Note from Gil Biggie about the 2010 Education Display

The three displays..
VICTORIAN CLOTHING BUTTONS AND TRIMMINGS
I have had a personal collection that I have been building for a few years now. I look for carte de visites that show the buttons on the clothing clearly and I try to match the button. ElIzabeth Hughes has a feature in the Bulletin that is photos of clothing with the buttons. I take those articles and add them to my own collection. In my antique business and auction employment, I come across the clothing. I also have several volumes of the mid century Lady Godey fashion magazines, one of which was on the display.

ARTS AND SKILLS OF THE VICTORIAN LADY
I have seen in my job many examples of hand painted porcelain, as well as many hand painted porcelain buttons. This was a pastime/art of the late Victorian, & Edwardian ladies. Also, I have seen many beautiful examples of hand work on hankies and beautiful lace collars and trims. I am fascinated by the different forms of tedious and fine needlework: Tatting, embroidery and crewel, lace making, fine crochet, pull work, fine needlepoint, needlework on netting. The daughter of a friend loaned us the lacemaking pillow and lace shuttles. I borrowed the wonderful 1826 sampler done by a 9 year old from someone in out shop. The gorgeous beaded bag was also a loan. The handles could be bought at a dry good store ( or a jeweler) and the lady would do her own bead work in line the bag.
Deb Crowel got me interested in hair buttons and Dorothy Krugner had a wonderful display last year of hair jewelry. So, when I found a hair wreath at the auction l bought it and then did some research of the genteel art of hair craft. The needlework items with descriptions will be a future article in the WRBA newsletter.


Victorian Language of the Fan and Language of the Flowers have been articles in several past bulletins.
I might add that I gave my �gtween�h age nieces each a pair of long gloves and a fan with the flier about the language of the fan as a gift for Christmas last year. They loved it!