I found my love of sewing!

by Diana Mccollum

I sit at my desk and look outside at the birds on the birdfeeder. They are happy, my husband filled the feeder this afternoon. The seeds which spill over or get scratched out and fall on the ground are greedily snatched up by the half dozen quail milling around below. 

The birds are going about their daily routine. They search for food, drink, build nests and flit and fly about. Their lives are not interrupted and their habits are the same today, as they were yesterday.

That can’t be said for humanity. The COVID-19 virus has changed my habits and my daily routine. We are readers and writers and all are affected in one way or another.

I now order groceries through Instacart and have them delivered. I carry sanitizer wipes in both cars. My purse always has a new pair of rubber gloves and a baggie to put change or debit card in.

Although, I’m not using a debit card or money very often. Mostly for the pharmacy, gas and take-out food. 

Coffee with friends, is a thing of the past for now. Shopping for clothes? Not in the store. Amazon and online stores are now where I shop. In fact, my shopping on Amazon and other online stores has increased dramatically. I’ve been buying all presents this way. I’ve been sending the little grandkids books or a craft or a surprise of some sort once a month since the middle of March. Why? Because shopping therapy is good! And it is heart-warming to make them happy.

I’ve turned to  reading and have read outside my comfort zone, and found new authors to enjoy. Making masks has renewed my love of sewing. I have 10 yds of fabric left and I'm going to make some summer blouses!



I usually bake once a week, the smell of baking cake can’t be duplicated and is aroma therapy in the home. I read somewhere that people bake in times of crisis because baking is something they can control. That’s me, baking every week now.

For structure in my life I’ve taken to making lists. I have a major chore list and an everyday chore list. Doing this I’ve managed to get some major household chores done during quarantine. The feeling of accomplishment is euphoric!

First thing on my daily list is a walk. Exercise is so important not only for health ­­­reasons, but physical exercise relieves stress, and releases endorphins. I must say I really miss my gym!

As cities begin to open up, we’re in phase 2, I am in no hurry to rush out to the store or a sit down restaurant etc. I’m of an age the virus could be deadly for me and my husband has a compromised immune system and lung issues. So we will be quarantining ourselves a while longer and always wearing a mask, rubber gloves etc.

The birds are done with their feast and have moved on. Not a care in the world!
Not so bad looking out the window at the backyard and all the pretty flowers my husband has grown.

During this time of quarantine/pandemic what are you doing to keep busy?

Where is Historical Western Romance Author Kristin Holt Now?

  by Kristin Holt, USA Today Bestselling Author of

Sweet Romance set in the 19th Century American West

 Where is Kristin?

It’s April 2020, so she’s – you guessed right! – COVID-19 has me at home. Where I’m usually writing. (But lately...)

I love sewing. And I’ve always loved playing dress ups. Must be the storytelling aspect of dressing up in Mom's old prom dresses and fantastic fairy gowns, high-heeled plastic shoes...

Given my passion for the nineteenth century American west, sewing costumes and dressing up made a whole lot of sense. I’ve been sewing Victorian-like clothing for years!

And then COVID-19 drastically limited where I could spend time. Through the many long, quiet hours, I’ve become rather fond of my sewing machine and the escape I find in creation of beautiful things. All the better that my pleasure in sewing enriches my love for all things American Old-West.

The image collages I share here depict the simple more “for stage” and comfort than for  reenactment-quality clothing. For example, this teal-colored costume, circa mid-1890’s is cotton-poly blend, a combination skirt-and-blouse dress, with an attached petticoat and zipper up the back. For my own use, fashions such as this are fine. I’m a twenty-first century author, and I choose comfort.

I love to dress up (in Victorianesque costumes) for Meet and Greets with readers! Likewise, I immensely enjoyed wearing era-inspired clothing at Jacquie Rogers’ Much Ado About Silver City. In that inaccurate turquoise-blue get-up, I’m standing on the true-to-history balcony of the historic Silver City Hotel (beside author Charlene Raddon)—whose 1880’s costume I made to her specifications.

Char purchased her bonnet – isn’t it lovely? My hat constitutes my first and last attempt at haberdashery. The top-notcher is festooned with an ostrich plume, as many Victorian ladies’ hats sported feathers (and entire stuffed birds).

Nineteenth century women, especially those on the frontier and rural communities often wore calico. While calico was historically printed with typical floral patterns, the cotton weave was frequently striped. I’m far from picky when it comes to calico. My only requirement is that the fabric is 100% cotton. That part of my costuming is accurate.

I know true-t0-history fabrics (reprints of the Civil War era, for example) are available to today’s re-enactors—more power to them!

In contrast to my indifference to costuming fabrics, I care deeply about accuracy in all things historical fiction.

This image shows two calico options I made with the assistance of sewing patterns (out of date, but findable online [etsy, ebay, amazon]).

The next image of a teal-colored calico dress and bonnet is another far-from accurate design (zipper up the back)... but great for dress-up.

This bonnet’s longer tail ensures sun protection for the neck. I tested a cotton sunbonnet once (for several long sun-drenched days) and found it more effective than sunscreen. For this sunburn-prone gal, a sunbonnet was a fantastic discovery.

This pink–and-white calico (matron-sized) is a fantastic pattern for historical accuracy. The bodice design (can be seen more clearly on pattern envelope front) is very much like the mid-to-late nineteenth century dresses worn (and sewn at home) by women throughout the United States.

As the nineteenth century progressed, women’s costumes (dresses) were often two pieces but fashioned to appear as if they were one. When less formal, and as the turn of the century approached, women’s styles mirrored the Victorian man’s suit of clothes, with shirts, neckties, and skirts.

This simple blouse and straight skirt (not unlike a pencil skirt, nineteenth-century style) is patterned after those everyday clothing styles.

The woolen tweed skirt, below, sports rows of grosgrain ribbon in the same creamy shade as the matching Victorian blouse. Numerous vintage photographs inspired the rows of ribbon.

I purchased the blouse online, bought the cameo somewhere (also online), and made the skirt with simple adjustments from a favorite that fit well. Styles in the late nineteenth century often called for heavy gathers in the back (even as bustles faded) and fitted in front.

Is it any surprise that one of my heroines is a dressmaker?

Or that another seems serious about Victorian fashion?

Ah! What fun! Now, back to the sewing machine, where I’m turning calico and muslin into face masks to provide a bit of hope (?) amid COVID-19. Stay safe, friends, wherever in the world you are.

Bored? Want more?

I’ve written numerous articles about details of life in the American Old-West, and to clarify misconceptions about anything nineteenth century United States. You’ll find a searchable archive of my articles on my website. And another growing cache here.

Warm Regards,

Kristin Holt

P.S. What are you sewing? If not sewing, what are you doing to fill your Social Distancing time with something enjoyable? Please scroll down and comment.

Copyright © 2020 Kristin Holt LC