So my latest obsession is op-shopping! You really never know what amazing treasures you will find, and the best thing is it is so cheap!! Over the past few weeks I have spent about a total of an hour in op-shops and spent a little under $40 and I bought so many things! The photos above are just a sample!!

My spoils include:

I love corsets for a few reasons. Firstly and at the most base level possible - they are gorgeous pieces of fashion that create a beautiful shape on any woman. The next more complicated reason is that these garments have a wealth of history behind them. They are one of the most contested items of clothing and have such a rich story. Wearing a corset makes me feel linked with hundreds of years of women, and many different circumstances under which women would put this garment on. Its so much more than just a top or something to cover you. It's an experience. Something that you are aware of, even after you take the corset off you can still feel its presents in your muscles.

But what is a corset? Well... A corset is a garment worn to mold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or for medical purposes (either for the duration of wearing it, or with a more lasting effect). Both men and women are known to wear corsets, though women are more common wearers. Historically speaking, the corset has been erroneously attributed to Catherine de' Medici, wife of King Henry II of France. She enforced a ban on thick waists at court attendance during the 1550s. For nearly 350 years, women's primary means of support was the corset, with laces and stays made of whalebone or metal.

The garments are painful and wearing them is an active pursuit. And authentic corsets are made by corsetiers (or corset makers) and are made for the individual.

In Australia, the best (or perhaps most commercial) corset maker is Gallery Serpentine. This is where I purchased my two corsets which are pictured below. I love both of them so much! The one on the left is a black satin underbust waspie (dress made by me for the Gangsters Ball) and on the right is a brocade femme fatal overbust (skirt made by me for the Burlesque Ball).

What are your thoughts on corsets?


In other news, you may notice these photos I have used. They are a sneak peek of the photoshoot I modelled for with my wonderful photographer friend Lisey Walker on Friday. More photos to come when they are ready

Loved by: Philippa . Bella . Gina . Mahorka . Pauline . Jayde . Angelica . Marina

I had the Bluebird Cardi on layby for about two days and then picked it up today and I was sooo excited, it's lovely!! And the skirt was exactly what I have been looking for to wear with little tops and my leather jacket. I don't even want to mention how much $$ it cost me .

In site news, I have added a cbox on the right, so feel free to comment (please? lol) and I have also started using smilies that I made!!

Loved by: Afef . Gina . ayah . Jessica . kathy

So when we got there, I went straight for the drumkit and there I stayed for a while - it was really really fun and I was surprised that I could actually do some stuff. Then I had a go of the bass guitar - also surprised that I was able to play something since I had never picked up a bass in my life. Although my nails were really annoying and got in the way.

Then the thing I was fearing - Rob told me to sing. Ah, crap. So I tried to think of a song that they could play and I could sing but I just couldn't. I didn't want to. I freaked out and just felt like I was going to cry and I ended up running out of the room and hiding in the bathroom. Rob came and found me ofcourse, and I told him that I was freaking out - that I just can't do it. Then I thought of a song - 'Ain't Misbehavin' - that we could try and it actually sounded good. It felt good to prove to my friends and to Rob that I could sing, but I was still really shake up.

Later on, after Jeremy left and Stu was upstairs watching TV, I went back downstairs to find Rob playing guitar and he asked me to sing something he had a written - so I did. And it worked! It made me so happy but then he started playing something else and told me to sing, to make something up. And I just couldn't think again! I couldn't think of anything! I panicked and started crying and I know that Rob just couldn't understand. I don't even understand. I just feel like music is causing me so much anguish because I want to perform again SO MUCH but I just can't seem to get anything to come out of my mouth. I can't make stuff up, I can't even hum when I am asked to hum. It's so stupid - singing used to be the thing I was good at, what I was known for. And now... now it just causes me pain. I don't know how to fix this!

Guh!

So to distract myself, this morning I did some site stuff. I have been having troubles with spam so I have added an anti-spam bot to the comments form so I hope people don't mind! Also, I added a commenters love list to the end of each article so that the name of the commenters show up!! Its cause I love you all!! <3

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There is something so magical about her, something other-worldly and the whole time I just sat there, staring at her with this huge grin on my face. I couldn't take my eyes off her! I knew every word of every song and she also performed a new one which was just as incredible as every other song she did!. She also did another new one 'Heavy in your arms' which has been used on the new twilight movie and it's very much one of my favourites. I was so excited when that song started!!

The tickets to go and see her were a gift from my wonderful boyfriend Rob (who I have just shared our 5 month anniversary with). He is so wonderful and makes me sooooo happy!! And he actually knows me and knows what I like and he was spot on when he bought these tickets because I loved every minute of this concert!!

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I am selling some jackets and I will be adding some jeans and other things soon. If you are a blog reader and are not located in Australia, please email me if you would like to purchase anything and we can work out postage and everything.

I am trying to make some cash so that I can pay for some doctors bills so I have started taking orders too =] check out this sample page if you would like a custom item made!

So today I got tickets for this months Ruby Revue which is a burlesque show held here in Sydney. This Sunday I will be going with Suzi and then I also got tickets for next month because the tickets were really cheap, so Alyce will be coming with me then =D

It must have been ticket day, because I also got Rob and I tickets to the Highland Ball! I love balls soooo much, getting all dressed up and dancing the night away! I can't wait!

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It turned out quite like my initial design so thats good!!

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Aren't they just the cutest!!! They remind me of Barbie! =]

Secondly, I got this cute food bowl for my puppy Rosalie. I just thought that it was really nice and it only cost me AU$4.00!!

In site news, I have been accepted into the Quilting Bee so if you would like to trade that would be lovely! Just email me with you name, URL, members # and patch and I will add you to the quilt! I have spent all morning adding patches to the 'about me quilt' on the 'special' page of my qbee. Check everything out here!
I also have a new Affie - the lovely Rachel-Rebecka. Visit her site here.

In real life news, I had a meeting yesterday with my thesis supervisor. I have been panicking about my thesis alot and I was getting to the point where I just wanted to quit. But after a long and very fruitful meeting with Amanda, I feel much better and I am also even a little excited now!!

Anyway, I am off to get my hair done today =]

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