This is a letter of gratitude. I want to thank all of you that continue to follow Lucky 7 Studios and stay engaged. You are what keeps me moving forward. 2021 was a heck of a year. ( Keep an eye our for L7S a year in review). Here we are on the Winter Solstice and I am amazed at how fast that appeared. There were a lot more things I had wanted to accomplish by now, but life happens.
The first day of winter reminds me that spring is around the corner. For many the next 3 months are some of the coldest, darkest, and gloomiest days ahead. This is when here at L7S and on the farm know there is a time of rest forthcoming. During our resting time, L7S will be looking at 2021 and then forward to 2022 and begin planning for what is to come.
Be on the look out for more newsletters, social media posts, and preparations for 2022. If you have a comment or idea, feel free to throw it out.
Once again, thank you all for your continued support,
The first sample garment in the F/W collection is complete. This is one that will be in the book that will be released late fall this year.
You can order it as a custom order garment – as a custom order we will find the fabric that you would like it to be and even in the color scheme of your choice. Head on over to the scheduling page and let’s set something up!
This skirt has 4 darts in the front and 4 darts in the back to obtain the loveliest of shaping and fitting. It features an invisible zipper on the right side and fully lined!
Front View.
Left Side view
The lining also has darts
Hand stitched lining at the hem
Inside lining at the zipper, contrasting thread to see the hand stitching
April showers bring May flowers… If this is so… what does May snow bring?
We missed the snow here at Lucky 7 Studios – as we were travelling to Georgia and back. However, we did find a hail storm on the way down through West Virginia and 80 degrees on the way back.
Today as I write this the sky is blue and sun is shining bright! Many of our trees have leafed out and the strawberries and blueberries have bloomed to bring us fresh fruit soon.
So what is happening at Lucky 7 Studios.
The website will be under construction one page at a time beginning Monday May 17.
4 blog posts – two are continuing the Costume Era Timeline (Greek and Roman), the other two, you will have to stick around and find out.
The F/W collection will be released but not as a ready to wear – more of a one of a kind. Each garment will be available for custom sizing and a handful of fabric options.
There will be 1 live Q & A on May 20th at 2pm on our YouTube.
Finally, there will be a handful of video recordings from a Zoom weekly “Paint with Us” on a group Facebook page – Sneak a Peek Artists.
One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Although this is a reference to the first man on the moon, it is relevant today in many ways.
Earth Day began in 1970 by an environmentalist that wanted to help our planet. It has been celebrated on April 22 every year since.
We (collectively) have become a consumeristic society and a wasteful one too. We demand that everything and anything be available at any given second, even posting this blog! We expect that even though we continue to be one of the most wasteful, that as long as something isn’t affecting us directly, it is not happening. However, it is affecting each and every one that is reading this and the other billions of people on this planet. We are our own worst enemy. We continue to deplete or contaminate our natural resources and destroy the homes of millions of animals and other living organisms in the name of consumerism. Our use of plastic continues our reliance on oil and the oil itself causes habitat loss and pollution that affects the land and water and in turn affects every other living organism on this planet we call home.
The fashion industry is not immune to this phenomenon or maybe disease would be a better adjective. Fast fashion is a huge strain on the environment. The pollution, poor labor practices and poor quality garments are so the least of concerns. The waste produced when this years fashion is no longer fashionable or the clothes were so poorly made – these have to go somewhere, usually in the garbage to the landfills.
Every single year, the average cost of clothing per month is $161 per person. Yes, that is what I just said, $161 a month average. In two years that is $3864! That can buy you a custom, tailor made capsule wardrobe – that will last for years to come, as these garments will never go out of style. If you want something new or a new signature piece, you have now saved $161 a month to have a new garment each year or even two.
When working with small businesses and dressmakers that do this for a living, you are helping yourself (save money year after year), you are supporting small business and a local community. You are helping the environment by taking one small step toward the future (one giant leap for mankind) and looking stylish and beautiful all at the same time.
The Minoans lived on the Island of Crete at the beginning of the Bronze Age, most prominently 1900 – 1750sh BC. The name of the people and culture is from the mythical King Minos. This was a fairly advanced society, they were the first in Europe to have paved roads, running water: elaborate indoor pipe systems and “facilities” in their 3 and 4 story palaces. These palaces were a place for concentrated political and economic power, artistic activity, and possibly the center for redistribution of agriculture commodities. These were a large trades people, not only export but import. Exported items include timber, foodstuffs, cloth, olive oil, and fine handcrafted luxury items. They imported such things as tin, copper, silver, emery, fine stones, ivory, and manufactured objects.
Sheep wool was the main fabric in textiles. Linen from flax was less common but could be imported from Egypt and potentially grown locally. There has not been any evidence of silk (it could have been used, but highly unlikely).
