Keeley Sutphin At the Sign of the Magpie

04/25/2025

My newest creation, a doublet and standing band based on a portrait of Captain John Smith. Made of wool, with linen tape trim, and the standing band is fine linen, heavily starched.

04/06/2024

Just a note to tell you all that I am supposedly kicked out of my account for 30 days for violating rules against posting problematic content. This is not true, and is a scam. If you ever get a message like that, please screenshot and send to Facebook. DO NOT click any links in the message, it’s a phishing scam. And look, here I am posting whilst supposedly banned. 🤔

07/07/2021

Update: the Sign of the Magpie has moved physical address, but the phone number and email remains the same.

05/19/2021

It’s difficult to photograph a waistcoat without a body in it but here goes. This is one I finished a while ago and forgot to post.
Made with Burnley and Trowbridge fabrics (linen) and horn shank buttons with handmade buttonholes.
John White

05/14/2021

First customer meeting in a year. Robert Boettger picked up his new hunting shirt today.

01/21/2021

What an amazing ensemble. I love the details that went into making this. Perfect for winter.

01/05/2021

Due to rising covid numbers in Virginia, I am cancelling in-person fittings for the foreseeable future. When it is safe to do so, I will resume fittings. If you have an order pending, your spot in line will be preserved.

11/09/2020

Another recent project completed: a pair of men’s under drawers. Worn under the breeches, usually for warmth in colder climates, so they were sometimes made of wool flannel. These are of lightweight linen for the Prince Regent, later George IV.

10/30/2020

Yesterday I finished 4 nightshirts for Henry VIII. Embroidered in black silk on ruffled collar and cuffs, the nightshirts are mid-calf length and tie at neck and cuffs.

10/30/2020

Recent completed projects include this waistcoat for Ben Franklin, which is made of silk with handmade buttonholes.

09/26/2020

A good article on interpreting people of color, with a lot of focus on Colonial Williamsburg.

At living history sites, people of color portray figures from the past, revisiting painful issues and revealing hidden narratives.