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Swiss Cincher with Burgundy and Salmon Flossing
Yippee, the first of the Swiss Cinchers is complete.
[Click image for larger view]
I’m really pleased with this piece, the colour scheme and chosen flossing pattern are great (well done client) so it is decorative but still classic. It’s technically too small for my mannequin and so isn’t sitting perfectly, but nevermind. Ah, imagine having a mannequin in every size! If only…
I’m just waiting on an order of white textile ink so that I can stamp the logo on the black lining then it’s good to go. Check out the reversible flossing at centre-back, lots of sliding the needle around between layers of coutil for that one 
Hmm, blurry photograph…
In other news today…
…I received a really lovely email from the recipient of the flossed wonder. An email like this is always a joy, especially with international orders as there is always the very slight chance of problems with shipping or customs! So it’s great once you know the corset has arrived safely and is being enjoyed.
Here it is (names abbreviated, of course). We should be arranging some extra photographs for you guys to see as the first batch were a little bit blurry and featured some nudity! It’s a nice message though, as it also addresses some of the thoughts that I’m sure many modern corset-wearers (whether occasional or regular) have. It’s a real privilege to be able to brighten someone’s day every so often, just by doing your work.
Jenni,
I took a bunch of pictures for you!! I LOVE IT!! It makes me feel SO sexy!
I took pics with and without everyday clothing. I wish they were more
creative and sensual, but I wanted to show you how WELL it fits me. I had
concerns that the length in the front (to cover my tummy) would make it hard
or unnatural to sit. It doesn’t at ALL. I am sooo happy with this investment
and I know I’ll be needing a smaller one in the future 
Just so you know, It does give pretty good support even without a bra. They
look super perky, almost too perky, lol (under clothes). I also had concerns
that the top sides would be too high and be visible through clothes. Nope,
the sides push the excess to the front to accentuate the new “rack”, lol.
The bra holds them back just enough to look natural.
I keep saying it, but it is PERFECT! It holds my tummy in so I can look down
and see my girl parts (I have NEVER been able to do that, in my entire
life). It holds it still so I want to wiggle around and let my booty shake,
where I was too self-conscious to ever do that before. You have given me a
total body makeover and it’s better than I ever expected it to be
I haven’t worn it in public, yet. I’m a little worried about how people
might perceive me. But, I’m going to make myself get over it. People who
know me, will know that something is different, in a good way. It is going
to take some time for my body to adjust and my skin to get used to going in
a different direction, but I’m anxious to see the transformation.
S wants me to tell you that he loves it, too! You did such a wonderful
job on this. Feel free to use this email as a testimonial or whatever you
want. I will take some more artistic photos, too, if you would like me to. I
have attached the photos in a zipped folder (warning: a small bit of
nudity). I have been short on time, but I plan to share my experiences with
other corset lovers out there and I will recommend you to everyone I know!
It would be awesome to get more modern women into corseting as a daily wear
item, and remove some of the taboo notions about it.
Thank you SO much (for inverting my curves and making me feel like a super
sexy woman, giving me confidence I never had before)!!!
A and S
Right, back to work. Numerous black casings are being made for the Swiss Cinchers, some other client work is being finished up, and a few pale smooth silks are sitting in the workroom making my fingers itch!
Two New Corsets on Etsy
The burgundy cincher and pale satin overbust are now available on etsy
As they were both slightly too large for my Breezer, I have also created an additional incentive for anyone interested in purchasing them. In short, the client will receive a 40USD refund upon receipt of some high quality professional images of the corset being worn. I’m hoping someone will take me up on this offer, as the satin piece in particular deserves to be photographed in all its curvy glory!
I’m excited for the next few months, I’ve got some opportunities to make some lovely work (flick to the Gaultier piece on page 60/61 of Fetish and the Art of the Tease for one of my current [unobtainable but beautiful!] inspirations) and hopefully work with some interesting photographers and stunning models. I have a real urge to build my portfolio with models in all shapes and sizes, as I really feel that corsetry should have an inclusive and tolerant attitude. I don’t want only hourglasses, only plus-sizes, only petites, or only runway amazons as I don’t hope to specialise my work in that way. We’ll see how things develop over time, but for now I certainly hope to work on the basis that corsets can be as varied as the bodies that wear them. So whilst I will be starting my professional images with some wee petite lasses, don’t be fooled… curvier figures will follow!
