Historic clothing, reproductions

**ct ertz** · #1 03-23-2015, 03:47 PM

Some of you may know that at one time my wife and I ran a historic clothing business. I took on line orders and reproduced about anything prior to 1900. I was actually pretty good at it and loved doing. Just wen my wife and I started to make money at it, i got sick and had those few years of nastiness dealing with a small cancer problem. It more or less bankrupted my business and i was out of it for a long while. But with the slow return of my health I have been toying with the idea of restarting this custom business again. I still have the bulk of my hand drafted patterns. I show some pictures here of a few of the simple items I have been working on over the last year or so. Enjoy!

Oh, and by the way, during that time when I couldn't sew, I was able to keep my mind engaged and my fingers active by card modeling! I discovered this wonderful hobby just after I got sick. A true God Sent activity for me!

**KCStephens** · #2 03-23-2015, 06:32 PM

Incredibly fine work, Cory. I wish you a successful restart of your historical clothing business.

**ct ertz** · #3 03-23-2015, 06:45 PM

Thanks, Kevin,
This is all simple stuff, to get me going again. Working those fingers. I have started some Napoleonic French outfits that are a lot more intricate and harder to put together. A good test to see if I still have it! We shall see!
Corey

**Kevin WS** · #4 03-24-2015, 12:51 AM

Very nice. My best wishes as well - look forward now!

Actually I am sure that in todays "mechanical age" you will be able to make a good go of something that involves real craftmanship...... especially given the Internet as a marketing medium to find customers!

**pjabraham** · #5 03-24-2015, 08:45 AM

Corey,
Do you have a website? Why not post it here if you do or as soon as you start it back up. Free advertising!
Phil

**ct ertz** · #6 03-29-2015, 08:11 AM

A few shots of some of my other work. I do a lot of early 1800s stuff, and for military stuff this means raw edge construction. The heavy wools are cut and simply pancaked together. It speeds things up when doing an all hand sewn item, and makes the garment lay flat, important when wearing many layers of clothing as was the style.

Pictured are some of the hand work details, hand done buttonholes, flat felling and some hand worked top stitching with linen thread. Also, the pewter buttons are hand cast on an original late 1700s bronze button mold. Yeah, it is old but still works like new... most days!

So, enjoy! Thanks.

**Don Boose** · #7 03-29-2015, 08:18 AM

This outstanding work, Corey. Perhaps we will see you up here some day during one of the gatherings of re-enactors, living historians, and historic craftspeople.

I look forward to seeing more of this work. I am very pleased that you are reviving and preserving the early 19th century skills.

Don

**luke strawwalker** · #8 03-29-2015, 11:13 PM

Wow... very impressive!

Very cool! KUTGW! OL JR

**ct ertz** · #9 03-30-2015, 09:52 AM

Thanks guys. I used to have a web site back in the day, but not now. Something to maybe think about. I only sell on eBay now, under CT's Trading Post, and that is going well enough for now.

I used to do events, everything from Gun Shows in the Winter to Ren-Fest and reenactments of all kinds in the spring and summer. But it has been many years gone now. I no longer have my 20x15 traders tent nor the inventory I once had. But again, one day maybe.
I am just glad to be physically able to do this stuff again! Things are looking up. I am still making models as well, and should have some new ones along soon, but I have always loved making period clothing.

Thanks guys,
Corey

**Michael Mash** · #10 04-01-2015, 10:58 AM

Just ran across this.
Very interesting line of work. Much of it reminds me of things (like civil war uniforms) I see on the "Antiques Road Show". I hope you are able to find the satisfaction and success you had before your illness.
Mike