Ginksedu Clothing, the Mad Corsettiere

 

After having several requests for my corset making to be blogged, here it is.

 

It all started about 11 years ago, when I took my love of corsets and granny boots to a whole new level. This was my first corset and it was made from bridal boning and upholstery fabric. It still looks great and has only had the bones changed out as I found a great supplier for spiral steel boning.

 

I love corsets so much that I would get one tattooed on myself. Seriously. 

 

I've made several over the years and this one was for me to play the part of Jesse from Toy Story at The Pirate Ship on Memorial Day 2012.

 

 

I wore this one as I worked the ticket booth at The Georgia Renaissance Festival in 2011. 

 

This was my first attempt at one of the ones I borrowed for the job at The Pirate Ship and was given to my wonderful friend, Noelle Pierce. If you've been paying attention, she's the one who designed this website and my business cards.

 

I made this one for Linda Joyce to wear to Mardi Gras this year. I was proud to have her wear it for me.

 

 

 This is one of my favorites and has a leopard print on the other side. I wish I had pictures of me wearing it in a steampunk outfit from the Moonlight & Magnolia Conference in 2012. If anyone has pics, please send them to me. 

 

 

I've even tried my hand at making them into pillows and my old critique group gave this one away as a monthly prize.

 

This was my first try at zippered ones, but I have to find a better zipper to do anymore of these beauties.

 

 

 

I want to get so professional at making these that I can try the following two on here.

 

 

 

 

This is a pic of me, Bryonna, and Noelle from one of our Georgia Romance Writers meetings. As you can see, I've turned this love into my very own branding. Combining this with my love for pirates and Renaissance festivals and the Wench Writer was branded as my own persona.

 

 

Corsets are my crime of passion when it comes to apparel. I'd wear them constantly, if my job allowed it. But when I can, I whip these steel boned babies out and lace them up. It's who I am.

 

)))Corset Hugs(((

(do you understand this phrase now?)

 

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

 

 

First Manuscript Pitches

October 2011 was my first attendance at the Georgia Romance Writers Moonlight and Magnolia Conference. My mentor talked me into it and I was beside myself with anxiety. This particular conference is for aspiring and published authors. They primarily deal with romance but it’s open to most genres within that realm.

 

The workshops that they have are all about improving your skills while cheering you on. That being said, I went into my second day of the conference as I pitched to Harlequin. Oh my! I’d been reading their books since I was fifteen and here was my chance to try my hand at getting into their publishing house. Can we say Vapors, boys and girls?

 

I was lucky enough to get in on a pitch workshop that would allow me to fine tune my pitch before I went to the editor/agent that your appointment was with. Mark Al was quiet and kind but gave me enough courage in that fifteen minutes to walk right into my allotted time with Victoria from Harlequin.

The appointments are only 8 minutes each, so you have to go in with the words to grab their attention, quickly. She was intrigued with what I proposed but it didn’t quite fit into her division with the company. If I reworked it with the male being the main focus of the book then she was sure it would sell oversees, but I had already written this one from the woman’s point of view and was saving her brother for the next book (if I was ever able to write it).

She was insightful enough to ask what else I had written and I was surprised at her asking. She “knew” that I had to have more than one item up my sleeve and I did. I proposed my paranormal series and my romantic suspense. Of course, that was taking more than my 8 minutes (with introduction). Victoria told the moderator to give me five minutes and smiled as she didn’t take No for an answer. She was determined to hear me out. I was fumbling over myself with pride.

The tale ends with a formal rejection from Harlequin that following year but I appreciated the kindness that she extended to me for my “babies”. She understood and even saluted me at the banquet dinner that we had that night. I was welcomed enough to go into a pitch with St. Martin’s Press the following morning.

And that manuscript that was rejected by Harlequin? It was Andromeda, and was soon published by Secret Cravings Publishing. I’m pleased with my dealings with this small press in TN, enough that I submitted Just to be Left Alone to them within months.  That was accepted as well, and started my wonderful career as a serious writer. Now, I’m slowly writing on three books as I finish college. Two of these, will be sent to SCP, as I know they’ll be well taken care of. For the series, have no fear, I’ll find the perfect home for it once she’s grown up enough to be sent out on her own.

Message: Sometimes a small home is the best thing for you. Cozy and personal.

 

)))Corset Hugs(((

                                    Ginny Lynn

                                   Wench Writer

Halloween - my second favorite holiday

 

Aww Halloween. This is voted as my second favorite holiday. I used to start planning my outfit in August, as to have it perfect within three months. And, I wasn't as busy back then as I am now. The outfit below is one of the only "vintage" pictures that I have of the costumes from my teenage years. I made this whole outfit, minus the hose and shoes. Yes, I made the cape and the headband. It's how I roll.

 

Of course, I love my vampires and even bought my own Scarecrow fangs. Being someone else for a little while can be good for the soul, as long as you know who you truly are.

 

I did this Little Devil for work one year and the ladies were cool enough to be silly with me. Yes, I made the top (crocheted) and the corset.

 

This was my version of Cat Woman for a Halloween party at a former friend's house. There were pics taken of my shiny black butt that night.

 

The hubby and I decided to do matching characters this particular year. I was Poison Ivy and he was Two Face. The Swedish Chef was the same guy who wore the red dress in the above pic. I think he likes Halloween, too.

