Rockabilly Event - Part Two

Hairspray, corsets and greasers, oh my! I decided to go with a more metal-rock sound for my rockabilly burlesque routine, though there was definitely banjo in it! The song was Black Betty by Spiderbait. It was a knee high leather boots and crop meets hot pink sequined show girl ensemble and it went a little something like this:

Photo by Brad Mazur

Photo by Holly Halftone

Photo by Holly Halftone

Photo by Brad Mazur

Photo courtesy of Joel Nickel

This one is awesome because if you look closely my reflection is also blowing a kiss on the big screen. Look ma! I'm on TV! ;)

Photo courtesy of Joel Nickel

Photo courtesy of Joel Nickel

Left-Holly Halftone  Right-Brad Mazur

Photo by Holly Halftone

It was really interesting dancing on the same level as the audience. Usually you're higher up with blinding stage lights in your eyes. This time I could see every face of every person watching me ... and they were five steps away from me at any time. This turned out to be to my advantage, however, when I sped up my routine! Oops. I guess I was just so excited I frenzied myself out of tempo. However, a little improvisation and a lot of flirting-which Meg got the brunt of- managed to end the last little bit of the song on a credible note. Thanks for playing along Meg!

If you could take a minute to go and show these wonderful photographers some love I would be incredibly grateful. Brad Mazur, Holly Halftone and Joel Nickel do amazing work.

Stay tuned for more sass!

Saucily yours,

Miss Scarlet

Rockabilly Event - Part One

Alright, y'all! This post may seem a little self centered because out of all the amazing pictures taken during the  Drawn and Plastered Rockabilly show the only ones I'm going to be posting are mine. Don't like it? Stop reading my diary. ;-) There's just no room for all the incredibly lovely faces to be featured here. If you're reading this you probably came here from Facebook, in which case go here to see the Official Event album! It's probably  It IS the most gorgeous collection of people you will ever see.

Saturday, July 14th 2012: The pre-show magic happened at Rockabetty and The Foxy Shoppe, with half the group for the Drawn and Plastered Art Models and gals participating in the runway show going to each location. I was in the FS group which was delightful because a) it's one of my favourite places in Winnipeg and b) Miss Foxy just has to look at you to make you feel like a Fox. But to add a little more magic than even her bedroom eyes can muster she had two professional hair stylists and a make up artist waiting in the wings! Every runway model was provided with a dress and shoes for the evening. Miss Foxy even had a bag of false eyelashes-now that's thinking of everything! There was a long lineup of ladies waiting for beauty care so I took a front row seat in her shop mirror and did my own makeup.

Photo courtesy of Holly Halftone - super cute dress by the Foxy Shoppe!

I did however take full advantage of having a stylist do my hair. I swear she was the guardian angel of pin curls and victory rolls. She was laughing when she got to me after doing Miss Ruby Red Lips's updo because, as she told me, "I have two little girls named Scarlet and Ruby- I didn't think I named them after burlesque dancers!" It was the best way to get ready for the show. I was vibrating with nerves- a brand new routine never before seen by the public? But a group singoff of Hot Blooded by Foreigner worked out the jitters and got us all in the mood. And in case that wasn't enough sass Miss Foxy put the cherry on my sundae by lending me these:

Photo courtesy of Brad Mazur

When the magic was done we made our way in groups over to Le Garage Cafe. I drove a gal over in her own car because she was corseted in ... driving while constrained is a difficult skill to master! I know that from firsthand experience. I'd have loved to wear a corset for the evening but I was already going to be hopping in (but mostly out) of different outfits all evening. It's much easier done with zippers.

Photo courtesy of Brad Mazur

Miss La Muse caught me before my act to wish me luck. Is it just me or do we have fabulous taste in dresses? 

The show started promptly at nine pm with the art models posing five minutes each. Then at nine thirty I took to the dance floor in front of the stage and performed a burlesque act to Black Betty by Spiderbait. **I realized after writing everything out and organizing all the photos that my routine would have to be in another post. Yay more blogging for me! :D**

After my routine I scurried to change back into miss Foxy's lovely dress and heels. On my way back I was drafted *cough*eagerlyvolunteered*cough* to be an art model and post for ten minutes so that various artists could sketch/draw/photograph/do their thing. Two very amazing pieces came out of this episode. The first is this sketch by pinup artist David Oro.

