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

Violence is a Girls Best Friend......

Violence is a Girls Best Friend???......well at least it is for burlesque performer Ruby Ruin! The queen of the the recent New Zealand Burlesque Festival, who did her very own unique take on the classic Marilyn Monroe 'Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend' turning it into a more suitable match as 'Violence is a Girls Best Friend'! 

But before all this came to be, Ruby had a great idea and alot of work to put in, so this is where I got on board - working on some custom pieces to finish up her costume.....leaving her free to do what she does best!

So here is a look at the final days as it was from my work room (this actually means dining room)....

This was my first 'Power Mesh' corset, which made for a satisfying learning experience along with lots of fun with the given theme.

Here's the bra and underwear before embellishment...

And the corset...

Finally the skirt (x4 items in total).

Next came the beaded blood sashes:-

Here's a wee look at the lace prior to adding bling, beads & sequins.

And here it is all together after hand sewing and bling bling.

 Just right for a very lovely lady doing a bloody feisty performance!

The lovely Ms Gent....

Here is a lovely image from my shoot with my customer and friend Francine Gent featuring her gorgeous new 'Basic Curvy' corset with swing hooks.....

Model:- Francine Gent
Hair:- Style Mystic
Corset:- Forge Fashion
Photography:- Trinitynavar

Bell of the Day....

I recently received a gorgeous set of photos from one of my wedding customers and thought I'd share.....

The beautiful Rebecca Gumbley on her Wedding Day....

Corset:- Forge Fashion

Skirt:- Shannon Anderson

Photography:- Jo Moore Photographer

Beads beads and more....

Ok, on to my latest piece.......PVC dripping in beads!!!! Mmmmm - yummy!

Hoping to get a photo shoot under way as asap......and I also have another PVC corset to finish - though this one is more colourful and has tails (think military/ringleader).

I have so many things planned, half finished and on the go, I really wish I could clone myself and truly take flight!!! LOL yes I'm a small time designer living in a big world always trying to meet the ambitious marks set either by myself or others (of course all this while wearing my PJ's at camp 'mother nutter').

Anyway, customer orders coming up include an a full costume for one of our local burlesque girls, a lovely lace covered overbust, a steampunk overbust and something tasty for the lovely tightlacing Kathy Chin.

Something new from the Underworld....

You may or maynot know this - but I'm quiet well known for making 'Selene' replica corsets, though it's not a great pleasure of mine, I will not complain thanks to this I am able to keep myself in  new supplies from time to time so I can work on my own independent projects (namely samples and experiments). Maybe one day I'll have a wealthy benefactor to support my creative dreamings.......but in the mean time, what ever has to be has to be.

Anyway something wonderful happened recently, I got something new on this repeated theme and was able to create a 'Sonja' replica instead (still from the 'Underworld' franchise just a different character). So some new challenges and trials came into play.....which was hugely enjoyable :)

Instead of continuing to rant here's some pictures:-

I also added x6 garters and a modesty panel - I really loved drafting this corset pattern, I have also decided to try it again in a different fabric because I love how it looks shape wise!!!

Steampunk Corset

I keep meaning to make this blog my first stop for updates, but somehow the convenience of facebook keeps leading me astray :S So I'm a bit behind with my posting yet again! Hence the sudden multiple postiness (lots more to come).

Lady Dread wearing the 'Steampunk Montage Corset'

(new edit)

Finally offering this in custom made sizes with an alternative fabric option (since I can't get more of the ever popular 'map' fabric), I've found this lovely Hot Air Balloon print instead - it's nice to have a choice after all!

'Steampunk Corset'

Now available in custom made sizes with alternative fabric option:-

http://www.etsy.com/listing/114014869/custom-made-steampunk-corset

Beautiful Barbara...

I really do love to see people wearing my creations....and thanks to the power of the internet it's still possible even when folks are a million miles away!!

In this instance my customer is actually a local, which makes me super proud because nothing beats being appreciated by those closest to you ;)

Here's the collar she ordered (after seeing the amazing shoot by Anna Dediu & FataleFX)

and gorgeous Barbara in her new collar:-

Plus check this out......

Oh my goodness - WOW, best feedback ever!!

PS This collar can be purchased via my ETSY:-

http://www.etsy.com/listing/113491424/velvet-beaded-collar-with-feather-trim

Cutomer interlude...

I recently spotted this on Facebook and thought I'd share this fantastic image of Ruby Ruin wearing her circus themed corset by Forge Fashion.

Photo by MO LO
Hair by Style Mystic Ania 4 Hair
Makeup by Adele Haumu
Outfit by Ruination and Forge Fashion

PS

I don't think this corset was posted to this blog (previous to starting here all entries are over at Livejournal) so here's a look at the corset:-

Nice pattern matching if I do say so myself ;)

The bride came marching in....

