Erika Kimberly Harris

As someone with a passion for local history, education, and client engagement, I excel at using my diverse skills for unique content creation. My diverse background spans elementary education, professional entertainment, and project management. I have a unique skill set and perspective that I use to enrich interactions with students, clients, and colleagues in order to foster inclusive, exciting, and positive teamwork.

• Experimental archaeology through garment patterning, construction, and finishing using historically accurate practices, techniques, and materials.
• 1780's "Italian" gown using cotton, silk taffeta, linen materials, and historically accurate construction techniques; entirely hand sewn using stitches as described by Janet Arnold and The School of Historical Dress in London, UK
• Henrican Tudor court gown: Blackwork embroidered shift, silk and linen kirtle with hide glue stiffened bodice and embellished neckline, court gown in faux silk velvet, jeweled embellishments and accessories, cap and French hood, cap with bonnet and frontlet, and silk foresleeves.
• 1770's stays in cotton denim weave with linen canvas interlining, "baleen" boning, chamois binding. Drafted using personal measurements and Patterns of Fashion 5 for reference. All hand sewn using contemporary construction technique.
• Early Federalist period round gown: includes high-waisted petticoat in linen, cotton gauze dress, and silk gauze sash. Hand sewn.
• 1880's "Pretty Housemaid" style corset using Symington's Collections pattern 23020, drafting for my personal measurements, silk taffeta, linen canvas interlining, and using decorative/functional flossed embroidery.
• "Frontier Ginger Beer" following Townsends' interpretation of a colonial recipe.
• Teaching myself to spin wool using both a drop spindle and a spinning wheel