All metal fans out there need to listen to these:








And just for shits and giggles:

So we're told over and over and over that the bible is the unerring word of God and that man did not write it, but God, though the hands of men. 

There are no errors in the bible because it is the word of God and this claptrap about fallible men's mistranslations changing that word over time is just that - claptrap.  The bible today is exactly the same as it was when first penned.

Well, for all you that still stick to that line, I give you this:

http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?Section=66&ID=19559

"
One of the text alterations Fowler attributes to Thomas Nelson Publishing comes from Corinthians 6:9. In the text from a 1976 Bible version by Thomas Nelson, Fowler claims the passage reads:

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.”

In the text from a 1982 version by Thomas Nelson, Fowler claims the passage has been changed to:

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodimites.”

Finally, in a 2001 version, Fowler claims the passage was changed yet again to read:

“Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God's kingdom. Do not be fooled, those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or rob these people will not inherit God's kingdom.”

"

But no, there are no mistranslations in the bible nor personal 'enhancements' from the people writing it.  Not at all.

Hey people,

I have loads of corsets for sale right now. These will only be available for purchase until the end of the week (Friday) and then they'll be going to my retail outlets for sale at RRP, so if you want a deal on a brand-new corset, get in now! All prices are in AU$. Please email me at info AT volancia DOT com if you wish to purchase one of these. First in first served.

All are made with an interfaced layer of fashion fabric, a strength layer and a lining layer. They have 14-16 steel bones each and strong 2-piece grommets.

If you want to know more detailed measurements of any of these please email me at info AT volancia DOT com. These are all in standard sizes of 20", 22", 24" and 26" waists. The measurement chart I use can be viewed on my website under 'Ordering'.

These have all been photographed flat - there are pictures of each of the styles on my dummy if you have a look under 'Underbust' on my website, www.volancia.com.

Please note that what you see is what you get - I don't have the time at the moment to remake any of these in a different size and will probably not be taking any more orders on for the rest of the year.

Size 8 - 20" waist
AND
Size 12 - 24" waist
$200
UV04 style made from black delustered satin with side panels of purple shimmer satin with a black mesh overlay. It is bound with black satin and has silver size 00 grommets.

Size 8 - 20" waist
$190
UV04 style made from black delustered satin with red top stitching. It is bound with black satin and has black size 00 grommets.

Size 10 - 22" waist
$190
UV04 style made from black delustered satin with feature panels of black cotton with a white skull print. It is bound with white skull print cotton and has black size 00 grommets.

SOLD
Size 14 - 26" waist
$200
UV04 style made from dusky pink delustered satin, black delustered satin and with a lace overlay on the side panels. It is bound with dusky pink satin and has black size 00 grommets.

There are two corsets which were worn by models for about 3 hours each on Saturday night. These both have satin ribbon lacing and have a 15% discount. There is no damage or wear to either of them.

SOLD
Size 10 - 22" waist
$170
Buskless UV01 style made from black delustered satin with side panels of dragon brocade. It has a solid front with a dragon motif stitched on. It is bound with dragon brocade, has red ribbon lacing and black size 00 grommets.

Hi guys,

One of my dancers is unable to make it on Saturday to Spank, so I am looking for someone who can wear a 20" corset who would like to be a podium dancer throughout the night.

I've made a couple of overbusts recently but never got around to posting pics of them.

The first one was for a hairdresser friend of mine who was entering a competition for an avant-garde hairstyle.  She had to submit one photograph of her model wearing the wig she'd created, so she wanted a pretty fabulous outfit for her.  I haven't seen the photos yet but I'll post them when I get them!

This one was a bit of an experiment for me as I normally create shaped cups.  Rachel wanted her model to have lots of lovely cleavage though, so I drafted straight bust lines and just used sprung steel rather than spiral.  It's quite long over the hips with a nice wavy line.  There are little suspender tabs inside (3 on each side) for suspenders to hook into also.

It is made from black delustered satin, is bound in the same and has black size 00 grommets.

This corset will have more life after its photoshoot as Rachel selected a model with a similar size to herself so that she could run away with it afterwards.





The second one was for a client who didn't have much of an idea of what she wanted when she came in, but together we worked out a design that she is very happy with!  She wanted it to be mainly black but also have a feature colour of blue.   It fits much better on a real body than on my mannequin!  My client is planning on loosing a bit of weight so I designed it with a 10cm gap at the back so it can be closed down further.  She has two different removable modesty panels depending on how tight she is able to lace it.

This is a more traditional overbust shape for me, having shaped cups and a medium sweetheart neckline.

