First I have to say a thank you to those of you who have liked my posts, it's very gratifying to know that I have met your approval.
I love to work with my hands and make things. I have good DIY skills over a broad range of areas; wood and metal working, sewing and clothes making, leather work, and of course rope work. If I see something that I like I will 'have a go" and often (though not always) it turns out successfully. This backed up by and imaginative and innovative mind.
So it is with BDSM furniture. I live in a hour with two young children so care and discretion is essential. My smaller items are all conscientiously locked away when not in use, (with a spell guarding the lock). The larger items that cannot be stored out of sight are all designed to look neutral and innocuous. I don't want to "raise and eyebrow" about what something is used for.
Within Witchcraft a strong symbol is the Pentagram which represents Earth, Air, Fire, Water and the Spirit World at it's points. To those of you who don't know this symbol, it is a five pointed star inside a circle. The star comprises five straight lines, the ends of which join with the end of another line. This is very common within the Witchy, Pagan, Wicca world.
In the past I built a St Andrew's Cross for someone else and it occurred to me that a large size pentagram would serve a similar purpose. I envisaged five bars each seven feet in length and a wooden circle about six feet in diameter. The whole lashed together with my beloved rope. I made the bars out of thick bamboo canes bound together with the circle made of split cane bent into a ring and wrapped with paracord. The star lashed together at it's points and where the bars cross each other with the circle lashed to each arm where it crosses. Altogether it forms a very stable and strong structure, easily able to support the weight of a person tied to it. With the horizontal bar below the apex made extra strong. The Pentagram, when assemble does not readily give any clue to what it might be used for, and it is easily disassembled for storage.
The star is supported (upright) from four points along the horizontal tied with up-lines to a fixed support beam above. My play space has a suspension beam attached to the ceiling. The suspension has block and tackle so the whole including the sub ties to it, can then be lifted off the ground. It can of course be laid flat on the floor for use.
The pentagram works very much like a St Andrew's cross, with the sub tied spread-eagle to it, facing either backwards of forwards. Hands/wrists are tied to the ends of the horizontal beam with additional bonds around this and the arms to give good support to the body. Feet/ankles are tied to the lower points of the star, with additional ties around knees and or thighs, thus the legs are spread giving access to genitals. A hip harness gives extra support if the sub is on the heavier side, as does a chest harness.If facing forward buttocks protrude through the space in the centre of the star for access. If facing backwards, breasts and nipples can be accessed through the spaces between the bars. The head can be tied to the apex point of the star, I never tie around the neck and throat.
Securely restrained, spread-eagled, gagged and blindfolded, with access to all areas of the body, the sub is fully under control for whatever delights I have takes my fancy. Pain and pleasure.....