Oh, I Say! Crochet Nipple Tassles?!

Can you tell my mind's been on burlesquey things of late? hehe!

I've put my new found hair-pin lace corchet skills to use planning a costume for the next performance, whenever that may be. So it had to start off with...crochet nipple tassles!!

What do you think?

I plundered the local Fabric Land for tassles, metalic thread to use with my metal flake balck wool, beads, and lots and lots and lots of ribbon.

I started off with the black wool, then finished off the edges with metalic embroidery thread. Beads threaded through the loops of the crochet, as well as some ribbon, and then sewd on some more beads on top, including one to hold the tassle in place ;)

Now I just need to think of what to do for the rest of the outfit. This is going to be fun!

 Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx



Shimmy Shakin' what Mama gave me!

First off, I want to say a massive thank you for all your lovely comments on last week's posts. I was actually really nervous and felt a bit shy after posting those pictures up. Wasn't sure how you were going to take it! But you have said nothing but kind words, in a week where I really had to overcome my bum and thigh complex, because I was about to bear all to a rather larger audience than I'm used to!

And also welcome to my new followers! I promise, there will be some un-burlesquey and more crafty posts to come. And I have finally hit, and gone past my personal target of 75 :) woop woop! This means I need to get organised and run a long overdue Give-away! More details on that later this week!

Last Sunday I was very lucky to take part in the Brighton Boutique Charity Fashion show, being held at Oceana on the seafront. Jenny Mearns, the brains behind the super cute pin-up lingerie shop Frantic about Frances asked me to open up her show on the day (she's a brave girl, she'd never even seen me perform before...but then not many have! Must make more effort....). Aaaanywho's....we met last year at the Vintagebrighton.com's 1st Birthday, and I have kept my eyes peeled on Jenny's site since, and watched the collection grow into the amazingly kitch cute line it is now!

She made me an outfit, even picked out the music, and I had about 10 days to make up a routine in ready for the show on the Sunday, yikes! However, many frantic email back and forth leading up to the event, we had a last minute run through when we arrived and then spent the morning getting our hair done, faces painted, and panties positioned.

Here's a sneak preview from behind the scenes, with the models just having gotten into their outfits, how cute are they?

Needless to say I was exceptionally nervous. I haven't done one of these shows since the Royal Wedding themed one last year, and that was only to a crowd of 20 people, this one was to 200+ *gulp*

So how did it go? Apart from having horrible visions of falling off the stage straight into someones lap, legs feeling like they were about to melt away, it was actually extremely liberating!! I had such an amaazing time, and now I remember why I did it last time! The stage was super narrow...it was a catwalk, but I'm proud to report I got through it, no one was hurt during the perfomance (apart form my parasol which is now looking a little worse for wear), and no nipple tassles came flying off. Hurray!!

So here are some piccies taken by the lovely photographers from the day:

Backstage, seconds before going on. love those bows on the front of the corset!!

And in chronological order .....If you switch through them quite quick, it might look like a movie....it's worth a try anyway : P

Photography by Patrick Le Garsmeur

Photography by Patrick Le Garsmeur

Photography by Patrick Le Garsmeur

Photography by Malcolm Tam

I'm looking forward to helping Jenny again in the future, and if any of you are in Brighton this Saturday, make sure you head down to the Mesmerist, she's going to be holding a sample sale of all those lovely knickers!!

 Much Love from Brighton

 L.J.

xxx

1930's Boudoir Shoot

 I'm trying to get back into the world of Burlseque again, so when my lovely photographer friend Kristy Hobden got in touch with me to do a shoot, of course I said yes!

Kristy has been working on a collection of portraits for her recent exhibition, all of lovely tattooed ladies in various stages of undress, and I was lucky enough to be one of them. Thank you Kristy! If you've been following my blog for a little while, you'll have noticed a couple of shoots we've done together, and I have to say, I have never felt so comfortable pretty much stark naked, bar a carefully placed nipple tassle or two and a vintage (see through) dressing gown, with anyone other than my Mister. She definitely knows how to put you at ease, and if you're honest with her about which bits of you you feel self concious about, she knows the exact angle to make it all better again :)

So without further ado, here are my boobiloos, tattoos et all:

 (look away now if you don't wish to see them!)

Hair and Make-up by Moi

Outfit (what outift?!):

Nipple tassles and match fascinator: Goth Fox Designs

Dressing gown - Beyond Retro, Brighton

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxxx

KRISTY HOBDEN
Freelance Live Music & Portrait Photographer

www.kristyhobden.com

www.twitter.com/kristy_hobden

Burlesque at the Regency

Last Sunday saw the opening night of Burlesque at the Regency, 'A Right Royal Hoot'.

As mentioned in my post, this was also my very first performance, and I was honoured to be able to lose my performance virginity with the amazing Miss Honey Moon by my side. 

Miss Honey Moon

Honey runs a Burlesque School, hidden away in the Regency Hotel on Regency Square in Brighton. I went along to her back in the summer, and had a little 'end of term' show, but I hadn't plucked up the courage to go out and perform afterwards. Then one day in March, up popped an email from Honey asking if I wanted to take part in her new event, a Royal Wedding After Party on May 1st. 

