Hi, I’m Denise Hendrick, lover of historic clothing and textiles, and the creative force behind Romantic Recollections. Since I was a child, I’ve been entranced by Anne of Green Gable’s puffed sleeves, and eventually that love grew into a passion for recreating and wearing those same fashions. To this day, the leg-of-mutton sleeves, full skirts, and nipped-in waists of 1895 remain some of my favorite styles, although every year I add new eras to my list of favorites. Eventually I realized it wasn’t enough to just make pretty things for myself, and that I wanted to use my skills and knowledge to help make costuming dreams come true for others. I entered the Apparel Design and Services program at Seattle Central Community College, where I learned about patterning, fine finishing, tailoring, and other techniques that are perfectly suited to period fashion, and had the opportunity to intern with several local costumers and corset makers. Armed with a degree and a greatly expanded skill set, I launched Romantic Recollections in 2005.
Romantic Recollections embroidery designs are created specifically for historic costumers. We want you to use our designs with confidence, knowing that they are period correct for the era you are recreating. All of our designs are based on extant garments and period illustrations, professionally digitized, and thoroughly tested.
Read MoreWe know historical accuracy is important to you, so we strive to make all of our embroidery designs capture the delicate look and feel of period hand embroidery.
Historical embellishment goes beyond simple embroidery. Take your creations further with advanced techniques, such as 18th c. Passementerie or Handmade Silk Millinery Flowers.
Learning goes hand-in-hand with creating beautiful garments. Whether you are looking to improve your skills, learn a new technique or simply love history, we have a class waiting for you.
Romantic Recollections embroidery designs are created specifically for historic costumers. We want you to use our designs with confidence, knowing that they are period correct for the era you are recreating. All of our designs are based on extant garments and period illustrations, professionally digitized, and thoroughly tested.
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Add the finishing touch to your period ensemble with the right trims and accessories to make it truly come alive. In my online classes, I walk you through the essentials of new techniques so you can confidently put your new skills to use. Come learn a wide range of historic embroidery and embellishment techniques such as tambour and ribbon embroidery, 18th century passementerie, making silk millinery flowers, and more.
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Take your learning even further with a in-person workshop, where you can learn in a supportive environment and with plenty of time to master new techniques. Workshops range from a weekend to a full week, depending on the topic, and provide invaluable access to your instructor and the camaraderie of your peers.
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