Christenia & Co.

08/19/2025

" It's very important to restore these items now, as people who are left in the trade at the moment are 75 years old."

08/19/2025

Before the invention of plastic sequins, how did people make their clothes shine and shimmer?⁣ ✨ The sequin-like embellishments in this 19th-century fragment from India are made from a traditional material known as elytra, or protective beetle wing-cases.
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During India’s Mughal period (1526-1756), beetle elytra adorned jewelry, textiles, and ceremonial objects, indicating high status. Later, traders brought embellished textiles from India to Europe, where the shimmering cloth was particularly popular among Victorians. Today, beetle wings still adorn the headdresses, textiles, and baskets of many minority groups in Southeast Asia, such as the Pwo Karen (Myanmar, Thailand) and the Naga of Northeastern India.

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Fragment, 19th century; Cotton ground, beetle elytra, gold foil strips, gilt sequins, gold metal-wrapped silk thread; India. This object is part of Cooper Hewitt’s permanent collection and is not currently on view.

04/11/2022

07/29/2020

Have you ever just had a day where you're like "MAN, do I want to strap some demon lawn gnomes to my face!"? If today's that day, you're in luck.

Edit: I really underestimated y'all's enthusiasm for Satan's Lawn Gnomes. And also plain black with blue pinstripe. MAKING MORE. In the meantime, I have some acid trip kittens in fields of flowers, honey bees, octopuses...

This listing is for one fitted, double layer mask that is sized for most adults. The top of mask is approximately 10-1/2 wide at the top edge and 7-3/4 tall at the center front. Mask has a bendable nose wire and is washable and reusable with a pocket for extra filter, if you want to add one. Color

05/17/2020

This is the pattern and sewing instructions I use for my face masks that will be going live on Etsy soon. I don't have the resources to make masks for everyone for free - but I can make the pattern free. Happy sewing!

05/04/2014

Gearing up to head to The Steampunk World's Fair in a couple weekends. Pun completely intended.