June Corset Inspiration

Since nothing is really blowing my dress up with regard to corset inspiration for June, it may be time for another month of simple. Why not. I like simple because it's quick and actually produces some of the cleanest looks. Could I push myself to actually make a brown corset that laces up the front?

Someone decided to use the word corset to describe this tunic type top but I think it's a bit of a reach since it does not appear to be tightly fitting or figure shaping by any stretch of the imagination. Still, I love the aged look of this so maybe we'll go for a boho style corset this time. I like it!

Artist Spotlight: Jeannine Boyce

Back at the beginning of May I posted a clip art image of a layered dress. A short time later I received a photograph from Ms. Jeannine Boyce, one of my readers who had gone to town recreating the piece as dimensional paper art.

left - paper dress created by Jeannine Boyce

The two pieces are shown side by side above to give you an idea of the accuracy and attention to detail that surely went into this design. Jeannine, this is a magnificent display. Thank you so much for sharing your work.

Corset Diaries X: May Corset Inspiration

Adding a paper pannier to the May corset challenged me to find a way to add a pretty skirt to this corset while leaving parts of the pannier still showing. I think the effect is nothing short of beautiful. Your corset diary page appears below and was created around the pannier theme.

click image to enlarge and download

The diary page is 7 1/2 inches wide by 7 inches high. The left side of the page is only supposed to be 2 1/2 inches so don't fold this exactly in half or it won't match your other pages. Measure 2 1/2 inches from the left, score then fold. The bottom of the right page is left open for you to write notes or add your own bits of ephemera.

To my horror, shortly after photographing the corset, my cat got hold of it.  Seriously? Did I not believe that hanging strings and curly paper left to dangle from a rod were anything but a cat magnet? Pfft! Fortunately the damage was minimal and easily repairable. Your inspirational video appears above. Please enjoy. :)

Yesterday's Courtier

She lived in the time of kings and queens and associated herself with society's elite. Mostly she led an inspired life filled with joy and optimism yet she often wondered if there would come a time when ladies would be allowed more freedom in their dress.

In the spirit of 18th century vintage, Miss May is aptly called Yesterday's Courtier. Sit for a moment and take yourself back to that time. Can you remember your life? Did you follow the rules or were you a rebel?

I like to imagine myself a courtier. Outwardly I followed the rules but I smiled a smirky smile as my calling card to the world that I kept many secrets. I inspired curiosity about the mystery and intrigue held within. Decadent pleasures await those who dare to reinvent themselves.

Curious Clip Art

I'm always on the lookout for unique and interesting images to use in my digital collages. This antique wheelchair comes complete with umbrella and writing desk and is such a curious thing that I can't stop examining it.

antique wheelchair etching

Anyway, this image is in the public domain so feel free to grab yourself a copy and use it however you like. Simply click the image to enlarge and save to your desktop. Enjoy!

The Hierophant Speaks

For my tarot class I've been working with my ages old Cosmic tarot deck. I swear I was twenty something when I bought this deck so it's the oldest one I have which gives it a more mystical feel for me. For tarot homework this month we have 5 questions to answer with a singe card draw. The second question happened to be: How can I creatively express myself and my ideas?

cosmic tarot - Hierophant

I drew the Hierophant card and although there was resistance to this card at first, it has not stopped speaking to me. It's surprising how much information I have been able to get from him. I've been told that those who really speak to you on an emotional level, be it positive or negative, have the most to teach you about who you are. I think that's true.

Tarot Survey Results

I posted a survey a couple of weeks ago to find out if any of my readers would be interested in a free tarot reading if I were to offer them. While the survey was a complete disaster because it didn't keep accurate results, I got the distinct impression that the response was favorable with no negative votes at all.

joie de vivre tarot - Paulina Cassidy

I would like to offer my thanks to all who participated. It was very encouraging to see so many of you willing to receive a reading. This will help me gain confidence in my reading ability and assist with my transition to professional reader by year end.

gilded tarot - The Moon

I was pointed in the direction of a site called the Free Tarot Network where I can have a mentor assigned to me and give free, one card readings.  I provide my reading to the mentor before sending it to the client to ensure a quality reading. Once I get myself set up, I'll provide a link and possibly some kind of a code so that I know you are a blog reader. I'll keep you updated.

