Thread: October's "What are you working on?"

Following up on najla96's idea for a new thread.....

At home: Indigo velvet costume for client - skirt done, bra is being embellished
At work on lunch hour: bra base for an almost surprise costume for my daughter (she knows she's getting a costume, but doesn't know fabric, color or style)
For me: 1. Burgundy velvet bra/skirt set - in the embellishment process 2. Light blue velor bra/skirt set - skirt base is ready for embellishment, bra is half covered.

Photos to follow, as soon as I can find time to take some!

I am working on an imitation Eman Zaki bird themed costume that has to be done by Oct. 19, because I am insane. Most of the sewing has to be done at home, but it's going to have draped pearl loops on the belt, so once I know how long those need to be, I can bring my pearls and strings and beads to work with me for lunch break...

I'm excited about this costume, it's going to have a swan's neck wrapped around my torso, wings on the bra, feathers hanging from the belt, kind of Eman Zaki does Leda ;-)

I actually get to join this thread now! Yippee!

I'm re-learning how to work a sewing machine (it's been a bit) and my goals for this month are:

1. Sew together the black stretch velvet mermaid skirt I've cut out
2. Make another 2 skirts with the other fabric I bought (one more stretch velvet and a crazy rainbow holographic that may turn into a costume project).
3. Play with some hair flower designs a bit more
4. Make a front closure chiffon cover up

I know that's like a few days of work for some of you and I'm a touch intimidated by all the awesome things you all make, but we all start somewhere, right?

Last weekend, I made a royal blue metalskin mermaid skirt, and saved a gorgeous costume that had been made wrong and that I thought was irreparable by cutting off the velvet skirt (it was an embellished skirt style costume) and making a step in, zip-up belt out of the top part. I still need to pad and line the bra and make a new skirt set for that.

This week, I intend to make some kind of skirt out of black, wet-look fabric to go with a fabulous Eman lime and black bra and belt. I can't decide between another mermaid skirt and a straight skirt with side slits for this one (the skirt it came with was a lime green spandex, but I've decided I want a black skirt to go with).

Out of the same black fabric I'm making a Sahar-style costume I'm calling my "batgirl" costume. Skirt is made, now I need to do the bra and figure out how I want to embellish it.

I also have a Fortune and Fame set that I will be making new side and bra straps for, which I need to have completed by Oct. 19th.

I have several old bra/belt sets that are too worn out to be sold, so I'm going to harvest materials (beads, sequins, and bra/belt bases) for new projects. I could make about 3-4 NEW costumes out of old this way.

I've become obsessed with frugality lately, and have been literally hoarding fabric and notions for YEARS. It's time to clean out the fabric stash and get creative - I feel like so many costumes are so similar nowadays, I'm looking forward to having new sparklies that I know I won't see coming and going, and saving money in the process!

I started that saidi red and silver dress a while ago, put it aside... and this week I decided to finish it. There was no hurry it's for our troupe 10th anniversary January 2009.

Voilà!







Kiss!

Qamar

Originally Posted by Qamar60

I started that saidi red and silver dress a while ago, put it aside... and this week I decided to finish it. There was no hurry it's for our troupe 10th anniversary January 2009.

Voilà!







Kiss!

Qamar

That is SUPER wow! Did you make your own pattern or adapt one?

Thanks!

He, He! ..l;, I start with a Simplicity "It's so easy" pattern, to make a stretchy... night shirt!

I've made it more close to the body, and the very plunging décoltage stays in place because it's cliped to the bra with 4 big snaps.

"Sexé saïdi" Hum?

Qamar

Qamar, I LOVE it!!! Wear it to Mogador in November!!! :0D

I'm jealous of all of you lunch break costumers. I work at a fabric and craft store so if I bring anything to work on (costume, knitting, jewelry) they get nervous that I am stealing supplies.

I am taking up the skirt on my new (to me) burnt orange bella.

Then I hope to finish at least the cowrie bra, if not the bra and belt, for my dear friend Eshe by the time she's here in Japan for a weekend (October 25) because she's been wantign this for a while.

