Rise

I feel the waves turning back up.
This past week at Vex I worked 2 solid days on an inflatable train and jacket and it made me realize that I am definitely on the right path. I loved working on it, all through the challenges and insane amount of pleating. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. In that I am very thankful.

I have so many wonderful opportunities and shoots coming up, some I don’t want to mention just yet so as not to jinx them, but suffice to say as soon as they are done/definite you will know.
What I can tell you:

~ An outfit of mine worn by Apnea, shot by Steve Prue of TeamRockstarImages, will be featured on one of my favorite blogs, Haute Macabre! I’m not sure when it goes up, but believe you me I will be posting that EVERYWHERE once it is.
(A personal side note about Apnea/Amanda. She is such a wonderful, sweet, strong person and I am so glad to have gotten closer to her in the past few months as well as been able to dress her. I can’t wait to go back to the Ozarks to see her and Chase.)

~ I have beautiful photographic evidence of my cone boob garter dress (taken by Corwin Prescott, of course, worn by the bangin’ Stephy C)! It’s still not 100% perfected but I am much likely how it is coming along. This as well as a cone boob bra and a special girdle will be the only pieces in my ready to wear collection, Retrosity (debuting in March):


~ I am collaborating with a friend of mine, Lenora Jayne (her site here) to have her make drawings/paintings of some of my pieces! The first one I requested for her to take inspiration from is my Nostalgia For Nothing jacket (photo by Corwin, of Apnea):


Once in a while I am very lucky to wear another latex designer’s creations (in this case House of Bias) and have Corwin (again, :P) take a picture of me in them. I think this is one of my favorite shots of myself to date:


Three random thoughts of the day:
*Sometimes I look at my wrists and they look freakishly small, like they're skeletor wrists that will snap off at any minute.
*I think it might be fun to move to LA- not sure about constant summer/fall though.
*I am really into 3Ms right now: Modest Mouse, Matisyahu, & Mussorgsky.

And lastly, some personal visual inspiration:

Dress by Madeleine Vionnet, 1939.

“A Lady in a Fur Wrap,” El Greco.

Forgot where I got this, off someone’s tumblr. Anyone know and I’ll add the credit.

This is not a New Year's resolution

Well, in some ways it is but I’d rather not call it such. But I am pledging to be a more active blogger, if not for you lovelies than for my awful memory. So let us begin (again)!

As I’ve mentioned before, I am in a state of flux. I feel myself gradually becoming more stable as my technical skills increase, but I still feel dissatisfied. While being comfortable is often the death of creativity, it would be nice to be happier.

On to more positive things!
Two of the four new pieces I’ve made to start this decade off right:


Black & transparent latex top with big glittery bows. What can I say, I’ve been listening to and watching Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” constantly. She’s getting’ in my subconscious!
I’ve been playing around with adding glitter to latex, and what I’ve discovered is that it works best on accents and not on the body of a piece. It has a tendency to come off with the application of lube and rubbing/stretching, but when on little things like these I’m able to put a protective shellac on top.
I made it with the gorgeous Lily Hex in mind, but her boobs were just too big! So I need to find a hot dark haired model in the Chicago area for Corwin to shoot it on.


Pleated neckpiece.
Sometimes I feel like a sculptor when I work with fabric. I put it on the dress form and try to “listen” to what it wants to do, and then I manipulate it. The only problem with this process is that it can take weeks and weeks to finish something. I love where this one is going, but I’m unhappy with it. It’s not resolved. It needs something more…more bulk around the top I think. And maybe some velvet embellished accents. Don’t know, I’ll have to see. Corwin just finished shooting it but I wasn’t sure…I have to stop getting things shot when they aren’t 100% yet. Oh well, looked cool anyways.

The other two pieces I finished are pretty 80’s, I won’t lie. They are brightly colored leotards with crazy mutli-colored straps and “tails.” They are really cute & really funny. I also made a Goth-y-er version for Apnea to wear for Steve Prue as a feature on Haute Macabe (one of my favorite blogs). All of them have been photographed but I’m just waiting to get the files back. Will share when I have them.

