Thread: Bella's response re my fringeless bella dress, see last post

Hi ladies -

I'm going to make spot fringe for my bella dress in the booty area, which has no fringe at the moment. I'd like to use flat sequins next to the fabric, then 6mm bugle bead fringe hanging from that (I usually use a round seed bead at the end and come back up the fringe, through the sequin, and knot on the inside of the dress. Also need to buy some fringe thread, but not sure what kind will work with a beading needle!

gold and royal blue are the colors on the dress - what do you ladies think would look best? royal sequins and royal bugles? or gold? or a mixture?

Should I put some fringe on the front lower torso area as well as the booty area?

Thanks much for your help!

Gold, and yes, you need to put some in the front, if only to tie it together. Though it does't have to be much.

{{{HUGS}}}

duplicate post, sorry.

I would go with gold, mainly so that the fringe matches the beading on the dress. I think it will look much more like it was made that way. I also think the contrast of the gold fringe against the blue fabric will make the movement of the fringe really stand out.

If you wanted to incorporate the blue, I think you could do royal sequins with gold fringe. Or maybe one larger royal bead at the very bottom of the strand of gold fringe.

I would put some in the front as well.

Oh, and lovely dress, by the way!

This dress looks amazing on you!

Originally Posted by bintbeled

This dress looks amazing on you!

Thank you Bintbeled! I added padding to the bra and tacked the skirt at the top in three places so it is still sexy but I won't have any R.B. appearing unexpectedly. I was afraid of the nakedness…funny what a few passes with a thread will do!

Originally Posted by Asra*

I would go with gold, mainly so that the fringe matches the beading on the dress. I think it will look much more like it was made that way. I also think the contrast of the gold fringe against the blue fabric will make the movement of the fringe really stand out.

If you wanted to incorporate the blue, I think you could do royal sequins with gold fringe. Or maybe one larger royal bead at the very bottom of the strand of gold fringe.

I would put some in the front as well.

Oh, and lovely dress, by the way!

thank you for the compliment and great advice Asra!

I agree with using gold, since it is the dominant embellishment color, but if you want a second accent color with it, I think I would be tempted to try light blue instead of a medium shade of blue. The fabric looks like panne, which has a lot of brighter accents to its nap, and the stones are reading light blue in the pictures. Darker colors tend to recede, so a lighter color should be more noticeable, but you'll have to experiment and see what looks better in person. Bella often uses multiple colors, so it might work better to use strands of gold, light blue, and medium blue, too.

I'm concerned about preserving the theme of the design, but I can't see the details well enough to be very helpful. For example, I can't see the sequined edging very clearly in the picture. Is it a three-row edge, gold-blue-gold? I assume creating new star appliques would be a more challenging task than you're hoping for. How close can you get to replicating the round medallions surrounding the cutout on the side as your anchor points?

Folks who are really into Bellas could probably advise you better on her typical design elements, but from what I know of her style, it may look more organic to the brand if you did swag fringe instead of small strands. I personally tend to associate the isolated-strand style of fringe more with Sims, but I'm not an expert on Turkish costumes.

I think I would use gold and blue together as it's more matching the Bella style.
When you are making the fringes yourself, you may also think about contrast/accent beads like larger beads on the ends of the fringe or buglebeads inbetween, I always feel those look more vivid and elegant than monocromatic fringes.

E.g. like this
gold fringes with blue buglebeads
http://www.raks-sharki.com/galleries...ella_blue1.gif
alternating blue and gold with blue tips
http://www.raks-sharki.com/galleries..._lavendar2.jpg
monocromatic fringes with accent tips
http://www.raks-sharki.com/galleries...lverBlack1.jpg

I know, these are all examples that are not spotted fringes but Bella makes the spotted ones just like the ones on the belts and I couldn't find pics where you can see spotted Bella fringes well enough.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

I agree with using gold, since it is the dominant embellishment color, but if you want a second accent color with it, I think I would be tempted to try light blue instead of a medium shade of blue. The fabric looks like panne, which has a lot of brighter accents to its nap, and the stones are reading light blue in the pictures. Darker colors tend to recede, so a lighter color should be more noticeable, but you'll have to experiment and see what looks better in person. Bella often uses multiple colors, so it might work better to use strands of gold, light blue, and medium blue, too.

I'm concerned about preserving the theme of the design, but I can't see the details well enough to be very helpful. For example, I can't see the sequined edging very clearly in the picture. Is it a three-row edge, gold-blue-gold? I assume creating new star appliques would be a more challenging task than you're hoping for. How close can you get to replicating the round medallions surrounding the cutout on the side as your anchor points?

Folks who are really into Bellas could probably advise you better on her typical design elements, but from what I know of her style, it may look more organic to the brand if you did swag fringe instead of small strands. I personally tend to associate the isolated-strand style of fringe more with Sims, but I'm not an expert on Turkish costumes.

