The Colonial Lady disturbs me.
I don't care for historically inaccurate costuming,
or a nostalgic look at decorative women.
But mostly it's the tiny feet.
A nostalgia for bound feet perhaps.
Take off your shoe and put it by your face.
Your shoe and your face are about the same size
(Of course she has no face, but you get the idea.)
This is something you learn right away in life drawing class.
Hands and feet---big as the face.
Too be fair to the quiltmakers---even the
best of seamstresses can do nothing with a pattern
of bad proportion.
The Alice Brooks/Laura Wheeler pattern syndicate
was especially influential in popularizing these
balloon girls or umbrella girls with tiny feet.
Combined with a mediocre seamstress---mind boggling.
I did a few digital fixes but it really didn't make me like it any better.
Larger feet, not the answer.
At press time I found a few blocks online with elephantine feet.
I have some down slippers that look just like this.
Too be fair, this is another in the set. I think
those blue size 14's are her pantaloons.
The best bet might be no feet at all. They would be
hidden under that voluminous, crinolined colonial skirt anyway.
What the heck has she got in her hand. For that matter is that a giant
mushroom on the left? Is this woman addicted to recreational drugs?
Not alone.