And lastly, some personal visual inspiration:

Photo by Chase Lisbon:

Screenprint by Danielle Lange:

I’m going to try to update at least once a week, hopefully 2x a week. See you then!

Departure

Off to New York today, flight leaves in a few hours.
1 shoot of sexy shiz with a friend.
1 shoot of beauty portraits with thrift store finds.
1 shoot (paid) that probably won't happen.
1 shoot with my newest design in a plastic forest.
1 meeting with a up-and-coming musician about a stage outfit.

So much is going on in the next month and half. So much travel, so many good things. I'm very lucky to be able to do what I love. Even though what I love to do will probably evolve over time, I hope to only do what I want and what I need.
No fear.
Fear is a killer.
I've noticed so many people are scared to just DO, and just BE. Yes, making money is necessary, but it should not be at the expense of your mental and spiritual health. If you hate your job, truly cannot stand it, QUIT. It's not worth it. Yes your purse strings and waistband might be tighter, but don't sacrifice yourself for what is essentially temporal.
And so ends my "spiritually enlightened pep talk." lol.

I recently dropped $650 on two new machines: a Rimoldi Industrial Serger and Singer Industrial Sewing Machine. I'm so sick of having the pieces that I make not be quite right, quite professional grade. It's a lot of money to spend, but I consider it a worthwhile investment.
I also rearranged my apartment and working space so that it flows better and better accommodates the person that is moving in.
Pictures to come.

Gotta fly (literally!).
Enjoy some boobs & beauty to break up all this word mess.
Hair & Make-up: Josh & Rae
Model: Chrystyne

"Finished" is the most beautiful word in the human language.

I've been so busy it's almost too much. I say almost because in all honesty I would much rather be busy than not. One of my biggest pet peeves (and there are quite a few, let me tell you) is when people are bored and/or say they are bored. There is no excuse for boredom! Go do something! Sitting and whining is not going to fulfill you or improve your current situation. Everyone has the potential to be creative and everyone can carve out satisfaction for themselves if they try hard enough. It's not as easy as complaining, but as I realized yet again today while getting exceedingly angry at my sewing machine and my elementary skills at using it, nothing worthwhile is easy. You know it's sad but true. 

Don't be comfortable. 

Don't stop striving for perfection. 

But give yourself a break if you aren't quite there yet. 

In light of that, let us now share recently completed projects:

"Nostalgia for Nothing" jacket. Polyester lining, bamboo batting, poly fiber stuffing, polyester white mesh & black organza. 

Getting shipped to Planet Hair in Witchita, KS for their annual hair show/fundraiser.

Black semi-stretch weave with silver vinyl cut-out detailing hat-lette. I love the shape of this one, will definitely have to experiment with it some more. 

This and the matching dress were a request by Mosh for her upcoming red carpet & shoot with Lithium Picnic. 

Silver & fushia latex w/ silver netting hat-lette. Matches a super secret design & pasties, available soon! 

Going to Mosh to shoot with Viva Van Story. 

Rubber & knit drip dress. Done a long while ago, finally finished the last bits.

Going to Mosh to shoot with Lithium Picnic.

Raw edged cream silk & blue velvet dress with muslin mis-prints by my good friend Danielle Lange. The velvet part is actually an old jacket from Jet Rag thrift in LA that I chopped up. DIYwin!

I also do modifications of pre-existing latex. I did the bow & line detailing on these gloves as per Anna Evans's request to match a design I made for her. 

Black velvet & plastic mesh dress. 

Getting shipped to Planet Hair in Witchita, KS for their annual hair show/fundraiser.

Orange fun fur top. There's something to be said for ugly. 

Getting shipped to Planet Hair in Witchita, KS for their annual hair show/fundraiser.

And a little peak at two upcoming projects, which will be done by the weekend:

Shite-ton of latex bows. (Next to my favorite leopard spotted grandma coat.)

For "The Welcome Home Party" on Saturday at a friend's studio. 

Yellow tracks collar. Was a super ugly thrifted foam hat until I got my grubby paws on it. 

Getting shipped to Planet Hair in Witchita, KS for their annual hair show/fundraiser.

That is all.

Share.

Discuss.

How VEX-ing

I started at Vex Clothing last week and I have nothing but good things to say. Granted I can't say very much because I have to keep everything I learn under wraps but you know what I mean :) I've already learned so much and my boss is anal about the work but chill as a person so it's the best environment. She also has the sweetest boxer ever that lies on a red velvet pillow and occasionally sniffs my butt as I glue. Every day I work I get more inspired to do my own projects. Expect more picture heavy posts as I progress! 

Example of the awesome-ness that is Laura's (the creator/designer of Vex) designs:

Inflatable skirt & large hats FTW!

Chicago Stat

It's been a long while, I know. I have been remiss in my duties! But I swear I have a good excuse. Moving is never easy, and it is especially difficult when moving over a thousand miles away and having miscommunication mess up what was promised & expected. In any case, I am now settled in Chicago (finally)!

But to recap:

Philly was great for the most part. I really fell in the love with the city and am highly thinking of going back after my apprenticeship here is done at the end of February. I wasn't as productive as I would have liked, but I got to fit & create three custom pieces (including the Goth-iest fascinator hat ever) for Anna Evans and fit Jade Vixen for a dress I will be making soon. Excitement! Will post pictures as I have them.

SIDE NOTE: Speaking of Goth, I'm 100% certain it is making a comeback in a big way. Not just in fashion since black & deathly has always been an inspiration, I'm talking more about lifestyle and look. The last serious resurgence died in 1999/2000 so it's so awesome to see it returning! Check out my favorite fashionista blog for all things Haute Macabre. 

Photo break:

I started doing a self portrait/poetry collaboration project with Corwin Prescott a few weeks ago and this is one of my favs so far:

like birch. (you could taste)

To see the rest, go to my DeviantArt. 

He also took an amazing photo of a top I made:

Model: Poses

Silver & black leather, black silk organza.

We are mutually obsessed with each other's work :D

Also re-edited an older photo of an head piece I made ages ago:

I need to rework it because it didn't quite fit but I love the big bow! Sheer black pleated polyester, leather, huge rhinestone. 

And my beautiful friend Najy posed for me in the old elevator in my building wearing a GORGEOUS late 50's/early 60's dress:

SIDE NOTE: Do NOT put vintage in the washing machine! Do NOT go to a dry-cleaner that has no idea what they're doing and puts vintage in a washing machine! It will RUIN the garment! I had to perform emergency surgery and resuscitation on this piece because of someone else's fuck up. It was a crime what was done to it. The fabric had shattered on the inside hem & cuffs, the belt became detached, the beading is much weaker and some had to be re-sewn, and it shrunk a half size. 

WHEN IN DOUBT, HAND WASH! Directions. 

Sliver of Grey

Well, more like a huge swatch of it. 

Just finished working on this:

I picked up this lovely blue/grey tablecloth at the Salvation Army. I'm a sucker for the shine & matte combo so there was no way I was leaving with out it.

It's going to need some boning to make it all stick out the way it's supposed to, and I think there will be black accents but I can't decide. Maybe red? Thoughts?

I'm not sure which side is the front either...will have to see how it looks on a body. 

Also just got this image of titwillow in the hat I made for her, by RedRum Collaboration:

Sweet. I thought her hair was going to be dark blue hence the pale pink satin but *shrug*.

Also. I really really like mexican wrestling masks. Especially gold ones. Especially when I'm wearing them in a park while homeless men talk to me. Yes. 

And just 'cause he's such a cutie and I am completely, 100% in love with my new Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lens.

(I know it's blurry, sorry, technique goes out the window when I'm just trying to capture.) 

CorWIN.