Virgil’s Hats & Fine Goods

As per my facebook page, some of you may know about this already but I’m still happy to shout it from the rooftops:

Photo taken at the 2016 Jane Austen Festival. Photo by Janet Abell.

I now have an Etsy Store!!!! The shop is called Virgil’s Hats & Fine Goods… after my beloved wee pal, Virgil.

Look at those eyelashes!

To give some background on what’s been going on the past few months: In February, I left my position at Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio to pursue 2 new exciting opportunities… and go on my honeymoon. The first opportunity was to partner with my lovely friend, Joanna, to expand her custom theater millinery business and for us to start the subject of this post: Virgil’s Fine Goods.

What is Virgil’s Hats & Fine Goods, you say?

Virgil’s (for short) is a shop for living historians or historical fashion enthusiasts in pursuit of fine, handmade accoutrements.

What items does Virgil’s carry?

Currently, we have a number of 1800-1820’s ladies reproduction hats, bonnets, and turbans. A major focus of the store will be to provide well made, accurate (and affordable) men’s linen 18th & 19th century shirts and women’s linen shifts. We will, however, have many other items listed~ such as chemisettes, men’s beaver hats, horsehair bonnets, silk gauze caps, aprons, men’s shirts, leather, Felicity items, etc.

Hats & Caps & Bonnets, Oh my! Photo courtesy by Janet Abell

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Why did you start your own business?

Truthfully, owning my own business has always been the LAST thing I ever wanted to do. The idea of “doing my own thing” or “being the bossman” has never been a fun idea. I had worked numerous times doing custom work and I’m never happy doing it.

So why start one? Holy cow. After talking with a few close friends, I realized no one is providing the living historians with accurate, well made, linen men’s basics or women’s basics, at mid-range prices. I’m talking, 100% linen thread, 100% handkerchief linen, hand finished, 18th & 19th Century shirts or shifts. So, this is the direction Virgil’s be going in the future; smattered with hats, silk caps and other items we decide to make because it’s fun and we want to provide needed items of living history for those who don’t have the time or means.

Does Virgil’s Hats & Fine Goods have a storefront?

Not currently. The business is run from my new residence in Dayton, Ohio but will operate through Etsy for the time being. Listings on the Etsy site will be updated regularly with new items as they are made. We plan to set up at only a few events during the summer, like we did at the Jane Austen Festival in Louisville KY.

We had a fabulous time at the Jane Austen Festival. Joanna and I set up as hairdressers for the weekend while we debuted our little shop. Here’s a pic from that event. I will be posting more about it soon!

Joanna and I as the “Hairdressers at the Sign of the Mortar & Pestle” Photo courtesy of Stephanie Cote

I hope you’ll check out my shop to see the different things I have to offer. New stuff will be added weekly, so keep checking back!

Do you have any questions about the shop? Feel free to comment below!

 

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Photo Friday!

Before the wedding started, I promised to have “Photo Fridays” then didnt deliver. I’m making an active effort now, and planning ahead!

This week’s photo is one of my favorites of all time! It’s a photo from the mid 1880’s and she’s holding a puppy. A TERRIER PUPPY! Adorbs.

Photo snatched from FeefeeRN

The New Kid in Town

 Virgil is now a daddy of 6. There were 3 boys and 3 girls. All the girls being parti-colored Salt and Pepper, and the boys, one parti-color salt and pepper and two mini-Virgils. Since he is the papa, I got the pick of the litter. I have always found the smallest runts and most pathetic looking pups are quite simply the cutest. So, I picked the runt. 🙂 They are all now 7 1/2 weeks old.

 We have yet to name her, since we are unsure if we will keep her or not (My parents say that we will avidly try to find a home for her, and if we cannot, we will keep her)

My mom looking all adorable 🙂

The First Haircut!

Virgil and his daughter

What would you name her if you could keep her? I like Josefine or Elsa.

Virgil

This is a post about my doggie, Virgil. He’s a miniature schnauzer that we ‘rescued’ from Petland. He’s the cutest thing! First I’ll start off with a little background….

