Thread: What are you working on in July 2012:)

Hello to all of you hard working costume Bees
its July! Happy Canada and America Days
I finishe a costume project for my student just intime for Canada day celebrations

Very nice Oxana + fuchsia colour is my all time favorite

Got an order for my Saffari costume, the main details are same but small details going to be different. I started with a bra

I'm very much so a baby belly (first post! but I've been reading for a while) and since I've been getting frustrated at the lack of affordable costumes in my size that aren't ugly--I've decided to try my hand at making my own. I'm not much of a seamstress and have only just learned how to use a machine. I doubt this costume will ever see the light of day (see also: crappy sewing skills), but it's a learning process.

I ordered a bra/belt set from Isis Exchange and have been working on altering it to fit me better. My dance teacher helped me with fitting and so I've shortened the bra straps and moved them closer together in the back. I also did a small bit of sequin repair. I still need to get more of those hook and tab closures to put a second hook in it. For the belt (no pictures of that one), my teacher suggested folding it up a little bit and sewing it instead of cutting it shorter so that if I gain weight, I can make it bigger. I also cut off the crotch fringe.

For the costume that I'm making, I got this really pretty (and very sheer) fabric in purple and blue. I think it might be chiffon? I've covered some Sugar Petals bra cups in black and then blue (only black shown here) and did a panel skirt of 8 panels, alternating purple/blue. I always wear multiple layers, so I'm probably not going to sew the panels to each other. (Yeah, I know that there's something weird with the edge of the fabric on the skirt in a few bits, but I figure I can just cut that off.)

My idea for the costume that I'm making (which I suppose I should name at some point) is that I'll do some glue on rhinestones with some pearl beads around them to make them into little flowers with some purple beads to make vines/stems. It might be completely hideous, but as I said, I'm learning.

Originally Posted by sperose

My idea for the costume that I'm making (which I suppose I should name at some point) is that I'll do some glue on rhinestones with some pearl beads around them to make them into little flowers with some purple beads to make vines/stems. It might be completely hideous, but as I said, I'm learning.

the only way in this business to learn is by doing- even the hideous one's will teach you something new!

(grumbles off to piles of unfinished hideous projects)

My July project is a Baladi costume. This is what I'm making it with:


I saw the print as apples, but a friend saw it as sour cherries, so in my head, this costume became the 5-a-Day Baladi.

And this is what I've got so far- a covered bra, plus a load of straps to be attached (tomorrow's job!).



There's also a galabeya that I've started- it's got a front, a back and sleeves, but I haven't worked out how I want to do the neckline yet, because I need to be able to wear it with the actual bra, to see how they work together, so no photos of that yet.

Anyone wishing to follow its progress on a more regular basis on my LJ, can follow the link:
Strictly Dancing - 5-A-Day Baladi

I've just started work on a new costume, violet metallic Lycra with ab stones and beading. I call it 'purple rain'. It will have more 'droppy' beads added after I've finished the main beading. And lots of hot fix diamantes.

It's fixing time for me. Attaching some loose sequins here, securing a hook there...
After last month's big project I have to get away from the sofa more!
But a costume that you frequently dance in needs to be taken care of too!

MEISSOUN

Originally Posted by firefly5

I've just started work on a new costume, violet metallic Lycra with ab stones and beading. I call it 'purple rain'. It will have more 'droppy' beads added after I've finished the main beading. And lots of hot fix diamantes.

Wow that looks gorgeous! I love the colour! Would love to see the full costume once its finished!

This month I'm working on a full costume for a friend, she brought me a gorgeous gold Lycra, tiger print and a gold shimmer mesh to match with it.

So far I've work only on the bra, hoping to get on the skirt next weekend...

Originally Posted by firefly5

I've just started work on a new costume, violet metallic Lycra with ab stones and beading. I call it 'purple rain'. It will have more 'droppy' beads added after I've finished the main beading. And lots of hot fix diamantes.

I love that color!

I'm almost done fixing up my friend's "Magic Stretch Dress" for her. Hey, was it here that somebody recommended the Beadsmith Big Eye needles? These things are just awesome!!

The BeadSmith 5 Inch Big Eye Beading Needles 4-Pack

Getting closer, but still lots of work to be done. The skirt has been hanging for about 3 weeks now I think? As you could tell from the pic it got stretched a lot!!! So next, hemming, then more decorating ( Swarovski stones and hotfix rhinestones, no acrylic stuff at all, it's bling all the way!!!), plus accessories, plus tweaking the bra flower. Plus I made step by step pics of how to make those 3D flowers, hopefully will have time over the weekend to prepare a tutorial. Phew... So happy that Ayelet (the dancer) was willing to take half-way-through pics! She's cool, love working with her!




eta: And she has booked already a professional photo shoot!!! Yay! Can't wait to get it done and post normal pics :)

Originally Posted by sophie

Getting closer, but still lots of work to be done. The skirt has been hanging for about 3 weeks now I think? As you could tell from the pic it got stretched a lot!!! So next, hemming, then more decorating ( Swarovski stones and hotfix rhinestones, no acrylic stuff at all, it's bling all the way!!!), plus accessories, plus tweaking the bra flower. Plus I made step by step pics of how to make those 3D flowers, hopefully will have time over the weekend to prepare a tutorial. Phew... So happy that Ayelet (the dancer) was willing to take half-way-through pics! She's cool, love working with her!




eta: And she has booked already a professional photo shoot!!! Yay! Can't wait to get it done and post normal pics :)

That's jawdropping! P.S. I can't wait for that 3D flowers tutorial...