It is made from black silk dupion except the 2nd panels which are blue dupion and have a lace overlay. The binding and modesty panel are black dupion also. Lattice weave trim has been stitched to the top binding and a thin blue ribbon woven through.  It's left loose at the ends so that my client can reweave it or swap it out for different colours in the future. Thick blue dupion piping is stitched into the bottom binding and snaps have been attached for the removable black lace trim. It has black size 00 grommets and standard corset lacing.

The piping along the bottom came out a lot thicker than I had intended, but in the end it worked out well as at its original height it would have been masked by the lace trim.

I am posting from a mine site somewhere near Karratha, in the north-west of WA. Woohoo!

About two weeks ago I bumped into the MD of a mine company I did some contracting to last year.  He told me (with a very furrowed brow) that their poor geologists couldn't find any information and everything was a bit of a mess up at their site office, and would I please go up and help them out?

So, a couple of weeks later, here I am sitting in my donga (ooo, Australian slang!) on a copper and nickel mine site.  I have been here for three days going through all the documentation in their office, cataloguing it all in an excel spreadsheet and giving everything a unique reference number.  I leave tomorrow, but will be back in a couple of weeks to finish it off.

So, life on a mine, eh?  I actually quite enjoy working on mine sites.  I did a couple of stints at an iron ore mine for another company about 18 months ago.

Plusses:
I get to go to work in jeans and boots.
All meals are eaten in the mess, so I get to eat bacon and eggs and hashbrown and mushroom for breakfast each day, and then don't have to cook dinner.  (I had lamb shanks the other night - yummy).
Our rooms are really awesome - I have my own ensuite, TV with 20 Foxtel channels, fridge, desk, network connection and free internet.  A wet mess (bar) is opening on Saturday too. 
I can say 'fuck' in the office and no one cares!
Being one of the few females on the site means I get treated pretty well by the guys.
Nothing to spend my money on, so enforced savings!
It's nice and hot  and not humid (about mid 30s)

Minuses:
There is currently a bit of a grasshopper infestation.  I hate flying and jumping things, so I *really* hate grasshoppers.
There are deadly snakes, although I haven't yet seen any.
They tend to drink instant coffee here, although I did find a stash of old Vittoria coffee I have been using).
My boyfriend isn't here!
I have to get up about 6am.

Anyway, I am leaving tomorrow so have to pack up all my shit tonight and I still haven't had a shower.  It's 9:30 which is supposed to be my bedtime!  

Man, I have so much corsetry to do when I get back!

Gah, heaps of my picture links aren't working anymore 'cos I changed around the file structure for my website, so lots of the URLs have changed.  Anyway, I'm going to have to get around to fixing them all at some stage, but in the meantime if you're trying to look at my previous work, check out the website instead as all the images are there.

Some of you know that I started getting involved with burlesque dancing towards the end of last year.  I started getting very disheartened with bellydancing here as the scene is so over-saturated I'm having a hard-time getting performance work, which is very frustrating for someone who loves this aspect of dance!

I have since developed the alter-ego of Trixi Tassels who specialises, surprise surprise, in tasselling!  I'm sure some of you Aucklanders remember the performance Mary and I put on on for Chris' 30th birthday, so this probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to you!  I've performed just a couple of times with Sugar Blue Burlesque, but they are putting on loads of shows this year so there will be lots more opportunity for me to perform with them.

In addition to this, I've started a Dr Sketchy's Perth with Mel (aka A'dora Derriere) who runs Sugar Blue Burlesque.  We had our first evening last night and it went really well!  Mel and I both performed and I modelled.  Some of you are probably aware that I've been life modelling for about 8 years now, so this is something I'm pretty good at and have quite an interest in.  I'm going to run a short workshop to help develop some more models for Dr Sketchy's here.  Dr Sketchy's is a life drawing class conceived in New York which now runs in about 50 cities around the world.  Have a look at their website.

We've got a website, www.drsketchyperth.com.au, so go take a look and have a gander at the pics from last night.  You can also become a friend of drsketchyperth if you like.

We're hoping to run the evenings fortnightly, alternating between Fremantle and Leederville.  The next one is at The Leederville on April 21st.

If you're in Perth and like being arty, come along!

Here's another corset recently completed.  My client wanted to wear something special to her Moulin Rouge-themed 21st that incorporated the theme colours of black, cream and gold, but that she could also wear again.