He complemented me on my ability to not move or twitch but the secret to that is every time he looked down to draw I would quickly shift my weight, shake my foot or give my shoulders a roll. Staying in the same position for ten minutes is harder than it looks! David absolutely made my day by meeting up with me for coffee Monday night and giving this sketch to me.  I offered to pay him but he autographed it and gave me a roguish smile, saying "I like knowing that this way my work is priceless." What a man!

The second piece is by Kenneth Porhownik who took his sketches and made them into penny dreadful novel covers. So cool!

I held my position for as long as I could but shortly thereafter the fashion show began. Models from Hungover Empire, Rockabetty and The Foxy Shoppe all lined up at the door and then cat walked down the aisle, did a saucy little turn on stage and returned. Possibly the sexiest moment of the night? Two bad ass corsetted babes strutting their stuff and then having a stare down on stage as part of the show. The heat between them almost sizzled the audience!

After the show Miss Ruby took the stage. As one fan aptly put it 'she was the embodiment of Marilyn Monroe and she had the fanbase to prove it'. Uh, yeah she is!

Photo courtesy of Holly Halftone

Photo courtesy of Chris Hlday's Dynamic Photography

My favourite part of the evening was by far the best dressed contest because EVERYONE who wasn't a model was dressed up too! Everyone! It was like classy Hallowe'en had come early. With so many gorgeous  people packed into one place I'm surprised the place didn't burst into hairspray fueled flames. The contest was followed with live music by Greg Arcade and the Electrics, and the Go Go Pops with more music by DJ King Cabernet. It was one hell of an evening.

Photo courtesy of Holly Halftone

Look at this program! How amazing is that? I need to say that Meg B and Holly Halftone did a phenomenal job organizing this event. The sheer amount of hours they put in to make the event a success must have been mind numbing. Overall 115+ people decided to attend. It was a sold out show with standing room only! Since this was the last Drawn and Plastered event for the summer it was a hell of a way to end the season! The only thing that could have made it better was air conditioning. I was warmer dancing mostly naked inside than I was fully dressed outside!

So there you have it. I was a runway model, art model, burlesque dancer and mayhem partier all in one night. It was hands down the sexiest retro party Winnipeg has ever seen. Stay tuned for a breakdown of my naughty routine!

Saucily yours,

Miss Scarlet

Rockabilly Radness!

Drawn and Plastered is having a roof raisin', dance crazy, burlesque babes and pin up gals shakin' Rockabilly Extravaganza! So come on down to Le Garage on July 14th (that's a Saturday y'all!). You'll bear witness to:

-Some burly-q courtesy of yours truly, Miss Ruby RedLips and Lucy Rust
-Music by Greg Arcade and the Electrics [I've heard they're electric! ;-) ]
-DJ King Cabernet who'll be keeping us hoppin'!
-Pin-up gals galore! Let's not forget this is a Drawn and Plastered event full of gorgeous models

Teaser from Drawn&Plastered.com

So if you're looking for something a little naughty, a little nice and a whole lotta fun then come and get your groove on with us! 

I'm so excited for this!

Saucily yours,

Miss Scarlet

First Annual Swords and Sabres!

The day started out raining hard. There was thunder grumbling almost constantly and the rain was icy cold. I wasn't so sure about the rain but got ready for the first ever Swords and Sabres festival in the hopes that it would clear up. After jumping out of the shower I put on my full length, black velvet renaissance dress with it's burgundy ribbon decoration. I had bought it when I was in Grade 10 and my highschool took my grade to Quebec on it's annual french excursion. Since then I've worn it almost every Christmas and for a couple Hallowe'ens but I've been wishing for ages to attend a Renaissance fair! I thought I'd have to travel to Illinois or New York to find one.

