Fabulous!

Remember a while back I posted a link to a Sponsume page for my friend Jenni?  Well ... She made her target and yesterday opened her pop up corsetry boutique in Birmingham.  I went up to help her for the day, last minute stitching and other preparations...

The space that Jenni has created is dreamily gorgeous, with huge guilt mirrors, soft drapes, and opulent fur rugs, not to mention her exquisite Sparklewren work on display and for sale.

And the window!  The shop is in a Victorian arcade which has kept many of it's original features.  The shop has the most beautiful curved window,  behind which stands a Charles James inspired gown which  is set off by magnificent gilded panels created by textural artist Emily Swift-Jones.

And the bonkers thing ... Years ago when I made my first corset ... and then not so long ago when I wrote my first words on this blog, little did I know where my passion would lead to and that I'd be lacing Britain's top burlesque star into an exquisite corseted gown ready for her special guest appearance at the boutique of a talented friend I met online!

The internet is truly an amazing place, and yesterday was an amazing day ... Here is the picture I took of the beautiful Immodesty Blaize after our rendezvous in the dressing room!

If you're in Birmingham, nip along to see the Sparklewren Boutique.  It's in the Great Western Arcade for 6 months only!  And if you're on Facebook, you can see more pics here.

Plunge corset based on Edwardian original

I've also been making a 'signature portfolio' of my corsetry work.  So far i've got 4 corsets and a wedding gown.  I've also got a model, photographer, hairdresser, location and even an assistant!

My asssitant is a fashion student helping me for a month.  She is a god send!!  I've got through so many tasks with her help.

My portfolio will focus on Bridal wear.  There are some underwear corsets, some outerwear corsets, one complete gown and a couple of boudoir items.

The first bridal boudoir corset is done.  It's made from a beautiful ivory damask, has a very deep plunge, based on an Edwardian original in the Symington Collection which is called the Sanakor Corset.  Who knew the Edwardians would go in for such a plunge?  In reality, the top of the plungy cups only came to mid bust and were there for gentle support rather than cuppage.

The back is a sweetheart shape and the top is trimmed with a beautiful cotton guipre edging.

It has gold accents with light topaz Swarawski rhinestones for added sparkle. 

 I'm very pleased with it.  My next boudoir peice will be similar to this but with a very dramatic edge.

Corset Making Book - Lights camera action!

Is it really nearly a month since I last posted?  Yikes! the time goes too fast ..

Even though I submitted my completed text/pics for my forthcoming e-book back in November, there is still a lot of 'post production' to do and this has been keeping me busy amongst other things.  I'm going through the final proof now but a couple of weeks ago, we shot the videos!  They were shot in my studio with my 'old faithful' sewing machine, and I must say, I think they came out rather well.  We filmed the more 'difficult to explain' aspects of corsetry such as turn of cloth, eyelet setting and seam constructions.

I'm very pleased with the whole e-book over all, I do think it offers much more than any other corset making book on the market currently.  There are over 200 high resolution colour photos, easy to follow diagrams, 2 complete projects to work through, and all the videos.

The only bit of the book I really don't like is my video introduction.  It's horrid seeing yourself on film and worse hearing your own voice don't you think?  I don't know if I was having a bad day or something but I really didn't think I look like that!  hehe!  

This is my "Julia at work" shot for the book

Last but not least, here is the cover of the book.  I'm due to submit my final proof corrections (I don't think there are any) tomorrow, and then the e-book will be distributed from the end of the month!