Workload: not so much a load anymore.

So I've been working like crazy on projects, no new pictures yet, but some progress updates.

I've come to a standstill on Melanie's outfit, I have the pieces cut out, but I'm missing the waist band for the skirt. I intended to purchase extra wide twill tape to make it since the skirts design is a wrap skirt, but I must have forgotten to pick it up when I bought the rest of the fabric, so I can't work on it until I get more $$ in the bank. But as soon as I do, work will continue!

Last night I sat down with my setter and set all the grommets in the corsets I've been working on. I was working on four, but now its down to three, because I accidently punched a hole too close to the edge on my untitled black and white one, so its going on the backburner until after this Dark Dreams is over. I can fix it, it will just take more time than I have right now. So, it goes back in the project box until I have that time.

I'm finding the iron grommets in the faux leather "Abigail" rather sexy. I don't have pictures, but I will take some before it gets sold, if it gets sold on Friday, we shall see! So now the corsets I'm working on for friday are the prototype for a new cincher (if I get to finish it, I will wear it on Friday), a "Bettie" cincher and the faux leather "Abigail". I wanted to do more, but I didn't  have the time. Maybe for the next one I'll have more stock :)

Progress, this time with pictures!

I finally have a chance to sit down and write up a progress report on projects and orders! I've been using any free time I have lately (Lillian's nap time, grandparents time, after Lily goes to bed...) to work on things. To start with, the alterations I'm doing on the bridesmaid dress are almost complete. I just have to press the fabric so it lays flat before I sew the zipper back in. It took me way too long to figure out the problem, but I did: apparently, whoever had constructed the dress at the manufacturer didn't match up the seams when they installed the zipper, so it bubbled out in the back unnatractively. But, hopefully after tomorrow's naptime, I'll have it 100% fixed!

"Pencil Skirt" for Jez 90% completed

I've been working on this every free moment I have and all that remains is for the zipper to be installed! I didn't get pictures of this, but it matches the "Abigail" corset I made her, with polka-dot material and a red ribbon around the hem for decoration.

Recently Completed Corsets

Corsets I have finished most recently from top to right... Meg's "Lillith", the prototype for the "Sweetheart", Mimi's "Bride" and a "Lillith" zipper front for me.

Corsets and jewelry I will be selling at Dark Dreams, 7/2/10

Faux Leather "Abigail" $115.00, XXL "Bettie" $85.00

Tattoo $110.00, Black and White "Bella" $75.00

"Orient" $85.00, Rose "Bella" $95.00

Ice Queen "Bella" $95.00

Earrings, $10.00 a pair

Updates, without pictures

I have been making progress on projects, I just haven't had a moment to sit down and document them, or get pictures.

I've been working on a few orders, and a few corsets to sell at the Dark Dreams on July 2nd. Hopefully later tonight, I'll be able to post more, with pictures of my progress. Fingers crossed!

"Polka Dots and Moonbeams"

I've been on the productive side lately I'd like to think. I've worked on orders, projects, jewelry, reconstructions, alterations, repairs and much more. ... if there is much more than any of that!

"Bride" for Mimi 95% Completed

I call it at this because I underestimated how long it would take me to bind the bottom. However I finished one part of the binding in one sitting, so next time I have a nice quiet evening without cleaning, I'll be able to finish the rest of it. After this, it will be ready to return to Mimi and I'll be able to start on the Underbust I'm also making for her.

"Lillith" for Me 90% Completed

All that remains for this one is for the bias binding to be stitched down and the finished edges to be pressed. This corset has been in the works since before I got pregnant, which is why it was never finished :)

"Untitled B/W" for sale 50% Completed

Still waiting to be completed with boning and I need to finish embroidering the eyelets.

"Orient V 2.0" Prototype 90% Completed

I need to buy more ribbon to finish the bottom binding and this one will be complete.

"Pencil Skirt" for Jez 80% Completed

The skirt is constructed, I just need to schedule a fitting so I can take it in appropriately, sew the zipper and ribbon trimming and its all done!

"Custom 01" for Melanie 20% Completed

So far I have the corset pattern drafted, the skirt pattern worked up, and I'm waiting on some materials to arrive so I can begin to construct the corset and bodice, and next free day I have (Lillian's with the Grandparents or Godmother) I will construct the skirt.

I will be vending at the July 2nd Dark Dreams, "Darkness Falls" and I already have four completed corsets I plan to put up for sale, and hopefully the untitled black and white will be finished as well. I'm going to start (but possibly not finish...) six other corsets, I'm planning on bringing two Lillith's, two Abgails and two Bettie's in various sizes, colors and patterns to sell as well. But we'll see if I can get them all done. It's possible I'll only have a few more finished due to time constraints and material availability.

