Wow! Another Blog Award!

I’m honored this month with a second blog award! Laurie from the blog Teacups Among The Fabric has nominated me for the Liebseter Blog Award. Thanks, Laurie!

Here are the rules:

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself

2. Answer the 11 questions your nominator has given you and come up with 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

3. Tag 11 fellow bloggers.

4. Notify the bloggers that you have awarded them.

5. No tagging back.

6. The 11 blogs you nominate must have less than 200 followers.

Ok, so step 1: 11 random facts… That’s sort of hard.

1: I could eat starch for days (pasta, bread, potatoes… I love these things!) 2: I’m a  vegetarian. 3: I really like pink and purple, though runner up favorite colors include black, teal, green, and red. It’s hard to choose! 4: I like to read books that are at least 1″ thick. 5: I am all about owning books in hardcover (rather than paperback). None of these ebooks for me. 6: I am a professional costumer with an MFA in costume production. 7: I’ve been “dating” Mr. Q for almost 7 years, and though we have yet to actually get engaged, it’s coming. (“Dating” is in quotes because, really, after 7 years, that word doesn’t quite cut it. “Almost-fiancee” is much more descriptive.) 8: I don’t like animals that have more than 5 legs, they’re creepy, and only more so the more legs they have! 9: I tend to build my historic clothes out of solid colors. Apparently I have an aversion to prints. I’m working on rectifying this trend, though. 10: I only wear clip earrings since I don’t have pierced ears. 11: When I was younger, one of my favorite things to do was play dress-up. (This should not surprise you at all!)

Next, here are Laurie’s questions for me:

1: What is your favorite part of costuming? *I absolutely love learning about the past through the clothes that were worn. It’s magical when function meets practicality. I am able to learn so much about why things were sewn and worn the way they were. It brings history alive!*

2: What inspires you most about costuming? *The never ending list of projects that stems from ‘ooo, that’s so pretty! I want it!’*

3: What is your favorite costuming resource? *Books! There are so many great books out there. Books of patterns, like Janet Arnold; books of fashion plates, like those from Godey’s; and books of information, like Cunnington’s various books. They’re great.*

4: What is your favorite costume that you made? *Oh, that’s so hard! It really depends on my mood! I love my 1893 ball gown and my 1912 evening gown, but I also love my 1824 ball gown, my 1819 spencer, my 1812 square neck gown, and Annabelle, my white 1860 ball gown. I’m awful at picking just one!*

5: What is your favorite era? *That one is easy. 1860s.*

6: Why is that your favorite era? *I read Gone With The Wind and there was just no turning back. You can read more about why I love the 1860s in this past post.*

7: What advice would you give to a beginning costumer? *Do what you love. Build what you are inspired to build. Take the time to look at resources such as books and extant garments. Look into how other people accomplish what you want to accomplish. Learn from experienced people around you. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Start at a level you are comfortable with, and don’t be overwhelmed by the creations of people who have been doing this far longer than you, you’ll get there.*

8: What is one historical garment you would like to learn that you do not yet know how to make? *There are a lot of things in the 18th century that are waiting to be tackled. Lots of new stitches and ways of doing things, and new styles. If I had to pick just one… A sacque back gown.*

9: What one word best describes your fabric stash? *Organized.*

10: How did you get involved in costuming? *I took a costume construction course as a sophomore in college. I realized that I could have a career in this field and continued to pursue opportunities. Then I went to grad school, which ate my life for three years, but brought me professional costume opportunities. Once I graduated with my MFA I had time to get involved with vintage dancing, which only spurred my passion for constructing historic clothing. As I continued to meet more people in vintage dance, I also met other historic costumers. One things leads to another, and my network keeps expanding!*

11: Do you have a favorite yearly costuming event? *I love the Commonwealth Vintage Dancer’s Returning Heroes Balls. It’s so amazing to have an entire room of people clad in 1860s clothing, dancing to live 1860s music. It’s quite magical!*

And with no further ado, here are my nominations! It’s hard to reach eleven, so I’m going to stop at six.

Dressed In Time (I’m pleased to be able to return the blog love!)

Eva’s Kleidertruhe (I love blogs in German and English! The ladies who write them are so talented.)

Experiments In Elegance (“Beautiful things for romantic personalities” indeed!)

Historically Dressed (Just lovely. Lovely clothes, lovely posts, lovely blogger!)

Plaid Petticoats (So much tartan! And other fun adventures.)

Recreating the 19th Century Ballroom (Really neat research (and images!) about 19th century ballroom things.)

My questions for you, my nominees:

1: What inspires you most about historic clothing?

2: What is your favorite period for wearing historic clothing?

3: Is that different that your favorite period for making historic clothing?

4: What is your favorite thing to do while wearing historic clothing?

5: What got you started in historic clothing?

6: Do you have a favorite event to which you wear historic clothing?

7: If you could go back to any year, what year would you pick?

8: Why would you pick that year?

9: What would you miss most about your modern life?

10: What era is at the top of your historic costuming “wish list”? (ie, what would you love to tackle, but haven’t yet?)

11: Do you think you’ll ever tire of making/wearing historic clothing?