Category Archives: historical

Welcome to 2022

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Currently my cat is sitting on top of my notes. I am not sure what she is doing – other than sitting there looking pretty.

Jilly Sitting here reading my notes and looking pretty.

I am so grateful to have come out of our second year of Covid and the other side of 2021 relatively unscathed. But here we are rolling into our third year. When this all started I thought we would have it under control by now. Cases are rising faster than any other time since this began. This is alarming to me.

Because Covid has tore up small businesses like mine the world over; here at the shop I am taking every precaution to protect customers and clients as well as myself.

I was hoping to run into 2022 Screaming, “Take that 2021” but alas 2021 wasn’t done with me yet. A week before New Years, I decided to miss a step going down to studio (we all get in a hurry sometimes and distracted) and I sprained my ankle where it is going to take 5 – 6 weeks to fully recover. So, I limped quietly into the New Year – saying “just you wait”!

I have begun to implement some “minimalistic” standards into my life and my business. I will only check my mail 3 times a day – 9:00am. Noon, around 300/330. Email is rather distracting and once my rhythm is off – I may not be able to get back to it. I have also turned off almost every notification on my phone. 90% are irrelevant but I see them and must quickly reply or look or anything else that takes my focus away. I will let you know how this this plays itself out.

Looking back at 2021, I had a number of ideas that either got moved, changed, or left on the sidelines. Now, it is time to pick them up and make them a reality.

  • Complete the 1st Annual Edition of the L7S clothing line for home sewers
  • Decide on which Civil War dress I want to make and lay out the plan to make it happen.
  • Complete my 18th Century “costume” with all the appropriate pieces.
  • The website you are reading this on, will be receiving a “facelift” to provide customers accurate descriptions and what Lucky 7 Does
  • I plan to start on the 2nd edition of L7S clothing line for home sewers and finish that in the spring of 2023.

Other thoughts – I may record some videos while I work on things, those will post to the YouTube page. More photos while I am working on garments, may they be customer alterations, one of a kind garments, or well a sample for someone.

Keep an eye here and on Facebook and Instagram too!

Welcome to May…..

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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.
  • 2 podcasts – catch them here
  • A handful of “short posts” on our regular social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
  • 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. 

Women’s History Month

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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

America,
Let me thank you for your time.

https://www.history.com/topics/holiday/womens-history-month

https://womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month

https://womenshistory.org/womens-history/19th-amendment-1

Welcome to March 2021… it’s been a year…

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Welcome to March

Good day my dear friends. I must first apologize for lack of post, video, and newsletter last week. It was insanely busy. My studio is still not ready to move back in and I have been finishing a customer’s dress. (There will be a post all about that, after she receives it). When the studio is up and running – there will be a video about that. 

So welcome to March. How did we arrive here so quickly? It was just snowing and freezing and you couldn’t see the grass. This month is so filled with exciting things for Lucky 7 Studios and you as followers. 

  • 3 Periods of Costume Posts
  • 3 more Friday newsletters and posts
  • A quick post about Paris Fashion Week
  • 2 live Q & A  March 10 & 24 YouTube @ 2:00PM (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAJ5-WFNIL1vGqJKQELMN_Q) – be sure to subscribe to the channel so you know first when new videos have been uploaded and videos scheduled.
  • 2 videos (at least) (See live Q & A)

Let’s not forget this is Woman’s History month. I may seek out a guest writer. St. Patrick’s day (we are all Irish on the 17th), the first day of spring (something to definitely celebrate), and Palm Sunday, are all part of the month of March. And who could forget Daylight Savings Time? It begins for those of us where our government insists on confusing not only the humans but EVERY SINGLE animal out there! I have mine trained that they eat at a certain time. Well, when the time changes, they have to be trained all over again (or maybe it is I, that needs to be retrained?). 

I am taking custom orders for reenactments and weddings. Plus the new collection goes live in May. The website will also be getting a facelift this month – be on the lookout for changes coming your way. 

It has been a year since the news of COVID-19 spread across the globe and everything was shut down to slow the spread. Here we are a year later….. small and large businesses alike are struggling to keep their heads afloat. I have seen businesses that have been around for centuries, fall apart and shutter their doors forever. I challenge each and everyone of you to find a small business (mine would be great) and put your support there. Preferably in your own town. Shopping from the big box tops is overrated and the products are like everyone else. Look for something that is one of a kind!

Fashion Era Series: Sumerian (#3)

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The Sumerians are the earliest known civilization in the historic region of southern Mesopotamia.  Believed to have lived from c. 4100 – 1750 BCE. This part of the world can get very hot during the year, so some of the statues with few garments would not be out of line with the climate. 

In researching Sumerian culture, the images that are presented provide an account of the types of costume they would have worn during that period of time. It appears men wore what looks to be some type of robe maybe that they pulled over their heads – shoulder straps that connected to the back that was lower than the front. Most representations of men appear to wear a costume that is wrapped and tied about the waist. 

The Smithsonian has a statue “Rim-Sin Carrying Clay” – this is a statue of the King of that time. He appears to be rounded at the bottom half as if he were wearing what we would call a “skirt”. However, there does not appear to be a costume on his upper half. [1]

In the book Development of Sumerian Art by Wooley C Leonard[2], there are a handful of complete statues that definitively separate the male and female. The male continues to wear a costume on the lower half – in a circular shape (as such we would call it a “skirt”) and the women appear to have what appears to be a “strap” of same material as the rest of the costume – it goes around her one shoulder – it most likely connects the front and back parts of the costume.