A very lovely customer of mine recently got married and wore a custom made Forge outfit for her special day, here are few pics!

Niki with her father

Niki and the happy groom

A back shot

Definitely not your average wedding meringue that's for sure - love the docs!!

Long Weekend...

The main thing on my cards of late has been my order for Niki, which is finally finishing up. Time to give you a wee teaser, though you'll have to wait a bit longer to see the whole outfit....

Interesting colour for a wedding, normally I get burgundy and red requests.......that said I did sneak in a bit of that typical palette via the lining (has a nice colour blast on the inside) ;)

And just because here's a picture of something from my garden before it all started deflating and dying off for winter.....so beautiful and green!

It's the long weekend, so it's time for lots of recreational activities - by this I mean extended periods in my dressing gown lingering by the fire. Ok maybe I can extended myself a little with kitchen witchery, reading and crafts. But otherwise it's definitely a restful time, enjoying my family and recouping some of my energy.

Underworld Customer Pics....

I just received these fantastic shots from Megan the customer I made a replica 'Underworld' corset and cuffs for last year, so had to share:-

And I just have to add this candid shot too, because I love seeing the corset out of character - it looks awesome (and I bet it gets worn more often this way too)!!

I am making a couple more of these this year, though as I've mentioned a number of times I like to keep the numbers low so I don't get crazy with the repetitiveness, plus I want to be working more on my own stuff of course.

EDIT 29/04/2012Because of popular demand I am offering 2x Custom Made Replicas, or 'Underworld' Selene Corset Sets via my ETY Store for anyone who's interested:-
http://www.etsy.com/listing/98651399/custom-made-underworld-corset-cuffs

Finished Order for Ruby Ruin

It's done , it's done!!!!

Here be pictures of Ruby Ruins finished order:-

And one of the finished inside for your interest....

Doesn't the shape work so well on her......it just fitted her like a dream and she was so happy with it, which is of course just bloody marvelous! Now she's off to bling it up, since she wanted to do that herself I have a nice wee stock pile of swarovski crystals and rhinestones I can use for another project (already doodling new designs as we speak).

Order Update...

So how's the 'Dita' corset going for my customer you ask?

Here's some quick blurry shots of where I'm at:-

Close up

Inside - From Front

Insideout - Back

Corset as is :)

So not much left to go really - just some bones, binding, hand sewing, eyelets, back modesty panel, suspenders and prehaps a little beading - lol not much at all..... well it's definitely progressing at least!

Onward.....

I've had a bit of an unwell spell (don't you always realise how under rated feeling normal is at times like these), anyway onward and upward this week as I am in a much better state of health......

This week my little people returned to school leaving me and lovely Clover at home with a tiny bit more spare time up our sleeves. And just in the nick of time too, my custom made order for Ruby Ruin is due latter this month. So time to get stuck in.....well time to work in moderation everyday till completion (nothing like chipping away consistently)!!

We  needed to match our fabric and lace with the pictured feather. We did rather well with the limited selection available, finding a very pretty antique lace and pearlized satin crepe.

Yesterday I stabilised the crepe with double sided fusing and canvas, creating a more heavy weight fashion fabric which will counteract stretching and wrinkles.

Cutting out all the pieces is actually a reasonably big job, due to all the layers - so that makes 36 individual pieces for the corset and 27 for the collar made up in this instance of the fashion fabric/canvas, lace overlay and lining.


*Next will be making a start on the the lace overlay which needs to be hand tacked on to each individual pattern piece so that it doesn't flap around once I start sewing it together.

Mock ups and flossing samples......

The new 'Dita' style corset is coming along nicely, I've made my first basic mock up for Ruby Ruin......

It's just a basic shell, but it's great getting to this stage because once it's made up I feel more confidence with my drafted pattern and can gage what adjustments I may need (also another collar mockup).

My next move in this case will be making a completed mock up with bones, so I can finalize the fit before I begin on the actual finished corset. We're heading off on a fabric hunting mission over the weekend - exciting, I feel like I haven't been to a fabric store in way too long!

Now onto 'Flossing'.....

I've made a few flossing samplers as I'm super keen to make a corset with lots of flossing detail at some stage over this coming year.

My lovely stock pile of coloured cottons at the ready for further experiments and samples......

*NOTE:- a rather handy tip via Alexis Black from 'ElectraDesigns' which I received after I posted this to my facebook 'try running your floss through beeswax, then passing it under a hot iron before flossing. It will reduce the fuzziness and make it more manageable.' Looks like I might be doing some more sampling :)