Nobody Here but us Crickets

Haha, the only sound in this place the last week has been the sound of my resident cricket. He does make beautiful music though. Then again, I've heard that the loudest sound of all is that of silence.

violin cricket via Bright Celia

Blame it on the contemplation of life in general, job searches, monumental amounts of reading for my metaphysical studies and generally trying to keep my head above water. Enjoy the music for he plays divinely to those who willingly listen. :)

Panniers and Paper Corsets

This paper corset has to be one of the more interesting ones I've done so far with it's paper pannier. This is not the finished piece but I had to share.

paper pannier and corset

Did women really wear this kind of thing? It looks like battle armor to me. To say the least, without getting into the history, panniers are fascinating to look at.

18th century pannier via Making History Tart and Titillating

At any rate, I see tattered fabric dripping from this corset and oozing with vintage charm. I don't know though. I'm really at the whim of my muse and what she decides is fashionable.

Note: You can read a little more about the history of panniers at Making History Tart and Titillating.

Botanical Prints and the Ephemeral Re-org

Ever find that your Pinterest boards end up taking on a life you never intended for them? How do you a browse and find a proper botanical print for your next collage project when you have to wade through a smorgasbord of 1,600 images of all things ephemera?

almond blossom botanical print

It's called a re-org which is short for reorganization. It's true, I'm a bit of a Pinterest junkie. The dangerous part of this equation is that I could be looking for a flower and see a really great image of an apple. Here's what happens next.

pink mushroom botanical print

When my first exposure to this image is a source that wants me to pay for it, obsession takes its grip. I've now made it my personal mission to find that image thereby raising the level of the desire-o-meter from mere "like it and want it" to "no way in hell will I live without it."

deutsche pomologie

Since I know that images dated in the 19th century or earlier are going to fall somewhere in the public domain, it then becomes a personal challenge for me to find a copy of it free of watermarks and in a respectably useable size.

lily of the valley

Much of the time I am successful however I don't recommend this method because it not only sucks up time like a Hoover but 400 pins and half a day later you now need a new board that you never imagined you'd need before today.

vintage rose ephemera

Does anyone else out there do this or is it a Virgo thing? Ha! At any rate, please enjoy the images and if you get a moment, stop by and visit my Botanical Ephemera and Prints board on Pinterest.

Vintage Baby Fun

Just to do something fun and different today I'm posting this vintage baby ephemera. I have no idea where it came from but it seems to be one of my more popular candidates for repinning on Pinterest.

vintage baby girl in pink illustration

Hope you will enjoy and if you know the original source, please let me know so that I might give proper credit here. Happy Tuesday!

How to Make a Paper Violet Flower

I thought I would post a stand alone tutorial on how to make a paper violet flower. The video gives tips for cutting the template as well as offering an idea or two about how to get creative with your flower petals.

paper violet flower

Don't you just love the idea of a pressed paper violet? I think there is something kind of romantic about it because it transcends the rules of reality. Then again, that's what art is all about.

paper violet flower template

Here's the violet template in plain and simple format. I would love to see what you create. Of course, a credit back to me as the source is appreciated.

Note: If you have already viewed the April corset video you can skip this one. This video is simply an extract of the portion of that video pertaining to the assembly of the paper violet.

May Corset Inspiration

I'm always on the lookout for something just a little bit out of the ordinary as far as inspiration for my paper projects go. I mean, who wants to settle for tired and mainstream when you can have unique and unexpected?

via corsets and lingerie on Pinterest

A slight deviation from the ballet tutu in that only the sides are flared out. The panier style similar to that worn under skirts by ladies of 18th century Europe makes this a tasty morsel of a corset idea. It's definitely got a unique charm!

Little Miss April Paper Corset

Light and airy, little Miss April comes on with all the subtlety of a spring whisper. As she tip toes her way through my thoughts I am reminded of life's more ordinary pleasures.

april paper mâché corset

Warm rainy mornings, bird song, rustling leaves on a breezy day, a shooting star on a clear evening, the pleasing sights and sounds of pure nature that I love so much. Miss April embodies all of these and more.

april paper mâché corset back

The edges were left rough, tissue paper was used which gives the pice a little bit of translucency and twirled paper was added as greenery around the bottom. She is indeed a delicate flower.