About Me

HI, my name is Joyce Hobbs....but please call my Joy!  Welcome to my website and thanks for meeting me here!!

I’d like to tell you a little about myself and how I got started in this glorious Victorian “hobby”, that is taking over my life. :)

I was born in Michigan, and when I was 11 my family moved out west.  Although I hated it then, the west has a tendency to “grow “ on you. I left Wyoming many times, but have always come back, and now my husband, Richard and I are here to stay.

I was raised by European parents.  My father is a cabinet maker from Germany and my mother from Holland.  They both taught me the value of good craftsmanship.  My mother was taught sewing, knitting, crocheting, etc. in Holland and everything always had to be done to perfection.  If it was wrong, it was torn out and redone.  That is the way I learned.  That is the way I still do things.

I have always loved historical clothing, especially the Victorian Era.  (Such beautiful elegance!)  Life goes its own way though, and I joined the army and became a nurse.   I married, became a mother, traveled, divorced, married again.   Four years ago Richard and I made a trip to Tombstone, AZ.  That trip reignited my desire to learn more about Victorian clothing.  I have always loved sewing, so I made my own wedding dress (which is the royal blue dress you see on the website).  I was in love, and once I created my own bustle dress, then my second and third, I had to learn more!  I have done extensive research, and taken classes from some of the best costume historical clothing instructors in the US.

I strive to create costume historical clothing from the Victorian Era using the same period techniques that were used in the 1800s.  I truly look forward to meeting you and working with you to create your dream Victorian dress!