Cloth dolls and super-shinies
Oh dear, we’re firmly within July already!
This month is going to be crazy busy, which is wonderful, so I’m hoping to take a week’s holiday in August to recuperate. I say “holiday”, I don’t imagine we’ll actually travel anywhere, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a trip to the Dales or the Lakes.
Finished an article for FR yesterday, great fun! My guinea pig observed that in her canvas toile she looks not unlike an old-fashioned cloth doll, except with a ceramic head, so I am genuinely considering making her a Halloween costume accordingly. Bouffant-y hair, rosy cheeks, bow lips… maybe make her elbows and knees look jointed somehow (which reminds me, I need to buy a new sleeve roll). She would be a doll in Edwardian underpinnings I think. Could be cool. I think I quite want to be a cloth doll too…
Anyway, lunch and then back to work. I recently ordered in some metallic silk from Carrington Bride in “ruby” and it is super shiny but also nice to handle. It’s calling to me from my workroom, but I have other things to do first… So if anyone was looking for super-shiny metallic silks, get in touch with them! They don’t have many colours though.
Of swiss cinchers and other pretties
Gosh, June just flew by! But thankfully I’ve been working hard as (nearly) always and will have some pretties to show for it soon.
Amongst said pretties are two “ballet slipper pink” satin test pieces (which we will be photographing next week), a Swiss Cincher/Lattice Corset hybrid for myself (a little something for nights out), other samples that I cannot reveal until after the photoshoot at the beginning of August (I’m very excited for this), and of course the limited edition Swiss Cinchers that I’m currently doing with masses of experimental flossing!
I’ve had one place come available again under the Swiss Cincher offer, so please get in touch if you’d like one. The three currently at various stages of progress include bright greens, salmon pink with burgundy, and deep crimson reds. Some are having a ridiculous amount of flossing, whilst others are simply inspired by an extant Victorian corset or a development upon the original black and yellow piece I did. I might actually photograph those recent pieces next week too, on a real human being I mean! Undecided right now… once they’ve been modeled (or if they’re experimental) I drop the price and sell them as “samples” rather than “ready-to-wear”, and we may not have the time anyway. I’ve got seven corsets sitting here which could all fit Breezer well enough for photographs… For example:
I’d quite like to re-photograph this piece. We’ll have daylight this time (shock!), a plain grey backdrop, spare batteries(!), and more time. Hmm, lots to do, lots to do…
Swiss Cincher - limited edition
There is something about the sloping top and bottom lines on narrow sided cinchers that lends itself really well to decorative flossing, and it’s something I would really love to explore a bit more. I mean, when you look at all the possible permutations in flossing, it’s difficult not to get excited!
So as hinted at yesterday, I’m offering a Limited Edition of four “Swiss Cinchers” at a fixed RTW price, however each piece will be unique… This offer is for the people who may have thought, “ooh, I’d like that, but in my size and with blue flossing”. If this sounds familiar, please read more…
The current “ready-made” ready-to-wear price on this cincher is 295USD (199GBP). (As you may know, I’m based in the UK, but etsy works in US Dollars, hence the info.) When I do a RTW or Sample corset* it’s very much speculative and therefore features a slight reduction on ordinary pricing. It may sell or it may not. It may sell immediately, or a few months down the line. And where flossing or other hand-finished details are involved, I may or may not make back the hours of effort I put into it! Further, I might make a piece to close at a 28” waist, but the person who loves the colour may need a 22” waist… So my primary reason for doing RTW and Sample corsets is creative development rather than income… playing with techniques, materials or ideas, as a way of deciding in which direction I would like to take my work in the future. All creative endeavour is a “work in progress”, after all.
So, as you may imagine, I was sitting around thinking that I’d love to do one with cornflower blue flossing… or two colours of thread… or contrast top-stitching and matching flossing. Perhaps one covered in daisies, or one with simple “V“s only. Maybe one with a chain-stitch going the full length of the seams, or one with an embroidered busk panel… Then it dawned on me that making all these ideas “on spec.” would be foolish, when instead I could make them in collaboration with a few willing accomplices!
