Padme Amidala The Black Corset Piece

That fabric looks great Benae! I'm still on the lookout for a decent fabric for my remake of the costume. I have a proper corset which I will wear underneath, so I just need to remake the sheath to go over the top. I'd like to also do the feather caplet to go with it this time. Though I don't have a definite time frame for getting it done, just when I find the right fabric.

Thanks so much for the necklace image, that is so helpful! I've always been confused by the necklace, and that picture makes it so much clearer!

 

I started working on the 'brooch' of the necklace

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/IMG_8912.JPG]
My Supplies All from M&J Trimming of course lol.

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/IMG_8924.JPG]
Work-in-Progress with the original piece.

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/large/IMG_8926.JPG]
Almost done!
Beading is so relaxing and actually goes pretty fast I opted for two Marquise stones instead of hunting down/making the 'pacman' beads... I honoestly like my version better lol It catches more light better and is more sparkly

 

BQ wonderful work. I actually like the Marquee jewels better than the pacman ones. It looks classy and eligant. I think I am going to use a black satin to stich the beads to then attach that to the velvet parts. I love doing embroidery, but with the amount of time it takes I don't get to do nearly as much as I'd like to do.
Questions:
What size are the large round jewels?
What size are the marque jewels?
Could you do a list with the sizes and quanity of the the beads and jewels you used?

 

It's coming along very nicely Benae.

 

Thanks Trust me, I'm keeping tabs on the qty of beads used When I'm done I'll take a picture of how I'm attaching it... it's hard to describe.

So far...

Round Jewels Item #39251 - 1 Pack of Jet Black
15mm x 7mm Swarovski Marquise/Navette #03913 - Jet/Silver - 1 dzn purchased, only used 10 (always good to have extra ).
10mm x 5mm Swarovski Marquise/Navette #03911 - Jet/Silver - 2 pcs
10mm x 6mm Swarovski Pear #03920 - Jet/Silver - 2 pcs
3mm Swarovski Article 5301 #03703 - Jet - 2 packs of 100 pcs each (200 total beads purchased, still counting the used).
Seed Beads - Black Glass - 1 hank (no style number since they are close out - we have plenty) $7.98/hank

 

Awesome BQ. You are such a doll for sharing your hard work details with us. Your work is always stunning.

 

Beautiful research and work, Benae! It's actually inspired me to start the project all over again, since I was stumbling around blindly researching the choker/neckpiece.

 

FYI to anyone who may be interested, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is holding a Bead Show in October. Just thought I'd pass the info along.

 

I found this material on eBay and feel very fortunate to find something
finally without a floral pattern. My local stores don't have anything
remotely close to the velvet burn out or a non floral lace material.
[image=http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/ladyghst915/Costume%20Work/5d74_1fabric.jpg]
[image=http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/ladyghst915/Costume%20Work/722e_1Blackscallopedlacefabric.jpg]

I also did a little work on a version of the broach
using teardrop and 4mm round beads instead of the pacman beads.
Not an exact replica, but a suitable rendition. About 14 hours of
beading embroidery, then finishing. The tendrils/tabbards hanging
down are not the actual ones I'll be using with the work.
Just a beaded belt I was using as a comparison.
[image=http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/ladyghst915/Costume%20Work/BlackbeadedbroachFSensemble.jpg]

 

Oooo pretty fabric and the brooch is great! I need to stabalize mine as I didn't have time and a few of the outer beads have fallen off already .

Here's one of the only shots I really got from Dragon Con in it...
[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/large/IMG_93921.JPG]
I wore it to the Rebel Legion photo and I was DYING in it. Hot Sun + Black Pleather Corset = literal melting. I have never been so overheated in my life *ew* Thankfully, as soon as we got back from the shoot I jumped in the Mariott Pool (which was Ice cold *yay*)

 

Awww...beautiful as per all your works.

