Featured Victorian Ladies
1-800-452-5925
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Featured Victorian Ladies |
1-800-452-5925 |
Editor’s Note: Browsing through Sue McDonald and Cheryl Ritchie’s Madame's Mercantile website is like looking through our sisters’ jewelry boxes and armoires. Every click of the mouse is reminiscent of opening velvet covered drawers laden with beaded, ornate hat pins, neck pieces, beautifully utilitarian silver chatelaines, and reticule holders. Another click of the mouse feels as if we are peering through antique armoires carefully packed with colorful boas, embellished handbags, and plumed hats. Unlike past times when snooping through our sisters’ treasures, we are now free to lollygag openly over the tantalizing Victorian Era accessories at the Madame's Mercantile site. Sue and Cheryl are like-minded sisters to us at Recollections, we are kindred, and we are pleased to call them friends. Cathy Sue McDonald and her husband Dale first started dressing in Victorian attire in the 1980s when they owned and restored a Victorian Era estate in southern California. They began opening their house for the city’s historical holiday home tour and thought it would be enjoyable, and complementary to the tour, to dress in period clothing for the event. Sue is also a writer who has been published in the Wild West Gazette, Working Woman, and Somerset Studio. She is currently writing articles of interest to the Victorian reenactment community for Bustledress. Cheryl Ritchie has many years of experience in costuming for stage productions. She was involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism while living in Hawaii with her husband Ray. During that time she researched and created extensive historical wardrobes for her daughter and herself. These costumes ranged from Viking Era to the Elizabethan Era. She also is retired from the insurance and banking field and has taught classes in sewing and millinery. Both couples moved to Arizona a few years ago and just happened to meet at their local Jo-Ann Fabrics store while searching through Victorian clothing patterns. As these strangers began talking about the various styles and fabrics, a friendship began. These new friends discovered an active community of people who love to dress in period attire. They now belong to several historical societies: the Boots and Bustles Social Club, an organization focusing on the historical period from 1865 to 1902; the Elks Opera House Guild, which centers on the historical period from the mid-1800s through the Edwardian period in the later 1890s; and the Reenactment Guild of America, dedicated to the preservation of and education regarding the History of America's 19th Century primarily, but not restricted to, the American Old West. Sue and Cheryl, both being enthusiastic admirers of Victorian Era costuming for years, with over 60 years of seamstress experience creating period garments for theatrical and historical reenactment events between them, discovered that finding accessories to complete each ensemble was difficult, expensive, and very time consuming. They finally decided to start a business that specialized in period-correct hats, purses, carpet bags, chatelaines, custom made items, and other accessories for ladies and gentlemen. Out of this desire, Madame's Mercantile was established in 2008. Both women are thrilled to be able to create or supply just the right Victorian accessory their clients may be looking for. Sue McDonald and Cheryl Ritchie do feel like sisters to us at Recollections! We all enjoy surrounding ourselves with not only the attire of the Victorian Era, but with the fine details that make each ensemble authentically exquisite. Take some time to peruse through their unique site – you, like us, will uncover the treasures so loved by our Victorian sisters.
Recollections, Inc. 7956 County Road 451 Hawks, Michigan 49743 ©2001-2011 Recollections, Inc |
Madame's Mercantile Purveyors of hand-crafted
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Cheryl Ritchie and Sue McDonald
Cheryl and Sue have both developed "personas" that they present as living history - i.e. they stand and talk about "our" lives in the first person. Cheryl presents Chicago Joe - a famous Madame from the 1800's, and Sue presents the life of Frances Bashford, the wife of Coles Bashford. They have also both published award-winning re-enactment skits. Sue is the author of "The Merry Widows" and Cheryl wrote "Murder Most Foul", which recently took third place at a national competition sponsored by the RGA in Jean, Nevada. RGA is doing great things for the reenactment community - visit bustledress.com for more information.
Sue and Cheryl at DAR "09 |
