Back in May whilst holidaying in Cornwall the weather set in so my fella and I thought we would visit a favourite childhood attraction. Neither of us expected a great deal and were glad to be out of the rain, but the Victorian village at Flambards proved to be a find for a selection of antique corsets, here are some of the pieces they had and would warrant further study (the picture quality is as good as I could get it in the dark surroundings):
Welcome Knotters
If you are a member of the Sealed Knot you would have no doubt seen my advert this month and also a photograph of my stays being modelled for a clothing article. To view more images please visit this page and don't hesitate to contact me with any questions regarding 17th Century stays and your requirements. I hope to share with you soon on my blog my research into stays at this time, so follow my blog or find the Facebook page.
Recent advert in Orders of the Day.
International Living History Fair
I will be exhibiting at he fair so come along and be measured up or just come meet me to talk about your corsetry requirements. Even though this is a historical fair I am very happy to discuss contemporary and bridal designs too.
I am in room 2 with the luxury of heating perfectly secluded for fittings.
The fair is staged over 3 days:
Friday 22nd February 2013 - 12pm-6pm
Saturday 23rd February 2013 - 10am-5pm
Sunday 24th February 2013 - 10-4pm
The International Living History Fair exists to provide a market place, a meeting place and a fabulous opportunity for all, visitors and re-enactors alike, to meet and discuss all periods of our historical past. Many of Europe's best artisans, craftsmen and traders are on hand happy to advise on and provide a huge array of items and replicas of our historical heritage.
Staged twice a year in February and October, the International Living History Fair has become the primary multi-period market place for re-enactors, historical interpreters and historical enthusiasts across Europe.
Directions:
Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, Bath Lane, Bruntingthorpe, LE17 5QS
FOR THOSE USING SATELLITE NAVIGATION please type in the full address, not just the postcode!
The event is clearly marked from the M1 J20 roundabout with yellow AA signs.
From the North, South and West via the M1
Leave the M1 motorway at Junction 20 (Lutterworth / Market Harborough)
Take the A4304 towards Husbands Bosworth
Continue on the A4304 until you enter North Kilworth
Turn LEFT in North Kilworth onto the B5414 to Leicester for 2.4 miles
At the T Junction turn LEFT onto the A5199 towards Leicester for 2.5 miles
At the Crossroads turn LEFT onto Bruntingthorpe Road for 1 mile
The Proving Ground entrance is on your left hand side
From the South and East via A14
Leave the A14 at Junction 1
Take the A5199 north towards Husbands Bosworth
Go STRAIGHT over the crossroads at Husbands Bosworth towards Leicester
At the Crossroads turn LEFT onto Bruntingthorpe Road for 1 mile
The Proving Ground entrance is on your left hand side
From the East via Market Harborough
Leave Market Harborough on the A4304 towards Husbands Bosworth
Turn RIGHT at the crossroads in Husbands Bosworth onto the A5199 to Leicester
At the Crossroads turn LEFT onto Bruntingthorpe Road for 1 mile
The Proving Ground entrance is on your left hand side
All Hail Queen Bey!
If you love corsets as much as I do you cannot help but be in awe of this Thierry Mugler Haute Couture 1997 corset worn by Beyoncé for the promotion of her new tour. The 18th century styling just adds to the decadence of it all.
Photo: PRNewsFoto/Columbia Records, Elle Muliarchyk for Parkwood Entertainment.
Photo: O2 Priority
New Site
Welcome to the new site! I have designed it as a portfolio to show off the quality of my work and as I say in my About, take time out, make a brew, wander about & explore.
About is where you will find all the information about who I am and what I do
Contact makes it easy to get in touch with the new form to ask me any questions & discuss ideas
Shop is linked to my Etsy shop where you will find ready to wear and limited edition items. I will be adding many more items over the coming weeks such as the Silhouette Collection.
Blog you have found. As I have linked everything to my social media it'll be easier for me to keep you upto date with all my creations and musings.
Collections is really like the first page of a book, allowing you to dive into galleries of my works.
I hope you enjoy having a mooch!
Downton Girls & Corsets
Really excited to see the preview of LOVE Magazine’s shoot with the Downton Abbey girls; Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Jessican Brown Findlay (Lady Sybil) and Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith).
The shoot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott were styled by Katie Grand in Alexander McQueen and vintage Vivienne Westwood, brings corsetry to the forefront of fashion. Grazia writes “we predict a spike in the sale of corsets”.
Bringing corsetry to a wider audience is something I endeavor to do, whilst capturing the femininity and romance of times past.
Vincenzo Campi
It is always hard trying to find sources of dress of the common man in 16th and 17th Centuries. The art of Vincenzo Campi offers a great snap shot of life in Italy at the end of the 16th Century a well worth a look. There is often so much to see in his pictures of domestic life in kitchens and markets. It appears in the heat of the kitchen women have stripped back to stays while they work (see girl bottom right in the top left picture).
On the Road
Reticule Class
Since my last entry a great deal has happened. Fully relaxed from a trip to sunnier climes, my other half and I finished as far as we could all the uniforms for the Landwehr’s first Napoleonic camp at Hamptworth Lodge (we still have a few more buttons to sew on). The new regiment were warmly welcomed by the rest of the Napoleonic groups and a great time was had by all. It was lovely to meet so many people from the public and share my knowledge of clothing at this time.
Then I was off down to Bath for The Jane Austen Festival to teach a dress and a reticule class. A big thank you to all those who attended my classes and for all your kind feedback it was a pleasure to teach you all.
Shortly after I bought Charlotte Raine Corsetry to the International Living History Fair and then to Whitby Goth Festival the week after. Thank you to all my customers and for all the lovely compliments on the high standard and superior quality of my corsets, you are a discerning bunch.