On the broach, I used a layer of black satin then a round of extra heavy duty stabilizer like you would use for a stiff hat about 1/8th inch thick or 1/16th, but definitely stiffer than regular stabilizer, then another layer of satin, then a soluable stablizer with my design drawn on it. I sewed my large beads on much like I would a button with several passes throu the beads with heavier duty, button hole twist to really secure them. They will probably get bumped more than the smaller beads so I wanted to make sure they stayed really secure. My outer edge of beads and my large beads, I stitched through more than once to secure them.

After I completed the beadwork, I trimmed my piece leaving about 1/2 inch raw edge all the way around. I took another piece of satin, stitched by hand around the edge really close to the edge of the beading leaving a small opening at the bottom to turn it inside out. It was a little tough to turn out but once I did I slip stitched tightly the opening completing the round with all the raw edges inside and all of the stitching behind the beads neatly concealed inside. I plan to add sturdy snaps on the back side of the broach to attach it to the tabbards and the collar piece.

 

BQ or anyone else who has also completed the neck piece, how did you do your tabbard strands? One by one, as a weave, do they hang individually? There are not a lot of details on that anywhere other than how they look when they are finished?

 

I ordered some Offray 5mm Velvet tubing and hopefully that will be the last piece of the puzzel to acquire for the making of the neck piece and the entire ensemble.

 

I started working on the necklace since I finally gathered all my materials (just need tiny grommets).

I'm using a heavy duty beading wire (black nylon coated steel, 7 strand) and black metal crimp beads. It will hold the beads well without the disaster that happened to me at Dragon Con with my silk thread (twisting, knotting, and breakage). Every bead strand will be anchored to the velvet choker part on a black eyelet/grommet. The choker is reinforced with a layer of horsehair on the edge and heavy weight interfacing on the whole thing. When I have that all together I'll show pictures. The brooch will simply snap over it to hide the closure in the front (as well as the grommets).

My beaded strands are 48" long (good for a person 5'6"). I went through 1000 4mm vintage black glass beads for the 4 long strands, and 75 12mm vintage black glass beads for the 3 spaced strands. I haven't even made the shorter bugle and small beaded strands yet. I also need to pick up black velvet tubing as well (about 5.5 yards). Surprisingly, for all those glass beads, it's not that heavy.

A few in progress pictures...
[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/IMG_0465.JPG]
A few beads with the brooch (brooch is under reconstruction)

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/Fireside%20Necklace%20Making%2001.jpg]
Beading Supplies and tools! Acculon 7 strand black coated cable wire (around $7 for 100 feet), black metal crimp beads ($3 for 144) 4mm vintage glass beads (I used 1000), wire snips, and ribbed needle nose pliers for crimping the beads.

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/Fireside%20Necklace%20Making%2002.jpg]
Showing how the bottom is double crimped for added security, the beads were then strung on 250 per strand, another crimp temporarily caps the end until I add them to the choker.

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/small/Fireside%20Necklace%20Making%2003.jpg]
LONG strands - 48" long! Leia decided she had to see what the fuss was about and is at the bottom of photo sniffing my beads lol.

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/small/Fireside%20Necklace%20Making%2004.jpg]
8" between sets of 5 12mm beads. You will have to adjust this measurement depending on your own height, but this seemed to work out for me being 5'6" A crimp bead on the top and bottom of each set of 5 beads keeps them exactly where they should be on the strand.

http://imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress

 

I added all the beaded strands and velvet to the necklace! Unfortunately couldn't get my velvet tubing (out of stock for 8 weeks :shock: ), so I used a double sided velvet ribbon at 5mm wide (1/4") instead. I was too tired tonight to add the beads to the velvet choker, but that's easy enough to do later. I also picked up new pleather for the corset and gauntlets

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/IMG_9859.JPG]
Setting the grommets to hold the beaded strands.


[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/IMG_9878.JPG]
Showing how all the strands hang from the grommets. They are very secure this way and don't tangle like the silk thread I was using 8) The brooch piece (once fixed) will snap on over the choker snaps and grommets to hide them .