Limited Edition “Swiss Cinchers”
From today until 9th July, I will have four slots for flossed black “Swiss Cinchers” at their current ready-made pricing. Each cincher would have a fixed price of 295USD (199GBP), plus shipping. For that price, you can choose any closed waist size from 16” to 34” (in 2” increments), and any basic colour scheme for the flossing (excluding metallic, silk or other specialist threads).
The cinchers would be 10” long at front and back (with a front busk), and 5.5” long on the sides. Black satin coutil with exterior casings, a combination of flat and spiral steels, and two-part chrome eyelets/grommets. Provided with flat-black corsetry lacing and loose-lined with black twill. You are able to order by waist size only (2” – 6” smaller than your natural waist), since they’re so narrow on the sides, and the cinchers would have an estimated production time of 8 weeks each (to fit around my other commitments).
Here’s where it gets exciting… the process is collaborative! We throw around a couple of ideas (you tell me if you especially love or hate my embroidered daisies, for example) and a basic colour scheme, then I interpret that as creatively as I can! This limited edition run of cinchers is, therefore, not ideal for the customer who likes to pin down every particular detail or choose a design from a set list… but for those of you who want to embark on something creative, collaborative and different, it could be a fun adventure. As the price is fixed, it’s also a good opportunity to get something covered with flossing that may normally be cost prohibitive to you.
The final cincher would reflect our first discussions and ideas, having a stamp of both your identity and mine. It would give you a unique cincher at a great price, and give me the opportunity to continue building my portfolio and developing my tastes and skills. No two cinchers would be identical, and the promotion is limited to four as flossing is a rather time-consuming element of corsetry. Other styles (eg: underbust, longline, spoon busk, etc.) or fabrics are not available under this offer. ‘Tis for elaborately flossed “Swiss Cinchers” only and they are, of course, non-refundable.
So, what do you think? If you would like to take one of these four slots, or just ask an initial question about the idea, please get in touch via jenni @ sparklewren.co.uk. I’m really excited by the idea, and hope you are too. If the four slots aren’t taken by 9th July I may roll them over, depending upon my schedule.
__________________________________
*RTW and SAMPLE pieces are different things to me. RTW is in perfect condition, using tried and tested materials and methods. Sample pieces are either slightly used/damaged or were done as a “test” of new materials/techniques. Samples are therefore less expensive than RTW to reflect this.
Etsy Shop: update
The Sparklewren etsy shop has served a dual purpose since the business opened. It has been a place for the listing of my test and experimental pieces and a way of listing made-to-order options.
It was originally intended, however, as simply a play-ground for sample and RTW pieces, without set made-to-order designs. A place where I could have items listed for sale that were good to go, ready to ship! And I have decided to return it to this primary function.
I may update the website as a way of having a selection of made-to-order designs available, but generally I don’t find them especially useful. Most of my lovely clients email me saying, “ooh, I like this, but what would you think of these colours, fabrics or details?” and we work together to make the corset more personal to them. So the made-to-order designs are never produced verbatim, you know?
So that’s today’s update! Whilst it may make my etsy a slightly smaller place with less pretty pictures, I hope it will also make it more simple for interested parties to navigate. There will only be two things you need to think about, and the second one requires very little thought…
1) is the piece right for me?
and
2) is the piece ready to purchase and ship immediately? [Yes, it is!]
All other orders and enquiries will continue as usual, via one-on-one communication in person or through emails. Mulling over RTW and samples that I wish to stitch, however, has lead me to an interesting idea for a limited edition, of sorts, and I will update you all on that tomorrow.
Also, for Sparklewren friends on facebook, tomorrow will be last day for the current celebratory offer! Check your updates :-D
Contented sigh
Earlier this afternoon I watched Al Green on the BBC iPlayer. I know that everyone loves it and so by default “Let’s Stay Together” should become somehow uncool, but my goodness… how I love that song. Everything about it. There must be some sort of magic formula involved in making such a perfect song, but I don’t want to know what it is. I’m happy just to listen.
Would anyone have any particular Al Green albums to recommend for listening to whilst stitching? My knowledge of his other work is sorely lacking and this must be rectified.
Facebook Fans!
Hey guys and girls, don’t forget to become a fan of Sparklewren on facebook
At the moment, we have just reached 200 fans and so a small special offer has gone out to them all! It only lasts for a week and is applicable to the “READY TO SHIP” items currently in the etsy shop. Become a new fan, and feel free to message me for details on the offer
