ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS
Angela Burnley
Angela holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to founding Burnley & Trowbridge in 1994, she owned a multi-discipline design firm in Oyster Bay, NY and taught as an adjunct in the discipline at the New York Institute of Technology. Her strong interest in historic textiles for interiors and her love of sewing naturally led her down the path of historic textile discovery within the fashion world. What Began as a hobby soon became a passion, and eventually led to the founding of Burnley & Trowbridge. She has spearheaded the many offerings of B&T, from the well-researched products to the hands-on and online workshops--all while pursuing her personal research in 18th century textiles. She has lectured here and abroad, and completed a fellowship at Winterthur Museum in 2021 that she plans to turn into a massive project for herself and others, that will likely outlive her! She continues to travel, research, and develop new workshops, and hopes to carve out time for writing in the future.
Brooke Welborn
Brooke is the Workshop Manager and an instructor for Burnley & Trowbridge. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from The College of William & Mary, where she focused on Costume Design & Construction, and minored in History. After university, she apprenticed as a Milliner & Mantua-maker in the Historic Trades Department of Colonial Williamsburg, receiving her journeywoman paper in 2007. Brooke's continuing focus is the cut, fit, & construction of 18th century women's gowns and jackets, especially that of the Polonaise, which she has written & been published on.
Samantha Bullat
Samantha has been involved in the living history and historical clothing community for more than 15 years. In 2012, she served a ten week internship with the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop, learning the arts and mysteries of mantua-making and millinery. From 2014-2021, she worked as a tailor for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and was responsible for researching, designing, and constructing garments from the early 17th and late 18th centuries. Her reproduction historical clothing has been featured in exhibits and programs at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Mount Vernon, The New York Historical Society, and The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
Nick Blevins
Nick is a historian, historic preservationist, and living history presenter with a passion for the material culture of the 18th century. He received a B.S. in History in 2011, with a focus on colonialism and early modern history. Nick started sewing at a young age and has always had a deep appreciation for old places and things. He developed an interest in historical tailoring after volunteering at an 18th century historic site. Nick is a board member of the 1750 Isle of Wight County Courthouse historic site, and has also served as a board member of the Isle of Wight County Historical Society. He lives in the Virginia Tidewater with his family.
Brenda Rosseau
Brenda has been researching and creating reproduction and replica historic dress and accessories for over forty years. She holds a BFA in Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University, and has managed costume programs and created garments for Jamestown Settlement, Colonial Williamsburg, and Historic Jamestown (Preservation Virginia). Projects include the re-creation of regimental coats for Colonial Williamsburg's Fife and Drum Corps for their 50th anniversary, designs and garments for the wedding of John Rolfe and Pocahontas for CW and Preservation Virginia, the design and re-creation of Lord Dunmore's household livery, and numerous theatrical productions at Colonial Williamsburg and The College of William & Mary. Her research interests include common and servant attire in Colonial Virginia during the 17th and 18th centuries, English embroidered jackets of the early 17th century, and she has studied objects and documents in archives and collections in the US and UK.
Patricia "Tric" Wesp, Professor Emerita of Theatre
Patricia Wesp has been sewing since she was three years old. She received her A.B. from William & Mary with a major in Theatre, and her M.F.A. in Costume Design from the University of Florida. After teaching at Duke University from 1980-83, she joined the faculty of William & Mary in 1983; after more than 40 years in academia, she retired in 2022. As a scholar and creative artist, her research interests and publications focus on costume history, decorative arts, and design, primarily costume design for theatre and dance. She taught classes in all things costume for theatre, including costume design, fashion history, costume technology, including patterning and construction, crafts, stage makeup, wigs and hairdressing, costume collections management, and millinery. A favorite course explored the decorative arts, gardening, and gardens in English dramatic literature from Shakespeare to Tom Stoppard. She has designed and executed over 300 productions in ten states. She served as resident Costume Designer for the Virginia Shakespeare Festival for more than 30 years.
Amber Mendenhall WelchAmber Mendenhall Welch received a B.S.S. in Historical Costume Construction & American History from Ohio University and in 2011 worked as an intern at the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop at Colonial Williamsburg. She has had a passion for historical garments and clothing making since her adolescent days and is excited to share her knowledge and skills through Virgil's Fine Goods. Amber has created historical (and non-historical) millinery and accessories for museums, theaters, opera, Broadway, and ballet productions, as well as living historians. She has taught classes for events, organizations, and individual lessons and is passionate about making historical accuracy accessible to everyone. Amber is a pattern collaborator with Leimomi Oakes of Scroop Patterns to provide historically accurate and easy to use historical clothing patterns as well as in the Virgil's Fine Goods pattern line.
Since a young age, Neal has had a lifelong interest in history and material culture. After graduating high school, Neal joined the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, working within the Department of Historic Trades and completing a seven-year apprenticeship, earning his journeyman's papers as a tailor. He received a B.A. in History from the College of William and Mary in 2013, earning high honors for his senior thesis: "a kind of armour, being peculiar to America: The American Hunting Shirt." In 2015, Neal received his M.A. degree from The University of Delaware's Winterthur Program in American Material Culture. He worded as the Associate Curator for The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia for their 2017 inaugural permanent exhibition. Neal currently hold the position of Curator of Costume and Textiles at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Melissa has been textile-oriented--sewing and designing--for as long as she can remember. She holds a B.A. in Apparel Design from Kansas State University, and worked for The Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center for 18 years, before taking early retirement to join us at Burnley & Trowbridge. She has recreated everything from Pocahontas' wedding ensemble to the embroidery of Thomas Jefferson's waistcoat. In addition, she has served as the costumer for a variety of theatrical and video productions. Melissa has always been fascinated by lace, and has learned may types of lace making, but tatting is her go-to technique. She is an award-winning tatter, whose work has been featured in Piecework Magazine and at the Lacis Lace Museum. Melissa is also a member of The Colonial Lacemakers of Williamsburg. Finally, the the grief of her long-suffering husband, she has spent way too much money at Burnley & Trowbridge, and spends too much time sewing for herself and her dolls.