The two corsets

I realised I never posted pictures of my corsets, so I thought it would be time.

The purple corset was made in June, the cream in December.

The difference between them is that the purple has boning cases that are hidden (using bias binding), and the cream has boning cases showing. The cream, I was going for a tea-stained look, has two layers of cotton coutil, whereas the purple only has one and is not even a real cotton coutil, we just chose the strongest cotton blend they had at the store.

More of the cream (I left the purple at home when coming back to Edinburgh).

Both had this problem of sticking out at the abdomen which is due to fact that the pattern is an original from Corsets and Crinolines, so they would have worn skirts with it, and this would probably just help shape their fall.

The same pattern was used for both, unfortunately I am not very skilled with lacing myself into them yet, and it must be noted that they were both made last year when I was considerably lighter than I am now (after eating more and not being able to do exercises due to my operation, I did try running, but for now I can only allow myself a bit of dancing). I should probably wear a corset all day and get myself into a tightlacing program... to tell the truth I just want to be able to heal up and get back to my minor sport endeavours (yoga and dance, both which qualify as means of meditation in my world).
This is a first lacing photo with Photo Boot (hence the bad quality) I will probably give more tugs at it in a few minutes after my body settles into it a bit more.

Anyway, end of rant, back to my calendar making.

There is no place like home...

Now "that is the OZ I remember".

I have just finished watching the Syfy mini-series Tin Man from 2007. Very interesting storyline, with some unexpected surprises.
There are some minor drawbacks in the plot, often related to the ease with which characters are able to escape from danger. However, the like-ability of the characters saves these situations. They are easy to relate to, we get aqcuainted to people/creatures who are humane and make choices that we too would make in their positions.

Gerardo de Gerard's design of Azkadellia's fortress

The designers have done some fantastic work with this series, they have created many worlds to explore, such as:

Andreas Rocha's design for Milltown

• the dark evil-infested Tower of the sorceress Azkadellia
• Milltown reminescent of the typical American "hardworker's" village
• the cash-obsessed metropolitan area of Central City
• the beautiful and ancient lakeland, Finaqua
• the sinful nighttime circus of vagabonds, flesh and neon- the Realm of the Unwanted
• the sacred tomb of the Floating Caskets
• and the iconic Kansas farm

Phil McDarby's design for The Cave

these worlds can be journeyed through at your pleasure, dear travellers, by taking a stop at the surrealist artistic collaboration: Infinite Oz. This is a project by nine talented illustrators: (Philip Straub, Greg Petchkovsky, Martin Lisec, Andreas Rocha, Gerardo de Gerard, Geoffrey White, Raphael Lacoste, Phil Mc Darby, Rudolf Herczog)

Gerardo de Gerard's design for Finaqua

The costumes are made to match the differnt lifestyles the inhabitants are forced to live. I, for one, enjoyed the simplicity of the garments worn by the rebel vagabonds who live by a roadside in the third episode, we saw their leader in simple shirts, a red scarf, trousers, and brown leather boots- all of these distressed and worn out.

As one would expect, one of the most enjoyable characters was Azkadellia's, both with her acting and her wide array of costumes (in comparison to the other characters).
Her main costumes seems to be the gold armour corset, it is interesting that the chosen colour for the negative character is a warm gold instead of the cool silver, of course it represents riches, but without doubt is a reference to her being from the blood of the good-natured queen, Lavender Eyes.

Azkadelia

Lace it tighter my dear!

"It's alive!!"

Hours in a corset the day before yesterday: 3 additional
Hours yesterday: 10 hours
That is 24 hours in total, I must say I am quite impressed. You see, I know how slow I am and usually need twice as longer than a normal person who has good, logical, judgement.

And yes it is finished!!! I CANNOT believe it!
I must admit, dear reader, that this was the first ever real sewing project I took up, and without Amber to jump in and help whenever I lost my way and had no means of progression I could never (never ever) had finished it (or arrived anywhere near a finished product).

The rats tail we bought for it was unfortunately not as withstanding as we thought it would be, they might have changed the type at the shop since Amber bought it, because  the one I had was less "leathery", more breakable. Therefore, I will be on the look out for 4 metres of sturdy rats tail when I get home, so that I will actually get to wear the lovely corset.
I look at it and I cannot believe I managed to make something like this.

Amber suggested that next school year I should talk to our technician at school when we get to the corset making module. So that I can try something different from which I can learn: the heart shaped one. I might try making one that has lace on top as well to see how you bind that to it, although that should not make much difference, as it would simply make three layers in the stead of two.

Well, dearest reader, my timid-self shall go get ready as she must leave for the airport shortly.
More to come later!

Unexpected surprises....

Hours in a corset: 3

And the most unbelievable thing I have seen today: http://thesixthchildmovie.webs.com/crew.htm
Now that is something amazing, because I seriously feel I have done close to nothing, only negotiated with the director about clothing choices, and did some sketches. How wonderfully kind are they??

More to come later!

The hours in corset

Just a quick update before I forget. Indeed dear reader, you are quite right, this is more for the author's forgetful mind than for anything else.
Amber is helping me make a corset!!!! For the bodice of the Simplicity pattern I talked about earlier.
And here are the hours that were put into it so far:
2 hours on Sunday after buying the stuff needed for it, then 6 hours on Monday after I got back from work.

(Drafting the pattern -using the corset pattern given by our technician at school from Corsets and Crinolines by Norah Waugh page 81, then copying out the pattern to make a new one that will be used for the fabric -wear and tear-, and lastly cutting out the fabric)

Finding the fabric for the top layer

Drafting the pattern, noting changes made for my size

Cutting out pieces from the fabric

This how far I am now

...And more to come later, but I have to go now, I am either going to bed because I have to wake early for work or my timid-self shall attend to some seriously important engagements... *cough, cough* watch a movie or a TV show, or something entirely useless and possibly eat more chocolate.

Note-to-sELF: woman, don't you forget your original intention to work on the Costumer's Manifesto online course!!! The very reason you actually started this blog, remember?