Then and Now
Back in 2015 we shot this corset the first time. I felt that while it was very historical in nature and worked for my Christmas theme, it didn’t feel finished.
Here it the Snow Flower shoot:
Fast forward two years later when I went bananas buying antique lace at the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale. I had just fractured my 5th metatarsal shortly beforehand and was just starting to use crutches more to get out of bed. If you have been wondering why I was pretty quiet the first half of this year, I spent 6 months in casts, air casts, and finally physical therapy. The physical therapy continues as the soft tissue damage on the ankle persists, they say at least a year to recovery.
Anyhow, I needed to find more hand sewing to keep my busy as it took quite a while to learn to sew as accurately with my left foot. No driving, no sewing… all this took a big toll on me. But I kept working on finding the final elements to finish this corset. I added a bit of cream silk flossing first but wanted something to anchor the shaping of the hips and the detailed seaming on the corset which was lost when it was left all red.
I went to the yearly lace sale, on crutches, and found the perfect remnant of lace! It wasn’t until my grandfather died that I knew how to finally finish her. Here is the Ex Voto corset inspired by my grandfather’s fight against cancer. In the winter of 2015 I flew out last minute to see my grandfather who was given a few weeks to live, but he didn’t die then. Growing up Catholic with religious grandparents I prayed for his survival. Even though I had lost my faith long ago, I still consider myself a spiritual person and find solace that he lived 2 years!
I purchased this 1930s Ex voto in memoriam of my grandfather. It is the representation of the miracle of how he fought for his life, his devotion to the church his wife so much adored, and his devotion to raising us kids when my mom needed him. I miss you Grandpa.
Ex Voto Corset
Photographer: Iberian Black Arts
Model: Threnody in Velvet
Corset, garters, and knickers: Laurie Tavan
Headdress: Creations by Liv
