Tag Archives: gothic rococo

ValentIllness hashtag and a finally finished textile art project!

Suzanne Forbes in pink and red textile art vest February 2024What on Earth is ValentIllness??

red tops for Chronic Illness Awareness on Valentillness DayIt’s a chronic illness hashtag & selfie idea for Valentines from Long Covid activists @desertdracula and @mamasitaa__ /Seets.

I saw their posts on twitter on Feb. 14 and decided to quickly jump in with this picture.

I was wearing a red top already, which makes a difference in energy calculations for people with Energy Limiting Chronic Illness!

 

I got my husband to take these pictures today, which show off the vest a little better. It’s very pretty!

Suzanne Forbes pink and red textile art vest February 2024I’d been working on this textile arts vest for a year.

Lying on the couch sewing is pretty much the only “fun” (as opposed to drawing, which is work) creative activity I can do anymore. I have had terrible pain in my hips/butt for over a year, which makes sitting up at the craft table too painful even when I am strong enough to sit up.

I saw a bone doc and had a hip MRI last winter, but then didn’t follow up on it, as my pain drastically improved during my Shingrix vaccine and antiviral remission last spring. It came back in the Fall.

The dull, burning, constant pain is so bad now it takes my breath away sometimes. It’s probably sciatica, or other nerve related pain.

I really need to get on it, and the doctor is one of the nearest to us, but it’s really hard, because I can only do at most one thing involving other people a week, and leave the house once a week at the very very most.

And I already have so many doctor visits booked for the next three months!

Plus, the pelvis bone doctor is one of the most ignorant and gaslighty about Covid. I was sitting in her office waiting last January, in my prescription goggles and FFP3 mask, and I opened the window for ventilation. When she came in, she promptly closed it. She said, “I don’t want to get a cold from being cold.” Honestly, how can you trust a doctor who doesn’t know that colds come from viruses?

We are in hell, and doctors and Surgeon Generals are fanning the flames.

Sorry to end on a bummer!

The Big Gay Wedding: Gieza and Tomi in headpieces by me!

Wedding ceremony of Gieza and Tomi wearing crowns by Suzanne Forbes event photography by Jenkins Photography May 2022This is absolutely the crowning achievement of my handmade decorative arts accessory work to date!

Alphonse Mucha made jewelry and stage accessories for Sarah Bernhardt, and in this great tradition I couldn’t be more proud to be a figurative artist making decorative arts work!

Wedding at Zionskirche of Gieza and Tomi wearing crowns by Suzanne Forbes event photography by Jenkins Photography May 2022Dear ones Gieza and Tomi celebrated their wedding at beautiful and historic Zionskirche in Berlin this May.

The grooms were swamped with wedding preparations, and two weeks before their “Hats and Headpieces” themed wedding, had nothing to wear themselves!

Wedding of Gieza and Tomi wearing crowns by Suzanne Forbes event photography by Jenkins Photography May 2022 2Tomi asked at the last minute, “I know you don’t do commissions, but maybe we could borrow pieces you’ve already made?”

“Of course!” I said.

Wedding of Gieza and Tomi with Gieza wearing crown by Suzanne Forbes event photography by Jenkins Photography May 2022I went through all the pieces I have on hand, re-photographing old work and new, and sent the photos to the grooms.

Gieza chose my “Dejah Thoris” crown from 2020.

Wedding of Gieza and Tomi event photography by Jenkins Photography May 2022 Tomi with dancersTomi chose the “Snow Queen”, which was the first headpiece I ever made, back in Oakland in 2014 or so.

I know you are going wild wanting to know about their suits. Gieza and Tomi’s wedding clothes were completely hand made by Alexis Mersmann. Alexis hand-marbled sheets of fabric to make the suits and every detail from scratch.

I absolutely beg you to watch this video of the process!Wedding of Gieza and Tomi event photography by Jenkins Photography May 2022 Tomi comes down the aisle

To have headpieces I made worn by beloved friends dressed in the most incredible, and SO GAY, garments I have ever seen!

This is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. And what a joy to have these moments so beautifully documented.

Wedding of Gieza and Tomi wearing crowns by Suzanne Forbes event photography by Jenkins Photography May 2022 kissesThe event photography was done by Jenkins Photography.

Photography by Felix Jonathan Jenkins and Essie Jenkins of Jenkins Photography! Jenkins Photography website here and insta here.

This wedding was a celebration of Berlin’s queer community, of drag and burlesque family and talents and love, at the highest possible level. Queer Love is UNSTOPPABLE.

Snow Queen crown of papier mache wire rabbit fur and crystals by Suzanne Forbes 2014To get the crowns to the grooms, we organized a Queer Courier mission.

I put the crowns in the “art bag” and lowered them down from the balcony to Suze, who transported them across town. This balcony art drop has been one of the few fun parts of our 2.5 year self-isolation, as people come by to buy drawings and I lower them down.

Snow Queen crown of papier mache wire rabbit fur and crystals by Suzanne Forbes 2014 detailHere are some of the new photos I took, which are better than the old ones on the original posts lol!Dejah Thoris crown of holgraphic vinyl UV resin Angelina Fantasy Filma and crystals by Suzanne Forbes 2020 2

Dejah Thoris crown of holgraphic vinyl UV resin Angelina Fantasy Filma and crystals by Suzanne Forbes 2020 detailAs always, I am so grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to continue documenting and decorating Berlin performers as a  disabled artist.