Productivity and staying motivated for winter...

I finally got myself settled into our garage......it's a little on the cold side, but actually more space in the long run, plus my teenage daughter and preschooler no longer have to share a room, and my 16 year old son is really appreciating his own space (giving everybody a bit of what they want really is the answer).

As we are heading into winter here in Christchurch, keeping healthy and motivated can be a bit of a struggle. This year I am determined to stay on task, and keep myself busy, creative and above all positive about what I'm doing. Small and big goals are being made, with some 'give' for all the waywardness of general life.

Currently I have a couple of orders to finish up, and then it's onto my planned project......
A new collection!! I hope to start as soon as possible, the intent is to keep my passion/interest in corsetry alive, in the spirit of this I hope to not only try things I've never done before, but also to expand on what I already know. Exciting!!!

But back to the present, I have been busy making stock for a local shop and also my ETSY Store https://www.etsy.com/shop/Forgefashion, as obviously my sales will help fund some of what I do (not that hoarding stuff for years will go astray either, I'm bound to work with what I have to start with). I also have that 'Trinitynavar' thing going on where I do my own photography with friends and local models. I've become quiet passionate about this sideline and actually shoot outside of Forge now, anyway I'll leave you with something from one of my recent playdates.

Model:- Cindy K - Model
Wardrobe:- FORGE
MUA & Photography:- Trinitynavar

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!~

Christchurch Canterbury Fashion Beauty Week 2014

Forge Fashion is excited to be showing the latest collection 'Imaginerium' at this week’s Major Holdings Christchurch Canterbury Fashion Beauty Week 2014.

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 

Toile De Jouy Pt2

Yay I finally finished the other half of my Toile De Jouy set.....this time it's an overbust (made to match the  underbust as already posted here).

The Tulle skirt was fun too, had to add something pretty and fluffy to complete the look....

Hopefully will get to shoot this over the long weekend, fingers crossed :)

PS If you noted the colour discrepancy between the Overbust and Underbust corsets - don't worry it's only because I'm using a different camera (they match perfectly).

Corset Bone Jewellery 1/4"

I'm still slowly working on my Corset Bone Jewellery Collection (this entails using spiral steel bones as the base for various neck & body adornments).

Here is my my most recent addition using 1/4" spiral bones as a base:-

Oooh I'm so looking forward to making more of these - once the collection is finished I hope to get some modelled images :)

Corset Bone Jewellery

I've been wanting to do this for ages, as a corset maker I use spiral bones all the time......every since I first saw them I couldn't help but imagine them used for other purposes. So here we go finally, the first of my corset bone collection:-

Corset Bone 1/2 Breast Plate

More corset bone jewellery to come!

*Looks to be a busy month, I'm just finishing up my 'Underworld' orders to send for Halloween  then it's onto the next project!  Definitely need to get cracking, so many things I want to start but so many things I have to finish!!  Thankfully now it's spring and the motivation is coming back  I'm feeling much more inspired :)

Wrapped up good......

Over the last few weeks I've also been  playing around with design ideas and trying various pattern making and corset techniques. One such design needing a pattern was this corset dress....

Now instead of my traditional methods of pattern drafting I decided to try something a little different. Based loosely on the duct tape method I've seen all over the net, I set about wrapping my mannequin and marking out my desired pattern lines. There are actually x2 separate corset patterns marked out, being that only half the body is required for each pattern (I'll get back to the second one in another post).

Because I used clear packaging tape it had quiet a cool ghostly effect once it was taken off the mannequin, you can also see how it keeps it's shape too....

Of course it still ends up a paper pattern anyway - so I can add the seam allowances.

Now to test my lovely new pattern with a mock up.............:)

Plaid Basic 'Curvy' Corset

Remember how I was  planning another version of the 'Steampunk' Set in tartan/plaid?  If not check the original post here:- http://forgefashion.blogspot.com/2011/05/oxblood-leather-accessories.html

Anyway I ended up using my Basic 'Curvy' pattern (now that it's been perfected).........but of course once it actually came together I found I wanted to make a few changes. The main being I wasn't as partial to the 'Ox Blood' leather with it as I thought I would be, so I ended up going black instead.......

 

I have cut out the 'Octo' Collar as well, though  I have yet to make it  up plus I'm also thinking about doing a skirt (I have a complete vision in my head so why not - it also means once I get back to Christchurch I can plan a photo shoot for the entire set) :)

UPDATE

*On another note I'm starting to think about next year.......I've been looking through my many sketch books, thinking about the piles of original designs I have that would be amazing to actually manifest (I would really like an opportunity to do more creative work). So I'm thinking a complete collection, with a Fashion Show or Exhibition perhaps.......at the very least the satisfaction of starting work on some of my dream projects - it's a long list after all so it definitely time to get a start on :)