Isabelle's on Division

Since August of last year I have been working at Isabelle's Bridal and Eveningwear, at 14 Division Street, Somerville, NJ. It has been a pretty fun ride, I both make and alter dresses for the shop, and get to work with amazing fabrics that I could never afford otherwise.

And it gives me an excuse to get dressed up when I leave the house!

I Finally Downloaded the Blogger App!

Now I can post from wherever I want! And add photos straight from my phone!

I'm so excited, being that I can occasionally be an Internet hermit. I noticed that I posted more about my work once I downloaded Instagram, (oh how I wish they had a "share to blogger" option! But that would be too easy, I suppose...).

So just to test out the app, here are some photos from a walk I took with my dog the other day. I know it doesn't have to do with fashion, or anything relevant, but enjoy!

STEAMPUNK WORLD'S FAIR!!!!

The time is upon us again, ladies and jellyspoons, for Steampunk World's Fair!!

This event is one of my favorite events of the year, and I am indebted to them not simply because I have found a home amongst the victorian misfits that crowd their halls and support my work, but also because this event helped sponsor my Joan of Arc collection, and got me to NY Couture Fashion Week!

As such, I will not only be vending at this wondrous event, but I will be showing high points of the collection they sponsored, at the fashion show on Sunday! This is one of the best fashion show's I've participated in at a convention, and I am so excited to be a part of it again!

Steampunk World's faire takes place on the weekend of May 17th, 18th, and 19th, at two awesome hotels, the Radisson of Piscataway, and the Embassy Suites of Piscataway (New Jersey).

So please, come and have a great time at an event filled with creativity and curiosity, that has been a large reason for my success!

New Things In My Etsy Shop

New items in my ETSY SHOP! Including some things from the new collection, like the dress below.

Model: Carley Beck

Hair: Michelle Donnelly

Makeup: design by DS Crystalline,

Application by Lancome.

Photo by Couture Fashion Week.

Memorial for Jasmine

My ball python Jasmine passed away yesterday. She was going to be 20 years old this year, and though that might seem old for a pet, ball pythons can live from 30 to 40 years in captivity. 

I adopted Jasmine from a friend of a friend when he needed to travel to South America, and couldn't take her with him. He had her since she was a baby, and I adopted her when she was about to turn 16. My roommates in my first apartment and I had a miscommunication, and though they said they were fine with me having snakes, they said (after I brought her home) that she was too big. So she stayed in a friend's apartment until I could find another place to live a month later. Since then I've brought her with me no matter where I've lived, and she has always been with me, even causing some friction when I moved back into my mother's house and insisted in bringing Jasmine and my younger ball python, Spectre, with me.

I was even planning to take a family photo with myself, my boyfriend, and my snakes, all dressed in victorian finery.

I was planning to move my current sewing studio into a trailer so I could travel with my supplies, and was in the stages of gathering supplies to build her a big victorian looking terrarium, and yesterday I found that she died suddenly.

It has been a rather rough year, and I suppose animals tend to effect me in a more gut wrenching way than people do. Having been though the deaths of my favorite Uncle, my grandmother, and taking care of my mother while she was undergoing cancer treatment and a difficult divorce, it seems only appropriate that this loss, which would seem so small to other people, has been affecting me enormously. Perhaps it is the straw that breaks the camel's back, so to speak.

I haven't had it in me to bury her yet, and I am currently not letting my Spectre out of my sight. The idea was brought up to send her down the river on a burning pyre, and I kind of like the idea of such a service for a snake that was such a sweet, scaly beast. She didn't know her size, and was curious about yarn, and other strange objects her owner had laying around. She liked sitting on my shoulders, and the way water came out of the faucet.

 I will miss her immensely. Here is a painting I made a few years ago of her snuggling with my friend Edward.

Bridal Corsetry

A bridal corset I made out of antique lace, pearls, glass beads, and linen. It laces up on the sides and back, so that the pieces can be interchangeable.

Stay tuned for more of these corsets in the near future!

Shoot for Culture Magazine

These are some photos from behind the scenes at a shoot for Culture magazine, styled by Francis Urrutia. the only thing I made in the following shots are the bullet shell necklace and the bullet shell headband.

Carley Beck

This is a fun shot of look #2 from my Joan of Arc collection.

Modeled by the lovely Carley Beck.
Hair by Michelle Donnelly.
Makeup designed by DS Crystalline
Makeup executed by Lancome.

My Run Of Show Card for Fashion Week

My Evolving Blog

For years now I've blogged purely as a record of my accomplishments. I've posted videos, some writing, a LOT of photos of things I have done or been a part of. It is a good way of keeping track of things, though I think after years of doing the same thing, I may want my little artsy blog to grow.

I will of course be posting about all the crazy things I am creatively pursuing, but I might start posting more personal writings, and revealing more of my interests. For instance, in the upcoming months, I might talk to you more about things I am inspired by.  The redesign of my studio. My interest in the tiny house movement. Perhaps even some photos of my sister's ridiculous dog Lulu, who loves getting tangled up in my sewing supplies and laying all over my half finished drawings.

Another big part of my blog evolution will be me trying to acknowledge the blogging community on points that resonate with the subject matter at hand, in efforts to make this blog a more well rounded experience for me as a writer, and you as a reader.

And possibly a re-design is in the works. Why the heck not. I added the little widget thing at the bottom of the posts... Do you see it? That window thingamajig that recommends past posts? The one that every other blog on the planet has had for like 17 years? Guess who's go two thumbs and is catching up with the times! This lady!! I even have an Instagram now! You don't have to hide your excitement, I know you are all completely overjoyed by my progress with the mysterious webernet contraption.

Stay tuned for more mindblowing advances in my usage of my beloved weblog platform.