Thread: "What are you working on?" - January 2009

I'll have something new to post soon. Anyone else?

In case you missed some of the recent amazing creations: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...-december.html

A collection of the previous "working on" threads: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...g-threads.html

my polynesian costume so far
mini skirt is a bit off but i'll see what i can do to fix that (first time making a skirt so i think with all things considered it's pretty good lol)

I have no experience with Polynesian costuming, but you look pretty cute! ..g.:

I'm just starting a Meleya Leff dress. I decided I am too short for store bought and I want something a bit different. I'll post progress pics as soon as I make some progress. .w.:

January is going to be busy for me. I've started a circle skirt (it's hanging to stretch at the moment). Also need to make a matching turkish vest. And a leather/coin bra. All will be part of a costume for an event in April so if I don't get them all done in January I still have time.

I am not sure if I am allowed to post this.....but I just love it!! It makes me all aglow to just looking at it!
I am making it for a bhuzzer and it is almost done!

That's darling!

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

I am not sure if I am allowed to post this.....but I just love it!! It makes me all aglow to just looking at it!
I am making it for a bhuzzer and it is almost done!

Jesennia posted what she's been working on here: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...g-january.html

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

I am not sure if I am allowed to post this.....but I just love it!! It makes me all aglow to just looking at it!
I am making it for a bhuzzer and it is almost done!

I really love the chunky beading you did...any tips on creating such a lush chunky cover?

I have started my bra for the peacock costume. Hands hurt a bit because I need needlenosed pliers to pull the needle through the bra cups.

I have to admit I have been exploring other forms of dance, mostly Tahitian, samba, and further exploration of Greek. I did a lot of performing last year (my full time job is a legal secretary) and now I am taking a breather into seeing how "others do it." So far though, bellydance is my first love.

Ozma, i really really love the peacock-feather beading. it's inspiring me... would you hate me if i used the beading style on my next project? (not at all in the same overall costume design, just the way of beading the feathers)
i was toying with the idea of a feather design but couldn't come up with anything i liked..
anyhoo it wouldn't look half as good as your costume, i'm a terrible seamstress :D
can't wait to see how it looks finished, loving it so far!!

Zana, your costume is cute as hell! :D

Originally Posted by Kathiya

Ozma, i really really love the peacock-feather beading. it's inspiring me... would you hate me if i used the beading style on my next project? (not at all in the same overall costume design, just the way of beading the feathers)
i was toying with the idea of a feather design but couldn't come up with anything i liked..
anyhoo it wouldn't look half as good as your costume, i'm a terrible seamstress :D
can't wait to see how it looks finished, loving it so far!!

Zana, your costume is cute as hell! :D

Go right ahead, I was inspired by a peacock motif I saw elsewhere. It changed as I beaded and saw what worked for me with the colors I'd chosen.

sweet, thanks! :D
can't wait to see your costume finished!! :)

I've been working on the basics of this on and off since October. It travels to work with me and I handstitch at lunchtime... It's almost ready for the beading portion - which happens at home. The color is not quite correct in this photo - it should be more of a "madonna" type blue-gray. Embellishment will be crystal and pearl.

I have to say, though, that I'm completely in awe of Ozma's work. And the bra posted by eshtabellydance is absolutely stunning.

Something for me to aspire to!..l;,

Originally Posted by Zeevah

I've been working on the basics of this on and off since October. It travels to work with me and I handstitch at lunchtime... It's almost ready for the beading portion - which happens at home. The color is not quite correct in this photo - it should be more of a "madonna" type blue-gray. Embellishment will be crystal and pearl.

I have to say, though, that I'm completely in awe of Ozma's work. And the bra posted by eshtabellydance is absolutely stunning.

Something for me to aspire to!..l;,

I think you've got a stronger sense of construction, sewing, pattern-making than I do. My costumes strive on the embellishment but yours so far is stunningly shaped and constructed.

Originally Posted by ozma

I think you've got a stronger sense of construction, sewing, pattern-making than I do. My costumes strive on the embellishment but yours so far is stunningly shaped and constructed.

Ozma, I'm the daughter of a seamstress and a finish carpenter. My earliest memories are of my parents at the kitchen table with pencil and paper figuring out how things needed to work in order to be what lived in their heads. I think some of my skill is through osmosis! It also helps that I've been knitting/sewing/crocheting for the last 26 years... and could never find what I wanted as far as patterns went. So I made my own.

I'm better with a needle and thread than a sewing machine. It's much more tedious, but gives me greater control, personally.