In much the same way we study existing extant garments from before the 17th Century and thereafter, we can study the art, carvings, and symbols from a long-ago culture/society/people. Studying these items, provides much detail to their lives, and allows us to look in for ourselves. I have included several images below. These I clipped from the book that is referenced.

Leave a thought in the comments. What do you see in the images?

[1] https://www.si.edu/object/rim-sin-carrying-clay-foundation-deposit-figure:nmnhanthropology_8503940?edan_q=sumerian&destination=/search/collection-images&searchResults=1&id=nmnhanthropology_8503940

[2] https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.33972/page/n77/mode/2up

Week in Review and Year of the Ox

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Well, here I am again, on Friday morning writing this post. I had this whole thing sort of wrote in my head or how I wanted to write it. 

It has been a very busy week around here: from outlines for marketing plans and policy and procedure templates to PayPal accounts and setting systems for new clients. This is the part of owning a small business that I find tedious but necessary.)  

In the historic gown class I am taking we started on the sewing this week. I was working on that some yesterday, I needed a small break from the “busy” and hand stitching allows my brain to sort of slow down and relax some. (Right now as I am typing this there was a beautiful Blue Jay right outside my office window – he flew away, now there is a sparrow). There went the hawk, he was on the roof of my house. So graceful. 

So let me just admit, that I have a little attention problem today. It is Friday after all. So where was I again? Ah, yes, the busy of the week. The client’s historic recreation shirt and dress is moving along nicely. The pattern pieces have been completed and all materials and supplies have been delivered (Thank you Burnley & Trowbridge for being on the ball with your orders.) In fact, I cut out the pieces for the shirt last evening. I also began working with the dyes to get the right color for the dress. More tries today, the color had a little too much red. This is the fun part – I get to play with colors. 

I think that catches ya’ll up with happenings here…. Oh no wait, we have begun the face lift, or office destruction/construction, whatever ye shall choose to call it. This means that we (by we, I mean the cats and I) have moved out of the studio and into the large part of the basement temporarily. This is an adjustment for me, Anna and the cats take it all in stride. 

So today marks the New Year for the Chinese – they get a new animal every year (has to do with the transition of zodiac signs). So cool. This year is the year of the Ox. Their celebration can last up to 16 days, however, only the first 7 are considered public holiday. Their celebration culminates with the Lantern Festival. If you follow the link, you will find more information. I just thought it was interesting. Here in the states, our New Year’s celebration is well, one evening and culminates with the annual drop of the ball right before Midnight. Short, simple, not steeped in tradition, as we are a people of many cultures. 

Welcome to February!

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Hello all you wonderful people, 

Here we are Feb 5th, 2021. It seems as if time is moving faster than ever here at Lucky 7 Studios. We have a lot planned for this month. Regular Blog Posts on Fridays. Social posts during the week (you might want to watch the socials, there may be a surprise in there). This month’s video will be about patternmaking. And we are going live on February 24th on our YouTube for a Q & A and general discussion. Be sure to mark your calendars. 

Current projects include… well ok, I had to stop and make something for myself this past week. I made Seamwork Beckett Member Hack (it’s a denim jumper/bibs/skirt). Yes, occasionally I like to do something quick. So moving on… I have a customer that wants Elizabeth Bennet’s dress and shirt from the 2005 Pride & Prejudice – so that pattern making is in process. 

I am taking Introduction to Mantua-making: An 18th Century English Gown in Miniature through Burnley & Trowbridge Co. This has me very exciting, I am learning so many new things. So this week we cut out the pattern, fabric, and lining. 

I have decided for the Victorian Era costume, I will be making an 1890 day dress. I have yet to start on the pattern work, but that is coming soon. Oh, maybe I will use that for the patternmaking video – what do you think? 

As I sat here and wrote that, I realized I did have a productive week and that may be why it flew by so fast….. 

Until next time, unless you follow on Lucky 7’s socials… stay warm… 

~Jennifer

Dropping Our First Video Today

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Hello lovelies, 

Today’s post includes the first video for Lucky 7 Studios. We are extremely excited that you are here and look forward to many more videos to come. 

This video is my working studio before. It is a little messy even after I have cleaned it up. I seem to work well in chaos. Ok, that isn’t quite so true. I am not sure it is quite chaos… or maybe it is. Depends on your perspective. However, everything does not have a home and the sewing table is a little smaller than I need. You can see my design wall of sorts. This is where my ideas go when they leave my head. [lightbulb with finger pointing image]. The shelves on the wall above my sewing and serger machine are where much of my notions and haberdashery live. There is a corner (you can see I hang my patterns and muslins) but the fuse box for the power is hidden there and, well… living in a rural area, sometimes, things sort of trip for no reason. (ok, I probably overloaded something somewhere). The big white hutch is a catchall for all things, sewing related or not.  Patterns, fabric, notions, books, instructions, vintage cameras…. You get the point, I think we all have one of these somewhere. The black dresser is full of muslin, fashion fabric, lining, organza, quilting fabric, interfacing and more…. The sewing machine in the table is on the list of priorities to be cleaned up and useable before “farm season” starts around here. 

Thank you for visiting. We look forward to showing you the “after” video when the facelift is complete. For now, stay tuned for Februarys video – we will be making patterns for the forthcoming fall/winter 2021 collection and a preview of the pattern for the Victorian Dress. We may have some special fur guests also.