August 2019 Make-Cation: Bead Embroidered Insect Corset.

Bead embroidered bug corset project work in progress Suzanne Forbes Aug 28 2019 I know some of you have been wondering, where is the bug corset, Suz?

Bead embroidered bug corset project work in progress Suzanne Forbes Aug 28 2019 leftBecause of how much I like bugs (“Bugs are Nature’s jewelry! Put a bug on and you’re ready to go out!”) and how very, very many bug things I have made.*

And how much I like corsets and how many elaborate bead embroidered and embellished corsets I’ve created.

It does seem like a natural match! But for whatever reason, it hasn’t happened – UNTIL NOW!!!!

Bead embroidered bug corset project work in process Suzanne Forbes Aug 28 2019Oh dear heavens, bead embroidery is a time sink.

Bead embroidered bug corset project work in progress Suzanne Forbes Aug 28 2019This is a commercial corset with a lace overlay, and at this point I have put about 150 hours into embellishing with bead embroidery, appliques and metallic thread embroidery. I watched two seasons of “Colony”, a season of “Lucifer”, and a season of “Supernatural”.

Shockingly, “Supernatural” gradually recovers its footing in season 11, after some bullshit fridging in Season 10 that just about made me give up.

But season 11 has representation, diversity, fan service, precious cameos (I yelped with joy!) and the focus on family and Dean being kind of an idiot that I love.

Bead embroidered bug corset project work in progress Suzanne Forbes Aug 28 2019 bottomThe bugs are commercial appliques I’ve been collecting for a while; they are coordinated by using colored Sharpies to tint areas that are too bright or plain white. I sewed them on with plain black thread, then used many shades of metallic thread to integrate them with the glittering beads.

I estimate there’s another forty-fifty hours of work to finish this project.

Since I have strep throat and I have to have surgery on my knee in September, I should have plenty of time. If the cat lets me! Morgan le Fay had surgery on a melanoma on her ear and is SO MAD about the cone of shame.

I just need to choose some shows to run in the background. Supernatural season 12 is on Amazon Prime here; after that I gotta figure out some other options. “Lucifer”, in Season 4, has descended into “Will they/won’t they” hell (ha ha) and I am just about ready to start skipping episodes based on spoilers. Or I might just bounce over to “Legends of Tomorrow”, which is so good and so gay and so weird and so dumb.

*Bug stuff, some of it:

Bug footstool

Bug Mirror

Embroidered Bug

Bug Bricolage

Mauve Moth Embroidery Shadowbox

Bead Embroidered Moth Shadowbox

Mantis Shadowbox and more

Collage with butterflies and snakes

Bee bricolage and cicada shadowbox

Moonlit Moth with real Mohair fur

Grasshopper Golden Jubilee carriage

Hideous Insect Gothic Rococo Mirror

Articulated Mantis OOAK doll in translucent FIMO

Jewelled bug and talk about insect themes in womens art

Bead embroidered beetle

Making is my medicine Moth embroidery

Beaded embroidered pink grasshopper

Beadwork spider for Halloween

Glitter grasshopper and beetle frame

Horrifying rococo insect OOAK doll

Horrifying Victorian insect OOAK doll

Bead embroidered beetle

Jeweled flies and cold porcelain moths

Fauvist mantis embroidery

Jeweled mantis on wire armature

Pride, Not Prejudice: an all-queer Extravagant Shambles at Monster Ronsons!

Eden Lost at Extravagant Shambles Pride Not Prejudice August 27 2019 by Suzanne ForbesThe minute producer Cadbury Parfait announced a Pride Week show with an all queer-identifying lineup, I was in!

I love to go to shows at iconic venue Monster Ronsons, even though it’s on the absolute opposite side of town (and of course in the summer getting to the East is a nightmare because U-Bahn construction). Because, a) the place just feels like home, and b) Ronsons actually has some shitty air-conditioning, which puts it WAY ahead of basically every other venue in Berlin. And Pride, Not Prejudice was a can’t-miss Extravagant Shambles lineup!

Above, Eden Lost shakes off the patriarchy.

Eden Lost is one of those performers who just blows my mind. They have the kind of star power and gorgeousness that comes off the stage in waves. I was so thrilled to meet them and have been following their adventures on the Insta, where I just saw they cosplayed 80’s Punk Storm!!! You must click!!! So good I am basically rolling around on the floor SHRIEKING.

Sarah Tonin at Extravagant Shambles Pride Not Prejudice Aug 27 2019 by Suzanne ForbesHostess Sarah Tonin as a seven-foot tall Gothic Lolita in mint and black outfit by Harry Hardon.

HP Loveshaft at Pride Not Prejudice July 27 2019 by Suzanne ForbesThere was a terrific showing of local drag kings.

Above, gentleman dandy HP Loveshaft bringing hard thrills! (My Patrons got to see these two hot drag king portraits a month earlier than everyone else, as an exclusive treat).

Daddy Sparkles at Pride Not Prejudice July 27 2019 by Suzanne ForbesAnother fabulous performer I was drawing for the first time, Daddy Sparkles!

Daddy Sparkles is an explosion of colorful charisma!

Stella von Fersen at Extravagant Shambles Pride Not Prejudice Aug 27 2019 by Suzanne ForbesStage Kitten Stella Von Fersen wore one of my favorite classic cabaret looks, tux and topper!

Betty Fvck at Extravagant Shambles Pride Not Prejudice August 29 2019 by Suzanne ForbesEveryone loves glamour queen Betty Fvck, she always brings her A game!Miss Strawberry Moon at Extravagant Shambles Pride Not Prejudice August 29 2019 by Suzanne ForbesMiss Strawberry Moon came over from the UK!

You know I love me some tentacles, and Pride flag tentacles, well hell yes!!!!

Coming soon, more drawings with breathtaking Lily Lustre, genderqueer Harry Potter cosplay from Skirt Vonnegut, and rock’em sock’em showgirl Felicity Felicis!

An important note to all my lovelies: I’m at home finishing all these drawings while I have a horrible case of strep throat AND bronchitis.

As a fat, queer, disabled artist, crowdfunded support is the only way I can make this work. 

You can join my Patreon Patrons, for as little as a dollar/euro a month, to keep me working and releasing my documentary art of Queer Berlin as Free Art.