Dispatch no. 13 - Updates Podcast

I learn so much from your haul videos and I rewatch them all the time to get styling ideas. I would be so sad if they ended! And hearing/ seeing your awesome thrift finds gives me as much of a thrill as finding them myself :)

Hi Bianca, No offence but guilt for sharing with us your brooch or any collection you own would be ill founded. It would be just too ridiculous for anyone to even try to lay a guilt trip on you. If it was not for people like yourself, all these ‘gems’ from the past would eventually end up in landfill lost from history. As it is, the items you collect are preserved, worn and cherished. In addition, you share your knowledge with other interested people. Imagine if you and others purchased new things to dress and adorn yourself, what would the environmental footprint then be? No, sharing your OP SHOP purchases is not gloating over your privilege and the thought of anyone thinking any different is just too ridiculous to consider! I am looking forward to your show and tell of beautiful items from the past.

I really enjoyed seeing your pattern books & catalogs (I thought I was the only one who loved to look at old catalogs haha!). I think it's great that you can spend some of your money on vintage pieces. It's great that you love them so much and treasure them. It's like they get a second home and a second life. And a big yes to you making literally anything in any of these catalogs or books. There's so many great options. I sent something to your P.O. box, which will likely arrive next week, but just giving you a heads up, in case you happen to be checking it anytime soon. I have limited my post office trips during plague times, so I had let several things pile up and finally bit the bullet to go in and mail them :)

I would be grossly disappointed in you if you didn't spend some of the Patreon money on vintage pieces. When you buy a vintage piece, thousands of us get to enjoy your purchase, not just you. Stop being so selfish and share the goods with the rest of us. :) Seriously though, at least you will take care of any vintage pieces purchased and you're helping save a piece of history. Don't feel guilty about sharing because you are bringing a lot of joy to us when you share.

Re: your concern about buying things and sharing that online, I love your shopping videos because I can derive a vicarious pleasure from your good deals and excellent styling. For a lot of reasons, I don't get to enjoy personally dressing in vintage fashion, so I really don't buy any vintage at all, despite what I might want to do. Getting to see you do that, and getting to support you doing that, is a big part of why I like to be a patron of your work. This is to say, please don't feel guilty at all, and please do share it. The archives management videos sound fascinating!!

I love this entire comment. So thoughtful and insightful. Wholesome. ❤️

A palpable sense of joy is evident in your voice and, as one of your supporters, this makes me happy. Writing is for you what piano-playing is for me and you are not alone in feeling high on the experience of escaping into your passion. I am not very spiritual either, except when it comes to music. There’s a Glenn Gould quote I often think of: “Solitude is the prerequisite for ecstatic experiences.” Granted, being entirely on my own this past year and having lost most of my work due to the pandemic (I am in the performing arts) with nobody in my bubble except for my stuffies, that journey into a sound world whenever I am at the instrument (can’t wait to have my grand shipped, man this digital keyboard is crap) is my escape and, as you say, I am hurting no one, no pollution, no violence, just beautiful, thoughtful listening. Sigh. Anyhow, I just wanted to say (and I am not a sewer, nor have I any intention of becoming one) that your content has value. I chose to support you because you seemed to be someone with high standards and a deep moral conscience, as well, someone with integrity who is generous. I don’t think anyone has pointed out that you never say “Please like and subscribe” in your videos. Thank you for that! I bristle at the thought of some of the channels I come across and the arrogant, slick selling vibes and flightiness, not to mention visual aesthetics. The past year has been very hard for me and your content has been much enjoyed and appreciated. I wish I had found your channel prior to 2021, alas I only discovered it because of my thick hair and not being able to get a cut! I can see why you would be anxious about using your funds to buy things like a broach (I would, too) but the fact that you come out with this and acknowledge your gratefulness and share your thoughts in a completely transparent way, only further endears you to me. Please do buy the trinkets and such that will help grow your business and make you happy and, most importantly, keep writing! I will look forward to lining up to buy your books, I have a feeling that they will be even more enjoyable than your videos. As for content ideas, I see your catalog video has done quite well. I’m not surprised, it was really fun. You had mentioned in a previous Side Husselen video that one of your goals for 2021 was to sew less. I agree, because honestly, how on earth could anyone continue to sew that much stuff and write and sleep and exercise and read and just be? As my Mom always tells me, “be good to yourself.” Probably the catalog video took much less time to make than the sewing ones and so I say, “yes please” to more of those and also to thrift hauls, or “show and tells” as you call them and styling a particular item in your collection in a variety of ways. These are my favourites. Probably even an item you’ve already shown, but maybe have more ideas or new additions to position it with could be featured. You’ve got a lot of videos and most people probably haven’t seen them all and so I don’t think it would hurt to let a particular item make a return appearance. Maybe there could be a video, kind of like your catalog one, where you gather some photos of actresses, dancers, performing artists and compare their outfits. I have a board on Pinterest containing pictures of historic female pianists. There are some very nice outfits there (we pianists often wear black) and so perhaps maybe that would interest you. So, that’s it from me. I hope that if I am ever in Colorado, I can take you for a meal after a day of thrifting and if there’s a piano nearby, then maybe break out the Reader’s Digest songbooks or some songs of the 80s. Wouldn’t we all enjoy a day of that! Be well. P.S. I forgot to say that, despite not being a sewer or crafty person, part of the value I get out of your content is the commentary. For instance, in a recent video, you talked about the many shades of navy. In a piano lesson I gave the other day (online, of course) I was trying to get the student to conceive of the tone colouring in her Debussy Prelude with more subtlety and I used the analogy of the colour shades, as opposed to actual changes of colour (i.e. from red to blue to green). I love making analogies like this when I am teaching and so thank you for those bits of inspiration!