"Stag Gown" 80% Completed

All that remains on this reconstruct, is some beading on the stomacher, and for the skirt to be completed and it's all done! My next reconstruct will be my "floral" gown. I want to do a little work on the gown itself, then make a stomacher to match the green petticoat I have for it.

"Who said I can't wear my converse with my dress?"

Yesterday was a fairly productive day for me! I worked on some corsets, cut out a skirt, looked at Alterations I've been hired to do and even finished a corset!

"Lillith" for Meg 100% Completed

Last night I did the finishing touches (hand sewing!) to her corset and now its ready to wear! I have the laces cut and tipped and I will be making a modesty plate, but that isn't required immediately.

I also worked on my Lillith corset, which has a zipper front, and it is at the stage where all that remains is hand sewing, the same with the "Bride" corset for Madeline. I just have to sew trimming and ribbon and its finished! It's about damn time too. I've taken way too long on it :P A baby is keeping me on my toes.

I also cut out the material for the matching skirt to Jez's "Abigail" corset, and I'm hoping to have it at the fitting stage by this week so I can have her come over for a fitting before I finish it.

"Some may say I need to be afraid of losing everything"

Today, I work! On sewing projects that is. Still no employment, but I have a few pending orders!

 Ice Queen "Bella" Cincher Progress 100% Completed

The other night I finally finished the eyelet embroidery on this one! I need to get good pictures of it so I can post it, but I may even wait until after July 2nd to post it up online. Mayhaps someone will purchase it at the Dark Dreams I'll be vending at on that night. We shall see!

Today I have a long list of projects to work on... after running the vaccum over the floor and doing a little straightening up, I will be breaking out the sewing machine to work on a few things, and start the alterations on a bridesmaid dress I've been hired to do.

So definate projects I aim to work on today...

1. Finish following corsets: Meg's "Lillith", Madeline's "Bride", the "Orient 2.0" prototype.
2. Make modesty plates for Jez's "Abigail", Meg's "Lillith" and my "Sweetheart".
3. Cut out the fabric for Jez's pencil skirt to match her "Abigail" corset.
4. Determine what the best route for alterations and corrections to the bridesmaids dress.
5. Draft up patterns for generic sized corsets to make and sell at the upcoming Dark Dreams, "Darkness Falls".

"Havin' a dream is just the begining

So aside from stressfull events, I did get a little bit of work done today. I had to figure out a replacement for my phone since it died today. Like, died died. So, I'll be getting a new phone in the mail on Tuesday. I had my old, old phone reactivated so I'm not phoneless until then. Yaay.

So, progress so far...

Pencil Skirt for Jez 10%

Tonight I drafted up the pattern for it so now all I need to do is cut it out and do the rest! I'm going to need a fitting once I get it basted together, but I'm more than certain that won't be a problem.

Custom Outfit for Melanie 20%

All the fabric has been purchased, a few notions need to be picked up, but those will come in due time. I have the corset pattern drafted up but I haven't cut the materials yet, still waiting on a few things from her (a bra to construct the bodice/corset with and measurements for the skirt). But as soon as I have those items, progress can continue and it will be complete!

I unfortunately didn't have time to pull out the sewing machine like I wanted to today, but thats alright. I will try to utilize Lillian's nap tomorrow after the Farmer's Market (weather pending!) to do that. I also have taken on an alteration job, for a friend of a friend. I'm altering the bodice of a bridesmaid dress so it doesn't hang so low when strapless and sewing a few snaps and hooks and eyes into a few other garments for her as well.

"Off to the races, I'm goin' places"

Friday is starting to look like a good and busy day, and thats great! Lillian is having a grandparents day and then I'm going to set up to work on finishing some corsets, work on some patterns for Outfit #01 for Miss Melanie, and work up a pattern for a pencil skirt for Miss Jez. Then at 4:15pm I have an appointment to meet with a gal to do an alteration consult. Sounds good to me!

I really hope things begin to pick up now that summer is here... orders, please! *fingers crossed* I really want to get into this. The work would be good for me in more than just one day. I would be busy and that would help with my weight loss goals (I wouldn't be so bored all the time so I wouldn't eat as much as I do), the $$$ would help immensely and I would be doing something that I love, which is important.

As far as Corset work goes, the tote I have full of unfinished corsets: there really isn't much work left to be done! It just requires a sewing machine to be pulled out and a few stitches to be made. Why is it taking me this long? Well, actually I have good excuses for that. Time hasn't really been available and MisCon threw a wrench in my productivity... but thats alright, it was important to do.

My mind has been running with ideas... mainly 1940's/1950's inspired dresses, and new corset designs, although I really should hold back on those. Because I should only offer a few designs to begin with, I don't need to get ahead of myself!