Regency Boots Giveaway!

I thought this was so cool I had to share it with you. American Duchess is giving away a pair of "Nankeen" Regency Half-Boots - made in the winner's size.

http://americanduchess.blogspot.com/2014/02/nankeen-regency-boots-giveaway.html

If I win, I'll make a new Regency walking dress. :-)

Fabric a la Romantic Regency is now on Kindle

I know I'm very late to the party, but

Fabric a la Romantic Regency

is now on Kindle. :-) 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ILSVH3W

I'm slowly moving into the 21st century. LOL!

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone!

I especially want to thank everyone who entered my Goodreads giveaway for
Victorian Bathing and Bathing Suits.
Winners, your book will be in the mail tomorrow morning.

Wishing everyone a prosperous and happy year,
   Deb

Giveaway on Goodreads - Victorian Bathing and Bathing Suits

I'm pleased to announce my newest book is now in paperback! To celebrate, I'm giving away two copies on Goodreads.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Victorian Bathing and Bathing Suits

by Deb Salisbury

Giveaway ends December 31, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

It's also available on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/171339456/victorian-bathing-suits-paperback-the
and on my website, www.mantua-maker.com

Cyber Sale!

I'm having a sale in my Etsy shop!

20% Off Black Friday - Cyber Monday! Use coupon code: CYBERSALE2013  on orders over $10.00

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MantuaMakerPatterns

Also, if you are interested in vintage patterns, please have a look at the Pattern Patter team's Black Tie Blitz.

https://www.etsy.com/teams/9565/pattern-patter/discuss/13294177/

Black Tie Black Friday Pattern Blitz

The Pattern Patter Team on Etsy is planning a

Black Tie Black Friday Pattern Blitz!

November 29, 2013

https://www.etsy.com/teams/9565/pattern-patter/discuss/13294177/

We specialize in vintage patterns, but new and and antique patterns may show up in the thread, too.

Please join us!

Victorian Bathing and Bathing Suits

I'm pleased to announce I've released a new eBook.

Victorian Bathing and Bathing Suits:
The Culture of the Two-Piece Bathing Dress from 1837 – 1901

When I decided to create a new bathing suit pattern, I searched for a modern book documenting Victorian bathing suits. To my surprise, I couldn't find one. Yet I had quite a few period magazines with engravings of bathing dresses in my collection. While I was doing more research, I fell in love with the traditions and ethics surrounding American, English, and French bathing.

This book focuses on the culture of swimming and sea bathing across the decades, and on women's bathing suits, noting their styles, variations, and evolution, all quoted from the original writers of that time. For your enjoyment, I've included descriptions and engravings of men's and children's suits when I could find them, but their clothing was not as well documented as the ladies' dresses.

The culture and proper dress of bathing changed radically during Queen Victoria's reign, led, of course, by the French. The accepted ladies' one-piece bathing gown gave way to the two-piece bathing suit, and bathing went from a medical treatment to a social event.

Even the French bathing dress was not admired in its early days. It was plain, usually black, and, at best, boring. But once fashion got hold of the bathing suit, the dress evolved rapidly.  By 1870, many bathing suits were downright gorgeous. Fashion magazines began to include descriptions and engravings on a regular basis, vying to provide the most up-to-date styles. Bathing went from a quick, unpleasant dip in the ocean to true enjoyment, and even swimming became popular.

This eBook is 127 pages long (including the bibliography), and contains over 125 black and white period illustrations. It's in an 8" x 11.5" format. The PDF file is about 6.3 MB in size.

You can download it instantly on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/165939762/victorian-bathing-suits-pdf-ebook-the

or buy it on my website -- I'll email it to you the next time I'm online, usually that evening.
https://mantua-maker.com/Victorian_Bathing_Book.html

Thanks for looking at my new book!

Another Bathing Suit Pattern

Actually, this one is a Swimming Dress, and was intended for serious swimmers.

Based on an engraving in Harper's Bazar, 
July 9, 1887, the "Lady's Swimming Dress" consists of only the waist and drawers, without a skirt. It's simple to make!

It is unlined and bound at the edges. It opens at the shoulders only, and you step in and out of it. The trousers can be made in knee or mid-calf lengths – or in the very short French length, which English ladies complained looked like a circus-rider's outfit. I've also included a pattern for a simple bathing cap.

 This pattern includes 6 pages of instructions with historical tips, and 3 pattern sheets. It is printed on bond paper, and enclosed in a reclosable plastic bag.

All sizes Petite – Full (bust: 26" – 61") are included.



You can find it at:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/156364512/victorian-bathing-suit-pattern-new-easy
and 
https://mantua-maker.com/Victorian_Bathing_Suits.html

Outside my bedroom window

have hatched two little birds. Cardinals, I think. They are bald, with just a bit of fuzz, and so ugly they're cute.

 Mama Bird seems to spend most of her day on shade duty - it's HOT here in Texas, and gruesome in the direct sun, particularly if you've just crawled out of a nice dark egg.

I swear, though, that these chicks' heads are almost as big as their eggs had been.

Mama Bird got bored with parasol duty and invited a girlfriend along to keep her company. It's so wonderful to have devoted friends!

How to read your blogs after Google Reader bites the dust.

Very soon -- July 1st, if I remember correctly -- Google Reader will be shut down. Have you figured out how to follow your favorite blogs?

I've switched over to Bloglovin, and I love it!

For a few ideas on how to move your blog list, Bloglovin suggests these posts:

http://heartifb.com/2013/03/15/how-to-move-your-google-reader-rss-feed-to-bloglovin/

http://nutritionella.com/2012/12/my-new-favorite-reader-a-bloglovin-tutorial/

http://drabtofabdesign.com/2013/03/bye-bye-google-reader-hello-bloglovin/

And from Bloglovin, a FAQ page:
http://www.bloglovin.com/en/support

How are you going to deal with the end of Google Reader?