Thread: What are you working on in February?

Hi all!

As January is nearly over: Lets see what you creative dancers out there are working on in February...

Curious regards from Germany,

Sahira.

PS: I love this kind of threads!

So far I've just bought the fabric and covered the bra. It's a really neat looking "smoky" velvet, with a glossy snake skin finish. I got it at a Jomar discounted fabric store, and I think it might be the coolest fabric I've ever found. I'm pairing it with a sheer black/brown stretch mesh, and beads in the black, pewter, silver spectrum.



Here's my concept so far. I might forgo the connection from the bra to the skirt. I might do some kind of elaborate Bella-ish beadwork. Or I might let the bold pattern on the fabric speak for itself.


I love this fabric! I covered the bra last night, and have yet to make the halter straps.

Shushanna, love the fabric and the sketches! Can't wait to see the progress.
I got myself some snaky fix as well :)) Two weeks ago I was in Jerusalem, it was literally 15 minutes before all the stores close for Saturday and I thought what harm could it do? There is no time and really the best fabrics can be found in Tel Aviv only... 15 minutes later I got out with 10 meters of lycra I found two kinds of fabric, a safari print with lots of gold glitter over it and a snake/leopard print transparent glitter dot and I couldn't decide whether I want them for myself or for sale so got enough for any scenario. Now 'm thinking to use it all for myself :))))))

Nice fabrics ladies!

I've been working on a rehab project this month. I bought the black and silver costume from Julsie that was the subject of dispute in this thread: http://www.bhuz.com/showthread.php/5...th-this-seller!

Julsie relisted both costumes with accurate descriptions of their measurements and current condition. I just had a feeling about the black costume and bought it from her. It was in rough shape. But, surprisingly a good wash took care of many of the issues. I discovered the lycra fabric and "bones" of the costume were in good condition, just dirty. I've replaced all the scratched/damaged/rusted crystals and rhinestone chain, re-strung the dangling fringe bits that were in terrible/missing condition, and am in the process of replacing the damaged beads and sequins.

This costume had been maintained terribly. There was a design on the center of the mesh portion of the chest that included sequins/beads/crystals and rhinestone chain. The setting the crystal was in as well as the rhinestone chain surrounding were absolutely green with corrosion. It was so nasty. When I went to remove it, it just crumbled in my hands. The only way this could have occurred, IMO, was that it was put away wet/sweaty. Ick!

This story, however, has a happy ending. The costume is nearing completion of restoration. I plan on wearing it at an event in February, dancing my favorite choreography that always makes me smile. I will infuse this little beast with new sparkliness, beads and good juju. I'll post some pics when it's done.

Yes, please. We all enjoy a happy ending for costumes.

I love your fabric too, Sophie! Great find!

Shahla, what an aweful experience! I just read your other post. Good luck with the rehabilitation, and post pictures. :-)

I want to be clear, I'm not having an awful experience with the black costume. I'm having alot of fun bringing it back to life. Julsie is the one who suffered, I'm afraid. She sold it to me for at a significant loss with full discloure of the condition. I knew excactly was I was buying into. Unfortunately for Julsie, the costume's condition was not accurately described to her by the original seller.

I'm working on alterations on a friend's Eman Zaki costume, jus some minor ajustments.

Remenber my first male BD costume? http://www.bhuz.com/showthread.php/5...ght=first+male

Well the dancer needed a cap to polish the look, so here it is:



And I've turned a plain red man shirt into a performance one: I cut off the pointy collar and the pocket, sew gold trim on the collar and wrist cuffs.

I decide to make a "trompe-l'oeil" effect of embroderies by painting designs using stencils, Pepeo fabric gold paint and glitter paint, glued acrylic stones here and there using Gemtac rhinestone glue.

BTW, after the painted designs are hot fix for 5 min. using and iron, the shirt can by wash with no problem.

Voilà, ready for Pierre's Valentine show on Feb, 11!

Nice work, Qamar.

So my goal for finishing the pearl costume in January didn't work out as planned, but I am almost done. February, I promise. I have nearly finished the fringe, almost completed lining the bra and I have made a pair of arm-bands. Whew!

And remember those beige beads I was looking for a couple of months ago?...Yeah, I ran out AGAIN and none of the local stores had any and I really didn't want to order online...So in desperation, I went to Walmart to check out the beads, and I wandered over to the jewelry department just in case. Lo and behold! A necklace with about 100 more beige beads! Yay! It was $10, which is more than I would pay for the strand at a craft store, but less if I had to buy online and pay for shipping. Totally worth the trip to my least favorite store in the universe.

Album is here: http://s708.photobucket.com/albums/w...arl%20costume/

I got a little crazy last month and finished a bunch of stuff between the last week in January and yesterday. Hope you like them!
The cherry dress is a special tribute to a folk dress that Nagwa Fouad wore in one of her old shows from the 80's. I seriously updated the look. I think it would be great for meleya leff too.
I did a stars costume, finished the purple and red paisley number which has shorts underneath and just made a turquoise sequin on gold lace costume for a friend last night. It is supposed to be very ocean goddess themed.

Great fabrics and projects, everybody!

Question for Eshta re the appliques on the red/purple paisley and the blue/white star: did you create those appliques yourself?

Deborah

Wow - so many great ideas and fabrics!

And: I looooooooove that cherry-dress!!! This one is so cool.

Love, Sahira.

BTW: Here are two nice pics of the Bella, I did some serious makeover:

Sahira beautiful costume!
Cherry dress I fell in love

Sahira beautiful costume!

Thank you!

