Happy happy joy joy

Wow. I've found some more people who like costuming. In fact there is a whole bunch of them. The Australian Costumers Guild. OK not a whole bunch of 18th century obsessives but hey they like costumes. So if there are any Aussies reading this YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  Take yourself off to their website and check it all out.

New American Duchess leather shoes on pre-sale now

Yes she's done it again. Similar to the original American Duchess silk Georgiana style shoes, the Devonshires are a leather 18th century shoe based on museum examples from the 1760s through 1780s. They're made of top-grade dyable leather, with a beautiful, smooth Italian leather sole for dancing, and are hard-wearing, water- and mud-proof, for even the toughest of outdoor re-enactments.
Pre-Order the Devonshires through August 10, and get the special $100 price. We're only making 200 of these shoes, so don't miss the chance to own one of only a couple hundred pair on the planet!
So rip on over to www.american-duchess.com to order. 

Polignac

I don't know why but I'd not imagined there was anyone of the name Polignac still around. It's certainly an historic name and while I knew Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac had escaped revolutionary France I didn't really consider it further as she had died not long after Marie-Antoinette (reportedly of grief).
But then a chance reference to one of the Grimaldis turned up the information that their names are in fact Grimaldi-Polignac. She is in fact the great great great great grandmother of Princess Caroline, Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie of Monaco. So they are all Counts and Countesses of Polignac. Whodathunkit?