Karen Hsiao iPhone studies

Karen Hsiao sent over some images taken with her iPhone during her recent photo shoots. She has been experimenting with different models, and adding elements like the gauze wraps underneath the hoods. I love seeing her play with the gear, and taking it in different directions... She is also working on a book on the Black Cherries series, which I am really looking forward to. Check out her blog site for more images from the series.

Black Conical Hat

Another image from the Black Cherries series with Karen Hsiao. I made the hat and we integrated a finial with tassel Karen had found into the design. The hat is actually patent leather outside and lined with a garment leather on the inside... With the beautiful Asian girl and the pops of black on the eyes, lips and nails - I just love how this image turned out. 

Karen is putting together a book with images from the series... Can't wait to see these all in print. Limited edition fine-art prints will be available too, which I'll let you know about here, of course! 

Red Butterfly Girl

This might be my favorite from the series so far... from Karen Hsiao's Black Cherries. Her face and body just embody a sense of erotic surrender and submission - saying "Take me, as you wish - have me. I'm yours."  At least that's what I see... 

Zipped Harness Top

Got to work on a harness top a few nights ago. More fun with straps! It's part of the ongoing series of pieces I've beek working on with the amazing and talented artist/photographer Karen Hsiao. The cool thing was since it needed to fit just right, (and we were going with a zipper closure), she came over and I basically built the harness on her. 

That's one way to ensure a perfect fit...

It came out pretty cool, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she does with it!

Heart-shaped Hoods: open ear and lamb variations

I finished up a pair of hoods tonight, made from the same pattern but in two different leathers. The first one is in red patent pig leather, the second in red lamb leather.  

This pattern was modified to have a little more of a "heart-shaped" face opening compared to the other open-face hoods I've made in the past, with a slight curve at the cheek. It should really frame the face nicely...

The open-ear makes this hood unique. It's a good hood for all of you out there who find the ear to be an erogenous zone. 

I think I need to do a version with the ears open, but the face closed - nose holes only. That would be evil... Especially for those with sensitive ears. 

The red lamb leather version is just stunning. Soft and supple, it feels great on the inside. It is also thicker than the patent pig (0.85mm for the lamb vs. 0.4mm for the patent), but more stretchy. 

The stretch gives it a nice smooth look. I wish all the lamb leathers were this nice, thick and supple. It gives the topstitching a nice puffy look along the edge. 

The front view gives you a nice look at the "heart" shaped opening. 

In the rear you can see the difference the leather makes - the lamb pulls a lot closer together than the patent on the same form. 

So pretty...

Another day, another hood (or two)...

BDSM in NY Times?

A funny NYMag article here on the "nerdiness" of BDSM. Good for a few chuckles. 

It references an original article in the NY Times here in the Fashion & Style section focusing on the new interest in BDSM sparked by all the people reading 50 Shades of Grey. 

One interesting piece of information I came across in that article: Fetlife has over 1.7 million members! 

That's pretty cool to me, as someone who always wonders how many other people are out there like me. A lot, apparently... 

And if you're kinky and don't know about Fetlife, check it out. Lots of great people on the site! 

Hawk Hood with Leather Feathers

Pushing into new design ideas with Karen Hsiao - fantasy creatures. This is the hawk hood in lamb leather with kid feathers... Complete with hardware attachment at the top for the tassled finial.