Tag Archives: Historical Costume

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!

Winter Solstice

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Good day, 


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,

Jennifer A Adams, Owner L7S

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. 

Earth Day…. 2021

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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.  

A week in Review

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I sit here and watch the birds tease my cat as she sits in the chair by the window and advises me of their presence. Can you find the birds?

This past week went by faster than I had anticipated, and my planning was a little fleeting at best. My intentions on Friday mornings are to lay out my plan for the following week. Last week, well, I wanted to do anything but sit at the desk any more than was absolutely necessary. Fortunately for y’all I knew some of what I wanted to post this week. 

I have been working on a customers’ Historic Recreation shirt and dress. Here is the video from where I dyed the fabric to obtain the perfect color. (And even the swatches to get to the final). Kitters thought she was helping once or twice. Here are a few other photos.  

I have been writing the transcript for the video that will post next Friday – patternmaking. And it will provide a sneak peek into the Fall/Winter 2021 collection that will be virtually showing in May. 

Next Wednesday, February 24, I will be live on my YouTube channel for anyone with questions.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAJ5-WFNIL1vGqJKQELMN_Q If you won’t be able to attend, email your questions to Jennifer.adams@lucky-7-studios.com prior to Feb 24 and I will answer them live. 

The renovations of the studio continue. I have to wait till its finished before I can add more photos.

This was the last week of the Introduction to Mantua-making: An 18th Century English Gown in Miniature by Burnley and Trowbridge  https://burnleyandtrowbridge.com. There is much I have learned and hopefully have made a few friends.  

I am looking forward for the weather to break. I need to get outside on the trail again. Here are a few photos from last year. 

Be sure to follow us on all our socials. You may find a surprise, as we post throughout the week. 

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. 

Periods of Costume – An Introduction

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Costume definition – a set of clothes in a style typical of a particular country or historical period:  distinctive style of dress of an individual or group that reflects class, gender, profession, ethnicity, nationality, activity of epoch. (en.wikipedia.org)

Why an Introduction? This is the first in a series of blogs about different costume periods in time. When beginning the research for this post, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of books, blogs, academic journal articles, and more that are related to this particular topic. I will not bore you with all those details. But I will say this series may never end…. As time goes on, there are more and more periods of costumes being defined all the time – even as I sit here, what I may think is 21st Century 2000 – 2009 may really be something else. 

So the story goes, here lies the time periods I will post about: 

  • Ancient World
  • Middle Ages
  • 14th Century
  • 15th Century
  • 16th Century
  • 17th Century
  • 18th Century
  • 19th Century
  • 20th Century

Each of these is broken into smaller categories/time periods. For example, Ancient World contains prehistoric, Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Sumerian, and Minoan. I will start at the beginning and blog to the present two to three times a month (I may jump around every once in a while… you won’t want to miss these). They will arrive on Tuesdays. My greatest hope is some converstaion can be started! 

The End of One…. Is the beginning of Another

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Just as one door closed, ok more like slammed in my face, there was a slightly cracked, very brightly colored door down the hall…. it beckoned to me from a distance, as it had for some time… This time, it seemed to shout …. “Hey You!” …. I ran down the hall – hoping the door didn’t close before I arrived…. and I bust it open! What to my surprise did I see? My Lucky 7 Studios business waiting for me! It had been beckoning, pulling me to come in from the hall…. I stood there in awe and wonder… I finally walked through the doorway and the lights came on so bright and enlightened the entire space! Oh, how beautiful…

This was the beginning of a new journey, a new adventure! A freedom to be as creative as I choose and to build this business on a foundation that will stand the test of time! It will be seeped in personality with carefully created and crafted garments.

2021 is full of hope and dreams, not only for Lucky 7 Studios, but for all those who wish to dream! Take the leap and allow Lucky 7 Studios to create a custom made garment tailored just for you! If you want a capsule wardrobe, that can be done too! Oh, you want a special wedding dress that you cannot find anywhere – well, we can help that become a reality!

The goals for 2021 may seem lofty this year, but it is time to stand up and be heard!

  1. 2 historically accurate garments, 1 from there Victorian Era, 1 from the Edwardian Era
  2. 2, yes 2, Fashion shows.
    1. the fall/winter 2021 show will be presented in the late spring digitally (you are not going to want to miss this)
    2. the spring/summer 2022 show will be presented Live in Salem, OH on August 14th – you definitely do not want to miss this one!
  3. A monthly video (on YouTube) showcasing some of the current work, techniques we use, or maybe something crazy!
  4. Weekly Blog posts and newsletters.

Throughout the year, there may be an opportunity for a percentage off a custom design or gift give-a-way, so you might want to follow along!

We will be taking client custom orders – so do not fear, we are here to help you achieve the look you so desire!

Follow us on any of our social medias…. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Business, Facebook group, YouTube, and of course here on the blog and the website. There are changes coming to the sight, you won’t want to miss! 2021 will be the BEST year yet!