Picking out my favourite shots from the Hootchy Kootchy Best of the Best show! This one by Octane Images is top of the list so far.

The Hootchy Kootchy Girls Amateur Burlesque put on quite a show recently. A Best of the Best show in fact, welcoming winter with more sequinned panties and shimmery brassieres than you can shake a stick at!

I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for official photos and video, tapping my size 5 toes in anticipation. I just can’t wait any longer though, so in the meantime feast your eyes on these candid, but still tasty, shots from the evening!

Unwitting lingerie twins, obviously we both have good taste!

A Hootchy Kootchy selection, somewhat dominated by my whipped-cream-esque bustle!

With Miss Demoiselle and some of our uber glamorous audience members.

Happily sandwiched between Miss Demoiselle and Pinky Ooh LaLa!

Burlesque Dancer Vera Vivacious wearing her Beckon Couture hairpiece. It’s just perfect against her amazing hair!

Head over to their store and see if you can find my legs, and find some awesome socks while you’re there…

Photographs by the lovely Jess of Jess Manning Photography.

As promised, some of my personal favourites from Aethercon Auckland. Photos courtesy of the fine folks at Directive Photography and Darkroom Photography!

You really can’t go wrong with jet pack wings (here’s hoping she doesn’t pull an Icarus), a tentacle face mask and an assortment of weaponry. Don’t even get me started on that girl with the gun on her shoe!

James and I debuted the full “Pretty Persuader” costume which went down a treat (we won first prize in the fashion contest!), but I can tell you, that sucker gets heavy after a while!

Here’s some of my favourite shots of the completed costume…
(These photos by Directive Photography and Darkroom Photography, they rock!)

You can see a whole album of  this costume here, or see about a million photos from the Auckland Aethercon event here. I’ll be posting more of my personal favourites from the day soon!

Every time I visit I feel I must apologise for my long absence. Therefore, please accept my sincerest apologies.

2013 shall forever be known to me as “the year everything happened at once”. I’m preparing for Aethercon Steampunk Convention, a burlesque show, a family wedding, and doing Sunday markets all at the same time! Do people realise the year will continue after June? Spread things out a little!

Anyway, rant over. Here’s what I’ve been making lately, they’ll make their debut at Aethercon.

Reversible obi style belts: comfort, versatility and badass style all in one sweet package. Ranging from $55 – $65 these flattering belts define your waist in all kinds of good ways. They’re all handmade by me, and there lot’s more styles yet to come!

Aside from the bounty of fantastic food, my favourite thing about markets is getting to meet  you. I love getting to know my customers, new and old, as well as meeting some cool and crazy fellow stall holders. (Thanks random hat seller dude who let me borrow his mirror!)

My sister helps man the stall, feeds me many cupcakes and makes these adorable wine charms using vintage scrabble tiles! They’re $15 for a box of 8 (your choice of letters), that’s pretty sweet value and they make great gifts.

The next market you ask? Coatesville Market on Sunday March 3rd. Be there. I always have special market prices on everything, and I’d love to meet you!

Can’t wait to get your hands on some handmade treasures? I have a Felt store under construction, in the meantime contact me on the Cog & Compass Facebook page.

Prim and proper with a high fashion edge, my new range of leather bows are all cut and assembled by hand. My hand of course; no sweat shop labour here!

Adorn yourself with brooches or necklaces. These bows are smart enough for workwear, but their tough leather appeal will rock well into the night !

Random P.S: as I finish this post my Everpatient Husband has viewed the office in horror. I’ve been desiging and printing new tags, so cardstock, rulers and scalpels are all over the place.

“This does not belong in here” he cries, “This was my last bastion against crafts!”

Poor guy, I’d better clean up. He’s making mad good macaroni cheese for dinner.

Here’s the recipe, it’s an easy egg-free version!

Peppermint Cremes

Ingredients:
320g icing Sugar
130g condensed milk
2 tsp Peppermint extract
Chocolate for dipping

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until you can shape it into a ball. My mix was a super sticky so I added some extra icing sugar. Have a taste to make sure it has the right level of mintyness and add more peppermint essence if needed.

2. Lightly dust your work surface with icing sugar. Roll our your peppermint dough so it’s 3-5mm thick.

3.Cut out your shapes! I used the flower shaped cutters that Asian restaurants use to shape vegetables. You could use cookie cutters, cups or cut them by hand depending on the size and shape you like.

4. Allow to dry. Some recipies say to leave them in the fridge, but this made mine sticky so I just leave them on the bench with a net cover over them.

5. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pot of heating water. Use small tongs or a teaspoon to dip half of each peppermint creme in tasty tasty chocolate. (I forgot to take a picture of this stage!)

6. Ta Da! Eat your delicious sweets, or share them with your friends if they’ve been really nice.

Coming up next, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins…