All posts filed under: Miscellenia

Friday Reads: Kilmeny of the Orchard

Ok, I think I had better be right up front here. I love L.M. Montgomery as an author. I’m a diehard fan, I adore her books, and would own all of them if I could. Well, almost all of them. Kilmeny of the Orchard is the one exception. It’s Montgomery’s one big flop (literary wise, not sure about financial wise). I’m sure somewhere along the line someone, Montgomery, a publisher, someone must have noticed that it sucked. Apparently they said “Meh, who cares, we’ll publish it anyway.” These are the things that are wrong with Kilmeny of the Orchard: Racism, sexism, classism, disabilityism (OK, that isn’t even a real word, but you know what I mean), and my ultimate literary cliche pet peeve: the gorgeous girl who thinks she is ugly. There is also some low level, but still totally creepy, pseudo-pedophelia. And wanna-be incest. And some pretty old fashioned ideas about the worth of people born outside of marriage. And…well, you get the idea. OK, so basic plot: Eric Marshall (the pseudo-pedophile) is rich …

How I store my stuff

Published by The Dreamstress

Following up on Friday’s post on what I do when a garment is finished, this is how I store the finished garments. Or, specifically, how I store my undergarments. I have one suitcase for corsets, chemises, short petticoats and drawers, and another for big petticoats and bustles My first suitcase, the one for corsets etc. came from Nana. It still has the airport tags from the last trip she took it on attached. I’m pretty sure it dates from the 80s, when China had just started to really open up to the West. The suitcase is clearly made for the Western market, but the marketing hasn’t quite caught up. The corsets and chemises and drawers go in the body of the suitcase, and I keep stockings and extra corset laces in the pocket. Its a great system: anytime I need lots of undergarments I just grab the whole suitcase and go. Just about the time that I started really running out of room in Nana’s suitcase, I found another, almost matching one, but even older …

Amazing educators through history: I need suggestions!

Published by The Dreamstress

I’ve got an idea about my next big project a la Capturing the Mode, Pompeii to Paris, and Grandeur & Frivolity. My idea is still very rough, but it would be about educators: people who have contributed to the overall scope of human learning and knowledge. I’m particularly interested in people who have made it possible for disenfranchised groups to gain access to education. I have a really quick list of potentials (really quick – I just thought about it for 20 minutes and didn’t do any research), but I would love more suggestions and input. Obviously it would help if the educators had costuming potential, as a bunch of men in suits isn’t that exciting! My potentials: Aspasia – achieved education and an independent life in ancient Athens (no easy feat for a woman!) and made her house an intellectual centre, attracting all the main thinkers of the 4th century, including Socrates, whose work she influenced (and I could make a 4th c. male outfit too and have Socrates & Aspasia!) John Amos Comenius …