Girl of a different Era

It’s a strange feeling to be sitting here, writing this post. A post to… well…. a post that sorta wraps things up. As expected, this final year of my apprenticeship with Ensembles of the Past has brought many questions from friends, family, and even strangers. A lot of you have wondered about my experience here and my plans following graduation! My teacher and I felt it was an important thing to answer some of these popular questions in this post. I’m sure, even you, have been wondering about some of these yourself… So let’s get started! Grab a cup of tea and join me! 

(You can find my previous blog posts about each year of my apprenticeship linked here: (My 1st Year Post) (My 2nd Year Post)

What are some of the things I have learned through this experience that will impact me as I continue my career?

I feel that I have definitely learned a lot, both on a practical level, and even a personal level. In the practical realm, I have definitely improved my sewing skills by a huge margin! Here are just three big ways I have really gained knowledge and experience during my time here. 

Proper Fit: I understand the process of fitting garments for a tailored, couture look. This, I know, will be a big part of my future. Even just in my personal sewing, I know that I will be able to achieve a much better finished look! If I get into any lane of the fashion industry, understanding how to design, fit, and even how an already made garment should fit, will be a huge asset! 

Period Construction: The proper period construction techniques for different eras are really what adds that true historical feel to any garment. As I delve deeper into my millinery business, after graduation, I know that these skills will help me make more accurate headwear. These techniques, applied in my own sewing, will bring authenticity for living history interpretation and events. 

Working with Clients: While apprenticing with Ensembles of the Past, I have been privileged to be able to work alongside Sara with some of our clients. I have gotten to observe client/company relationships. I know this kind of knowledge will be invaluable for working with my own customers (Lord willing). It is a joy to be a part of creating a client’s dream piece and that feeling will never ever get old! 

What are some things I’ve learned through the apprenticeship and my time in Missouri that will be beneficial to me no matter my career choice?  

As I was sharing above, there are many things I have learned, both on a practical and personal level. Things like understanding the ins and outs of a self employed business and how to work with people on a professional level. The importance of advertising in a business and the vital necessity of communication in any relationship. I have been both encouraged and pushed to grow in ways I really needed to. The personal lessons and practical applications of these I will always draw from. I know that many of the skills I will be taking back with me, even if I were to never touch a needle again, will still be greatly helpful in pursuing my career of choice! My teacher has sometimes prescribed non-sewing related homework and some of these were self-help books to read! I feel that something a lot of people don’t think about, is that as a self-employed business person you are in essence ‘your business’.  In that way, learning more about yourself, setting healthy boundaries and working to cultivate a better version of yourself, all in turn, help to better the success of your business!

Sometimes I can’t help but laugh a little, looking back at what my exact mental image of my schooling would be…. in a lot of ways I think I had the right picture. But there is nothing quite like jumping into something, to really show you what it’s all about! It pushed me harder than I thought I could make it sometimes. It demanded complete dedication and commitment. It brought struggle and great joy. Combined with living so far from home at a young age and the demands of my school life, it was like a crash course in adulthood! In a lot of amazing ways it really pushed me out of my comfort zone and pulled me into new opportunities! Through the loving support of a great teacher and my family and friends far off, I was able to flex and grow through all of this. To grow into a more confident, independent adult!!! Growing isn’t always easy, but Wow, it is so rewarding to look back and see how far I’ve come!!! We’ve always joked that it was almost like my ‘finishing school’ and I feel that holds true in a lot of ways!

Would I say the experience and move across the country was worth it?

(Check out our Youtube video if you’d like to know more about how I even came to be moving across the country for this opportunity and the story of that miracle!)

There always seems a whole lot to cover in this question. It would be reasonable to stop and ponder before rushing to an answer. Though living here has had its challenges, I can say with certainty YES! Moving here to pursue this apprenticeship was nothing short of a miracle! The doors the Lord opened, the things that fell into place. Even in the hardest times I could remind myself and know that this is exactly where the Lord wanted me to be! The skills gained, the lessons learned, and the lovely friends I have made, all of these have played a wonderful part in this exciting season of my life. I know without this season, I would not be the person I am now. The Lord has used this Missouri adventure to continue to shape me in so many ways!

What are some of the top highlights or things I will remember from this period in my life?

Top highlights? There are so many to choose from… I would have to say that attending my first ever Civil War Reenactment was definitely one! It rained all night and was really cold, but I met so many interesting people. Just getting to see an ‘actual’ battle was absolutely amazing! Another would have to be some of the epic photoshoots that Sara has put together! I always enjoyed photos and posing growing up. Now with this opportunity, I have gotten to shoot with the backdrop of ‘castles’, a college, a lavender field, an old train, and all of these and more in many different eras and outfits! I have subsequently learned lots about proper posing and some basics in photography! Attending a Victorian Ball in a real Victorian mansion was also a surreal experience! It has been awesome to be an assistant to the small historical picnics we now host from time to time! From planning the themes, to greeting guests, it is always fun to bring some snippets of historical pastimes to life! We even took a trip back East so she could meet the rest of my family and visit some stunning locations! That meant a lot and was just so much fun!!! Honestly, there really are so many highlights! Did I mention getting to see my first real joust at a Ren Faire? (the knights in armor…… ‘insert swooning sigh’)

Would I recommend this experience to others? What type of person would benefit most from an apprenticeship from Ensembles of the Past?