She decided the main fabric should be black duchess satin and wanted to incorporate a gorgeous cream diamond brocade that I have had sitting around for a while.  We ended up using this brocade in the form of contrast boning channels, cut so that the crosses ran down the centre of the channel, hinting at the romantic Xs used as kisses.  She really wanted a ruffled lace trim too, but wasn't sure if this would make the corset too unwearable for the future.  The solution?  Removable, of course!  The lace is sewn to double-satin ribbon and is attached with tiny black snaps next to each contrast boning channel.  It is all topped off with an attached back modesty panel and luscious cream ribbon lacing.

 

Recently I completed a corset for a girl to wear to her school ball.  My client has E-cup breasts though, so this provided a small challenge to ensure that she was well supported, but didn't look obscene!

She had a reasonably good idea of what she wanted, in that she wanted some sort of shoulder wrap, a main colour of  the greeney-goldey satin she had and an incorporation of blue shimmery organza.  She also didn't want boobs up to her chin.

I did a number of designs and she decided on one using the blue organza as an overlay on the side panels and as a shoulder wrap with a diamante slider.  In case she decides to wear the corset again and doesn't want the wrap, I made this removable by using clear nylon snaps on the back for the two satin loops and by attaching the slider to a strip of interfaced satin that attaches by a snap on the inside of the top of the busk.

I normally design 12-panel corsets (6 panels per side) with a single seam down the centre of the bust.  Due to the size of her bust though, I wanted it to sit more naturally and rounded and to have some extra boning support, so I opted for a double princess seam down the front.  This was a fiddly little bastard to get right and it took 3 mockups before it was all sitting perfectly, but the end result was just right.  Her bust was sitting nice and high, but without being pushed up at all.  There was no back-fat at all and the wrap sat beautifully around her shoulders.  I hope I get some pictures from her ball! 

It is currently 41c outside. 

Our air-con isn't ducted and doesn't reach down to my sewing room.

That is all.

This is a victorian-style overbust with shaped cups and a sweetheart neckline. It has a uniquely shaped bottom that sits low over the hips before rising up and plunging to a low point at the centre back. It features a floating modesty panel with vertical boning to keep it straight as the corset is laced (this was not yet complete when my client picked up the corset so was not photographed in the corset).

It is made from black duchess delustered satin with centre-front and centre-back panels of client-supplied floral brocade, including pattern matching on the centre-front panels. It is bound with black satin, has antique brass size 00 grommets and is laced with black satin ribbon.

 

 

I also realised that I never posted pictures of an overbust I finished last year.  This is made from client-supplied black and green striped dupion and has black dupion binding. There is one layer of fusible interfacing, two strength layers and one loose lining layer.  It also has a floating back modesty panel that has vertical and horizontal boning.  Unfortunately it is far too long to fit on my dummy so I had to photograph it laying flat.

I finally took some pictures of one of the samples I finished at the end of last year. This is a black dupion underbust made for about a size 8. It was used in a photoshoot for the portfolio of a young hairdresser. If you would like to buy it, please email me at info AT volancia DOT com.

If you would like more details, including construction information, please visit my website at www.volancia.com and click on 'Ready-Made' in the content bar.

Black Dupion Underbust - Sample - $140

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 26cm (10.25")
Underbust - 65cm (25.5")
Waist - 54cm (21.25")
Hip - 75cm (29.5")

This corset has been designed to have a 5cm (2") gap at the back. Unfortunately it's a little too small for my dummy so it looks a bit funny.

Whilst scrabbling around on the floor today cutting pattern pieces, I accidentally knelt on my magnetic pin cushion.

I have followed the recommendations of a few people and created an Etsy store.  I'll be using this to help sell the sample corsets I've made and to sell semi-custom corsets once I have the time to do that.

I've listed the four corsets currently on sale on my website.

You can check it out at volanciacorsetry.etsy.com

I am selling off a bunch of sample corsets that I've made recently. I am boycotting ebay for being evil bastards, so if you would like to buy something, please email me at info AT volancia DOT com. First in first served!

I'm just going to post some small pictures and the basics of the corsets here. If you would like more details, including construction information, please visit my website at www.volancia.com and click on 'Ready-Made' in the content bar.

Blue Dupion Underbust - Sample - $160

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 29cm (11.5")
Underbust - 71cm (28")
Waist - 60cm (23.5")
Hip - 85cm (33.5")

This corset has been designed to have a 5cm (2") gap at the back.

Black Floral Jacquard Underbust - Sample - $160

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 29cm (11.5")
Underbust - 72cm (28.25")
Waist - 61cm (24")
Hip - 83cm (32.75")

This corset has been designed to have a 5cm (2") gap at the back.

