Thread: What are you working on in April 2011?

Yeah..I get to start this one.

I am in love with a song that Ranya Renee introduced me to. I plan on dancing to it on stage in Roswell the end of this month. It is an Andalusian court song that is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. I needed a costume to do it justice, so here is my design. I will add a long off white gauze tunic to this under the Turkish vest. The design of the pantaloons is based on a fat chance modification. Tons of yardage in mauve satin pleated and sewn onto a brocade yoke. The pants come to the floor and go back up on the inside of the pants and are tied above the knees with a ribbon. Lots of pearls will complete the look, which is rather Persian.

Our troupe ordered costumes, and half of us got dinner plates instead of bras... Mine luckily fits perfectly.. However I have taken it upon myself to fix my friends bra, which was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen!

Her ribcage is small with approx DD's so you can imagine what those flat atrocities look like on her

The below pics are

-bra vs. my head (ps my head is big) for scale of course
-her bra in comparison to mine (which I will use for a reference)
-pic of some 12 gauge wire I'm whipstitching into the bra cup that fits her for reinforcement

Anala, I love the colors in that costume. I hope you'll post 'on body' pics so we can see what it looks like all together!

mlacombe- the mind boggles at how anyone could think that was an appropriate shape for a bra cup. Did she pay full price, or is she going to ask for a discount based on the amount of alterations it will need? How on earth are you going to fix it? Adding another bra cup inside?

We tried to get them returned and remade.. Dahlal said it was human error (ie/ my friends measurements) and that they use the exact same cup for all size increments.. But another girl ordered almost the same measurements and her cup wasnt flat and huge!

Either way, here we are... I'm completely stripping and rebeading using my bra as a guide. The only thing I won't have to redo is the shoulder straps (the side straps arent salvage-able as they and the bra are attached and covered with the same piece of fabric)

Oh! And of course they used permanent marker so I'm gonna have to try and match the fabric perfectly with new stuff... >:(

what, it's april already?!? Can't believe how fast last month went by.

Anala: your Andalusian court costume is adorable. I picture you in it and waving those tiny chiffon handkerchiefs. Very dreamy.

Mlacombe: kuddos for remodeling the bra. I can't believe how huge it it is. What are you going to use as a bra base for your friend?

My own costume had a deadline set on april the 3th. It was finished on time and I've worn it yesterday with my duet partner. I was also organizing the theater sow we were dancing in, and that took time away from updating my costume blog. The pictures of the beading and fringe on the bra will be up soon!

Can't wait to see your pics mekyra!

Just using a regular strapless bra cup and reinforcing it with the wire.. Already have attached the buckram side straps. Today I'm hitting a fabric store, praying I'll find matching fabric! Otherwise I might have a stroke cause who knows what I'll do if I can't match the fabric!

finished making a mascot for a mom-tot group called "Belly Dancin' Babies" (a subsidiary of Salsa Babies)...



RAQ'n Monkeys's Photos - Cabaret monkeys | Facebook

ready :)

Laying down the sequins

For the longest time I've been trying to get around to fitting my banjara skirt & top to match the other 4 ladies in my troupe (in my defense I've only officially got into the pro troupe this year). Aside from the phobia of wearing more than 3 colors at once actually fitting the tiny top (here is a link to an ebay auction of what one looks like before it is altered) to my busty self was a bit intimidating even for someone who sews alllllll the time.

But since we are dancing all weekend at a faire & I didn't want to be the odd man out like at our last show (me in the middle):


The skirt was easy enough to alter once I figured out how wide to cut the front & the back. Don't have a picture of that. Went over my troupemate's house last Sunday for her to guide me on taking the top apart & where I would need to re-sew pieces to make it fit & then had another troupmate over my house this Sunday for assistance in the final fittings.

If you look closely at the 'before' picture you might be able to see how the back shoulder piece is hung over the shoulder & then brought around to the front & sewn to the panel. it creates a REALLY weird pucker & I've never seen anyone able to wear one of the ral antique ones like we got without altering it first.
Here is how it came out:



The large mirror 'epaulets' on my shoulders were actually from another choli which I then had to over-dye repeatedly, paint & then eventually color with several sharpies to get the threads a close red to the rest of the top. Widened the sleeves a little for more comfort in movement and also added more ties to the back.

Will hopefully get full pics this weekend!

Raya 83 - I love that skirt! Can you share how you made the fabric panels all wavy and pretty? :)

I have to make adjusments to a professional costume; one of my client/friend wants me to shorten for her and reposition the hooks of the bra.

I started to up-gradded a blue costume bought from Yvonne on Bhuz. It's also for an other client/friend: new padding and bra lining, addind more dangles on the skirt and also shorten the skirt.

I want to make myself a new bedlah inspire by the one Samia Gamal wore on the movie Ali Baba. I already have the two layered skirt (mint green and baby pink). But I need it for April 30, if things goes well, otherwhise I'll wear something I already have.

Here is the link of my Samia Gamal dream costume, 2nd part starting at 1:26



So an other busy, busy, busy month!

Originally Posted by Raya83

ready :)

AAAAHHH Picture is working now! Gorgeous indeed!

Amazing as always Raya!

I went on a fabric finding mission to find matching stretch velvet to do my friends set.. Looked at oh... 6 fabric stores with no luck.. One lady is able to order something close to what I have, but Ive decided to try ordering some stuff online and see how it goes.. So all in all feeling defeated for now as I can't work on my friends bra, but I guess I can work on a different project till then.

Wow! Lots of project going already. Looking good everyone. I guess this month I am working on baby. I have been sitting around waiting for labor to start. Due date came and went. But I am getting some sewing done and some last minute bases out for fittings. But I did finish this one in an effort to get more ready to wear options in my little inventory. But it's like the Highlander. There can be only one! So I won't be repeating it and it makes it all the more special to me =).