I am super backed up with orders! I have to embellish a spandex skirt for one bhuzzer, I am finishing a tribaret beledi dress with bra and belt for a client, I am extending a vintage Shareen el Safy costume for a client, making myself a blue velvet butterfly costume, and I just started to work on my version of the sahar satin ribbon costume. Phew! I will post pics eventually...

I am looking for kuchi pieces for the bra which goes with my ME Manufacturing belt. The belt is mounted on a piece of upholstery fabric which is beige, burgundy, green and blue striped. (Strips are all muted). I am covering the bra with this fabric, adding some upholstery fringe, possibly some lamp fringe (don't cringe!) coins and a Kuchi pendent in the center. If I can find the right pendent! ARGH!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}}

Qamar - That's a fabulous dress!

Originally Posted by Azhia

Qamar, I LOVE it!!! Wear it to Mogador in November!!! :0D

Hi, Hi, ..l;, I will leave a trace of silver glitter dust on their floor!..g.:

My house was full of it yesterday, even the cats were glittering! ,r:;

(November? Hum! Have to start thinking of an appropriate choreography...)

Hugs!

Qamar

Qamar, that is gorgeous and looks fab on you!

I was inspired by the previous "what are you working on" thread to pick up my project. Its a bra/skirt combo with minimal fringe/beading but some cool accents. Its my first costume so I wanted to keep it minimal to prepare me for some more ambitious ones I have planned. Will post pics. I have the skirt nearly done, just a bit more beading, and I started covering the bra last night.

I am always doing projects for other people but once in awhile I do a costume for myself. Here is the beginning of my butterfly costume. I was inspired by a Tiffany lamp exhibit I saw and was trying to create beadwork that looked illuminated from within. It doesn't come across in my sucky photos though!

BTW that is marbled stretch velvet fabric.

GORGEOUS beadwork!

eshta that is beautiful, i love butterflies!

Beautiful, Eshta! Where did you find the butterflies?

Great dress! With glitter, sequins, and such floating around, my cat ends up being sparkly, too. ..g.:

Originally Posted by Qamar60

Hi, Hi, ..l;, I will leave a trace of silver glitter dust on their floor!..g.:

My house was full of it yesterday, even the cats were glittering! ,r:;

I bought them in bulk in downtown los angeles. They are hard to deal with - very delicate. I will probably not do another one with them again.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

I also have a Fortune and Fame set that I will be making new side and bra straps for, which I need to have completed by Oct. 19th.

Fortune and Fame?

Qamar...saidi dress....dammmmmnnnn ..g.:

glad this thread got started---now my costume ogling can be organized!

ps Eshta, are you using any specific bead techniques or just sort of going for it? I love the depth and may want to try to use some of the concepts in my Jasmine cossie

Qamar, that is a hot saidi dress design.

Eshta, I love butterflies, the colors and beadwork are fantastic, can't wait to see the final product.

I am using specific beading techniques and varying the types, colors and sizes of all the beads and sequins. I also have pearls and ab swarovskis throughout. I like my beadwork to be thick and like little cushions for the stones to sit in. I just want them all to look like a full treasure chest I guess! But this was totally inspired by Tiffan stain glass lamps and when it is done you shall see why. It is so fun to work on but is taking a back seat to all my commissions of course.....sigh.....

Originally Posted by najla86

Fortune and Fame?

Qamar...saidi dress....dammmmmnnnn ..g.:

glad this thread got started---now my costume ogling can be organized!

It's a really basic coin set from Dahlal.

Here:

DAHLAL.COM

No dance-related projects right now, although I have several I should be doing. I'm embroidering guest towels. Love to do counted cross-stitch, although every pansy is taking way longer than I thought it would.

No bd related projects right now...I think I've given up on them! Knitting has taken over my life, and I'm poised to start the sleeves on my first adult sized sweater. Woohoo!

I'm working on creating materials to assist people who sponsor me in workshops to apply for arts or humanities grants. Ie, stuff like sample budgets, narrative, etc. The focus is on my video/lecture workshops (Dance in Egyptian Cinema, Egypt's Shameful Profession, and Evolution of an Art Form.)