( Two more images )

Chocolate and Pink Underbust With Pink Piping - Sample - $150

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 26cm (10.25")
Underbust - 72cm (28.25")
Waist - 61cm (24")
Hip - 81cm (32")

This corset has been designed to have a 5cm (2") gap at the back.


Also, I have reduced the price on the below sample overbust to $180. For more information, please see my website.

Fully closed at the back, this corset measures as follows:

Front Length - 32.5cm (12.75")
Bust - 89cm (35")
Waist - 60cm (23.5")
Hip - 82cm (32.25")

This corset has been designed to have a 5cm (2") gap at the back.

While in New Zealand I got some great shots of some sample corsets and a some from my own collection. All photography is by the fabulous RSJS and I was lucky enough to secure the modelling talents of a gorgeous friend of mine, Miss Bunny Brixton.

I have lots of pictures, so I'll only post a couple of each here under the cut (beware, they're kinda large).  If you want to take a look at more (or some smaller ones) please visit my website and click on either 'What's New' or 'Underbust' in the content bar.

Three of the five corsets are for sale (blue dupion, black jacquard, chocolate/pink satin).  I'll make another post after this with details of these corsets.

The blue corset and black corset are standard designs that I've developed to make it easier for clients to select a style.  When I have some time I plan to make these available for semi-custom ordering where I only take the underbust, waist and hip measurements and make a corset from these, without a mockup.  I have quite a bit on my plate at the moment though and am trying to find time to get retail stock made, so this may be a few months away.

I have given my journal a facelift as I was sick of the old one and it seems to have changed slightly anyway since I upgraded to a plus account.

Behold the new theme!  Experience awe!  Oo-er.

Oh yeah, and I how have emoticon kittehs.

Hello people!

I need your opinions.  Currently the labels I use in my corsets look like this:



which is all well and good except that they are expensive to get embroidered  and I am going to be placing stock in a couple of stores this year and it's a lot of money to spend.

I am looking at getting some custom printed or woven labels, but I can't decide which design to go with.  (Don't mind the crapness of the second one, it's just draft to see what it looks like before I get my fab-o vector drawn logo from Mary).

 

I'm leaning towards the first one as it looks more like a traditional clothing label and looks more striking than the second.  However the second one features the proper Volancia logo from my website which would be good for brand continuity.  The Volancia 'V' *is* just a variation upon that logo though, and was specifically designed with uses like this in mind.

So, what do you all think?

Wow, what a mammoth last 3 weeks I've had!  I am feeling very relieved that my holiday in New Zealand is only a couple of days away now.  I will be forced to do NO SEWING for two whole weeks!  This will be very welcome time off.

In the last three weeks, I have:

• Completed three sample underbusts of standard styles I've developed.  Two of these will be photographed in NZ while I'm there, thanks to the wonderful Richard, and the other will be snapped for a student hair-dresser's shoot some time over the next week.

• Had commissioned and completed a custom Lissome asian-styled underbust for my friend Angie.

• Finished a kilt for my friend Aiden (gonna add some belt loops tonight).

• Drafted and made my first ever dress from scratch (this was a beledi dress for a bellydance concert).  Thanks to the pattern books Chris got me for my birthday last year and much persistence on my part, the dress turned out really well and I am super happy with it. 

• Made various pieces of costuming and adjusted others for a bellydance show.

• Danced in five numbers for the annual concert put on by the bellydance school I've been taking classes with this year.  I performed a drum solo that I choreographed earlier this year and apparently received the biggest audience response of the night!  I will put the clip of it on YouTube next year when I get the DVD of the night.

This was all on top of rehearsals for the bellydance show, plus working at Caltex two days a week.  I am exhausted!

I still want to make one more sample before I fly out Sunday night, but I shall see how I go as I am trying to actively decrease my stress levels as they got quite escalated in the last few days before the concert last Friday.  Swearing, angry Helen has gone back into the closet, at least until I get back from holiday to face two custom overbust commissions and more frikkin' costuming requirements!

I have just completed an 'Introduction to Burlesque' course with my friend Angie, run by Sugar Blue Burlesque.  We are both performing in the graduation show on January 23rd and I have a few costume bits to complete when I get back, including a new corset and demi-cup bra (if I can find some more of that goddamed black-shot emerald dupion!)  I suppose I should actually choreograph my routine sometime too :P

Anyway, if I have neglected anyone over the past few weeks (and I know that I have) then I am terribly sorry, but at least now you know why!

I am looking forward to seeing all your NZers again in just a few days.  Yay for holidays!