Raspberry velvet
So, after six months of planning, working, bleeding fingers, financial nightmares, sketching, stitching, fittings, writing, experimenting (lots of experimenting), excitement, nervousness, and severely reduced sleeping, we had our 2011 Sparklewren photoshoot yesterday. I am so happy! Everyone involved was a total star and everything just seemed to blend perfectly together. Location (fell in love with the whole place, but especially with a rubbed, battered and worn raspberry velvet settle), make-up, photography, poses, textures and colours... it was all in harmony. At so many points along the way it looked like it might not come together, so I'm feeling frightfully lucky that it all worked out.
My favourite moments included learning about the tolerances sheer fabrics can and can't take(!), lacing up more corded gusseted designs, realising that an unaltered antique pattern was going to fit well, working with some of the waspiest tightlacers I have yet encountered, and seeing the first raw images of a black and blue overbust corset with sparkly detail, lace, and arching hip projections... Many pieces, especially the latter, were dreamed up around how I imagined the models to be, how I imagined their attitudes and styles could be distilled into corsetry. This is just how I prefer to work, by imagining the relationship the corset will have to the individual's colouring, hair, body, everything. With models you can take this further by seeing the sorts of aesthetics that they have within their portfolios, just as with clients you can get an idea of the elements and details that they love through discussion, illustrations and so on. The model for this black and blue piece paid me the ultimate compliment by falling in love with it and keeping it, which I am thrilled about. It belongs with her, the perfect match :-)
I was exhausted on the day as, in retrospect, I had given myself too much work to do. I had, for example, been working on the last bits of a hand-quilted piece at 3am the night before, only to re-start at 6am the morning of the shoot, and that was typical for much of the last few months. But I'm glad I pushed myself (despite how much I like my sleep!). The results are going to be beyond worth it. And right now I feel awesome. After the shoot I had a celebratory chinese take-away then slept for 14 hours (bliss!), and right now I'm having a glass of champagne. Heaven! Tomorrow, I am having a day off :-)
The results of the shoot will no doubt be revealed slowly throughout the year. Keep your eyes peeled because they are going to be magical. I'm totally delighted that I've been able to work with such talented people, some for the second time. More in 2012 I hope!
My favourite moments included learning about the tolerances sheer fabrics can and can't take(!), lacing up more corded gusseted designs, realising that an unaltered antique pattern was going to fit well, working with some of the waspiest tightlacers I have yet encountered, and seeing the first raw images of a black and blue overbust corset with sparkly detail, lace, and arching hip projections... Many pieces, especially the latter, were dreamed up around how I imagined the models to be, how I imagined their attitudes and styles could be distilled into corsetry. This is just how I prefer to work, by imagining the relationship the corset will have to the individual's colouring, hair, body, everything. With models you can take this further by seeing the sorts of aesthetics that they have within their portfolios, just as with clients you can get an idea of the elements and details that they love through discussion, illustrations and so on. The model for this black and blue piece paid me the ultimate compliment by falling in love with it and keeping it, which I am thrilled about. It belongs with her, the perfect match :-)
I was exhausted on the day as, in retrospect, I had given myself too much work to do. I had, for example, been working on the last bits of a hand-quilted piece at 3am the night before, only to re-start at 6am the morning of the shoot, and that was typical for much of the last few months. But I'm glad I pushed myself (despite how much I like my sleep!). The results are going to be beyond worth it. And right now I feel awesome. After the shoot I had a celebratory chinese take-away then slept for 14 hours (bliss!), and right now I'm having a glass of champagne. Heaven! Tomorrow, I am having a day off :-)
The results of the shoot will no doubt be revealed slowly throughout the year. Keep your eyes peeled because they are going to be magical. I'm totally delighted that I've been able to work with such talented people, some for the second time. More in 2012 I hope!