While I had been in the shower the rain had stopped which was wonderful. However by the time I arrived at Coronation Park the sun had come out and everything was a steamy, humid mess. I was really regretting wearing my dress, velvet is heavy! But the weather was really mercurial and quickly cooled off into a perfect spring day for an outdoor event.

One of the few photos of myself I've been able to find so far. Thanks to Holly Halftone for her photography skills!

I met up with the Drawn and Plastered crew in front of Raven's Comics booth. They had laid out a wooden platform to walk and pose on which was brilliant as a few hours in the grass had been churned into muck. Somewhere along the way the crew had acquired a Captain Jack Sparrow who, in the six hours that I was there, never broke character once! He was so popular he became a mascot for every child under the age of 8, tugging on his arms and demanding pictures. I think the parents were incredibly happy that he kept his pirate language PG for the kiddies!

Some of the D&P Crew, plus miscellaneous pirates!

The way the booths were set up was a little bit like comic con though everything had a piratey steampunk theme. Even more impressive than the booths was the entertainment. The Illuminari bellydance troupe had their own tent and did a lively performance (which Captain Jack crashed and 'drunkenly' joined in!) There was also a fire eater and his bellydancing companion. Last but not least there were two historical reenactment groups: The Barony of Castle Rouge and The Vikings Vinland. The Barony (which is run through the University of Manitoba) had a booth focusing on period clothing and a recipe book of meals that would have been commonly prepared. The Vikings took their reenactment one step further and set up a battle ground with men (and women) in full armor and wooden shields duking it out in true warrior fashion.

Some badass peeps! All photos found on the Swords and Sabres Facebook page and copyrights to their photographers.

Despite the fact that I've only been able to find a couple pictures of myself at the festival, Meg and I were being stopped every few steps so people could take photos of us. I absolutely loved her costume which included a waist training corset (she'd nipped in her waist by almost 7"!) and a gorgeous bustle skirt by Retroscope Fashions. Don't try tightening your own corset by that much at home, boys and girls! With all the corset related questions she was asked Meg was a little like an infomercial for them. Waist training takes dedication and needs to be done slowly and with the proper tools to avoid injury. If done properly there's no damage, permanent or otherwise, and when the corset is taken off the body goes back to it's original proportions. (I'm really inspired to start waist training myself ... but that's another post.)

And last but not least, thank goodness for the hotdog stand! He really must have made a fortune because all the excitement really stokes the appetite. ;-)  If you missed out on this years festival fear not! It was a rounding success and I have much faith that this will become an annual tradition. Hopefully we'll see you out next year!

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

80's Night at Skylab 17

Thursday evening I was sitting at home, thinking about how I didn't have any rad modelling stuff going on lately. Suddenly, lo and behold - a facebook status! Holly Halftone to the rescue! She had been contacted by a guy looking to incorporate Drawn and Plastered into his bachelor party. It was a last minute request. The theme was 80's and models were needed. As seems the case with most awesome things I was a few hours too late. She'd already found models willing to show up and be glamorous. I messaged her anyways. I love the idea behind D&P and thought hey- maybe sending a shout out will keep me on D&P's radar.

But what do you know, one of the models dropped out and Holly wondered if I could fill in!

Friday night I cabbed from work to Outworks Studio in the Exchange District where Holly Hui did some stunning hair styling. All photos were taken by the talented Holly Halftone.

 It only took half a bottle of conditioner to get the knots out the next morning...

 Worth it ;)  

A.J. and I "getting ready"

We were scheduled to pose from 8 - 9 pm. We scurried over to the Reagle Beagle to just make it on time. The night was slow to get started (it was dead, with the exception of the bachelor who seemed to have been having a good time for a while before we got there). To pass the time we adorned ourselves with glow sticks and played balloon volley ball.

We played around, posing for the camera and getting ready to hold poses for the artists the organizers promised were coming.

People wanted to take pictures with us - I was tickled (hot) pink!

At 10 we started our 5 minute sets. I went first. It seems, in general, that people are shy of going first, when really going first is actually the best. I volunteered right away - you get the best pick of the poses.

I could have stayed like this all night.

