Her bodice of work Oct.6, 2005
By SAMANTHA THOMPSON SMITH, News & Observer Staff Writer
Maria Shevzov has her work cut out for her this fall. Literally. The 23-year-old, who was home-schooled in Raleigh and recently graduated from East Carolina University, spent the summer researching a velvet bodice originally made about 1895 and found last year in the attic of an old home in Washington, N.C.
She plans to re-create the bodice into a historical costume piece to be shown with the original next year in the Beaufort County Arts Council Museum.
It has been no easy task. When the Rumley family found the bodice, they took it to ECU's costume shop, where Shevzov was working. She decided to re-create the piece. First, she landed a student research grant from ECU. Then Shevzov researched the history of the bodice, looking at the Rumley family history as well as the 19 fabrics and threads used to make the piece. She also went to Colonial Williamsburg, Va., to get advice on pattern making from a historical tailor.
One of the hardest parts has been finding the materials to re-create the bodice, mostly because of the colors, Shevzov said. The bodice has deep chocolate brown velvet with salmon pink accents and beaded trim.
Shevzov's education at ECU has prepared her for the job. She designed her own degree, a mixture of classes in history, costume design, textile studio art and apparel merchandising. She hopes to eventually land a job in historical costuming and conservation.
This bodice was made about 1895.
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