the final pieces... the wings!

Oh I had such a lovely weekend in lincoln, wonderful company and a beautiful setting... the video of us running round and round the pool in victorian bathing costumes really does have to be seen to be believed.... I'll pop it up on my Emilly Ladybird facebook page for you all to snicker at soon...

But I know the things you've all been longing to see are the wings! To be honest no picture can really do such pretty moving light up things justice but here are a few pics from the ball and beyond!

The box looks rather black in these pics, but it actually has a lovely drybrushed antique gold subtle distressing in real life wich shows all the rivets and things beautifully.

I have put the outfit up on my etsy site- for similar comissions and am already getting a lot of interest in the wings! Though obviously as a beautifully made custom item they are fairly pricey. Do contact me if you'd like to know more.

Thanks to Richard Elen and Lyssa Ryan for the pics taken at the ball, I'm sure there are loads more - but we were having far to much of a good time to remember to take any ourselves!

Absinthe fairie is finished at last!

So here it is, the finished frock! It's going to stay on the mannequin for a few days, and I'll still probably add a few finishing touches of bling and flowers and what not oh and change the back lace to a green ribbon - the blacks a bit harsh..

My lovely friend Denise covered me in glitter and took some pictures of me in the whole outfit.. (though not the huge frilly knickers cos i'm still sewing ribbon on those... and obviously not the wings because I get those next week when I see Herr Doktor at the asylum!)

Hopefully there will be some cool photos of the completed outfit being worn at the ball, so you'll be able to see the wings then.

Overall I'm really pleased, I did have a moment when I thought Oh No it's all got a bit pantomime fairy tinkerbell, but then I got over it.

Fairies SHOULD be pantomime tinkerbell, and it's best I get it out of my system before I hit 40 I feel.

The wings will add the steampunk element to the outfit and all the pieces work together great as seperates, so I can wear just the undies or leave off the crinoline and fluffy under gown to get different styles.

I still want to create some little green boots or spats with cut out leather pieces and loads of buckles, very victorian - but that will have to wait a while... A good winter project to make with assistance from my medieval Knight friend leslie, she's got some super green leather for us to play with.

So what do you think? I hope you've enjoyed following along with it's progress, any suggestions or comments gratefully recieved... and if you have any specific construction questions do ask! mmmm absinthe!

The absinthe skirt continues

Now it's beginning to look like a proper fairy outfit! The net pieces are similar to those on my sisters gorgeous D and G wedding gown, I loved the effect so much I knew I'd have to use it at some point....

I'm not particularly looking forward to hand sewing them all down however....

I've backed all the swag pieces with net now to give them more body, I thought I was going to have to, wish I'd done it at the start and saved myself some unpicking, ho hum...

Starting on the absinthe skirt...

Well, I know it looks a bit of a dogs dinner at the moment, but I'm just draping the fabrics around at the moment to see what should go where,

I've made a basque section from the bottom of the corset pattern and am pinning the upper swag ideas to it, just to get an overall effect...

I also made a lace underskirt base, it's not very nice lace, some cheap stuff I had kicking about the studio, however not much of it will show... I want to show saucy glimpses of the crinoline frame through the lace.

I'm also going to add net pieces under the swags, both to give the skirt a better fairytale shape and to give a shimmering fairy leaf type feel. Lyssa suggested making the bodice and skirt completely separate so I can make a swag and saucy short bustle skirt in the future for less formal occasions... Seeing how huge this crinoline is getting I think that's a very good idea!

It's getting there isn't it?

Absinthe fairy bodice half way!

So, although I've been busy making frocks for pixies (yes I'm looking at you Fuschia:)) I've still continued work on the fairy outfit....

As you can see the main structure of the bodice is complete, it has light plastic boning in taped channels on the cotton lining to give it form. As it's going over a steel boned corset I felt didn't need to over do it!

There is millinery wire stitched into the lining along the top edge of the bodice to keep the shape nicely, but I haven't set in the eyelets yet for the front lacing section.

The sleeves are now attached, although they will probably be further embellished, as will the Bodice front. I like to create my gowns like an artist, choosing trims and fabrics as I go along, I do like the freedom to add to a piece as I go along rather than sticking rigidly to a drawn plan.

Obviously that's something I can only do on my own show pieces, customers always need (and want) to see exactly what their finished garments going to look like!

So, what do you think? Any suggestions for making great steampunk trims to give it that industrial edge? Should I add cogs? Swarovski?

Absinthe bodice!

So, now I've created a toile for the bodice, I decided to let the corset and chemise show a bit too... It gives an illusion of being much saucier than it actually is :) it looks fairly chunky cos all the seams are on the outside for easy fitting....

I've made the front panel in a different colour so I can really see the shape of the piece, like a big heart don't you think?

Sooooo, anyone got any good cocktail absinthe recipes? I love the green stuff!

Absinthe fairy costume day 5...

I had to create other loveliness last week, rather than working on this outfit, including a corset for our favourite pixie, fuschia begonia...

But I did handset all the crinoline hoops in place over the weekend, which is why a good crinoline costs sooo much. Even If you can even convince someone to make it for you in the first place!

But I drew up the bodice pattern too and now have a toile ready to fit over the corset when the lovely Lyssa pops by on Thursday, it's simply impossible to fit a toile on yourself.

Herr doktor has added a uv LED to the wings so they are going to really glow round the edges with proper unearthly absinthe loveliness, I'm so excited!