If you give a girl a costume...

As you well know, I love historical costumes. :) I would dress up every day if people wouldn't think I was CRA-ZEE for going grocery shopping in stockings and stays. *teehee* So, for funs and giggles I thought I'd share some pictures from the photo shoot we did for the cover of book three in my Daughters of His Kingdom series, SO RARE A GIFT.

This last shoot was SO much fun! I was so blessed--seriously blessed--to find an amazing dress for an even more amazing price. It fit perfectly without needing a single alteration. Incredible! I even got to wear pocket panniers...and for a historical-ista like me, that was kinda the best ever. ;)

The hair was a blast, and also, remarkably easy! I was scared to death it would be a disaster, but seeing as how I'm not a "hair-doer" as my daughter would say, I think it turned out okay. :)

My good friend Heather Smith was kind enough to come out in the freezing cold to assist--you helped so much, Heather! Could not have done it without you!

And I've been so fortunate to work with an amazing photographer, who also happens to be my good friend--Danyell Diaz. She knows exactly what will look good and makes the experience so much fun.

I hope you don't mind that I share these photos, ladies. Let me know what you think! Would you like to dress up? What would you want to wear?  

Happy Reading!!

Here's Heather and I talking as we walked to the next spot for shooting. It was so windy and cold!

Dancing a wee little jig...

"Hold on, gotta fix this hair." I must have used half a can of hairspray to keep this thing in place. If it had been any more windy I am sure it wouldn't have stayed together at all. The minute I got back into the car, Heather looked at me and laughed, "Your hair just totally died right this second." LOL!

Heather and Danyell were so much fun and we kept each other laughing the whole time. We were the only ones at the location that day. Everyone else was smart enough to stay in where it was warm.

Me and Danyell.

The grounds were lovely--even during mid-February when the trees were totally bare.

Funny faces...

The setting was so lovely, I would really enjoy going back there when its not 30 degrees!

Hair shot...and fun with picmonkey. *wink*

The bodice of this dress is just so lovely. I wish clothes were this pretty now-a-days.

These shoes are so incredibly comfortable! Seriously!! I don't know if they were this comfy for ladies of the 18th century, but I was genuinely surprised at how these fit so perfectly.

Last picture, ladies...
 I purchased "authentic" 18th century stockings, and of course that means there's no elastic to keep them from falling down. The one thing I did not have--which would have helped--were garters, so I had to keep pulling up/straightening my "socks". ;) By the end of the shoot, my stockings were not quite as white as they were in the beginning and my fingers were bright red from the cold. More than 300 pictures later, we decided to call it a day. But I'd go out and do it again in a heartbeat, no matter the weather. ;)