The online home of fantasy author and knitwear designer Sophia Beaumont
I've said it before, and I will say it again: The Victorians were weird. They had some crazy traditions, from medically prescribed vibrators to electric corsets, but probably the most well known of their weird ideas is their obsession with death. Entire books have been written about death and mourning culture in the 19th century, and… Continue reading The Creepiest Dolls in History
Last week I did a miniature version of this post on Twitter, but I thought it might be night be nice to put it all in one semi-comprehensive post. In the 1800s, the Christmas season was a big deal. This was due in large part to the work of Charles Dickens, whose work brought a… Continue reading Season’s Greetings, Victorian Style
Colleen moved the end table from the chair by the fire behind me, arranging the empty basin and other tools she would need. She began by letting down the plait. With a towel wrapped about my shoulders, she applied a mixture of egg yolk, rosemary, and water with a brush. She piled my hair on… Continue reading Victorian Hair Care
One of the most exciting things about ALL FOR ONE is that it effectively kicks off the next phase of my career. It's not that I'm abandoning urban fantasy. But I am returning to my first love--historical fiction. Now obviously, we're talking history with a twist here. Whether it's creating a theoretical alternate history, or… Continue reading Top Non-Fiction Picks: Civil War edition
A couple of weeks ago a posted a list of documentaries I've been watching on Youtube. My documentary kick continues, so here are a few more you might enjoy. A few of them are quite long, so there's several hours of viewing time here. The Civil War and Its Dead This documentary shows a lot… Continue reading History in Pictures, part II
Warning: This post is about to get political. I spent the 4th of July watching WWII movies. The world had become a terrifying place. In the last two years we have seen so many awful changes in the US. There's more violence. People struggle to meet ends meet as industries not supported by the current… Continue reading What’s Old is Now New Again
Just a personal list of a few favorites I've read over the years. All links go to Amazon for the sake of ease, but I do highly encourage you to buy from your local indie bookstore, if possible. In no particular order: 1. The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum I love Deborah Blum; she has… Continue reading Top 10 Nonfiction Books
Our village season has officially started, and that means it's time to pick my crafting projects for the summer, the ones I'll keep in my basket to work on when I'm volunteering. What makes a crafting project okay for 1898? Obviously, Victorian women knitted, crocheted, sewed, embroidered, etc, but what other considerations does one need to… Continue reading Crafting: 1898 Style
It's that time of year. Time to break out the corset, pin up my hair, and go about in my best Gibson Girl style (which, admittedly, isn't very good. I've never been able to master that updo). Opening day at the village is tomorrow, and it's time to sort through my basket. I thought I'd… Continue reading What’s in my bag: 1890s
Apparently, I am becoming "that author who writes about Montreal." I've come across very few books set in the city, and even fewer in English. In THE SPIDER'S WEB, the city is almost another character in the story. When I lived there, I found the atmosphere so invigorating and inspiring, it was one of the… Continue reading 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Montreal
