Thread: What are you working on? March 2010

It's March! Well in a few hours it is ..g.:
So I thought I'd start off my favorite monthly thread.
Last month was awesome with so many cool designs and lots of drooling over Monika's water costume!
Here's my first piece for March. I still have to do all the rhinestones on the straps and velvet panels but at least I got all the beads done.
This one is a lesson in vintage stones with cabs from the 60's and givre stones from waaaay back.

Beautiful...Commission piece or for your own personal collection?

.... actually it's for mmmeeeeee !! I'm the luckiest baby bellydancer in the WORLD !! .. I may never ever perform in public and never ever go "pro", but I've decided that I was deserving a pretty costume .. so there it is !!! ... *sigh I'm sooo in love*

Hey Aneesh! Welcome to bhuz!

thanks !! I may not write a lot but I read you religiously almost every day !!! :-)

Eshta - those colors are AMAZING! I can't wait to see the finished product! Off to check your website.....

boo hoo no website up yet =( but it's all designed. I just have to learn to update it before it can go live. IIt's a total bhuz story too. I designed a custom for the wife of the designer so it's a swap!

I'm working on making a belt for this bra that's been untouched for almost 2 years while I kept on changing my mind about what shape belt to use and whether to use a belt at all or just decorate a mermaid skirt I bought on Bhuz a while ago (after I took off all the gorgeous beadwork it originally had). Anyway, this month's incarnation of the belt was shaped by tracing a Gatorade bottle and a cookie can. Did I mention I hate making belts??

Eshta, that's gorgeous! I've been toying with the idea of getting something done in fuschias and oranges, and yours is so beautiful :)

I made hubby a 'manly' hipscarf for teaching after he bought me a really cool computerized sewing machine. I'm pretty proud of myself considering I've only had a 1 day crash course sewing lesson about 9 years ago and haven't touched a sewing machine since then, lol.

Here's what I made:



hotfix rhinestones sure are pretty, but boy do they take a loong time to apply!



One problem: Momo loves it except that I angled it up at the ends. (I did it over the weekend when he was giving a workshop in Zurich). He would prefer that I keep it straight... How should I fix this? Should I just add fabric and sew it on? I don't want to start all over since I don't have enough rhinestones to do it all again. Momo suggested adding a whole layer underneath. Is that the better way to go?

if you take out the gathers will it be straight? I am guessing not. I would do a whole other layer beneath. Nice rhinestone work!

thanks :)

no, I actually cut the fabric. Silly me, I thought I was doing something good, but Momo said that the angle is more for women, and he prefered a full rectangular look.

Nice work so far, ladies!

Eshta, as usual, you freakin' ROCK! You eye for stones and which colors and sizes go together well is mind-boggling to me!

Athallia, I completely feel your pain when it comes to making belts! For me, it's getting the shape of it down, making it heavy enough to stay in place, and making it fit perfectly so it doesn't move around. Oy vey....most of the old belts that I made for myself are NOT standing the test of time....eh, you live you learn, right? Keep us updated on how the costume comes along!

Okay, so, I admit that I have a *slight* propensity towards making silly, nonsensical belly dance costumes of sometimes questionable taste....my latest "work" is absolutely NO exception!

Long story short.....since the 6th grade, I have been a HUGE KISS fan! My boyfriend Mark is also a huge KISS fan, as well as a founding member of CON-tourage, a costuming group that throws massive room parties at conventions across the country. For the latest room party at ConNooga 2010, (A "Heavy Metal"-themed party), Mark asked if there was any way I could make some sort of heavy metal-based belly dance costume. It dawned on me that the band KISS, like most belly dancers, has an extreme, unyielding love for sequins and lycra! Sooooo, the Paul Stanley belly dance costume was born!

Here is the original KISS costume that mine was modeled after:



And here is MY Paul Stanley KISS belly dance costume, (pictures taken by FRAMESHOT before and during the Heavy Metal room party):






Everyone really seemed to get a kick out of the costume, and the partygoers had a good time with my belly dance performances to such KISS favorites as "Calling Dr. Love" and "Lick it up"!

The costume itself is made from a black lycra colorguard jumpsuit that I found at the thrift store for $8, big silver star appliques, glass bead fringe (hand sewn on by me), and a bra that I encrusted with silver sequins, beads, and fringe. Overall, a low-budget, enjoyable project! Next up: GENE SIMMONS!

Happy costuming, everybody!

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

if you take out the gathers will it be straight? I am guessing not. I would do a whole other layer beneath. Nice rhinestone work!

Maybe if you took out the gathers and sewed it onto a black spandex rectangle and the just rhinestone the edges it could be saved. Or you could continue the lines of rhinestones to the edge. Did you really hotfix all those yourself? I hate hotfixing! I always burn myself.

Thanks for the idea, Eshta :) I was really not looking forward to making a whole bottom layer (and wasting that fabric, especially since I want to make a hip sash for myself, too!). The rectangles sound do-able and I have enough rhinestones to finish out the design.

Yup, I did each and every rhinestone myself, and it took me about 6 hours to put them all on... with my son sitting in his highchair and watching me for a couple of those hours. I did the rest when he was sleeping.

Oh my gods, that Kiss costume is FANTASTIC! Rock on!

I finished the looped fringe for the back of my belt and I am almost finished with the front of the belt. I did it on a ribbon so I can make sure I did it even. Here is a pic of what it looks like so far.

wow,kdizzle! The fringe looks great!

I am doing a peachy nude one and I just finished the belt for the multicolored satin bows. I just have to attach the bow.

pretty eshta! cant wait to see what mine will look like :)

The peachy one is mine!!! Happy, happy, joy, joy!

The bow one is cool! Can't wait to get mine started.

Current project:
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Last project... still needs to be lined.
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Oh that is so neat!

Loving all of these ladies - gorgeous projects! Eshta - I wish I had even an ounce of your talent.

Also wish I could add one of my own but as I've just failed miserably to take up my own beledi dress without making a pig's ear of it, I'm forswearing all sewing projects for the immediate future!

Khadiya,
You should post it anyways. Maybe we can help you. I've gotten lots of sewing help here when I've gotten stuck!

Khadiya,
You should post it anyways. Maybe we can help you. I've gotten lots of sewing help here when I've gotten stuck!

Ah

I'm a keen hand-sewer but loathe sewing machines. Its a very pretty (and famous - it was in a well-known stage show) beledi dress that I now own second hand. It fits me well but has two problems:

1) It was pretty cheaply made and the bra section isn't wonderfully shaped - leaving a slightly Madonna circa 1985 impression

2) It is made of a synthetic Jersey and I cannot for the life of me cope with synthetics, especially stretchy synthetics - Ugh! I need to take up the hem, can't seem to get it right. I usually get great pleasure from sewing but this is an utter nightmare!

I am planning to take it to JoY and ofload it in the direction of someone more capable!

God! You're all so talented!! ..g.:

I've had a bedlah in mind for quite a long time now but I'm at a loss of where to buy sequins and such. Could somebody help me? I know where to get the fringe but not the sparkly/fun bits :-P

Where do you find such gorgeous rhinestones? Does anybody know where I could get iridescent sequins? .w.:

Do a search for Fire Mountain Gems and Cartright Sequins for the sequins and sparklies.... I like Dreamtime Creations for the rhinestones.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Niadah

...I know where to get the fringe...

Where do you go to get fringe?

I'm currently working on two projects, one at each job. This is the other project!

This project was bought on Bhuz a couple of weeks ago.
Original link -
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/bellydance...ver-shala.html



This is soooo much more sparkily than I'm able to photograph.