Like many cultures there is a difference in the costume men and women wore. This is evidenced in the recovered archeological items that depict people. Men and women were often both seen wearing a belt or garter to provide what we would call the “wasp” waist, a very small waist. Men wore loincloths, long robes or kilts.
Women wore long dresses (sometimes a tunic) with short sleeves and layered, flounced skirts with a wide hem. They were often fitted bodices and open at the waist, sometimes strapless. Women’s breasts were covered unless it was a priestess or for ritualistic reasons. As, with today, women are clothes to emphasize their sexual characteristics. As the theme continues, in the beginning costume was worn for protection from the elements and as time moved on and civilization began to break into castes, costume became a symbol of class and status.
April 9th, a little late but worth the wait. Last weeks scheduled posts are still sitting here ready to be typed and ready for y’all to read –> Keep your eyes peeled…
So, it’s April. Time flies when you are having fun – or doing what you love. I love what I do – it uses all parts of my brain – most times simultaneously!
The last Zoom for the Burnley and Trowbridge Half-Sized Mantua Gown was last week. Many things did I learn … and many I knew… The best part was there are others doing the same thing at the same time = comradere! [I was going to post a photo of where I was in the process…. but I cannot seem to find one.]
This also marks the second quarter of the year. Time to evaluate where we were, where we are, and what we’ve done – that has worked, and what has not! As y’all are benefactors of all of Lucky 7’s socials, what do you want to see in the Second Quarter?
Here are some of what you can expect in April 2021:
Monday Motivations – nothing better than to be motivated going into Monday!
I do apologize this is coming out a little later than I had wanted. I was hoping to have found a guest writer, but alas, everyone is busy.
March 2021 marked the 34th Annual Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month did not begin as a month, it began with a week-long celebration. “President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week.” In 1987, thanks to the activism of the National Women’s Project, it was expanded to a month-long celebration.
Women’s History Month highlights the contributions of women to events, history, culture, and society. It is a time to reflect on the often overlooked contributions of women to the United States (and other countries) history.
Here are a few women that should be celebrated for all they did – not just for women but for well… everything they did!
Susan B Anthony
Abigail Adams
Rosa Parks
Sojourner Truth
The 2021 theme “Valiant Woman of the Vote: Refusing to be silenced” recognizes the battle for women’s suffrage. This battle was not carried out on Social Media or the Internet. It was boots on the ground: speeches, petitions, demonstrations – these were argued and argues again until, 1920 and the 19th Amendment.
The right of Citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on accord of sex. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The United States Constitution
Thank you, women for all you do… day in and day out in the here and now, the mothers, the nurses, the doctors, the fire women, the police women, the military, the artists, the CEO’s… Thank you!!!
(I keep hearing a sing in my head… Forty Hour Week (for a Livin) by Alabama… Hello
This weeks newsletter is at the link above. I will not be reiterating the text from there to here or here to there. Be sure to take a minute or two and read through it. A lot has happened around here in the last two weeks and there is so much more to come in the next weeks and months! We are just getting started!
Costume History Series: Ancient World: Egypt[1][2]
Here we are the 5th entry already. The skies outside today are mostly cloudy with some sun peeking through. The temperature is 63 degrees F. This is unseasonably warm for my neck of the woods (so to speak). The lilacs are blooming, the trees are budding, and the birds are singing everywhere.
In doing the research for this short article, I had so much trouble NOT chasing the white rabbit down the hole into the abyss of history. If some of you don’t already know, I am a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
The Ancient World timeline for Egyptian Costume is 2649 – 1640 BC. This seems like it covers many years, and it does, but the style of the garments was relatively consistent. As we have seen in cultures up till this point and even through today, clothing not only reflects the technological advancements mastered by the people, but clothing represents what your class or status is among the members if your society.
A statement I read “attire… fashion exclusively human characteristic and seen in most societies”. Does that mean there are other species out there that may or could wear attire? Just a thought….
The long and short of it: linen. Linen was the fabric of choice for Egyptians. It was light, strong, flexible, and perfect for the warm climate. Linen comes from the flax plant that was abundant along the Nile River. Animal based “fabrics” were seen as impure or only for the highest class in society. The quality of linen between classes was also evident – as were the way the garments were worn.
Men of all classes wore a loincloth. Higher class was a little longer, maybe to the knee, and possibly wore a tunic or draped cape (but the tunic and robe could be common for both genders). For much of this time period it was not unusually to see men and women with bare chests. Children were not expected to wear garments until they reached adolescence and slaves were not necessarily clothed. Those living in poverty and could not afford garments – did not wear any.
Women of the lower class wore shorter skirts that stopped at their ankles, while women of upper class wore longer skirts that may have even covered their chests. As time went on, the upper class garments began to shift to more form fitting (and covering their breasts) and elaborate, often including beads, jewels, layers (inner and outer garments), and pleats.
So here we are at the end of this little lesson…. What do you think of the costumes during this time? Leave your thought in the comments below.
Lucky 7 Studios 