One day about 3 years ago, there was a little dog that was wandering around the road in front of our house. My brother noticed it had a collar and my mother coaxed it to the house. He was a Standard Schnauzer with the most wonderful disposition. My dad fell in love (odd to say but it’s true). We eventually found the owner, who was ecstatic to find his wonderful pet. After that day, my parents started browsing a Petland near us. On a whim, my dad bought our first schnauzer.

A year after that, they bought another one. Many would think this to be insane, buying animals on whims, but my dad is just that way.

Last November, my family went into Petland again and saw an ADORABLE tiny salt and pepper schnauzer. He was soooo little! We played with him, and despite him being a little scrapper (biting at my shoes and such), I fell in love with him. I told dad that I was willing to take money out of savings to pay for him, but he was really expensive ($900 on sale). I became sad and thought that was the last I’d see of him. I decided that if he ever got to $500 that I would buy him. It was a long shot but I knew if it did happen, it was meant to be. Low and Behold, My dad surprised me with the puppy the Saturday before Thanksgiving. (he had talked to the manager of the store and brought him down to $500)

What a surprise it was! I woke up and dad plops this tiny ball of fur into my arms. I didn’t know how to respond, except a huge smile on my face.

Now, this puppy has not been an easy task. He has been a turd from the get-go. He is over a year old now and still decides he’s going to pee in the basement when he feels like it >:{ But he is quite adorable and we love him to pieces.

THE REASON BEHIND THE NAME
One of my dad’s favorite movies is Tombstone. He likes all the old westerns, like John Wayne and such. However, Tombstone is especially wonderful. It has been a family favorite and we watch it all the time. When we got our first schnauzer, I thought his muzzle looked like a handlebar mustache. So I came up with, Wyatt(Earp). My dad loved it. Keeping with the theme, we named our next one Doc(Holliday). I’m a lover of themes, no matter what. So, when I got my own bundle of joy, it was a toss-up between Morgan and Virgil (Wyatt Earp’s Brothers). If you’ve ever seen the movie, you’ll know why I chose Virgil. Sam Elliott is all salt and peppery in this movie (and is Virgil Earp)… and so is my Virgil.

ABOUT VIRGIL:
Virgil is…

1) A Scrapper. He LOVES to pick a fight with Doc and Wyatt.
2) Tiny. He is a stubby, short little thing. About 10ish inches tall
3) Studmuffin. He likes to pee on things still. He has “Napoleon Syndrome” 😉
4) Adorable. We can’t walk by him without gawking at him still, even tho we’ve had him for a year
5) Uncuddly. He likes to be pet, but will leave the moment you cease to pet.

And so, with a very long post…That’s the story of how Virgil came to be my doggie.

Winter Break ’08…. Ep I

Since my winter break has started I have tried to keep myself busy and productive. My intentions were noble and good, but before I had even begun my first project I was surprised with a peculiar present. I was presented in my waking with a puppy in the morning of November 22nd. Dad bought him for me and he is my only Christmas present, aside from socks. I have named him Virgil to keep with the Tombstone theme (we have a Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and a Virgil Earp). He is my responsibility and my parents will help me none. It is I that must house train, groom, and pay for all his needs. I don’t get more than 6 hours of sleep b/c he feels he must wake about 3 or 4 times a night. I have become a mother, of a dog.

With Virgil around it makes things a little difficult but I have managed to accomplish a few things…… First off, I have learned to Crochet. I am learning basic chains and stitches. My first (and only) project to date is a scarf. I have made a scarf for myself and and a matching scarf for Virgil. It’s adorable.

My other project I have finished is a chemise. A chemise is a women’s undershirt. It is to be a garment to keep the the outside clothing clean. I made one for my mom and one for me. I want to eventually be able to go Civil War Reenacting with my mom.

My next project will be to lengthen a skirt I got off of Ebay. It will hopefully be finished in about 2 or 3 days. Stay Tuned!