pre-amble: I met with someone last week to buy a hand press (the device that assists in applying grommets, snaps, rivets etc.), and he also had this foam woman's torso that he was selling for $40. It's high-density foam with a O-ring on top to hang it in a store, and then it's covered in black spandex. Of course I couldn't resist buying it for displaying corsets on- my corsets can't be appropriately displayed on a hard dress form, which I also have. The only problem was that it was super small, probably about 34-24-34, and I just don't have that many corsets that would be appropriate for that figure. So, having the day off today, I bought some quilting batting and bulked the form up to make it more useful. I then made a new cover for it out of stretch velvet. It actually turned out quite nicely, although I might go back and make it even bigger, because it's still too small for the size I usually make.

Some photos I took with my new form (and recently finished corsets). I'll probably re-take these because the lighting in my basement where I work is horrible. I need more natural light and no flash.



I had this partly sewn together leather shell of a corset sitting around forever. I was just going to toss it out but figured I'd use it to experiment with my new walking foot machine, as well as some thin patent leather I'd bought. I also had these cute locking buckles that tandy leather just got in, so this is the mash-up of those efforts.

I'll try to catch up on people's comments soon. Thanks to those who've said hi.

edit: I forgot to mention my attempt to screen print on leather... ya.. didn't work out that well. I think the main problem is that the leather doesn't absorb, well, anything, so the paint just sits on top and distorts the print as it's going through the screen. I'm going to keep trying different techniques though because I really, really want to print polkadots onto leather.

I took a few more pics today since I had another day off. Still didn't turn out exactly how I wanted them, but it's fine for now



I made this corset for myself for Halloween (I won't even mention how many Halloween's ago) thinking I could make a corset collar that resembled a nun's habit to go with it. I never got around to it, and I don't think I did anything for Halloween either. The front panel is made from a slightly better quality of thin pvc- the kind used for clothing, which I really don't like using. The black is the thick shoe-grade vinyl I prefer to use, but I haven't been able to find it in white. The vinyl cross is just appliqued onto the front.



This corset looks a lot better in real life, it was too big for my form and didn't photograph well. Things with metal bits never do. I love military stuff, so I'd wanted to do this look with the metal buttons for a while. I don't know what those stripes on the front of uniforms are officially called, but if anyone does, I'd love to know. I'm thinking of doing something similar with a coat with leg o' mutton sleeves in the future- also in olive leather and patent. This corset also only has 8 panels, because I didn't have much leather left to do my usual 12. I think I would have preferred it my usual way though.