 

 

This was my son and I last Halloween. I've had complaints on Facebook that this pic of me was down right creepy but that my son was amazing. I'll take those as compliments.

 

 

I've also been: Medusa, a Zombie, a Reaper, a Toy Doll, and Anna from Van Helsing.

 

 

 
 
 

I'm still wanting to do Malificent, Belatrix, Jessica, Batgirl, Electra, and Athena .

 

And you can't talk about Halloween within thinking of candy.

 

The treats that I loved the most were: Snickers, Reeses, Milky Way, and M & M's.

 

The people who gave out popcorn, apples, and pennies were just being mean. IMO.

I've been so busy this year that I don't have a costume planned. It may be a last minute thing, like being a Ghoul last year. My mom did buy me two costumes last month, so I could always throw one of those on but that depends on the weather. They're adorable but too skimpy for them predicting a cooler temperature this year. Who knows.

 

What are you guys going to be? Or what did you wear to the party last weekend? Share you pics, if you have them. I always love a good costume.

 

Happy Halloween And )))Corset Hugs(((

 

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Self Analyzing

Self Analyzing

For most of my life, I’ve fought depression and anxiety. I’m of a certain age where I’m just tired of the energy that I lose on such trivial items. I chose to call them trivial as they aren’t life-altering things that will throw my world into a tailspin. I learned from my old mentor that everything is manageable if it doesn’t do three things, and even those can be sorted out. If the issue can’t have you committed, incarcerated, or killed, then you need to analyze it until it can be solved.

Yes, easier said than done but I’m trying. Once I realize that I’m letting something get to me, I take a breath and dig in to see why I feel that way. Most of the time it’s me being under a lot of stress or too tired to process what I have going on that day. Being over booked with my year of growing, I realize the problem is a good one to have.

A co-worker asked me if I had any boundaries in my crazy existence. I do. Really. I may have to use binoculars to gaze upon it but it’s out there.  That boundary shows that I can only accept a few more invites, and have a miniscule amount of time to concentrate on any writing. Knowing that I will be out of clinicals this time next year, with graduation following in December, I see a glorious finish line.

In the meantime, I need to look at my reasons for wanting to rant on social media about the need for my nerves to scream like a bloody banshee. As I type this, I’m bothered that a former friend is still mentally jabbing my success and that a teacher is finding fault with every little thing that I try to do in my lab class. I understand both have their own agenda and at least the teacher is someone wanting me to succeed. But it’s being delivered on nerves that feel like a tightrope over a three-ring circus.

I see that I’m exhausted, but still having 2.5 semesters to go, I must keep my chin up. I have to keep telling myself that I don’t need to allow these little things to annoy me when I have better things to focus on. I have to root out the real reason for the depression and get myself to see what I can control as I chant the Serenity Prayer. While deleting a tweet this morning, I saw myself as venting when that isn’t doing me any good. I simply need to rest a little, over the next few days, and regroup with positive vibes.

As I’m a bit peeved at myself, for not doing my best for the teacher and giving permission for people to tear into my confidence, I have to stop it. As my friend Bella tweeted to me, Snap out of it #cher. So, I’m snapping. If that means chocolate ice cream, a romance novel, and being lazy on the couch for one night then book my curvy rear a sofa cushion. It’s my future so I need to keep my subconscious on happy thoughts. If I keep wanting to bang my head on the wall then more analyzing is in order so I can conquer what ails me.

Anyone else suffer from this or have any techniques that they’d like to share? I’ll take any advice that I can get and see which ones work for my psyche.

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Book Review on Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker By Syrie James

Hello, gang. I decided to throw in a few reviews for the people who join me in the adoration of the paranormal genre.

 

I start with Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker

By Syrie James 

 

This is based on Bram Stoker's Dracula and the movie that featured Gary Oldman, Keanu Reeves & Wynonna Ryder. I can clearly see this being made into a movie with the same characters showing the story from Mina Harker's point of view as she meets Dracula. James didn't go into pages of lush landscape but she did focus on the fighting emotions that battled in Mina's split heart.

 

Lies were woven in such a tight net that poor Mina gave up parts of herself as she fought to see the truth before the trail of myth. You weren't sure who was being played with and who would finally be the ultimate victim of the bed of lies. If you've seen the movie, you know how it ends but I was pleasantly surprised by her version of the inner workings of Mina's mind.

 

 

Her passionate love for the demon while she cherishes the timid kisses of her husband's lips, you feel how badly she is torn. You want her to be happy but who should she choose to make her future the vision she wants it to be? Knowing the lies were thicker than the accents telling the tales, what would you do?

 

 

Would you chose the steady man that was quiet and loving or the man who was born of hate whose mere gave held your breath in your throat? Would you condemn others as you seek out the truth of the man who could give you an eternal kiss? Is the ultimate passion of your life worth the life of others?  

 

 

I went with her on this journey and believed that she would do what was best, no matter the outcome. The heart wrenching decision kept me rooting for her. It was historical, endearing, and exciting as I came to understand the character of Mina, through her journal entries.

Thank you, Syrie James.

 

)))Corset Hugs(((

 

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

 

You can check out the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Dracula-My-Love-Secret-Journals/dp/0061923036/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top