Bling bling! It's me again! Bra almost finished... Looks 100x more sparkly in real life, and it's too small for Betty, but coming along nicely.

Tiger costume: progess on the bra...

Originally Posted by Qamar60

Tiger costume: progess on the bra...

That is stunning!

Mermaid costume

And something totally unrelated to dance: cute sun curtains with velcro to attach above car window, for friends and family with kids

I took a little break from costuming this weekend to do some other crafting just for fun.

I bought an image of dressform on canvas for $5 a long time ago and I modified it, painting a bedlah to dress it and add some sparkles with the gluegun. It's in my sewing room now!



And since I am obsessed with dressforms, I made this one with the instruction from the DIY Dish (it's a pincushion) Link: Season 4! How to Make a Dress Form Mannequin Pin Cushion « The DIY Dish

I have no time for sewing now, so I am just drooling on the creativity of all of you guys :)

Qamar, that is lovely

Qamar, you inspired me, I have been thinking about your new pincushion all day long in my work and I came to conclusion that sewing will be absolutely boring activity without new pin cushion for me I will post what I made

Originally Posted by Luccia

Qamar, you inspired me, I have been thinking about your new pincushion all day long in my work and I came to conclusion that sewing will be absolutely boring activity without new pin cushion for me I will post what I made

The, he, he, it's just my first one, and far from perfect since I'm not very good with machine sewing especialy with small things like that. Maybe the next one will be assembled by hand stritching.

I found wooden candle holders for $2,50 each but those were the two last ones. I will keep my eyes open next time I go into thriftstores. It's going to be fun to make them for friends and family!

Can't wait to see yours!

I finally started adding boning to my lumpy Pharaonics bra, like I said I would last month. It really works! Of course, I will have to have both arms in slings because my wrists are cramping so much from holding everything and pushing the needle through the entire bra.

I don't know why the bra cups are so misshapen, but I have seen others like this before. Maybe it is from how the cups are beaded. But sewing the boning tightly over the lumpy parts definitely smooths the cups out. This is done under the lining, obviously.

My estimated time of completion, at the rate I am going, is September 2014. I will report back then.

Originally Posted by SandraDances

I finally started adding boning to my lumpy Pharaonics bra, like I said I would last month. It really works! Of course, I will have to have both arms in slings because my wrists are cramping so much from holding everything and pushing the needle through the entire bra.

I don't know why the bra cups are so misshapen, but I have seen others like this before. Maybe it is from how the cups are beaded. But sewing the boning tightly over the lumpy parts definitely smooths the cups out. This is done under the lining, obviously.

My estimated time of completion, at the rate I am going, is September 2014. I will report back then.

Laughed my lungs out :)))))))))))))))

Hi ladies,
in May I made skirts for my bellydance troupe - a combination of lycra and black stretch lace fabric. I sew the lace in the top of the skirt (where the elastic is placed) and into the slits, and also as one of the gauntlets. I did only the sewing, the dancers did the decorating and beading by themselves.


In June I finished a yellow costume for a friend, but she did not like it so I refunded her the money and took the costume back.
She did not like the bra - I used a red bra as the base and unfortunately it shines through slightly, so the bra is a little bit darker than the rest of the costume. Unfortunately, I did not noticed that in the interior lighting.
She also did not like the straps on the bra and the way the fabric on the bra is folded, and the seam in front of the skirt, and also the small plastic silver flowers.
So I am going to wear it by myself after my pregnancy, I just hope I fit into it after that.



And finally here is a picture of a costume I have just finished for a friend of mine - it is very simple design, a combination of nude mesh and gorgeously printed silk fabric. I used Czech beads and Czech sew-on Stones only.

Monika, like, like, like :) and we really have to ask Rosey to add the "LOVE" button gorgeous works :-)

Monika that yellow number is just gorgeous! So too bad for the friend it's her lost because you are going to rock the town wearing it so... Na, na, na!

I FINALLY finished my first Bedlah. I started on it in January and posted pictures I think in April or May of the belt and start of the bra. I completed the bedlah the first part of July and then made a satin circle skirt too from fabric I found at goodwill for $5.00. I have to give credit to my dance instructor Susan and my troupe mate and neighbor Kim for guiding me in the process and giving me some great tips!

Originally Posted by amalamphy

I FINALLY finished my first Bedlah. I started on it in January and posted pictures I think in April or May of the belt and start of the bra. I completed the bedlah the first part of July and then made a satin circle skirt too from fabric I found at goodwill for $5.00. I have to give credit to my dance instructor Susan and my troupe mate and neighbor Kim for guiding me in the process and giving me some great tips!

Congrats on you firts bedlah. It's a true masterpiece! (How come the emoticon with the tongue on the floor isn't there anymore?)