This is my answer to an FAQ sheet. I've been asked all of the following on one occasion or another, and since I like to share, here are the answers.
What does the name mean?Absinthe is a decadent liquer which is also a toxin. The name is therefore a play on the old movie title "Arsenic and Old Lace" which makes reference to luxury as well as to the fact that I work with vintage and reproduction lingerie. It is also a reference to my wedding dress, which was embellished using lace from a down-at-the-heels wedding dress I picked up in a thrift shop.
How did Absinthe and Old Lace come to be?It all started with the burgundy corset you see on my front page. That piece captured my fancy, so I bought it, dyed it, and started building outfits around it. Before I knew it, I had a collection of corsets and foundations and had gotten my business license to make my hobby official. If it hadn't been for that dirty pink corset I found in a consignment shop, I probably would never have considered sewing professionally.
Can you make (fill in the blank with: masks, fantasy costumes, historical dress, patterns, hats, stuff out of leather, a straightjacket, armor, weapons)?The answer to most of the above is yes. The answer to some of the above is "I don't know, I never tried." I don't believe in the word "can't," and some of my favorite pieces started as an experiment that I just "figured" would turn out okay. I also posess a lamentable lack of focus which means I'll try just about anything, and I'm stubborn enough that if it doesn't work, I try it again. There are certain things I won't do- such as armor, weapons, jewelry, tattoos, calculus, or anything I think is really likely to get me sued. I can refer you to someone for just about any of those (except the getting sued part...), and I hope to soon offer some hand-made weaponry through an associate. The gist of this is that you shouldn't be discouraged from contacting me just because you think your costume idea is likely to require spray paint and 2x4s-- because I might just take you up on it.
Really? Even in my size?Yes, even in your size! Some extremely unusual sizes (like very, very, very large busted women) might take some extra fittings, but I will work in ANYBODY'S SIZE. Even sizes the other custom places "can't" do.
When will my order be ready?Well, I hate to answer that question because I have found that the perversity of the universe is such that I never fail to be embarrassed if I do. I try to get estimates done within two weeks. Some of the materials I use have to be mail ordered, so the completion time for many orders is affected by my supplier's turn around time. Once I have actually started work on a piece, I can usually give a fair estimate of how long it will be before I finish it, but sometimes I can't. Simple items are often done within 2-6 weeks. More complex items are also affected by the fitting process, which takes a great deal longer by mail. Items like wedding dresses or production costumes which MUST be done by a deadline are delivered by the deadline. If I don't have time to complete this kind of piece, I won't accept the commission.
