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!

Basic Curvy with a side of Tea and Lace ....

I have few projects/orders on the go so I have some posting to catch up with yet again.....

Here's something from the basic curvy files (this is my fashion or 'gentle lacing' range that gives great shape but is quicker in the making and kinder on the purse).

Since this is actually headed off to a local photographer for one of her shoots, I also made the dress.  For this look I snatched some lace from a vintage table cloth and did a bit of tea dying.......actually making this was very satisfying, from cutting to hand gathering it was an all round goody (sometimes things just flow nicely like that).

Other recent blog worthy activities include...

*The completed 'Tails Corset' 

(will do this once I've made all the matching accessories)

*Ruby Ruins costume for her Burlesque performance

(will post after the competition)

* 3 part Collection (including corset dress) as planned at the start of the year

(mock ups were completed way back, but finally onto the actual garments, so before the end of the year) 

Other Activities to consider before the end of the year.....

* A Tightlacer for Kathy Chin

* Custom made Corset for Threnody in Velvet

* Getting some Mentoring

* Adding more to my ETSY Store

* Finish up other Projects

* Preping for the New Year and Goal Setting 

Ruby Ruin for Forge Fashion

Christchurch's very own Burlesque Performer and International Tattoo Model Ruby Ruin wearing her Forge Fashion Lace & Beaded Collar:-

Model:- Ruby Ruin
Collar :- Forge Fashion
Photography:- Jonathan Doherty Photography
Retouching/ Editing:- Trinitynavar

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 ;)

Ruby Ruin with Natasha Halliday Photography

Just had to post a link to Ruby Ruin's and Natasha Halliday's recent shoot, featuring Forge Corsetry....

Pretty!

To see the rest of the set click image above :)

A collar for Ruby Ruin....

I just finished this lovely collar for Ruby Ruin using the left over fabric from her corset:-

Actually I'm on a bit of an accessories tangent, they're really the perfect thing to fit in between the bigger jobs (my wedding order is underway, but not all consuming at this stage). So right now it's all about planning and making lots of new accessories. Earrings, collars, cuffs, hats, spats and pasties to name a few ......with a handful of samples and finished items already on hand I'm feeling rather productive.

Yay I'll be restocking my ETSY in no time....



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).

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 :)

Pre planning....Customer sheets!

Since I'm not able to launch into any sewing work at the moment, my best alternative seems to be pre planning. As I have a number of orders coming up in the new year I thought it would help to do a little organising (just of the 'paper work' variety). Anyway I've started making a few basic customer sheets, complete with inspiration pics and my own style drawings for future reference.  I've only completed the one so far, which is for 'Ruby Ruin' a regular of mine (it's also of course the first order requiring completion).

Actually I'm thinking these could also become handy customer info pages to be shared with the client........though a few more details would be on the final copy -  including required time line, price, detailed measurements and corset materials.  Anyway starting basic:-

 (What burlesque performer is not inspired by the lovely Dita and her gorgeous costumes?)

Mmmmm reasonably content - I think I'll have ago at doing the same for Nikki's Wedding order :)

Ruby Ruin & DarkAngel Photography

Ruby Ruin recently did a shoot with DarkAngel Photography aptly named 'SugarSkull' in which she is wearing a custom made corset by Forge Fashion!!

Click pic to see more....