To the Invisible Girl, in-progress - Part One.

Welcome back. I've been working on a neckpiece, still unfinished at this moment... But by the time we get to part two I should be done. 

Let's take it from the top.

The launch-point:

A tiny Victorian leather boot.

 I make the decision early on to view it from the sole (soul?). A lens is found that will be inserted into the heel.

 Ripping the seams a bit gives me a set of wing-like leather flaps to vignette the sole.

Now the toe will house a fused-glass image I did previously in the kiln. This is a daguerreotype image of a girl from 1840.

 Tacked into place. I will drill the glass out later and tie it in.

 Now I'm adding eyelets to secure the leather sides in a splayed position.

 So as not to put too much stress on the old and brittle leather, I create a frame out of 8-gauge steel to line inside the shoe.

With a curved upholstery needle, I sew it into place with heavy waxed linen thread.

 On now to work on a way to protect the heel-mounted lens. This very old drawer-pull has the perfect circumference to frame the lens while offering protection.

 But first I'll need to grind off the riveted base.

 Freedom.

 Since the swivel would place the handle too far out from the shoe, I decide to cut it down lower. But first, this rusty steel pin must get ground and punched out to release the handle.

 Tapping the pin out...

 Slow work, but it's coming out.

 Ready to cut down to a thinner profile.

 Holding it up to see the fit.

The hole is drilled out, the pivot-point pushed through - and a nasty surprise reveals itself - because the heel rounds off in back, it throws the drawer handle out at an angle - no way to sit it flat against the shoe.


Stay tuned next time for the workaround...

Keith