I read a great article yesterday about the people that have anxiety about lockdown/restrictions/etc ending and "returning to normal". I, for one, have mostly enjoyed being allowed and encouraged to embrace my introvert-ness for the past year.

I haven't listened to the podcast yet, but I did just see an article about the Brood X Cicadas which are about to emerge (billions of them) after 17 years underground. I know how much you like these creatures, so I think it's a sign, no? This just has to be your year. You do have a lovely group of supporters here, just reading everyone's comments is so nice. I am happy to be a small part of it. Looking forward to listening to the episode later. Back to practicing!

Please don't feel guilty about buying things for yourself from your salary. My boss doesn't tell me what I can do with my money so you do you. I would love to see some haul videos and some more styling videos. Also check out till the sun goes down for fabric. They always have beautiful fabric in vintage styles.

Listening to this in the background as I clean. Thoughts about showing your collection: Yes! No need to feel like a useless One Percenter showing off your labels while stepping off a private jet. You are a costume designer, curator and historian. Your videos bring joy and knowledge. I learn so much, and I get a lift seeing beautiful things from the past. Also, to support (in my small way) a novelist in the making is a great honor. What better way to spend our pin money could possibly exist?

Hi Bianca, I would love to see some of the vintage treasures you have been buying recently. I really enjoy your haul videos and I don’t think it ever seems like you are showing off. You put a lot of thought into everything you buy and it for people who love vintage fashion too it is really interesting and helpful to hear the thought process you go through. I do get very jealous of all the silk blouses you seem to find in thrift stores - the charity shops in the UK I go to rarely have them! I hope I can visit the US at some point and find some treasures. I wanted to support you on Patreon because I have learnt so much from you over the years. Your channel is so inspiring and the way you edit your videos is amazing. It is a real privilege to support you to do your work and you should buy all the lovely brooches you want :-) P.S I’m glad you enjoyed your writing time. I hope you can take more time off to do it soon xx

https://www.fabric.com/buy/0743355/michael-miller-queen-bee-hive-queen-charcoal

"we accept the love we think we deserve" is a quote i have heavily connected with since i first read it in Perks of Being a Wallflower novel. A silly self-deprecated mind cloud I get myself into. If i'm being positive with myself, i make it work in my favour, and i do things that make me happy. Its a hard place to get out of, but definitely worth it if you can step out of the hole a little bit at a time. In regards to your salary and how you spend it, then what kind of content you make - I know that i enjoy supporting your lifestyle, which involves drafting and making, and also collecting. If buying a brooch or handbag makes you happy, or spending three days writing, then i am happy thats how you've spent 'my support'. :) I am also a gamer, so my nerdy gamer ears pricked up when you mentioned your brother makes content. Are you allowed to share any of his details so i can check out his stuff?

