easier? Here are three things you can…

Like the Greeks and the Etruscans they eventually conquered, Roman men and women prized simplicity and elegance. They were also very fond of linen. While Roman clothing copied many Greek and Etruscan styles, the Romans also included fashions from other conquered regions that formed the Roman Empire. Like most other Ancient cultures, the Romans took…