Oh my god Eshta that is hot hot hot!!!

I am working on a gold and silver bra/belt set that's intended to be a bling monster with lots of ab rhinestones... in my mind, it's going to be a hybrid of sim-like edging and noussa-like beading. we'll see how it turns out in real life, lol.

i've got the base covered and have everything ready except for the silver seed beads. i'm impatiently waiting on them so that i can get started on the beading. unfortunately, i leave for France on Thursday and won't be back until Monday, so i'm going to have to wait until next week to really get it going.

Finally I get to post here

I stopped making my own costumes because of lack of time. But the moment has come... Well, I am not making something new from the scratch but changing a rather old costume. I had tried to sell it, but nobody wanted it... I guess it's because the fringe-heavy design was a bit old-fashioned. Plus the lining needed to be replaced.

This is what it looked like in 1994 (oh yeah, I told you it's OLD!)



I made this myself from a silver bra-belt set and some strings of fringe.
It's not really good for my body shape like this because I need more stuff on top for my small chest and narrow shoulders.

I took everything apart and made the belt more narrow.
Last time in Istanbul I tried on a funny flower costume that I really liked but was to small for me. So now I will do something inspired by it.
I bought 12 fabric flowers and some rhinestones, but other than that I try not to invest too much money and work with what I've got.

Here's the current state:


I will put some glitter on the flowers, I already sewed glass pearls around the black centers of the ones in the picture.

After securing all the sequins I washed the bra and beld in the machine (hand wash program) which worked well. It's still rather stiff now, as usual for Egyptian costumes.

This will be what I'll do during Easter!

MEISSOUN

Originally Posted by meissoun

This will be what I'll do during Easter!
MEISSOUN

can't wait to see the results!

I have made a few top and pant sets lately. Decided to make what I call "dangly bits" to jazz them up. I made a belt with dangly bits but wasn't that in love with it. Then I started wondering if it might be more fun to keep the dangly bits separate so they could be attached anywhere I wanted or even used in my hair.

What do Bhuzzers think - better on their own and more versatile - or work on a better belt idea? For a belt I'm wondering about a tube with rutched sides and possibly rutched in center to form a V - about 12" long to cover butt.

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Originally Posted by Surida

I have made a few top and pant sets lately. Decided to make what I call "dangly bits" to jazz them up. I made a belt with dangly bits but wasn't that in love with it. Then I started wondering if it might be more fun to keep the dangly bits separate so they could be attached anywhere I wanted or even used in my hair.

What do Bhuzzers think - better on their own and more versatile - or work on a better belt idea? For a belt I'm wondering about a tube with rutched sides and possibly rutched in center to form a V - about 12" long to cover butt.

Oh, I love the dangles! I gave up on versatility for work out pants ages ago- I don't use them like performance skirts, with a need to mix & match, they are usually a stand alone item (and wear out faster than skirts due to rubbing, so I like to enjoy them while they're whole!)

i like the dangles, too :)

i've made a couple of hip belt/sashes that have dangles at the hipbones on both sides ... i like it better than at the etreme left and right side.

I've finished my pink Turkish costume last week and wore it to show on Sunday. If you want to read the whole story, follow this link to my livejournal entry. Here's a picture to show you what the bra looks like finished:

Mekyria - I got so inspired by your pink turkish from last month. I hope it's ok I am going to channel my inspiration towards making a bra/belt with some cutouts in a similar style for a pink/orange one I just started. YOu did such a great job!

Originally Posted by mekyria

I've finished my pink Turkish costume last week and wore it to show on Sunday. If you want to read the whole story, follow this link to my livejournal entry. Here's a picture to show you what the bra looks like finished:

This is STUNNING!!!! THank you for being so generous with your method of work. Really lovely. I look forward to seeing what you do in the future.

Absolutely amazing mekyria!!

I had a 6:30 am lightbulb moment, made 4 melaya dresses today (well rough drafts) still have to make one more, and also have to make ruffles for them too! I can finish it tomorrow.. I will post some pics after our student show on Sunday!

Just wanted to share how I did it.. I have a one shoulder dress I bought at American apparel Interlock Asymmetrical Dress | Shop American Apparel

Basically I traced a pattern from it (made larger for seam allowance, comfort and the fabric wasn't as stretchy) and serged some dresses!!!

If your thinking of making a melaya dress this is so easy I was able to cut, pin, and serge all in about 15 min and I'm not a pro!

This whole costumes just dumbfounded me, thanks for the journal! It is motivation!

One day, maybe I'll get to make one (or commission one, teehee!)...

Originally Posted by mekyria

I've finished my pink Turkish costume last week and wore it to show on Sunday. If you want to read the whole story, follow this link to my livejournal entry. Here's a picture to show you what the bra looks like finished:

I'm glad that this costume project is inspiring dancers all over the world, it's so much fun to share the progress with my online friends. It certainly gives me an extra reason to continue working

It feels like years since I've posted here Certainly it's been months. I've had a few performances crop up this month and it was the perfect incentive I needed to dig back into the Green Monster costume that I've been working on for ages. Last summer I got it 'done enough to dance in' but haven't touched it since. Tonight I've mostly finished it. Mostly because I'm not sure what to do with the extra waist straps!

HELP! I can't sew the strap ends down or I won't be able to put the skirt on. Do I use hook and eyes? Snaps? Bra strap hooks? I know some of you have costumes with crazy straps...
2011-04-07_21-15-46_886.jpg

Use hook and eye sets!!!! I'm sure it would work great!