I opened Historical Designs on Etsy less than 2 years after graduating from college with undergrad degrees in English and Theatre Arts. Much to my surprise, I found that I truly loved historical plays and wanted to do more than just build costumes for stage. I wanted to know exactly how clothes used to be built and exactly what was going on under the layers. The more I learned, the more vividly I saw book characters and authors in my mind. Queen Elizabeth I’s speech at Tilbury resonated in my mind and I could see the woman, the person, speaking to her militia, inspiring them with her brave words. Not only did Jane Austen have a face and silhouette in my mind’s eye, but so did the Bennet sisters, Emma, and the Dashwoods. And poor Heathcliff; I saw the ragged Gypsy boy, compelled by his love for Catherine, savagely fight his way up the social ladder only to implode under the weight of his own hatred and loss. Suddenly everything clicked into place: I knew I wanted to build historical clothing and I wanted to go into business for myself!