It's such a coincidence that you shared the links for the archival boxes. I was JUST looking for something appropriate for a silk christening gown. Much appreciated :)

Just to echo what some other folks have said, I definitely don't think you should feel weird about buying fun things for yourself with Patreon income! I see supporting creatives on here as helping to make that work sustainable, and if you only ever make ends meet and have no disposable income, that's not a realistic way to live. Treat yourself, I say :)

I completely hear you about not being overly affected by being stuck at home. Both my hubs and I work from home and we rarely go out. Most of the time I feel fine, but there are days that I yearn to get out. Mostly I direly want to eat out! I would also like to be able to take my mom shopping. The good news for us is that we will be completely vaccinated by our anniversary on May 31st. I am super excited about that. Yes, do haul videos! I personally don't wear vintage, but I find them super interesting. Also, if it helps you grow the channel it seems like a win-win. And...ya know... I don't ask my employers how I can spend my money. Just sayin'. I have to say that for me I get the greatest benefit from your patterning videos. Recently I did my first FBA and I moved a dart - and it worked out so well!! The only reason I had the courage to do that was from watching you do it. I am planning on making myself a bodice block soon too. While it is nice that I now know how to do an FBA I just don’t want to have to do it on every pattern. You just keep doing you! Also, I am dying to read one of your books!

I'm so glad to hear that you are focusing on self-care. I choose to support you because your creativity inspires my own, which is important for my own mental health. I want my (small) contribution on Patreon to go toward whatever inspires you and supports your creative endeavors, whether that be fabric, technical stuff for your videos, or that beautiful brooch that makes you smile. Personally, I really enjoy hauls, as I'm a bit of a collector myself. I like seeing what your collect, how you store your collection, and how you go about procuring the items in your collection. You've never come across as braggy or unaware of your privilege, so don't worry about that. Also, I totally get what you mean about being introverted in this panini. I have very mixed feelings about it all. because I know that so many people are suffering physically, mentally, and financially, but it's been such a relief for me to not have to deal with things like monthly dinner parties with my husband's friends, which drain me completely. The only difficult period for me was when my kids were home from school last year; the homeschooling part was totally fine, but the fact that I was NEVER alone was very detrimental to my mental health. We live in strange times, indeed...

It's always so inspiring to hear someone talk about what they're passionate about! I used to be more or less like you when it comes to writing, but in recent years it's turned into a source of anxiety and self doubt, so I've been avoiding it. :c Re. expensive fabrics and historical clothes: I work pretty much exclusively with linen and cotton. From lawn to velveteen to flanelette to sateen to quilting cotton. And I love it. Granted, I mostly make everyday turn-of-the-century stuff that I wear to Tesco and on walks to the park rather than grand and fancy evening wear for which I have no use, but I still think it's beautiful and interesting -- and affordable. You can make lovely 1880s spring/summer dresses with quilting cotton, I 100% would love to see you make one! Also, buying less silk means you can spend more of "our" money on brooches, so... :p

Definitely I'd like to see some haul/collection management content again. I enjoyed them. The panini is miserable enough already without additionally depriving ourselves of those pleasures that are still accessible to us. There isn't a benchmark degree of miserable we have to reach in order to be deemed authentic. I'm trying to get through the panini with the least degree of miserable as possible, so online shop and haul away. And, as patrons, we purchase access to additional video output over and above what is published on the main channel. We have no right of say over what you then do with your "salary". It's your's. If you want to continue to add to your collection ... go for it and don't feel guilty. You're accountable to no-one other than yourself on how you spend your money. I enjoy all of your content and re-watch episodes all the time, including on The Historian's Vanity channel. There's an ASMR element to your videos ... they're relaxing (as well as informative/educational). I think it's to do with the combination of the timbre of your voice, the pace (meaning not over-rushed) and, as Peggy said above, the dry humour. Looking forward to all your future episodes. BTW If anyone else likes the ASMR value of some videos, try Baumgartner Restoration. Nothing at all to do with sewing, buy very soothing and interesting nonetheless.

