Here is the making of a Corset made from Mini Blinds, Bicycle Tire Tubes, A Door knob Plate, and 8 hinges (not photographed).  The skirt which also is not included is made out of  x-rays that greg gleaned!  You’ll have to all come to the show to see the final piece… just so you know, the skirt lights up!

Mini blind corset doodle.  My love affair started when I found this old white door knob plate.  It was begging to be made into something.

These are metal mini blinds cut into thirds.  I use masking tape to hold the weft down as I measure and then weave through… making the fabric is pretty time consuming, not to mention painful. The edges always seem to scratch up my hands.

Oh hello Project runway.  This is my dress form that I’m drawing the shapes I’d like to pattern from.  You can see the clear plastic over the black lines.  Traditionally a pattern maker would use muslin to drape the fabric around the form and over the lines making it difficult to replicate.  With the clear plastic, I have a very durable pattern, and one that I can see EXACTLY what I marked instead of having to feel through the fabric.  The see through-ness is a real time saver!These are the pattern pieces laid out and taped on the woven mini blind fabric.  MAKE sure to label all pieces and parts.  They get confusing when they’re all fragmented.Drilling the stitching holes with my fancy dremel.

Once the holes are in.  I can sew the pieces together.  I’ve chosen to use bicycle tire tubes as my thread.  They must be cut very thin.

Here is a sneak peak at the back before I put in a cashmere sweater lining.

And here is the finished top.  The back of the corset which isn’t photographed is laced up the back with bicycle tire tube thread, and 8 gorgeous hinges.  It’s really cool looking on.  Can’t wait for you all to see my nordic model I choose to wear this dress…. GOR-GEOUS!