Hi Tourbeau, excellent points! The elements are limited - flat gold holographic sequins, seed beads (transparent gold lined in gold and a little larger transparant royal blue), royal blue 6mm bugles, gold 6mm bugles, and little round gold balls that are faceted.

I've done enough rehab beading to replicate the stars. What I'm realizing is perhaps simple spot fringe is too simple and isn't part of the design. I should slow down and make a plan.

Here is a close-up of the beading on the skirt edging.

Originally Posted by sha-ri

I think I would use gold and blue together as it's more matching the Bella style.
When you are making the fringes yourself, you may also think about contrast/accent beads like larger beads on the ends of the fringe or buglebeads inbetween, I always feel those look more vivid and elegant than monocromatic fringes.

E.g. like this
gold fringes with blue buglebeads
http://www.raks-sharki.com/galleries...ella_blue1.gif
alternating blue and gold with blue tips
http://www.raks-sharki.com/galleries..._lavendar2.jpg
monocromatic fringes with accent tips
http://www.raks-sharki.com/galleries...lverBlack1.jpg

I know, these are all examples that are not spotted fringes but Bella makes the spotted ones just like the ones on the belts and I couldn't find pics where you can see spotted Bella fringes well enough.

I love the first example you posted - have saved that photo to my desktop

I don't "see" bella like every one else here does- so I can't comment on to what would be something in her design style... but what I do see... is a star theme (no duh right)

and with one star on the hip I can envision an arch of fringe (spot fringe not wall-o-fringe) toward the big cut out star on your hip- like a shooting star. Three of them maybe- wider toward the left and narrowing down as the come closer to your hip.

The same but smaller pattern could be repeated on the front.

I'm not good with bella- but I liked the idea of an arch instead of a straight line- and there is room for it to be tied the exact same way into the front- but in a smaller fashion.

PS... .Its a lovely dress that you are totally rocking :)

I'm liking this fringe effect. Do you think it is a strand of gold fringe and then next to it a strand of blue? Or do you think she mixed the two colors on one strand of thread?




Here is the beading on the open circle on the side, beading on the bodice edge/bra straps and lastly, beading on the side flower.

Originally Posted by EzmaSiddiqah

Here is a close-up of the beading on the skirt edging.

Thanks--on my monitor I was guessing those were sequins when they're actually beads! Based on the close-ups, I probably would reverse and use royal blue with the gold, although looking at the first picture sha-ri posted, you easily could throw some light blue into the mix, and maybe another shade, shape, or finish, too. Complex, multicolored fringe is obviously part of Bella's repertoire.

Originally Posted by EzmaSiddiqah

I'm liking this fringe effect. Do you think it is a strand of gold fringe and then next to it a strand of blue? Or do you think she mixed the two colors on one strand of thread?

The pics are not very sharp, but I asume it's only gold beads (maybe seedbeads but regarding the flow I would point more toward those very short cut beads) with blue buglebeads inbetween and I feel there are some king of blue tips on the ends of the fringes. Regarding the beads that are used on your costume, I think you could reproduce that effect very well.

I tried something similar on a selfmade, here is what it looked like:
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8...ertelvorne.jpg
but I completely randomized the height when I added the bugle beads. On Sandras costume (always a good source for Bella costume pics;-)) I think the bugles are in about the same height on the fringes so there is a decent effect of horizontal stripes.

Bella tends to use more and more "effect beads" (I call them so, they make the fringes look more vivid and effectful)in their fringes like larger beads, bugle beads and mostly their fringes have tips from larger beads or contrasting color, so I would play around with what you have:
- gold seedbead-fringes with blue bugles
- as before but combined with blue seedbead-fringes with gold bugles inbetween
- tips like a bugle bead or 3-4 of the facetted gold beads (secure with a single seedbead!) or even something colpletely different like large (acrylic) crystals or large paillettes as Bella uses them a lot and the beads on the tips must not always be part of the other beadwork but just match the design.

I agree starting from a sequin is not typical for Bellas but may bring out the fringes better.

And I think, it would help blinging up the cossie with adding stars around the belt area in back and front, if you are handy enough reproducing the stars.

[QUOTE=sha-ri;920758]The pics are not very sharp, but I asume it's only gold beads (maybe seedbeads but regarding the flow I would point more toward those very short cut beads) with blue buglebeads inbetween and I feel there are some king of blue tips on the ends of the fringes. Regarding the beads that are used on your costume, I think you could reproduce that effect very well.

I tried something similar on a selfmade, here is what it looked like:
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8...ertelvorne.jpg
but I completely randomized the height when I added the bugle beads. On Sandras costume (always a good source for Bella costume pics;-)) I think the bugles are in about the same height on the fringes so there is a decent effect of horizontal stripes.
QUOTE]


Sha-ri, I LOVE your work!!!! Is it possible to see the whole costume?

Ezma, I like this effect, too... it'd be awesome on your dress!

Originally Posted by sha-ri

The pics are not very sharp, but I asume it's only gold beads (maybe seedbeads but regarding the flow I would point more toward those very short cut beads) with blue buglebeads inbetween and I feel there are some king of blue tips on the ends of the fringes. Regarding the beads that are used on your costume, I think you could reproduce that effect very well.

