I've been sewing since I was a teenager in high school. I love, love, love to sew.
I've made my own clothes, baby clothes, quilts, quiet books, my kids' clothes, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and much, much more.
Susan's quiet book octopus (that is also a nod to her parents' affinity for the University of Illinois. See all that orange and blue?)
But I never intended to open one, let alone two, sewing businesses.
The pandemic actually spurred the formation of Horsiemama's Haversacks and Mercantile. Due to the quarantine, I could not hold my show Happy Trails here in my home as usual. I turned it into a photo show that year instead, and decided to make pony pouches for all the entrants as gifts.
It was fun, I got to use all kinds of horsey fabrics, and people began asking me if I'd make more pouches for them. A business was born.
(Any guesses as to how many haversacks I've made since formally opening the Mercantile in August, 2020? Scroll down for the answer.)
Jolis Chevaux, my 18th century sewing business, was more of a deliberate accident. (Now there's an oxymoron.) Lisa and I had begun participating in living history events, and I saw an opportunity to return to a business that I'd shared with my sister Leslie and our mother back in the 1990s - Chien Noir Trading Company.
Look between me and my sister and you will see the Chien Noir sign hanging on her tent. Our mom passed away in 2016, but Leslie and Rick still run the company.
I started sewing 18th century clothing back in the 1990s with them but after a couple of years, I had to leave Chien Noir. My kids were all still at home and very busy with school and church activities, I was working on a degree at the University of Illinois, and it was just too much to sew commercially on top of all that.
But, when Lisa really became involved with living history five years ago, I realized that I now had time again to sew historical clothing. But instead of rejoining Chien Noir, I formed my own company.
It has been So. Much. Fun. It's very different from making pony pouches and can be highly challenging, but there is a wonderful sense of accomplishment when I complete each garment.
I have a solid group of loyal customers that seek me out at events.
"Keith the blacksmith." Lisa and I have dubbed him that - we know he's a blacksmith but we are not sure of his first name except that it begins with the letter K. (Kevin? Ken? Not Kyle; we'd have remembered that one! LOL)
Mackenzie and a friend. (Both wearing my shirts!)
This lady was my very first customer as Jolis Chevaux. She was just starting out, hesitant, and trying to learn what kinds of clothing were appropriate for the time period. Now she's a confident reenactor, volunteering and helping others, and knows her stuff.
(Any wonder why I look forward so much to KZoo and Feast?)
I've really turned a corner with my healing - I'm no longer exhausted and moving slowly. And while I am still ouchy, I don't need help getting in and out of chairs and the bed, picking things up off the floor, and more.
Which means I am also back in the sewing room. Woot!
The first thing I pulled out of the prep cart were the two wool pockets I'd cut out pre-op.
Pockets are easy peasy and a good place to start when you are still recovering.
I got both done in one sitting and was able to move on to another project the next day.
Chemises! (That's the French word; the English called them "shifts.") Making a shift is surprisingly similar to making a trade shirt, and I was able to complete most of one yesterday.
They can have gathered sleeves and cuffs or pleated ones, and I always pleat them. There is an elegance to pleats that I like and honestly, I think they look much nicer than a gathered sleeve.
Leslie and I are trying a little experiment together. Her business focus is importing and selling block print fabrics, not sewing, but she does occasionally sew.
And with all those block prints in Chien Noir's inventory, she has begun doing some sewing herself.
To help boost their visibility, I offered to make a folder on the Jolis Chevaux site and let her showcase them there. We are not combining our businesses, but we are collaborating.
Hmmm, does my bed gown look familiar? LOL
Today Nashie and Mama are coming over (mind the lamps, boys!!) and with Mama's arthritis flare-up, we will be keeping her downstairs. Craig and I will take turns sitting with her and doing other things (I have some hand sewing I will bring downstairs) and I will still get some things done in preparation for KZoo.
So, just how many haversacks have I made since I opened Horsiemama's Haversacks & Mercantile in August of 2020?
1,184. That's a lot of cutting, pinning, turning, and stitching!