So many things to respond to in this podcast....Yes, you need a separate account for taxes, PLUS, you need a separate account for the money you receive from the channel and Patreon from your private account. This is a big no no by the IRS. You do need to get advice from a professional accountant and make sure the person has EA after their, CPA credential. This allows them to speak directly, on your behalf, with the IRS. Regular accountants cannot do that and people in business for themselves can often have a need for consultation with the IRS directly. We used to own a restaurant, which is how we set up everything. Our accountant was a fountain of information that turned out to be spot on and we never got audited and that is unusual for a restaurant as they are heavily cash businesses. We formed an S corporation, so we would not lose our own property if we got sued, which we didn't. We did file our taxes on the same tax forms as our own income but we were very thankful that our accountant did all of that for us. It cost us $400.00 per year and it was very well spent. You do need to incorporate if that is how you decide to go and be a licensed business in your State, or do whatever Colorado requires. We had separate checking and savings accounts under the name of our business besides our own personal private checking and savings accounts. It really is so much better to have everything separate. I really like your dry sense of humor that was shown in this podcast. I also smiled broadly when you said you had been flowering in the garden for a long time! Alot of us have been flowering for a long time. I'm sure many related to that comment. I'm so happy for you that you see yourself growing in the direction you want to go in and I am very happy to be a part of the reason you are growing. Maybe a word you were looking for was gratitude? It's a powerful feeling to experience. You are worth achieving your dream with the channel and Patreon. Many people are doing their best to let you know that. It's ok to believe that too. It's not being 'stuck up' to believe that. It's called positive self esteem. It seems you may be reluctant to believe that it's ok to have a positive self esteem. Please find a way around that as all of these people cannot be wrong. We are here because of the work you do, how you do it, how you present it and we have learned alot about who you are via the podcasts and the videos, both on the channel and Patreon. It's so good to hear that you were able to have two weeks to write and how it lifted your spirits. Self care is a good thing. You might consider reading a chapter or two on Patreon to find out if people would like to buy one of the books. You could take the positive comments you receive and put them into the package you send to publishers. You never know, it could help them notice your work. Congrats again on getting so much writing done and I can't wait to see and hear what is coming next. Take Good Care.

Hoooooo, yes yes I understand the mental back and forth regarding ethics etc. It’s rough. But above all, before I share my thoughts on your question, please hear that I (and others here I imagine) have chosen to support you because I/we value you, and want to support you, in ADDITION to the work you do. In other words, yes, part of my contribution is made because of the education you provide, but I have also chosen to support you because of the honesty, authenticity, model of integrity and self-reflection, etc. that you bring to the world. Anyhoo, to answer your question on about hauls. My thoughts are as follows. When watching your hauls videos, what I appreciate the most is the information you share regarding the garments and/or time period itself. While I enjoy the styling part, I personally find it helpful to learn more key words (i.e. Trifari, celluloid, Bakelite, etc.) that I wasn’t very aware of before. Likewise, I enjoy learning more of the context surrounding the design, construction, distribution, etc. of garments. For example, even though I personally have less interest in hats, I found it very interesting to learn that “insert material here” was used more often during the 40s because of rationing. That kind of information draws me in even when I don’t have interest in the items themselves. To me, THIS is the real joy of watching hauls videos. Other ideas I had were: - Antique/thrift with me (I know you’ve had these in the past, but I don’t know that everyone is aware of them): What I look for while shopping for vintage items (i.e. patterns, fabrics, authentic items vs. 80s does 40s, specific brands, how to plan your trips, what items are rare vs. those that are plentiful, what items should be thrifted in person vs. online, etc.) - Shop with me in *insert year here*: What’s hot and what’s not in 1942 - The evolution of men’s pants into women’s denim (seeing it first hand at the thrift store) - WOW fashion and it’s impact on clothing design even today - Online thrift with me using primary source material I’m just blurting these out as they come to me. I realize now that this post has become a novella, so I’m stopping here. Hope this helps!

Yes, share your vintage finds!!!

Yay writing! Such a good way to do self-care. I'm the same way that I can't write for just an hour or two. I am so looking forward to being able to read what you're writing. You talk so passionately about it that I know you are writing something magnificent. I hope you're able to get vaccinated soon. I just got my booster since in Texas I have a preexisting condition. Another of my friends will also soon be fully vaccinated and I teared up when I realized that meant I was going to be able to give her a hug next time we met for a picnic in the park. As for the haul videos and collection management videos go, I'm all for them. They don't come across as you bragging about what you've purchased but instead excited about the deal you found or the hidden gem you discovered. You always come across as someone who realizes the privilege you have and who is humble about your collection. I'd love to see your hat collection in full. I like seeing the hat/brooch/purse/etc in use and moving because I often discover I actually like something but had only ever seen it static in an advertisement. As someone who has been called a “late bloomer” I understand where you're coming from. You were and are blooming, it's just that no one was looking before. Just because we aren't a massive sakura blooming in a riot of color doesn't diminish our own blooms.

I like looking at vintage things so I'm happy to see a collections management or haul video. But on the money topic, I would like to gently suggest that it's none of my business what specifically you spend Patreon funds on. Especially when framed as an employer-employee relationship ... my boss doesn't get an opinion on where I spend my salary. I have certain work responsibilities that require me to spend my own funds (like showing up dressed), but my employer's interest is in that I do the work required, not what specifically I spend my money on. So no, it does not bother me at all whether you buy props or vintage that you enjoy or avocado toast. I'm here because I enjoy your content and anticipate being here as long as you care to make it.

Perfect timing! This podcast became live as I waited for my covid test 😅