I tried something similar on a selfmade, here is what it looked like:
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8...ertelvorne.jpg
but I completely randomized the height when I added the bugle beads. On Sandras costume (always a good source for Bella costume pics;-)) I think the bugles are in about the same height on the fringes so there is a decent effect of horizontal stripes.

Bella tends to use more and more "effect beads" (I call them so, they make the fringes look more vivid and effectful)in their fringes like larger beads, bugle beads and mostly their fringes have tips from larger beads or contrasting color, so I would play around with what you have:
- gold seedbead-fringes with blue bugles
- as before but combined with blue seedbead-fringes with gold bugles inbetween
- tips like a bugle bead or 3-4 of the facetted gold beads (secure with a single seedbead!) or even something colpletely different like large (acrylic) crystals or large paillettes as Bella uses them a lot and the beads on the tips must not always be part of the other beadwork but just match the design.

I agree starting from a sequin is not typical for Bellas but may bring out the fringes better.

And I think, it would help blinging up the cossie with adding stars around the belt area in back and front, if you are handy enough reproducing the stars.

Thank you for that picture Sha-ri, it shows the color mixture very well!

As a result of the awesome advice received here, it made me really think about adding to this dress myself. In order to keep the value and integrity of the dress, I sent an email to Bella with pics asking her if she would accept the commission to add fringe/stars/whatev to the back and front of the dress. I also asked her for a matching necklace.

I hope she will do it.

[QUOTE=EzmaSiddiqah;920582]I'm liking this fringe effect. Do you think it is a strand of gold fringe and then next to it a strand of blue? Or do you think she mixed the two colors on one strand of thread?

I like the fringe in the above photo, very much ... but I think it's a fabulous idea to have Bella add it herself. She is a genius. I'm betting she will add even more crystals .... and I'm sure she will enjoy seeing one of her vintage designs still in circulation! Bellas are made to last for more than one generation.

Ezma, you totally do this dress justice. You are absolutely lovely in it. Gorgeous ... Yay!!! So happy it worked out. Can't wait to see it after Bella reworks it .....

Thank you sweet Naiyahayal for your kind words, and for selling it to me

I sent Bella a request to add fringe and other additional decorations as she wished, and this is her reply. I am thinking this means no she won't do it.

Greetings Kim,
thank you for your mail.
We are doing such a fringe work together with pailette and bead work.
It will be too difficult later to add a fringe work.
Thank you again for your mail.
Kindly regards,
Bella

I wonder if she could make you a thin belt with hanging fringe in the back but not in the front... or that might be weird...

Originally Posted by jewelsdances

I wonder if she could make you a thin belt with hanging fringe in the back but not in the front... or that might be weird...

it doesn't appear she will work on it, so I will have to figure something out. I need fringe, I'm a fringe lover! Thanks Jewels!

BTW you look great in that dress!

Sorry she won't take it on. that would have been a very nice solution.

Meanwhile, here is my suggestion. . .

On the front, start with clusters of fringe beneath each star beginning at the one above the slit. Then let the fringe also meander across the mid drift, aka the belt line, over to the cut out and down the leg.

From the back, cover the bootie, but also allow it to arch into the leg with the cut out so that you have a line of fringe going down that leg, bringing the back and front together.

Does that make sense?

{{{HUGS}}}

Just fooling around a bit with your pics:


I liked the idea of visually creating some sort of belt on the costume and having the fringes hanging from the stars (you said you may bead some additional stars so I worked with that).
Then I combined with the gold-blue fringes from the pic of Sandra's belt.
It turned out too dense as I would prefer them but it is for giving an idea

I really preferred the dress the way it was...until I saw Sha-ri's picture just above.
Do that!

I like the wall of fringe pix but I would be concerned it would cause the fabric to stretch and sag. The stars are a great idea. I would probably scatter 3 stars across the front and 3 across the back hip area then add 3-4 strands of fringe to the base of each star. If the weight isn't too much you could add a few more strands - gauging the weight as you proceed.

I think I would go for fringe that is more sparse myself. It might be possible to reinforce the heavier, faux-belt style, but going lighter will be less work. Also, I am a little concerned that having that much weight on the bottom makes the top seem fringelessly bare, although with that much embellishment across the bust, you don't really have room for fringe. Based on Bella's response, she's divesting herself of the project, so if you wanted to go with fewer strands of chunky fringe per design element, you could probably do that with a clear conscience, even though it goes against the Bella-ness of the design.

Originally Posted by sha-ri

Just fooling around a bit with your pics:


I liked the idea of visually creating some sort of belt on the costume and having the fringes hanging from the stars (you said you may bead some additional stars so I worked with that).
Then I combined with the gold-blue fringes from the pic of Sandra's belt.
It turned out too dense as I would prefer them but it is for giving an idea

I really like the idea of that, but I would go with not so much fringe, and just plain gold hanging from the stars.