Featured Victorian Ladies
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Featured Victorian Ladies |
www.recollections.biz |
Editor’s Note: One can easily dream of sitting at a table, set with sparkling crystal, china, and silver, encircled with women sometimes dressed in laced Victorian gowns and fanciful, plumed hats. Pleasant conversation, smiles, and warm pots of tea make this vision even more inviting. Joyce Carr and Gretchen Spiess make this dream come true for women on a regular basis at The Blue Parrot Victorian Tea Room in Stevensville, Montana. They are Victorian Ladies who bring the graciousness, modesty, and morals of the Victorian Era into the present day – what a wonder gift they give to others! Cathy
Their Story Because of their love for the Victorian Era, Gretchen Spiess and Joyce Carr first inspired each other to form a tea guild. After success and great interest in the guild, they established The Blue Parrot, a Victorian tea room and boutique. They borrowed this historic name from the original Blue Parrot Tea House that operated in Missoula, Montana (27 miles away) from 1923 to 1925. Today's Blue Parrot contains a Victorian boutique, with many appealing social aspects. The Blue Parrot is set apart from other tea rooms by its focus on fashions of the Victorian Era. They offer a number of very entertaining and educational programs, such as exhibiting Victorian wedding gowns during Stevensville's last Wedding Fair. The ladies plan and present elegant Victorian fashion show teas with original pieces from 1830 to 1940, private teas, and small group teas with a Victorian lecture, and grand Victorian balls. They offer workshops in which other Victorian ladies learn to make era-inspired items. These items range from white cotton bloomers and supportive corsets, to quaint tea cozies and ornate, beautiful Victorian lampshades (pictured on their website). Gretchen has been a costume designer for 36 years. Her vast knowledge of the history of fashion through the Victorian Era and beyond, allows her to create her own custom patterns and design period clothing and accessories. She has designed costumes for Hollywood, television shows, movies, and for many theatrical performances over the years. She teaches period-perfect workshops and is an expert historical lecturer on Victorian fashion. She is available for entertaining and educational engagements within her area of expertise. The Blue Parrot Boutique offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for customers looking for just the right thing. It features items such as tea related accessories (tea pots, yummy scone mixes, lemon, orange, and raspberry curds, gourmet teas, truffles, etc.), antiques, vintage clothing, costume accessories, jewelry, vintage furs, greeting cards, hand-crafted lampshades, and many other Victorian inspired gifts. The Blue Parrot Tea Room may be used for catered teas and many other events. The tables are set with beautiful vintage china and silver. This 1910 building has been renovated to bring it back to its historic past, which is further enhanced by the Victorian events that are held within its walls. Joyce owns many of our gowns and often customizes them for a personal fit. She says, "I always feel confident in recommending a Recollections costume to our boutique customers because the gowns are beautifully made, and the staff has been exceedingly gracious and accommodating in meeting my personal needs." Joyce and Gretchen have turned their passion and dream into not just a successful business, but a way of life. That gracious, elegant, and pleasurable way of life is shared with those who know them - it is the Victorian dream fulfilled. We are happy to have Joyce and Gretchen as our Featured Victorian Ladies, valued customers, and friends.
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Gretchen and Joyce |
Joyce Carr Gretchen Spiess
A Grand Ball Promenade Grand Victorian Ball at the Heritage Hall
Pie Social and Vintage Dance Muff Workshop
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http://blueparrotteahouse.webs.com/
The Blue Parrot, LLC Phone: (406)777-0520 |
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The Inviting Blue Parrot Tea Room
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The Victorian Tea Room
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Victorian Fashion Show Tea Mourning Costume
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If you know someone that has taken their love of Victoriana and made it into an interesting business or hobby, and you think they should be featured in our Victorian Lady pages, please email or call us and let us know! 1-800-452-5925
© 2001-2009 Recollections, Inc.
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