2018....Lets get started in here!

Well this year definitely didn't start out as planned (not sure it ever does).......we  took a bit of a dive at the start of the year with a number of tragic and unexpected circumstances. We had more change then we could shake a stick at - the loss of someone too close for comfort, moving house again, menaces with agendas, pet death, 2 job changes and the older fledglings (referring here to my older children) finally started spreading their wings to leave the nest - as you you can imagine it's been quiet distracting!

Onto the second part of the year....... and we are all finally finding our feet again! I have a part time job I like, working in retail and partly in haberdashery (how cool is that?? something to compliment what I love to do). My photography antics have kept growing and my renewed happiness has meant I can actually allow some focus toward my plans for Forge again and get back to my creativity with some conviction (which had dwindled under the pressure, was getting pretty exhausted for a bit).

Anyway my favorite thing to do here lately is picture dump......but fingers crossed for more relevant regular ramblings too...

Onto the good stuff  a couple of my favorite collaborations for 2018 so far:-

INSTAGRAM

Hair by @anthonybayerhair
Styling @gathum 
Corset @forgefashion
Shirt @paddyperrett
Makeup @nzmakeupgirl for @blac_cosmetics 
Photographer @hamishmelville
Model @carrot_blood
Cage work @raewynbayer 

FACEBOOK

Photographer:- NEWO

Model:- Simone Stocks - Model

Collar:- FORGE

Crown:- The House of Boo

End of year sum up....

This year has been a year of change....it's contained lots of personal and family milestones and has reminded me there is nothing more constant then you guessed it change! I'm sure a lot of you out there also experienced some of this for yourself in 2017!

So onto the sewing stuffs:-
I have recently gotten back a studio space in which to work, and man am I excited - you could even say it has renewed my creative interest which seems to have dwindled severely of late. I can't say sewing at my kitchen table really floated my boat or left me much room to really be all that productive. Fingers crossed for much creativity and productivity in 2018!

Onto images from one of my favorite collaborations over the last few months......

Photo: Silver Pearl Photography
Model: Elisanth
Jewelry: Alchemy Gothic
Corset: FORGE
Top: The Gothic Shop
Hat: Jazzafine. pieces full of verve

Since I'm still photography my work (aka Trinitynavar) whenever I get a chance I have some new images from my own shoots over the last few months also to share....

 

Model & MUA:- Valentina Grim
Wardrobe & Claws:- FORGE
Photography:- Trinitynavar

Cindy Kim wearing
Crown & Collar by FORGE
Photography:- Trinitynavar

Model:- Siobhan Cuttance
MUA:- FingerGlitz - Melissa Wilton MUA & Nail Artist
Collar & Corset:- FORGE
Photography:- Trinitynavar

**LOL This post should really be called the big picture dump!! 

I'm not a big Xmas person but - Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Alan Bishop Photography

A month or so back I had the pleasure of working with Alan Bishop Photography on providing wardrobe for two separate shoots.  Here are the results:-

Model: Angelika Svetlove
MUA/Hair: Asha St Claire
Assistant: Alex Glen Bishop
Wardrobe: FORGE
Photography:- Alan Bishop Photography

Model:- Mikki Wild
Wardrobe:- FORGE
Photography:- Alan Bishop Photography

***You can look forward to a few more collaborations before the end of the year, both here and further a field - always excited to have a few projects up my sleeve :)

Leather Corsetry

I have always been a fan of making corsets from recycled leather, and this piece is no exception.....
As a sample I was trying out another a new 'cut' and worked some of the parts of the jacket into the design. This is another set from my shoot with Michelle as previously mentioned.

Model:- Michelle Alexandra Wistuba.
MUA:- Hello Pretty - Freelance Makeup Artist
Leather Corset:- FORGE
Photography:- Trinitynavar

Super proud of this corset and the photography too......I will be making a few adjustments to my next one 'cut' wise, like an extra panel in the back for example which will add a wee bit more shaping and balance out the seam placements. Hoping to start on my next one soon.....:)

The Threnody in Velvet Shoot with Pendulous Threads UK

I have been lucky enough to do another collaboration with the incredibly stunning Threnody in Velvet, this time featuring a very spiky awesome headpiece from Pendulous Threads UK.

