Thread: potential projects, and sugar petals bra/belt bases....

a thread on swap meet inspired this sorta spinoff:

'BLING New Daring 4500+ Swarovski Rhinestones Fuchsia Pro Stage Bra/Belt'

in it a bhuzzer made an amazing cossie with a VS bra, base and LOOOOOTs of swarovski crystals with a hefty price tag.....originally made it for herself and discovered after much love and work, didn't work for her figure..............

i've had some fab teal fabric (black backed satiny for skirt/veil, stretch velvet for bra/belt......hey damiena, yeah, it's yours, i still have it )

between time and lack of motivation, i havent made it yet.....but wondered.....

she used a retail bra, and i haven't had good luck with those yet......

has anyone used the bra and belt bases by sugar petals yet? are they sturdy? easy to use? do you need to line them?.....

also, looking to use swarovski as well, but do they have prong sets or sew ons? if not, anyone know good glue? lately egyptian cossies have been using glue on blingies and they look lovely (got a white beauty from thalia of that type)........

i've been good with my hands and know i can make a cossie that doesn't look 'home-made' in the bad sense, and seeing that beauty is inspiring me to do it....just wondering about the bases cuz i'll admit, i haven't a clue how to build a bra from scratch and don't wanna ruin a vickie secret in the process....

input?

I'm interested too, I have some lovely rasberry four way stretch velvet, I've also got some amazing tan lycra, as well as gold and cream brocade...

yes, fabric hoarder as well.....c:: .w.:

Originally Posted by kina

I'm interested too, I have some lovely rasberry four way stretch velvet, I've also got some amazing tan lycra, as well as gold and cream brocade...

yes, fabric hoarder as well.....c:: .w.:

..cr.: yes, gahh, and i'll be moving soon and cant......part.....with any of it...........

I've used Sugar Petal bra cups and I have the bases, I just haven't used the bases yet.

With the cups, I've lined them with super thick pellon, but the cups seem spongy. Then, someone recommended soaking them in fabric stiffener. I soaked a couple of them and they are pretty hard, but I wonder if sweating in them will cause them to lose their stiffness?

I can post more when I use the stiffened cups, but so far, the Sugar Petal cups are the best I could find.

Azeeza

PS Swarovski crystals. I know they have sew ons, but I can't remember if they have the ones with the prongs. You may have to buy the crystals separately from the prongs. Oh, I know I've seen them where there is a metal backing and you put the metal behind the fabric and lay the jewel on top of the fabric and attach them that way. I've not used those though, just the sew ons.

Azeeza

I used a sugar petals belt base for the most recent set I've made. They are really sturdy and easy to use, they come with instructions. I lined mine on both sides with interfacing and used grosgrain ribbon on the lower edge (where I attached fringe) and across the center of the belt. It probably isn't necessary to this, I always tend to go overboard during the stiffening parts, and the instructions just say to go straight to cover fabric I think. They are just made of stiff interfaing, which you can get at Joanns for $6/yd but if you want pre-shaped ones Sugar Petals is the place to go.

Regarding adhesives for rhinestones, it sounds dubious, but regular ol' hot-fix glue and a glue gun worked like a charm in the mermaid bra and belt I made. I started gluing tiny seashells, freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals to a bra about 3 years ago and recently made a belt to match. Surprisingly enough, it hasn't lost a single shell, pearl or stone. Also, encrusting the entire thing with shells, in addition to all that glue, has given a really cool armor-like stiffness to the finished product. Not bad!

I've experimented with other adhesives, even those made specifically for rhinestones, and you just can't touch my old-school favorite.

You just have to make sure to work carefully. Burns from hot glue or from touching the tip of a glue gun can be astoundingly painful. Also, know EXACTLY where you plan to place the stones, and don't plan on moving things around. You have to rip them forcibly off the fabric if you need to move them, and then you must contend with an ugly glue stain.

Lisa

You could try these sites.

Rhinestones, Swarovski Rhinestones, Crystal Beads & Trims | Dreamtime Creations

Swarovski Sew On Rhinestone

thank you so much!

anyone else planning something fab? or finished and can post pics?

rhinestones:
for [skirts/dresses] i put the prongs through the back of the fabric.
for bra/belt, i use E6000 glue.
even my costumes made 11 years ago, using this glue, still have their stones! but i would wear gloves and open the windows if using this glue b/c its very "industrial". allow 72 hrs for glue to cure/set

sugar petals bra/belt:
have used their belt base as a pattern for the belts i make using denim as the base. can only vouch for the belt pattern "style 1-classic" as very good if you make the snips in the bottom back to make it a "butt cupper".

i suggest lining the belt with felt to help prevent slippage and absorb sweat.
...now i wanna make something :)

I use sewon crystals. Although I jsut shelled out 415 for 8 of the puppies to replace some which had been removed from a vintage set I just bought! Grrr... why do I have to love vintage bedlah?

Anyway, when I have to replace stones which are set in prongs, I will use good old fashioned rubber cement in the setting before placing the stone.

I have not used sugar petels forms. I have heard good and bad about them. The complaint that they are spongy is the main one. A couple of layers of denim was what was recommended to me when I first started dancing and from what I have seen with my vintage costumes, just about everything used to be used.

And if I don't come up withthe brass to buy Samira's Tahyia costume, I am soooo gonna make one!

{{{HUGS}}}

{{{{HUGS}}}

I've used E6000 glue also and not had a problem with losing any thing. The only draw back was the smell while using it.

Tahira, why do you use rubber cement? Just curious.

Originally Posted by ra-chell

I've used E6000 glue also and not had a problem with losing any thing. The only draw back was the smell while using it.

Tahira, why do you use rubber cement? Just curious.

It's easy to get and if it gets on to metal, etc, easy to clean up.

{{{HUGS}}}

My mom uses GemTac for her rhinestoning projects (the woman rhinestones EVERYTHING I kid you not) and I use it as well. No smell, super pliable, easy to work with, dries clear, easy clean up, durable.

Best bra base I ever used was cheapy strapless bra WITH BONING on the sides from Walmart or Target. However, I don't like stiffness in the cups, so by the time I double lined the bra (1/ icky, doesn't matter thick fabric; 2/ the actual decorative fabric) it's pretty thickened and ready to take on blingage.

Next up: Toni Braxton 2001 Grammy Awards loin cloth dress and something with hot pink spandex and pencil skirts... .w.:

Originally Posted by Azhia

Next up: Toni Braxton 2001 Grammy Awards loin cloth dress and something with hot pink spandex and pencil skirts... .w.:

ooh, i'm gonna have to look that up...........is that the one with the boobage that diana ross played with?