About Us

The Inspiration in which I became interested in horses was all due to the commission of a riding habit with Wendy Strawn of Historically Sew and eventually my hat by George F. Franks, III of Cocked Hats to go with the ensemble.  My thought was, if I were to wear a riding habit at living history events, I must know how to ride a horse as well - otherwise how can I understand the reason for wearing the habit if I haven't experienced riding?  Reenacting and living history led me to my gorgeous gray horse, a Tennessee Walker, named Southern Belle.  Now, what does that have to do with making and selling reproduction and historically inspired jewelry?  Simple, my Southern Belle was a lady of refined taste and had a certain lifestyle of which she was accustomed.  I have been making jewelry since 2010 and opened my shop in May of 2011 because she required supplements and shots for her severe osteoarthritis which came as a result of her being a reenactment horse for 8 years. She was retired and in my care for 4-1/2 years, and had to leave me when she was 25 years of age on 25 August 2014 due to a tumor related colic.  You may have seen her at reenactments - as she loved the adoration and attended to honor the horses who gave their lives during the Revolutionary War.  This venture was started entirely for her out of respect, love, compassion, dignity, and to keep her out of any pain.  She was the love of my life and her memory lives on in my caring for her other friends who I also rescued or adopted - Mindy, Haddy, Mallory, Little Man and now Nelson.  My Etsy shop was opened in 2015.  

Lady Worsley, 1776

January 2011

SOUTHERN BELLE - THE GRAY HORSE

Belle on 7 August 2011

Jerusalem Mills 2009 - her last reenactment

Jerusalem Mills 2009
(I adopted her seven months after this photo was taken)

     Belle was a retired Tennessee Walking horse that I adopted in 2010.  I do not know much more about her history even though I tried to pursue the information.  She had been in reenacting since at least 2003 and was in several Civil War and Revolutionary War movies, demonstrations, and living history engagements.  She was proud to represent and honor those horses who were integral to winning our war of Independency by portraying them.  They gave their lives for us - the same as the soldiers who were wounded and died as well.  We were proud to care for her.  She enjoyed being the Boss Mare, eating hay, carrots, apples, and Fig Newtons!  She had to leave us on 25 August 2014 due to a tumor-related colic, but she lives on through my heart, and as the inspiration of my business which was started for her.  She honored me with her love and devotion for four years, and I, in-turn, reciprocated that a million fold.  She asked that I make sure I do my damnedest to care for other horses in need just as I did for her.  

I will honor that promise.

K. Walters

     Kimberly Walters is an author, living historian and reenactor.  She met Belle at her very first reenactment in 2008 at The Market at Washingtonburg at Carlisle Barracks, PA. She is the author of A Book of Cookery by a Lady as well as Tea in 18th Century America.  She is the owner of K. Walters at the Sign of the Gray Horse which sells historically-inspired jewelry (SignoftheGrayHorse on Etsy).

     At reenactments, Kim portrays various characters at historical homes and other venues. She uses authentic receipts (recipes) when cooking over an open hearth as well as in camp with reenacting units.  She is an authority on hearth cooking and is a master hearth cook.

Carlyle House Historic Park

    Kim has participated in living history events at several historic sites including - George Washington's Mount Vernon, Paca House and Gardens, George Washington's Birthplace, Historic London Town and Gardens, Mount Harmon Plantation at the World's End, Pohick Church, Gunston Hall, "Under the Redcoat" in Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Dumfries, Inc., Historic Carlyle House Park, Hugh Mercer Apothecary, City of Tappahannock, Monmouth State Park, Stratford Hall, "The Market at Washingtonburg," Carlisle Barracks, Patrick Henry's Scotchtown, and Valley Forge to name a few.

     Kim belongs to reenactment units that are members of the British Brigade and the Continental Line.  Kim is also a member of the Guild of Artisans, a unit in the Burning of the Valleys Military Association (BVMA).

     Kim is a proud horse Mom first and foremost.  She is also a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution currently of the Fincastle Chapter of Louisville, Kentucky.