To Rock the Rococo

My corset and "pocket" hoops project is finally finished! I'm planning a rococo gown, so naturally I needed to start with the correct underwear. Because I'm a little bit crazy, I wanted to make the underwear pretty too, and chose a horrible hard to sew satin fabric that looks divine. IRL it's more petrol toned, but the camera thinks it's a dark blue. Either one works for me!

The corset was made with Butterick B4254 Misses Stays and Corsets pattern. I have to say the instructions were not very clear, at least for a hobbyist like me, but I do like the boning pattern a lot. The horizontal bones in the front want to fold down on the vertical ones, so I sewed a vertical boning channel behind the center front to keep the horizontal bones where they should be. The side silhouette is just as it should, very straight, so I'm sure the corset will work well under a gown.

The pocket hoops, for which I didn't actually make the pockets, just hoops, are done with The Recollections of J P Ryan pattern. I think I could have done them without any pattern, like I did my bustle cage, but the pattern was easy to follow and the results are good.

I used plastic boning, which is a little less stiff than I hoped, but hopefully can hold up the weight of the gown. If not, I'll pick the bone channels open and insert flat steel crinoline boning instead. The corset was also done with plastic bones, but they seem to work very well for the purpose. The bones have to give and bend with these kind of boning patterns, so plastic bone or synthetic whale bone is the best.

The corset has a pretty low neckline, but historically these were worn over an underdress or a thin, loose top, so maybe the pattern is designed the same way. I don't have a suitable one to try the corset with, but it looks like it would work. I adore the shoulder straps that can be adjusted with laces. So cute!

I still have one sewing project I can finish with the supplies at hand. The 1830's gown just needs boning in the top and trimming of the hem and it will be done. It has a zipper in the back and doesn't need a corset underneath, so it's much less historical but also had parts I hated sewing ;D I've been so busy that I haven't had the time to touch any projects in a few days. I'm taking a first aid course and studying for a drivers license, and then there's regular work on top of that, whew! But soon things will calm down :)

Bella Morte Notes from the Underground IV

On Friday my fellow club organizers and me spend the evening entertaining people at the latest club Bella Morte. There were more people than usually on Friday's, which was great! I had a fun night and got to play just the type of music I like, gothic rock. I tend to be so busy at work and home that I don't put any music on, but I definitely should listen to music more. Everytime I prepare my DJ sets, I remember why I love the genre and just how good it all sounds!

My other half did my hair with great results. The rest of the outfit I put together to compliment the gorgeous curls. The corset is made by me (with a ready-made base corset I modified and added the scale mail on top), the skirt is by Lip Service, and the necklace and earrings are by Lumissa's Purple Octopus. Pictures by my husband, Arttu K. (Yes, he took my last name :>)

Oh, and if the lady who asked after the Pohjola albums is reading this, if you didn't get one at the event, please send me an email and I'll mail one for you! I was supposed bring a box of cds to be given out for free, but forgot. I didn't find you at the club after fetching the cds, but I want you to have one as you asked so nicely!

Deadfine.fi Review

My Finnish readers, have you already come across the new alternative shop called Deadfine? They carry many brands I like, for example Killstar, Kreepsville and Restyle. The newest addition to the shop are skull-shaped sugar cubes, which I absolutely need in my life! The bat wing clothes pegs are also super cute!

Dem Bones skull sugar cubes

Bat wing clothes pegs

Shipping is free (in Finland) for orders of over 50 euros, and for smaller amounts the maximum shipping fee is 4.50 euros. So very reasonable shipping prices! While the shop is new and doesn't carry a huge amount of stuff, the selection is good and really up my alley. I love the tiny creepy touches, like the cool sugar cubes, and the Killstar clothes are so comfy and easy to wear even for the office. Also if you need something fast, shipping inside Finland is a better option than waiting for something to arrive from overseas.

The website isn't the easiest to navigate, but with a small selection, it works okay. The owner contacted me for a review I have to say I'm very pleased with the service. The dress I got arrived fast and well packed, and the owner responded to messages fast and kept me up to date on when the dress will ship out.

So if you are in need of some new gothic things in your life, head over to Deadfine.fi!

Me enjoying my new Killstar Conjuring Hood Dress!

Wearing White

Thanks to all well-wishers, you are so kind!

I wanted to get something white for the registry office, even when it wouldn't be anything too fancy, as I had to open doors and help my other half with the crutches. So no long gowns and no corsets! I had bought this Lipsy dress from eBay for the original date we were supposed to get married, but it was perfect now with the little hindrances. The hair clip is old, I made it for the engagement photoshoot, but it went perfectly with the dress.

Just Married!

We did it! This time there were no broken bones, just a toppled over cat tree and some burned fingers, but we got to the registry office and got married. I was sure until the last moment that something would go wrong, but luckily that was not the case.

Mr. and Mrs.

My other half's cast hidden in a woollen sock and stylish cast shoe. Only a few more weeks to go!

We'll have a party later this year, but wanted to get the official part done early. A quick visit to the registry office with friends as witnesses, then a dinner in a nice restaurant, a few cocktails and then home. He still needs to keep the foot elevated, so no all-nighters for us yet! Yet I couldn't be happier :)

Face the Day

I've been skipping putting on make-up in the mornings, as I've been so busy with all the housework, but today I had to look my best for filming a documentary at the office. And I'm so glad I took the time, I love make-up and enjoy applying it and feeling more confident looking the way I want to look.

Messy curls and neutral smoky eyes it was!

Eyes - Femme Fatale Cosmetics Golem and Sugarpill Tako

Lips - ColourPop Grunge

Steamy Elevator

Last weekend my other half and I went to a steampunk themed birthday party. The evening included delicious cake, cider, punch and lots of friends. I didn't have lots of time to perfect my look, but I did take the time to sew in boning to my Victorian top and add a little decorative trim on the neckline. I'm not sure how much the boning really changes the silhouette, as I wear the top with a corset, but at least now it's done like the instructions say! I also shortened the hem a bit. Seems like a neverending job, as it was first too short, then I took apart the whole waistband and added length, then the hem was too long, and now hopefully it might be just right.

Here's some pictures taken in an elevator that suited the look well. I just popped on some goggles instead of the matching hat for the outfit to get a more steampunk-y feel.

In other news, my corset is finished aside from the eyelets. Magnus seems to be of the opinion that it's actually a cat bed.

And Tirri, who had five teeth removed but is still happily eating things like plastic plants.