Kanzashi

Whilst waiting for a new sewing machine I had an unusual commission though I enjoy making these little things.

Behold, Tsunami Kanzashi

It's a traditional Japanese craft and usually worn by geiko or maiko. I will be making more in the near future.

I did import the proper japanese silk for these and make the traditional paste. I'm quite happy with them 

Totoro!

Anime nuts, Manga enthusiasts.... thats the best way to describe myself, my partner and my little sister.

It was her birthday the day after mine and as a special gift her best friend wanted to give her a friendship charm with a difference. So I made them a pair of Totoro pandora charms for their bracelets

Kumihimo

As anyone who knows me well will tell you... I adore Japanese culture. I have spent years studying the language and culture in school as part of a GCSE, Visited there in 2005 and naturally keep in touch with my friends over there. In my spare time I spend a lot of time getting to grips with the culture, research and study.

Recently my birthday past... woohoo... not! That day isn't really important to me, I ask for presents, it makes me feel weird being given gifts as I generally prefer to earn what I have and get it myself. Hey that's just me though.

This year Though Cai's Mother got me a gift without me know it, she's such a lovely lady. Myself loving crafts almost as much as she and Cai do, I received a lovely gift indeed;

A book on the art of Kumihimo and a starter kit to go with it.

I'm already hooked, I have started making myself a new obi-jime to go with my new antique kimono. Oh yea... I collect Vintage/authentic/antique Japanese Kimono, obi etc as well as victorian clothing.

For those that don't know Kumihimo is the japanese art of braiding, usually with stunning silks. Its dates back to the Edo period and was used originally in Samurai Armour between the lacquered scales to lace them together. It's now used in fashion and other decorative art forms.

The craft is very time consuming but so relaxing. I can't wait to finish my first full piece.

Oh so quiet

Sadly i haven't been as busy as I would of liked to of been on the crafting front. This is due to uni studies, sickness and moving house. In short my partner has just brought his first house (congratulations are in order to him) but it means that everything is a bit up in the air at the moment so getting any craft work done is not too great.

Thankfully he loves making things to and the new house has a massive workshop, awesome.
Also we have budgeted for loads of different hardware and tools so we can make some pretty epic stuff. I can't wait. So I apologise for the lack of posting and blogging but it will be made up for with loads of great eye candy I promise.

Dress Diary 3 -Construction Begins

The fabric arrived, my mannequin got home safely and I'm only waiting on two things but they are not needed until later on in the construction so I have no reason to worry there.

Clearly I'm rather happy about getting this under way - having finally narrowed down my choices into my final design and hopefully the result will be as visually pleasing as it is in my head and yet still there is a very long way to go into achieving such an end product.

I am not using a premade pattern for the skirt, however I am altering a pattern for the corset as stated.

The work first began on the skirt and whilst this will not be a step by step guide of how I created it I will comment on any negative and positive thoughts and tribulations I encounter along the way. This is a diary after all.

Here are the two main fabrics I am using;

Sadly the photos do not do the fabric justice.

I think they suit the project very well.

I have started shaping the garment and basting it together as well as hand basting the ruffles ready to attach.

This is as far as I have got so far. Thus no problems at the moment.

Dress diary part 2 - gathering the pieces

Today I picked up my new dressmakers dummy and I'm super happy about it. No more pinning fabric to myself when making gowns. This should make it easier to get the design I want as I'm not using a pattern for the skirt part of the dress.

The postman must be getting so very annoyed with me, I had a lot of rather gorgeous lace appliqués arrive in the post, all for the corset part of the outfit.

For the corset I decided to go for a more comfortable 16" waist and I'm using a rather curvy hourglass pattern which I am redrafting to fit properly.
Descisions have gone against having a busk or front fastening so it will be a closed fronted corset with a black closed lace neck corset to match. I'm really lookin forward to getting started now. A few more items to arrive and it will all be underway.

I dug out my 6 steel hoop round crinoline ( sadly I doubt I would of had the time to make a new authentic walking cage)

More updates soon.

Dress Diary Part 1 - Concept

This year I decided to be a bit more daring and well... I've actually decided to enter YWU's 2012-2013 costume competition. The themes this year really peeked my interest.

I decided that in light of the fact that I m attending a steampunk ball very soon that it would be a perfect opportunity to create something beautiful for that occasion. I already know what I'm going to do.

As I'm making two new outfits for the event this means that I will have two costumes to choose to enter. However I am pretty certain already of the one that I'm going to choose.

The colours and fabrics have been chosen so as to reflect upon my steampunk character. The design is inspired by 1860 ball gowns (I am attending a ball after all) with a slight twist.
The following is what have been considered in the design;
*Tightlace Corset with off shoulder piece
*Crinoline cage
*various layer skirt
*gloves
*neck corset
*hair pieces

Thus there will be some historical inaccuracies but this is to be expected in steampunk really. As to the corset, my normal corset sizes are either 16" or 14" but I may be making this 16"/18" at the request of my rather loving partner <3 we shall see how it pans out. I am starting to pattern the corset this week and picking the fabric.

I have my brand new mannequin coming this thursday, yay I can't wait to get started:)