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/IMG_9886.JPG]
Showing the full length of the strands. I tried this on and it flows really when I walk, but was tangling with my legs... good thing it was meant to be work with a skirt lol

 

Nice work BQ. I have gotten about the same place as you here on the tabbards. I am cutting out the rest of the gown parts today. I will post the pix as soon as I can get them from the camera and back to the library to post. Our home internet is down. Man it stinks not to be able to upload immediately from home.

 

Looks gorgeous Benae.

 

Looks great, Kristin - can't wait to see the flow!

 

That is looking great Kris! Looking forward to seeing it all together on you!

 

I finally got to dive into this one and I have two variations on the underskirt. One is with the longer train that needs to be cinched up to give the appropriate fishtail look and the other has a much shorter train, but the fullness to also give a nice slightly smaller fishtail look without needing the cinch up.
Entire album


I also made a crinolin that has two ways to wear, either as a long train or cinched up for a shorter one. It can also be worn over the under skirt if you wanted to go for a totally different style altogether. I used a heavy millinary netting like for hats and it gave a lovely sheen to the crinolin with more stability and sturdiness than tulle, but a much softer feel and more elagant look.





STYLE 1 with longer train






STLYE 2 with shorter ledd full train




with crinolin under skirt


I started on the tabbards with the long velvet tubes and large black faceted beads in four groups of 15. I strung them together and joined the tubes to give a stable base for the rest of the loose strings of beads.



I have nearly finished the black leather corset and will post more pictures later. I haven't cut out the over skirt lace yet until I do a fitting with my commissioner to make sure everything fits right. The under skirt is easy to redo, but the overskirt material was hard to come by and in limited quanity, so I go to get that one right on the first pass. I will post updates later.

 

Looking great so far! I love the petticoat/crinoline, reminds me of how I need to fix mine still lol. I got fabric for my new corset and gauntlets, hopefully I can work on them this weekend

 

Wow I haven't been here is ages lol

I have just acquired a pattern from last_chael, that could be used for this costume without much altering, so it is looking like I might try my hand at it in the near future

I went in to my local Spotlight on Monday to find some fabric for a custom job I am doing, and I found a Black lace that would work well...not exact, more of a flower-based one, but still for a first version it will work

Its going to be fun, might even start it straight after I have finished this Custom Costume...hmmm

MC (Jackie)

 

BQ your work has inspired and helped me. You do good work kiddo. Your tireless efforts and those of the others here have been my inspiration and jumping off point for jumping into this project.

http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n208/ladyghst915/Fireside%202009/
I posted more pix of progress in my photobucket. I finished the corset and did a little display of how things are coming together. I only wish I was as slim as my commissioner because it is so pretty, it takes my breath away. I am having her over either this weekend or next for a fitting. My maniquin is much taller than my 5'3" patron, but has a very similar figure. Also the maniquin torso is rigid so the corset does not cinch the body as nicely as it will on the young lady who will be wearing this.
I also think the shorter skirt is more practical for wearing at conventions with all the clods who like to step on our "tails".

skirt 1 longer with fabric overskirt draped for effect.


Incomplete tabbards with completed corset and incomplete skirt.


Shorter skirt 2 with corset and incomplete tabbards.


Skirt 2 with overskirt fabric drapped over it.


I haven't gotten to the gloves yet, but that is next on the agenda.

 

I finished the new corset! My last one closed in the front with a row of hook and eyes - so annoying to do them all up. My new one closes with a heavy duty zipper Made from pleather with a satin lining. Boned with plastic boning on each seam. I learned from my last one that the hip area is way to wide and it would flare off my hips funny, so I took it in to fit me better. The zipper is great, it's so easy to put on now
http://imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/large/New%20Corset%2004.jpg]

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/large/New%20Corset%2003.jpg]

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/large/New%20%20Corset%2005.jpg]