So, a lot has been going on in my neck of the woods and this summer has proven to be anything but a break. I have been wanting to get back into regular posting and what better way than with a Fancy Work Wednesday!
The shop is Southron Creations and owned by Heather, a phenominal seamstress with an eye for 1800's style. Upon discovery of this beautiful shop, I felt like I had just met a kindred spirit and knew right away I wanted to feature her on my blog.
And without further ado, here is more about Heather, in her own words . . . . .
____________________________________________
Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
A. My name is Heather Sheen. I’m in my early 30s and don’t ask me where I’m from originally – we moved most of my growing up years! However, I have now spent over 10 years in beautiful South Carolina so I can officially say I’m from HERE now. You know how old timers want to know where you family is from? Well, when I did some family research, I found out that our ancestors were pretty illustrious in this area and they actually owned the farm down the road from us. Is that serendipitous or what? So I can say my family is from here too (um, about 6 generations back! LOL)
Q. How long have you been interested in the fashions of the mid 1800s?
A. My grandparents in Texas have been into Civil War reenacting for around 15-20 years. When our family moved to South Carolina, they suggested we “meet in the middle” at a reenactment in Tennessee. And they further suggested that if we made authentic Civil War outfits, we could attend as reenactors.
Well, we were just amateur seamstresses at the time, but no one told us that making Civil War dresses is hard so we just dived right in. There was much “weeping and gnashing of teeth” but we got those outfits done, by golly! The funny thing was, it turned out we were some of the most authentic lady reenactors at that event! Ever since then, we’ve been addicted to studying more about the era and improving our impressions as ladies of the 1860s. We all love history and continue to attend reenactments as a family and still meet my grandparents at them too.
Q. How long have you been sewing? Did you learn on your own or from someone special?
A. My mom absolutely hated sewing, but she knew the basics and taught my sister and I. We had goofed around with simple things like elastic-waist skirts and doll clothing as we were growing up. But it wasn’t until the reenacting bug bit us that we decided to seriously learn to sew. We are mostly self-taught, but we’re not afraid to pick the brains of other reenactresses who know way more than we do!
Q. What made you decide to open a shop on Etsy?
A. I had a friend who had an Etsy shop and I loved looking at her dresses. Several people in town had already asked me to sew some items for them and I thought, “Hey, I could open an Etsy shop too!”
Q. Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy?
A. Other than to friends, I haven’t tried selling anywhere else. I have lots of big ideas for the future though….
Q. What kinds of things do you like to shop for on Etsy?
A. I like looking at vintage items (duh!) and it’s fun to look at all the stunning jewelry pictures. I also like looking at the clothing shops and seeing what trends are happening so I can better market myself.
Q. What is your vision for the future of Southron Creations?
A. At the moment, this is still in the “fun hobby” stage. One year ago, I would never have imagined myself even having a sewing shop! So I am very curious to see where the Lord will lead me next. I may look into selling at Civil War reenactments,
or I may stick to local custom orders and my Etsy shop. We’ll see what works out.
____________________________________________
She also does custom versions of all the items in her Etsy store. So if you don't see your size or would like something special added to a garment, let her know and she'd be happy to work with you.
The Civil War era dresses she makes are stunning, but she does not sell them on Etsy since they need to be custom fitted to the lady. But if you are local to her area and would be available for fittings, contact her at her Etsy store or through her Facebook page or Blog:
