Hello hello, friendslist. Back from a wonderful weekend. Still kind of afterglow-y. Had a great time.

However, before I hurry off to grab some lunch, I would like to take a moment to pimp the work of two very talented artisans.

Brute Force Leather:: Wonderfully made corsets. I was generously gifted with one of their corsets by the lovely Julie at the Con this weekend, and the quality of the work is just stunning. I immediately felt the difference between a well-made corset and a cheaper one upon putting it on, and the silver and black baroque brocade really came to life. Plus, the proprietors were very friendly and wonderful to chat with.

Night Blooming Hairsticks:: Having been really pleased with the quality of the Phedre sticks I'd previously bought from this shop, I contacted Mel last month about having a custom set made for a friend of mine to match her distinctive corset-- electric royal blue cutouts in black leather. Within about a week, Mel had come up with five potential designs, all absolutely stunning. This was the design we settled on, and I'm terribly pleased with the craftsmanship. So if you're looking for a particular gift or something for yourself, check out Mel's shop.

Other than that, it's back to the real world. Today that includes work, student troupe, and more work. No rest for the wicked! I leave you with one more quick link-- the Olympic Flame was lit today in Greece at the Temple of Hera. Shiny.