No Rest for the Wicked? (Typed 7/12/11)

I am working on some tactical corsets for two clients, and just received a new order for a Victorian style Bustle skirt today, which will be a lot of fun to make since I miss making costume pieces! I'm starting to plan out a Romantic Era/Victorian/Georgian hybrid dress (something I don't normally care for, but I'm going with it as a Steam Punk style dress, so ha! I get around my own rules! HAHA!).

I'm still planning on vending at the Goth Ball, and I'm thinking of maybe doing just a few corsets that are super/fantastic/amazing to sell. The idea was planted by girls in my dance troupe after I got all pouty about making a ton for it… so I'm going to take their suggestion and just make a handful, maybe 5 or 6 to sell in a variety of sizes. I have some ideas as to what designs I want to make, and what fabric I'll use. So keep an eye out for pictures of those! :)

MisCon, Monsters and Models, Oh My! (typed 6/19/2011)

So it's been a little while (again) since I posted, but without a workable internet connection at home, it's making it difficult, so what I've decided to do is make blog posts offline, then when I get a hold of an internet connection, posting them! :) Hopefully this will work out a lot better, and may result in multiple postings in one day, so bear with me!
I'm sure I've mentioned before, I was a panelist at MisCon this year, solo. I did three different panels, a Pirate Costuming/History panel called "So You Want To Be A Pirate?" and then two corset panels, a "Beginning Basics", where I shared some of my tips and tricks for making corsets, and "Laced: A Brief History of Corsetry". The first two, in my opinion, bombed, because life took over and I was massively unprepared. And then I think I was a bit over-prepared for the "Laced" panel, and got through it really quick, then just answered questions. If I'm invited back, I think I'll just stick to the corset panels, and if I do another pirate panel, invite my friend Elizabeth, who knows all about pirates from the 17th century back, which would have helped me out greatly :) and I'd research Steampunk Pirates in depth more. I will be more prepared!!
I'm once again taking orders, but slowly. Right now I've slowed down again because I've been working on some wedding dress orders. These are my last dress orders I will take, unless the price agreed upon is over $1000.00. Honestly, its just too stressful for me since this isn't my only obligation. I do know the stress of planning weddings, and getting wardrobe together, I worked as store Manager for a Tuxedo rental shop for a few years, so I've seen the stress on brides and grooms, but being the seamstress making the dress for the big day is just as bad, if not worse. Its on your shoulders if it doesn't come out exactly what they want, so, unless the price is right, no more.
I also still have the corset I'm making for Lady West Photography, every time I sit down to work on it, something comes up, or a deadline has been pushed forward, same for some prototype corsets done for my friends JC and Jezreel. Though all three just need to be fitted for steel and grommets set.
I have a few shirts I'm working on for another friend/client, and I was very nervous about working on them, but after completing one, its not so bad, so I'll hopefully be able to push those out soon, as well as a second corset for her, and a robe.
Tossed into my orders are a few alterations, repairs and little things here and there. I've been working on things for me in the mix, which is what's really helping me to pump out orders faster this time.
I hope to be working more with Burlesque style costumes, keep an eye out for some I'll be making for myself.
I've talked about this many times: I have ideas for Halloween Special Release corsets inspired by Classic movie monsters, plus a few of the more modern ones. I have designs worked up so far for The Wolfman, The Bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein's Monster, and a possible design for The Mummy. I'm just not sure how sold I am on my design for that one just yet. I still have others I'd like to come up with designs for, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Zombie, Dracula & Bride of Dracula. I do also have a design/idea for a Dexter inspired corset, although that one will be wicked easy ;) and I do plan on a Jack the Ripper as well. Though I'll probably do that one for myself

I do have a pool of models who are willing to model the prototypes for these corsets, so keep your eyes peeled for shots from those sessions! ;)

Back from the dead...

I think I'm running out of title's that include the word dead... I've been in and out, up and down, trying to make sense of things and I think things are finally starting to come together! :)

In the last few months, I've been promoted at my work to Education Coordinator, joined a Burlesque troupe, dropped out, and rejoined. I took a break thinking it would help me focus on orders, when really, it just made things worse. I've also slowly started taking on new orders as of late, realizing that it helps me to get motivated better than not having a large workload, so long as I can work on them in the order recieved, or given a clear date they need the items by.

Being a mom, working almost full time and having this on the side took its toll for awhile, but things are starting to clear up, and there may be some new developments as well, that's pretty top secret for now, but we'll see how things progress.

As far as orders go, I'm working on some really fun things. I've got two wedding dresses, one of which is due in June, but I'm making pretty awesome progress on it. The other is due the end of July and is inspired by something from our younger days (the gal I'm making it for is a good friend of mine that I've known for a few years), and I'm also making her Maid of Honor's dress as well.

Then I'm also working on shirts for another gal, who's also a friend :) and I've been taking forever on them, but mainly because I hadn't really had much experience in making button down shirts, but having the first one about 90% completed, I'm feeling more comfortable with it and will start getting them finished in a better time frame. I'm also making two corsets for her, one which is due by the Summer Carnival, June 12th, and it is a really neat design. I'm excited to get started on it. It will be my first corset with feathers :)

I'm making another corset for by June 11th, for one of the girls in my Burlesque troupe, as well as altering a few dresses for another girl in the troupe. :)

I'm still working on the corset for trade with Lady West Photography, and I think I've finally gotten the hidden zipper design figured out, so I'm comfortable with continuing work on it. I've got a few corsets to finish for friends, one was a repair, and the other a custom Tactical design, and mixed in I've been working on things for myself, finding that helps as well.

There are a few things that I've changing about what I offer, and of course, the name of my design. I'm going to be changing it from Miss Rip Redrum, to Ruby Riddle Design. It goes along with my stage name, and doesn't quite have the darker undertones that would pigeon-hole me in the gothic scene. While I offer a wide variety of designs, aimed at various subcultures, I don't want to be assumed to offer just one by the type of name I put my designs under.

Another thing is, I probably will not be offering to do anymore wedding dresses. There are just a few things about making them that puts me under severe stress, and unless the price is right, I don't think I'll be offering to do them any more =\ I do apologize for any inconvience this may cause, but it's just as stressful for me as it is for the Bride when she plans her wedding.

I'm going to try and keep updating as often as I can :) and with my new position, it may even bring us in enough money to pull out of financial restriction to where we can afford real internet, so I can have more opportunities presented through the internet! Such as etsy! :)

No really, not dead.

Thing's have just been on the crazy side. I'm taking a break from sewing, aside from the orders I have currently. I'm going to work on getting those finished up, the evaluate on where I want to take things. I do know I want to try to make it into school next year, and maybe take things in a different direction. We shall see!

I will hopefully keep updating on the orders that I currently am working on, although two of which are wedding dresses so I won't be posting many pictures ;) and I do plan on doing a feature blog for Lady West Photography :) since they are amazing and I can't wait to work with them in the near future!