After everyone had done a 5 minute pose we held two group 15 minute poses. These were the hardest - at the five minute mark you realize your pose was a mistake and you want nothing so badly as to move. It's easy after ten minutes 'cause your body goes numb. ;-)

 There were a couple artists sketching away. The organizers held a contest for best sketch and the prize winner won a nice $50. When the drawing portion of the evening finished around 11 pm a dance contest was held. Holly ended up winning for her sweet moves. We really let people know that we wore our sun glasses at night so we could rock you like a hurricane while being touched like a virgin. (I can't get these eighties songs out of my head!)

Yes, I'm dancing. Cross my heart.

I think I burned more calories dancing that night than during all my workouts for the month combined. Holy Dina my feet were killing me at the end of the night, but my thighs the next morning were worse! Sure signs of an awesome night out.

Saucily yours,

Miss Scarlet

Exposure - D&P

Look Ma! I must be famous!

http://drawnandplastered.com/?p=1316

Drawn and Plastered was kind enough to take my Talent Show Review and post it on their website. My  picture is up beside it and my pretty face is even on their main page! Thanks D&P for the exposure!

Stayin' Saucy,

Miss Scarlet

May Madness! Upcoming Events

Wow, is May ever a busy month! Not only because it's my Mothers birthday, Mother's Day and anniversary month, but also because of all the events going on! I decided in order to keep track of them all I'd make a list here. This doesn't include all the side projects I want to get done. I figure I'll blog about those as they happen. For now, I present the month of May!

Intro to Burlesque Workshop - Friday May 4th

This happened last night at the gorgeous new studio that PolefitCanada has on Portage. It was two hours straight of giggling sexy time! With all the boas and feathers everywhere the aftermath looked like a giant slumberparty pillow fight had taken place. A blog post on the workshop to come!

Roller Derby League - May 5th

The Boyfriend and I bought season tickets for this summers Roller Derby sessions. These ladies are fierce, fiesty and give no mercy! What's not to love? If you're not doing anything tonight you should come join me at the Fort Garry Curling Club, 696 Archibald Street. Doors open at 7 pm. Slake your blood thirst with these badass skatin' gals: The Corporation vs Valkyries' Wrath!

Premiere of Dark Shadows - May 9th


Tim Burton! Johnny Depp! Bellatrix LeStrange- I mean, Helena Bonham Carter! Vampires, witches and the 70's, oh my! I don't care how cheesyball this movie may look, I was lucky enough to receive a pass to the advance screening of this movie and I am so so so excited! The pass is shaped like a coffin. Hallowe'en doesn't last nearly long enough so any Tim Burton is good Tim Burton, I say. Also, prizes for dressing up like a vampire? Me and the sis are all over that.

My awesome cuz, author of Bohemian House and Home made a window display to honour the momentous occasion. :-D

RAMMSTEIN - May 10th


Omgomgomgomgomgomgomg! Ha ha, ok, breathe. One of my all time favourite bands is at the MTS Centre and I have had tickets for months! The countdown is almost at an end. My fishnets, combat boots and eyeliner are on stand by. My neck is primed for headbanging. I am going to be so deaf on Friday ...

The Crone's Cabaret - May 13th


This year the Manitoba Goddess Festival is celebrating Baba Yaga. Freyja af Giula (on their website) describes her as "... Mistress of the Northern Forest, of the elements, of the circle of night and day." Aptly, their fundraiser this year is The Crone's Cabaret. What's in store the audience? "Spinners, singers, dancers, aerialists, poets and even a marching band." They had me at aerialists.

KeyCon - May 18th to 20th

I am a nerd. I freely admit it. KeyCon is a sci-fi and fantasy convention held this year at The Radisson Hotel, 288 Portage. I've been wanting to go to this for years but never got around to it. This year I am going to make the most of it! I've already decided I'll be dressing up, I just don't know as what ... female burlesque eleventh doctor maybe??

Drawn and Plastered - May 26th


This month's Drawn and Plastered's theme is Ancient Greece! D&P is a gathering for all artistic types to come and get their creative juices on. The models pose and photographers, sketchers, painters etc. can do their thing, using the models and theme as inspiration. This month's location TBA.