Yes, I definitely recommend this experience to others! 

I think the type of person that would be drawn to and benefit the most from this college alternative would be a high school graduate girl. A girl who was really looking for a hands-on education. A driven, hardworking, person. Someone who has a strong interest in sewing, fashion-design, garment construction, and history!  It’s not going to be perfect for just anyone. But the student who is ready to commit to this kind of opportunity and really has a passion for this realm of work will find herself duly rewarded for her effort. She will find an edifying, encouraging, and supportive environment. A place to grow, learn, laugh, and become an even better version of herself! It is not traditional, but then again, we never said it was!

How does the Ensembles of the Past apprenticeship compare with traditional college? Do I regret not going to college?

This is another great question that I’m sure a lot of people have wondered about. I’d have to say in some ways it’s similar, but in more ways it’s different. Like a college, the Ensembles of the Past apprenticeship program was a post high school graduate schooling opportunity for me. Like college, you learn for a specific end goal. There are even traveling opportunities, like many Universities offer! I think the biggest difference might be the amount of students and practical learning as opposed to book learning. With Ensembles of the Past and its small class size, you have the opportunity for more personalized and tailored instruction (pun intended lol). It’s actually a pretty rare opportunity nowadays. With the teaching style and learning applications, it really is a vocational college. I personally appreciated the fact that it wasn’t just a huge stack of books, essays to write, and (insert gasp) geometry problems…lol.  Like we’ve said, it’s not so much a different college, as an alternative to college: unique, creative, and instructional. While you may not graduate with an accredited college degree, you do still have a certificate showing where you learned. If you’re planning on working within the historical/costuming field, your schooling will be recognized and respected by the many people who know the quality reputation of Ensembles of the Past!

Have I already used the skills learned at Ensembles of the Past in my own business ventures?

One of the first things I learned when I started here was how to operate an Etsy store. This has been a huge help as I worked with my own hat shop on Etsy. Along with just the details of it, I also learned the importance of good product photography. Once I started using better lighting in my listings and posting more regularly, It really changed my whole shop. I began getting some sales!!! It was really gratifying and it has been exciting to continue to work on it! 

I’ve also learned a great deal about marketing and that too, has come into play in my shop. I’ve done lots more advertising and seen first hand how important that can be in getting your name out and bringing in steady sales!! 

How do I imagine I might use the practical skills I’ve learned at Ensembles of the Past heading forward in a business or career?

It’s exciting to think where exactly God will lead me in the future and it’s reassuring to know I’m armed with a boatload of skills! As I’ve said before, I know I will be continuing to apply various skills as I work on my hat business! Another one of my passions is sharing vintage and historical lifestyle and sewing videos on social media mostly on my Instagram and my Youtube channel! As I continue to do so, and to share more, I know that the sewing skills I’ve learned will be greatly helpful for my recreations and creative designs. I’m also planning on joining a historical homestead near where I’ll be living in New York! Throughout these three years I have learned so much about history, even beyond what is historically accurate for garments! I’ve learned lots of fascinating information about other areas of historical life. It will be so amazing applying those to my work at the homestead! 

Can I sum up the past three years?

It’s been a wild adventure! It has been full of learning, growing, gaining new skills and really learning at the heart of an art! I’m sure whoever seeks future education here will leave with different perspectives and exciting ways to apply new found skills in their future! I know there are a lot of ways I’m looking forward to applying mine! It really has been in the truest sense of the word a ‘journey’. It’s hard to sum it all up in a paragraph or even a post. I’ve had some exciting road trips and I’ve gone to places I’ve only ever dreamed of going! I’ve not only gotten to wear gorgeous ball gowns, but learned how to make them! In so many ways, all those dreams I dreamed about, all those things that seemed a whole world away, I have gotten to be a part of! It was a bit wild to leave home at barely eighteen to come out to the Midwest! Yet even through the hard times, what I have learned, and the doors I’ve been able to place my foot into, have been amazing! Even though my future plans will most likely flex and shift from time to time, my deep passion for this beautiful world of history and sewing won’t. I feel like here, I have been fed and encouraged to pursue that hard core. I was given a place to flex in my new found love of this historical world and brought to a place where it could blossom into a reality. Without this education, without this delve into an exciting and thrilling side of the past and present, my world would be a lot less full and well a lot less… me. So I suppose that’s my long winded way of trying to sum it all up. In this season I have discovered a world where dreams can be brought to life and gained the confidence to embrace an even more authentic version of who I believe God created me to be!

(If you’d like to know more from both our perspectives check out our newest youtube video where my teacher and I look back together and sum up these past years!)

Conclusion….
You thought I was done didn’t you, lol? Honestly, there could be lots more to say, but the final words that really well up inside of me are THANK YOU. Thank you to an amazing teacher who has taught me so much and while doing so, became a lifelong friend! Thank you to my family and friends back East who stood by me and encouraged me every step of the way! Thank you to the amazing people out here that I have become privileged to call dear friends! Thank you to all my loyal social media followers who have cared enough to come along for the journey! Thank you to all the folks back home who were gracious as I missed their special occasions because of the distance… Thank you most of all to God, who turned a simple hunt for a cloak pattern into a life changing opportunity. He has opened doors, guided and protected me. He has been there in my tears and laughter and I know without His lead, I’d never be sitting right here writing this post! So yes, I suppose that is my final word and I mean it in every syllable T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U.