Still, I'd give up a fair amount of that to have some of your sense of design/color/flair. I make a decent base to work on, but really need to learn how to make the embellishment pop. I follow your pieces really closely, and double and triple check your close-ups for hints!

Originally Posted by Zeevah

Ozma, I'm the daughter of a seamstress and a finish carpenter. My earliest memories are of my parents at the kitchen table with pencil and paper figuring out how things needed to work in order to be what lived in their heads. I think some of my skill is through osmosis! It also helps that I've been knitting/sewing/crocheting for the last 26 years... and could never find what I wanted as far as patterns went. So I made my own.

I'm better with a needle and thread than a sewing machine. It's much more tedious, but gives me greater control, personally.

Still, I'd give up a fair amount of that to have some of your sense of design/color/flair. I make a decent base to work on, but really need to learn how to make the embellishment pop. I follow your pieces really closely, and double and triple check your close-ups for hints!

None of that is a surprise to me. Both my grandmothers sewed and knit...but my mother is rubish at it. I am self taught in knitting, chrochet, beading, sewing, needle work... My mother took up knitting in the last few years and once when we were at an airport together and she was knitting, an older Japanese woman chatted me up about what I was crocheting (zombie monkies) and told me (in Japanese so my mother couldn't follow) "I see you didn't learn from your mother."

Originally Posted by KelsNasim

I'm just starting a Meleya Leff dress. I decided I am too short for store bought and I want something a bit different. I'll post progress pics as soon as I make some progress. .w.:

Can't wait to see it! I love those dresses. They take me back home to Alexandria...g.:

Originally Posted by ozma

:tongue: Soo cute!

Originally Posted by princessisabella

Can't wait to see it! I love those dresses. They take me back home to Alexandria...g.:

I didn't realize you were from Alexandria (or I probably forgot - go figure)! That's my little one's name ..l;,

Happy New Year's everyone! I was lazy over the holidays and didn't work on my cossie at all. ..c::

Originally Posted by ozma

I really love the chunky beading you did...any tips on creating such a lush chunky cover?

Yes! Lots of beads in the same color scheme and in different shapes. And then you just sew them really close together and be sure to intersperse them with smaller stones. Large stones break up the flow. It is harder to pick all the right beads than to sew them on. The work goes fast! The idea is to get beads that have different textures and shapes but still look really high quality so that the audience keeps staring at it wanting to figure it out. I really believe a costume should be so amazing that you want to go up and investigate it - touch it. It will keep people enthralled that way and this technique really works for that look.

Originally Posted by maliam

I didn't realize you were from Alexandria (or I probably forgot - go figure)! That's my little one's name ..l;,

Yep! One of the reasons Seattle agrees with me so well ..g.: Do you call her Alex or Allie?

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

I am not sure if I am allowed to post this.....but I just love it!! It makes me all aglow to just looking at it!
I am making it for a bhuzzer and it is almost done!

I love this bra!

Thank you!!! I love it too! I have another one to do in brown with pink satin bows.

Originally Posted by Zeevah

I've been working on the basics of this on and off since October. It travels to work with me and I handstitch at lunchtime... It's almost ready for the beading portion - which happens at home. The color is not quite correct in this photo - it should be more of a "madonna" type blue-gray. Embellishment will be crystal and pearl.

I have to say, though, that I'm completely in awe of Ozma's work. And the bra posted by eshtabellydance is absolutely stunning.

Something for me to aspire to!..l;,

Your attention to detail is amazing. Your style reminds me of a Sahar except your fabric base is much more 'designed'. I would think it a shame to hide the beauty with too much embellishment. For me strategically placed accents would certainly suffice. I like the total look. Your work should make your talented parents quite proud.

Right now I have nothing under construction to post, but I'm harvesting beads from old bra/belt bases that are too well-used to resell so I can re-use both the beads and the bases.

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

I am not sure if I am allowed to post this.....but I just love it!! It makes me all aglow to just looking at it!
I am making it for a bhuzzer and it is almost done!

You should teach a workshop or something! You are so amazing!

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

Yes! Lots of beads in the same color scheme and in different shapes. And then you just sew them really close together and be sure to intersperse them with smaller stones. Large stones break up the flow. It is harder to pick all the right beads than to sew them on. The work goes fast! The idea is to get beads that have different textures and shapes but still look really high quality so that the audience keeps staring at it wanting to figure it out. I really believe a costume should be so amazing that you want to go up and investigate it - touch it. It will keep people enthralled that way and this technique really works for that look.

ah ha, so that's the trick! do you start with small or large stones first? i'm assuming large?