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 :)

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!~

Big Day Out....

Just before Christmas I had the pleasure of spending the day with Melodie M School of Make Up Artistry and Penny Nichols Photography (I know - I'm still catching up with myself, hopefully 2014 will see my blog updated a little more efficiently).

MUA:- Melodie M School of Makeup Artistry

Model:- Brittany Nicole

Photography:- Penny Nichols Photography

Wardrobe:- Forge Fashion

MUA:- Melodie M School of Makeup Artistry

Model:-  Del Samara Flawn

Styling:- Melodie M

Photography:- Penny Nichols Photography

Wardrobe:- Forge Fashion

Penny also had her very lovely daughter Jade with her who is also learning the trade and also took some great shoots.....

MUA:- Melodie M School of Makeup Artistry

Model:- Brittany Nicole
Photography:- Jade Wilson Photography
Wardrobe:- Forge Fashion 

MUA:- Melodie M School of Makeup Artistry
Model:-  Del Samara Flawn
Styling:- Melodie M
Photography:- Jade Wilson Photography
Wardrobe:- Forge Fashion 

Show Update and Corsets on the go...

The Melodie M show has been moved into the new year....so we are now looking at late February 2014. Which works out great, giving me a wee bit more time to complete everything and also some relaxed person time with my family over the Christmas holidays :)

This is a piece I've had completed for quiet a while, so to spice it up for the show I've made a matching Corseted Bralette  and Skirt which I really love.....high wasted shorts to finish I think.

This is a another version of the previous Steampunk Style with matching Skirt and Bolero. I've tried it on a model and think it just needs a modesty placket for the front...otherwise it's good to go :)



***Now on a personal note.....I have recently had a very unpleasant experience - yes it has finally happened, my images are being used to falsely promote and sell imitations of my original corsets and accessories. This just down right sux, but it does make me realize that if somebody else thinks there is money to be made from my designs when I'm currently not making any myself - things need to change. So time to work harder and get business savvy, I was already planning a bit of professional overhaul but this just ups the desired level!!**


PS My garden is cranking - it's the biggest I've ever tended and I'm really finding alot of joy in all aspects of learning to keep it. And yay for herbs and goodies right out of the garden :D

Local fun at Bottle Lake Forest.....

I recently had the pleasure of working with a few local folk on a location shoot...... it was a bit of a hoohar out and about in the forest - haha, super awesome fun (sorry Rachel, I know you were freezing and the stray people and dogs were rampant)!!! Lots of giggles and smiling all round, really helps to have some 'happy nutters' with a professional attitude on the crew that's for sure (totally referring to myself here, incase anyone were to get offended by that statement - lol) :)

Model : Rachel Axis - Model

Wardrobe: Forge Fashion

MUA : Rebecca Geddes

Photographer : ShellB Photography

PS Really looking forward to our next shoot/outing early next year!

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 

Toile De Jouy Shoot #2

It's definitely 'On with the busy' at the moment with lots of things up my sleeve, plenty to do and lots to finish....

Catching up from where we left off......I finished up the extra pieces, a ribbon bustle and bra to match the Toile De Jouy Underbust. Then it was onto shooting it with a model:-

Model:- Sarah Barlow
Corset & Bra:- Forge Fashion
Photography & Editing:- Trinitynavar

* Oh my goodness I just realised it was last school holidays when I finished the corset.....it only took a whole school term to finish it up and get photos (still editing so more to come) ;S

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).