LOVE turquoise and yellow! Awesome job.
To answer the above question - I did make all the appliques myself from scratch. I rarely use pre-made appliques. But I did on the cherry dress because there had to be so many and they needed to be very obviously cherries in sort of a campy style.

Wow beautiful and inspiring work ladies. I'm going to try making my first full costume, a bra & belt set. I'm hoping to get in done in time for Valentine's Day - haha, I know I probably won't finish but it's my inspiration. I want to keep it simple and I'm using a base set I got from Scheherezade Imports so both top and bottom are covered with sequins. The top is red and the bottom silver. I took some pieces off the top to add the the belt and in the process of gathering beads now. I have tons of silver beads from two old skirts I converted into 1 skirt. Wish me luck and I'll post some pictures of the progress soon.
Any words of wisdom to help me along?

Eshta! You are an amazing costumer! Love all your new creations.

Top one was a recent purchase- pretty happy with it but have some serious alterations to do- skirt is shorter than I thought- for some reason I just totally miscalculated what a tight 34 would be instead of a regular 34 in hanging off my waiste- and the snaps and stuff need to be moved around- almost done with that- haven't get them quuuuuiet right

Bra is all covered- I made it with swimwear cups from Jo-Anns... not sure how the D/DD cups manage to look like B's on my C chest- but I look completely smashed in there- in the good massive cleavage way. I definitly WILL NOT be popping out- and there will be NO gapping on this puppy.


I have to finish covering the belt- front is almost done- back hasn't even been started yet.

Hate the fabric- it pulls WITH EVERYTHING that snags it- and it unravels very quickly- but I think I'll be happy with all of it when its said and done- performance date is the 11 so I need to get moving and get off here LMAO

Originally Posted by Basha

I have to finish covering the belt- front is almost done- back hasn't even been started yet.

Hate the fabric- it pulls WITH EVERYTHING that snags it- and it unravels very quickly- but I think I'll be happy with all of it when its said and done- performance date is the 11 so I need to get moving and get off here LMAO

The fabric might be difficult to work with, but it is absolutely beautiful! I'd be very tempted to mostly follow along the print with rhinestones and beads . . . is this what you're planning or do you have other ideas?

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

The fabric might be difficult to work with, but it is absolutely beautiful! I'd be very tempted to mostly follow along the print with rhinestones and beads . . . is this what you're planning or do you have other ideas?

Deborah

aw thanks- snagged it at the remnents bin at Joanns for half off- I got like .9 yards or something and it is pretty stunning- I'm hoping I can do it justice all said and done!

No I actually have little to no intent to bead it- its pattern wise a little complicated for me and I hated the idea of covering the fabric up with beads since I like it so much.

I have simple swags that I have and I might reverse the fabric and do a 1" trim at the top and bead along the edges of that. I have to have it wearable by the 11th- but it doesn' thave to be DONE DONE- so - swags first- detailed beading to be determined AFTER that!

OMG Eshta! Is the cherry costume sold??? I need one!

Oh Sophie that fabric is fabulous.
And Eshta is the cherry dress something your offering for custom order?

It was a very specific order for a special show. I won't be reproducing it however the pattern is great for meleya dresses and I was thinking I could do some in different mesh colors or with different themes. Like a red one with crystal hearts or a naked star one.

Costume with blue roses is almost finished
Emailed pictures to customer.
Hope she will like it.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

So my goal for finishing the pearl costume in January didn't work out as planned, but I am almost done. February, I promise. I have nearly finished the fringe, almost completed lining the bra and I have made a pair of arm-bands. Whew!

And remember those beige beads I was looking for a couple of months ago?...Yeah, I ran out AGAIN and none of the local stores had any and I really didn't want to order online...So in desperation, I went to Walmart to check out the beads, and I wandered over to the jewelry department just in case. Lo and behold! A necklace with about 100 more beige beads! Yay! It was $10, which is more than I would pay for the strand at a craft store, but less if I had to buy online and pay for shipping. Totally worth the trip to my least favorite store in the universe.

Album is here: http://s708.photobucket.com/albums/w...arl%20costume/

Did you know that you can dye glass pearls? Check it out:

http://www.marthastewart.com/article...ry?backto=true

If you are on tribe.net you can read a thread about it here:

http://tribes.tribe.net/diycostumes/...e-aef612e6ca20

Originally Posted by Basha

aw thanks- snagged it at the remnents bin at Joanns for half off- I got like .9 yards or something and it is pretty stunning- I'm hoping I can do it justice all said and done!

No I actually have little to no intent to bead it- its pattern wise a little complicated for me and I hated the idea of covering the fabric up with beads since I like it so much.

I have simple swags that I have and I might reverse the fabric and do a 1" trim at the top and bead along the edges of that. I have to have it wearable by the 11th- but it doesn' thave to be DONE DONE- so - swags first- detailed beading to be determined AFTER that!

Lovely. I love seeing other people's work in progress. Sigh. Wish I were that good a costumer. Not that I want to be pushy, but if you need some blue fringe....I've got some that I'll never do justice to (Vset and blue with gold.) I'll be posting it on the Swap Meet.

I've been lusting after this silk burnout fabric for a while and finally brought it home today. Its going to be a big swishy skirt with a Sahar-esque bra. Not a whole lot of bling but with this color who needs it?

Originally Posted by NancyAsiya

I've been lusting after this silk burnout fabric for a while and finally brought it home today. Its going to be a big swishy skirt with a Sahar-esque bra. Not a whole lot of bling but with this color who needs it?

GORGEOUS!

I'm adding some fringe to a costume I started a while ago, finishing the skirt originally made to go with it, and lining the bra and belt.