new Steampunk dress up

Splurge ordered myself another on-sale fashion corset (from corsetdeal.com); it's from their "steampunk" (ie: brown) collection. I think/bet corset-story and corsetdeal dot com get their pieces from the same or similar producers (which I always worry are actually foreign sweatshops). They seem to fit (or not fit me) in the same ways, and the workmanship and quality seems about the same as well.

The corset fits well through waist and even hips, but too big at bust. However, I'm getting to be decent at taking in tucks and doing the alteration needed to improve a corset fit. I mean, what do you expect from inexpensive off the rack corsets (especially in larger sizes)? And I'm just using them for pretty dress up costume wear. (This one has a side zip, no front busk, so definitely is fashion-costume, not a waistraining corset, anyway) May have to be a bit more careful about removing the top binding and watch the beading, but I think all it will take is a dart in one place on both sides and not require multiple darts to alter.

I have a gored skirt that I used to wear alot and really liked, and it's in browns that would go with this, but (alas) it's a much smaller size than I am now. However, I also have some other complmentary fabrics in my stash, and maybe I could add a tier-ruffled back panel for an upcycled victorianish look, have it fit, and make a nice outfit.

There is a local Steampunk Masquerade Ball next Tuesday evening that I could wear it to. If I spend this weekend sewing that is. :) As I'm trying to figure out flat how it will look covering a 3D form, i'm currently a bit frustrated with my crazy patchwork doll project anyway. Maybe it'd be ok to give that project a bit more of a (percolation think-about-it) break.  Just so long I keep working on something.

I also got another batch of perfume bottles for my bonsai trees. Lucked out on a large Ebay lot (48 bottles for 28$). These bottles are almost all tiny and delicate and will make some lovely trees. With what I already have, I'm set for a while now; there's plenty for several trees!  It's something else to keep me creatively occupied.

mental health note: have noticed my mood and motivation slipping again a bit. I just had meds appt yesteray and have a new one added in to the mix; so I hope it helps, I also hope keeping busy helps, and I hope its just a short lull (and not the downward slide I'm paranoid about)

Haven't felt like I'vebeen making big leaps and bounds with projects the last week or so. Been worrying about "will I quit" (fill in the blank)?  But is that really an issue?  Today's crafting: before work this morning, I trimmed up rest of the patchwork pieces for "paisley swirl" blocks, all are ready to sew. (I bought new sewing machine needles yesterday); fiddled around with layout for doll front front (trying to visualize where the thighs would come up in seated doll and cover pattern) for a bit too.  During quiet time at work, found and copied off a selection of bonsai tree photos to use as reference sources. That's some progress, right?