Creating and Anticipating

Well my dears - how the time passes (do I begin every post in this way....oh dear!!)

Ongoing projects are continuing - the burlesque exhibition looms - 10 days I think until D Day - 10 days!!!! How can that be! The leather is to be printed tomorrow - now that I am so excited about! So the plan is that there will be 2 new corsets including the collaboration with the beautiful stiletto heights which will be hung on gorgeous ribbon covered hangers on the wall (hangers still to be made).

I am also working on 2 framed pieces inspired by burlesque and incorporating costume ideas. I would have loved to have found some stunning ornate antique gold carved frames to put them in but alas I think I have left it too late to make a miraculous discovery such as this - unless I have time to go antique shopping next week and they by some stroke of luck fall at my feet I cannot imagine I will make such a find.

Unfortunately my back condition has made life a wee bit difficult since my last post (I am now being put on a fastrack to an appointment at the spinal unit - so am not sure how long that will take 'fastrack' could mean anything!!) so my dreams of making a fabulous, glitzy and spectactular new burlesque costume for the exhibition has not really been possible - I am trying not to worry about it though. Money is a wee bit tight so it was probably a bit too ambitious anyway. I would much rather make a few well made pieces and be happy with what I have achieved, than rush to make a full costume which I feel is rushed and not well made.

And in other news!! Well I have been putting more small art pieces in my etsy store the last couple of days which I am happy about. I am still finding my way and really just spending time happily at my work table drawing away and I really have not been thinking about what others may feel about the pieces or what the response would be. But I was absolutely over the moon yesterday when the above piece The Masked Ball sold within a few hours of putting it in my shop!!! The thought that someone, somewhere saw this and loved it enough to want to own it just overwhelms me!! I am not sure I will ever get used to that feeling - in the best possible way of course. It will never cease to delight me.

I love making the cuffs and corsages and the bags, but my aim is to really begin to fill my shop with much more original pieces. More artwork and original accessories such as art inspired belts and even sculptural pieces. I feel I am slowly making my way there and each piece that I sell encourages me to make the things I love.

The above piece - Caged by Beauty was inspired by Creative Challenge #40 and this is my idea behind it;

Inspired by Creative Challenge #40 this illustration represents to me our past transgressions against nature and in particular the animal kingdom. Caging animals for their beauty has now led us to cage animals in order to ensure their survival – at least in some forms. I am a huge lover of museums and have often been inspired by the animal sections, however the rows and cabinets and cases of stuffed animals has often led me to wonder where they came from – especially the rare species. Surely they could not have been collected purely to be encased in dusty old Victorian cabinets – I hope not but I do fear that is the case. Endlessly fascinated by cabinets of curiosities though for their sadness and their beauty I guess I love to include them in my work.

I haven't managed to submit it yet so that is my next task for today.

And this is another piece going in my shop today. Sophia is again inspired by my love of victorian photographs of obstinate children, dressed in beautiful but constrictive victorian clothing, and clearly bored to tears by the trauma of the length of time it took to take a photograph. I just adore them!!
Okay my lovely and beautiful blog friends - I have to get back to work now, but will it be to the spare room to sew or to the dining table to paint and draw and dream - I am not sure. Gosh this has been a very serious and tack orientated post! But such is my life at the moment I guess. I must, must, must take my camera tomorrow for my drive to the green rolling hills and valleys of derbyshire where I am going to get the leather printed. I may even stop off for tea and cake on the way!!! And I must have photographs to show you for the next post - oh yes that is what I shall do!!! Take care!!