What an exciting month May is turning out to be! I hope I'll see some of you at these events!

Keep it Saucy,
Miss Scarlet

Drawn & Plastered: Talent Hunt Review

The idea of a craft sale and a performance at the same time is genius. Drawn & Plastered's Hunt for Talent was just that. The crafters in the back were crafty; the talent in the front was entertaining. The venue was interesting. Juss Jazz is very long and very narrow which worked well as a counter separated the room in the middle, making two cozier spaces for the sale and the show. I didn't get to stay for as long as I would have liked due to a headache but this is what I got to experience:


The crafters were amazing! Talk about talent! There was a chain mail booth as well as a steampunk jewelry table. Randy Randell makes Thorgrid Jewelry and if you or a loved one likes this crazy crazy thing called steampunk then a piece from him is an awesome gift idea. There was also a homemade knitted baby Cthulhu rattle. Heather Bays said it was a popular seller among males - uncles and the like. Males? If I ever become the godmother/aunt/babysitter or official bad influence of a child they are ALL getting CTHULHU RATTLES. You can thank me now.

The most breathtaking table had hand tooled leather corsets! Shauna Davidson is the artisan behind WildeMaide LeatherCraft. I was already planning a steampunk outfit for Comicon (omg nerd I know) and these fit in perfectly with my idea! Plus I already dress like it's Halloween every other day of the year so I'll be able to incorporate it into my everyday wardrobe.

The talent included a magic show - who doesn't love a good old fashioned parlour trick? There was a really neat one with a five dollar bill appearing out of a piece of cheese. There was also a musician by the name of Scarlet O'Hara who looked like a member from Kiss and who sang/rasped his way through a few rock songs.


By that point my migraine was in full swing and I had to leave the venue due to nausea and swimming vision. I should really pay better attention to my body's 'slow down' signs but then life would be really, really boring. I didn't have the energy to perform and I really wish I could have but the fourteen hours of sleep that followed when I got home was a magic act in itself. ; )

The Queen of Hearts garter by Glass Coffin Designs. Yum!

The winners of the Talent Hunt were first place: Andrea Marincil with Glass Coffin Designs and second place: Sarah Putnam singing Back in Black. I'm sorry I missed out on their acts! 


Andrea Marincil designs lingerie meant to look and feel vintage. You can look through her amazing artistry at Glass Coffin Designs or check out her work on Facebook.

Saucily yours,
Miss Scarlet

Drawn & Plastered Gets Saucy!

Talk about networking! One day I get exposure on the Foxy Shoppe facebook page (the SAUCY album) and the next day I get a message from a gorgeous lady asking if I would be willing to model and perform for a group called Drawn & Plastered.

It's a very good thing you can't hear me squeal via facebook.

The lovely lady was Meg Bergeron, co-founder of Drawn & Plastered. To put it simply, D&P is a gathering designed to provide a creative soul's outlet and inspiration. Once a month D&P gathers models and performers to pose for artists while they create. These sessions are interspersed with various kinds of shows, keeping with whatever the theme for the month is. Unlike other art gatherings these events are open to all kinds of artists, whether they be poets, photographers, painters, sculptors or those who sketch. There's also a wicked after party!
The next gathering is Sunday, April 29th, 6 pm - 9pm at the Cavern. Cover is $10.

Meg also introduced me to Drawn & Plastered Hunts for Talent, a talent show going on this Saturday. As in, the day after tomorrow! I have the forms all filled out and ready to go. I'm going to drop them off tomorrow and see if I can secure a last minute spot! I got out my burlesque gear and put on Ain't Misbehavin' (Dinah Washington) and my routine from the Amateur Burlesque Show Fundraiser came flooding back. You should come out to Juss Jazz @ 240 Portage Avenue Saturday from 2 pm to 6 pm! I may or may not be shimmying out of my clothes. ; ) Even if I'm not I'm sure to be there to watch all the amazing performers they have lined up!

As for the event I'll be participating in? Well, I need to keep mum on the details for now, but I can tell you these three things: it's going to be rad, rockabilly and feature a very retro me!

Keep it saucy,
Miss Scarlet