Model:- Threnody In Velvet heart emoticon
Amazing Headpiece:- Pendulous Threads UK
Corset:- FORGE

****Admittedly this almost wasn't, so to actually see it finished and on one of my favorite models feels like an amazing success even if the 'in the making' process was a little rampant! So finally 2016 is really underway, I'm motivated, healthy and excited for all my new projects - stay tuned!!!!

Well 'Hello' 2015

Did I forget my blog for a rather extended period? Well yes, actually I did....lets see since last we spoke in 2014 I have had multiple house moves, the generally nuttiness of having a toddler and 2 teens, 3 months without home wifi and recently a death - it's been too easy to want to retreat into myself and shut out the world. But what good is that? Creativity is for sharing and blogging is really my own form of record keeping.....something of a reminder of the productive times and a way to mark down my goals and achievements. I think could I need that again in my life!!

Lets start with my favorite part of 2015 (and ignore all the stuff that wasn't knee slapping good times )......I have my own wee work room  -  and it's outside of the house which is perfect, this is a huge development for me and I'm super grateful!! It's all set up and semi organised and I can come and go as I please with out  the worry of things being disturbed (like they were when I had all my stuff in the corner of the lounge or in a tiny sun room in the entry way). My own little haven to work and create in - OMG finally!!!

So catch up time, I have actually been pretty productive recently particularly over the 3 months we had no wi-fi at home (long story but driveway installation dramas), but  I wasn't completely deprived as I visited the local library regularly and used cell data. Actually going to my local library was pretty cool, it overlooks the beach and pier (so super grand really). But seriously some real internet addiction got curbed too!!

CORSETS:- My favorite corset so far this year is this one below for a lovely local customer using this gorgeous 'Starry Nights' fabric.

Ok that's enough for now! First day back and all better go easy ;p

PS Belated Spainish love!!

These are actually late and predate my previous post......

Earlier this year some very gorgeous girls from Spain wanted to do a shoot in some of my gear. Sheziss Insomnia and Sonja Mist (Danu) teamed up with Kristina Reche Photography and provided me back these stunning images:-

Models:- Sheziss Insomnia & Sonja Mist (Danu)
Wardrobe:- Forge Fashion
Photography:- Kristina Reche Photography
MUA:- Dark Shadow Make Up

Canterbury Collections May 2014

Wow.... Canterbury Collections came and went so quickly, it was an amazing experience and I enjoyed meeting all the lovely models and having a reason to sew my butt off. I'm even thinking about doing it all again in October!!!!

I do need a wee rest the last few weeks prior to the show were a bit mad, my industrial sewing machine broke so had to sew my treasures on my domestic machine at the kitchen table while also having all the children home for school holidays. Very busy times, but it all got done and seemed to be a wonderful success......so I'm pretty proud of myself!

Model:- C/O Denyse Saunders
Photography:- ForeverYoungPhotography
MUA:- Hair Art & Beauty
Wardrobe:- Forge Fashion

~Everything bar the white shirt on the first male (which I would have also made if I hadn't run out of time) is authentic Forge Fashion made right here in my wee studio or at my kitchen table.......and I do mean that literally, I was sewing right up till it was time to dress the models!~

Folklorico La Virgen Series......

As apart of my 'mini' print collections I have finished up these two beauties for my show......

I'm doing my 2014 ready to wear range around some of my favorite print fabrics. As you may have guessed or seen on FB these include the ever popular Michael Miller 'Nevermore' prints and a number of Alexander Henry fabrics (my personal favs) along with a few others. I also have plans to add some of my own exclusive printed fabrics to the ready to wear range latter in the year.The initial style/prints will become available for direct sale in standard sizes from May.

Local Shoots

One of my lovely friends had recently planned a shoot with PhilBailey Photography and wanted to loan a corset from me. She opted for this lovely Basic Cuvrvy Underbust - with her favorite 'Nevermore' print on it and she was kind enough to share the images with me:-

 Model:- Francine Gent

Photography:- PhilBailey Photography

Corset:- Forge Fashion