A few weeks later, and here you go! A reverse strip to Abba's 'Take a Chance On Me', getting ready for my 'wedding':

Thank you to the magnificent Vanessa and Aoife for being my bridesmaids, and for maid-ing the whole evening through! Couldn't have done it without them :)

Trixy Vixen then took centre stage as 'The Vicar' to conduct the ceremony, whereby I am seduced by the Vicar, and my 'hubby' is dragged off by the Maids of Honour. It was such a hoot!!

It was an amazing night, also featuring acts by Coco Deville, Therese Le Tease and Pandora Fox as the Queen and Kate, Miss Honey Moon and Trixy Vixen, and the Ophelia Fancy Girls also popped in for a show  of their new vintage inspired underwear.

A huge thank you to the Maids of Honour for all that they did, to James for slaving away in the kitchen to serve up some amazing treats, and to Honey Moon of course! Thank you for making my first performance such an amazing experience which I'm sure I shall never forget!

All pictures were taken by Tristan Glinski, to find out more about him and his work, visit his Website. Many thanks for taking such brilliant photos, they really captured the night!

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.
xxx

Burlesque Bonanza

It's been a pretty exciting week in the land of Lady Jardin, and I have been busy plotting with the girls over at Burlesque HQ hosted by Honey Moon at the Regency Hotel.

I can't tell you much as yet as it's still rather hush hush, but I cannot wait to show you all! It's going to be Royal Wedding themed, and I may be doin' me thang to Abba....oh yes, you heard right, Abba! Heheh, this is going to be such a laugh.

So for the past few nights I have been trying to master the art of putting on stockings at speed, AND looking seductive in the process....yes, a reverse strip now seems like a bit of a challenge. Anyone who has seen me in the mornings will tell you I am the least graceful or elegant person in town, so fingers crossed I can pull it off.

All I can say is, Abba, 70s wedding dress, maids, and lots of shakin my booty.

And by the sounds of what the other girls have got in store, this really will be a Right Royal Hoot!

Oh yes, it will be good.

More to come on this as and when, without giving too much away, but as a little taster, here's the poster for it:

Design by Chrissie Nicholson-Wild

So excited! My first proper performance and I couldn't have asked for a better troupe to lose my stage virginity with.

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

Brighton Tattoo Convention 2011

In Loving Memory of Shone

He was such a character, and one of the nicest people i have met, always

 happy to see us, and made the whole experience of going to Magnum Opus a joy. He will be sorely missed.

©2010 Ester Segarra. http://www.e-segarra.com/

Please give generously

Please Support the Samaritans

Saturday, 28th January 2011, saw the return of the Brighton Tattoo Convention at Brighton Racecourse, and what a day it was!

I strongly recommend to anyone thinking of going next year to book your tickets in advance, because a) you get to go in an hour earlier, and b) you don't have to stand in the FREEZING queue being blasted from all directions by the horrid, face numbing wind! Trust me, it's worth it.

After having bumbled through the main floor (hangover from previous night's gig still lurking), and up both towers, we soon realised it would be a little wait before anyone started getting tattooed, so we retired to the bar for a rather civilised cuppa.

Cuppa finished, let the fun begin! One of the first places I wanted to stop by were the lovely guys at Magnum Opus, where I had the last 2 completed, the first by Inma, who came up with my ribcage design, based on a bird designed by my favourite arist Alfons Mucha, and I love how simple and elegant she's made it into. 7 hours later and voila! Lucy then did Heinz's paw prints in October, after my beloved dog passed away. The detail she put into them blew me away.

(here's one of the guys at Nine in action)

I've been eyeing up Nigel at Nine in Brighton for a while, and think i'll take the plunge again in the summer.

This guy was having his chest piece completed, he told us it took a whole day just to mark out the tattoo in the first place, and whenever we came back, they were still hard at it! It really did look amazing at the end!

(the most glamarous tattooist in town!)

I really love watching others getting tattooed, and seeing the designs the artists come up with. It gets me itching to start sketching again, but I can never come up with the ideas they do. I really wish I'd managed to take a photo of a guy who had an amazing sleeve, comprising of a old WW2 letter, with original seal, looking like he's put himself under an old school type writer, then planes in the background with soldiers parachuting from the sky into the distance, and warfare on the ground...I'd love to know who's that was...

Also came across some hand tattooing in the boxing ring:

Such a relaxed atmosphere, and if you're like me and enjoy people watching, this is the place to go. You can go and chill in the bar with a pint, watch the bands, tattoo judging and peruse the shops, take a stroll outside to the art gallery, with free art classes and material, even a sugar skull competition! \on the subject of sugar skulls, the Mister came up with a wicked way of creating a suger skull design in a Suckie notebook. Next time I get near a scanner I'll put some up!

Next door to the bar there was also a Sailor Jerry exhibition, with a mini cinema and free Jerry & Ginger Ale! Yum!

But best to go upstairs first, if you dare. They were showing skin scarification and branding. We got chatting to the guy at the stand, and the random fact of the day was; vegetarians don't mind the smell, but meat eaters can't stand it...we didn't hang around for long...

...Back in the main area, people watching...

Just love this girls cat sleve, don't you?

All in all, a great day out, and I've been very inspired since to get practicing on my pin striping skills, or lack of. Since I've starting a new project and making another dress, I've been messing about with pin stripe embroidery, blog to follow! Its taking some time but I reckon with a bit more practice, I can just about do it!

Much Love from Brighton

L.J.

xxx