I like Princess Jasmine. Her typical look is not a floor length dress like other Disney princesses. She’s in rather simple harem pants, but she is still gorgeous and that’s what I find unique and attractive about her. And to me, the best part of her outfit is the sleeves. Her sleeves are so flowy, and simply romantic.I’ve always wanted… Read more →
Last week I announced that the enrolment to my online Belly Dance Costume Workshop (BDCW) is opening on May 22, 2016. I’ve been receiving messages and questions from excited dancers 🙂 If you have questions about the workshop, feel free to email me at mao@sparklybelly.com. I’m happy to answer your questions, and it’s great to know what you are wondering… Read more →
Here’s an honest disclaimer – This post contains some affiliate links. This means that if you click on the links and purchase products, I earn a small commission (no additional cost to you). The small commission I earn keeps all the Sparkly Belly tutorials free 🙂 No obligation, just an option. Thanks! Last week I showed you how to make… Read more →
I’ve been curious about those curly rhinestone appliques used to decorate belly dance costumes, often by Russian designers. And lots of dancers have been asking how to make these on Facebook. They are so cute and help you create beautiful, romantic designs. It took me a while, but I finally figured out how to make them, and in this video, you’ll… Read more →
Last week I did a review on a whole bunch of beads sent to me by PandaHall. I’m receiving positive feedback on the review, so I’ll think about recommending more products and sharing more coupons I find in the future 🙂 This week I’ll show you how to make a beaded lace applique and DIY barefoot sandals using some of… Read more →
Merry Christmas! I hope you are having a wonderful day with your loved ones. I’m just finishing up the last bit of work here then heading off to my fiance’s parents’ place for dinner. It’ll be a good time 🙂 Before I go, I want to quickly share with you some photos. I often receive photos of beautiful creations by dancers, and… Read more →
Want to finally learn how to sew? And make your own costumes? And save money? If you said yes to any of the above, you are in the right place! 🙂 The #1 Costume Challenge I’ve been sharing my DIY belly dance costume tutorials for a while now, and during this time, I have been fortunate enough to get to… Read more →
Appliques are usually pieces of ornamented fabric that you can attach to your clothes, bags etc. For belly dance costumes, beaded appliques are used often, and placing a few appliques on the costume bra and belt or skirt gives the whole costume a uniform and balanced look. This video was inspired by a long thread about how to make appliques… Read more →
So here is a little bit about me. When I look at sequins and beads sewn in an orderly manner, I get a lot of pleasure from it. It may sound weird, but the above picture of pink sequins all sewn together among strings of beads is like… exciting and comforting to me. I can stare at it for a… Read more →
Sequins! I love sequins. They shine a lot on stage, and they are used in all types of dance costumes. Sewing sequins is very simple! And knowing how to sew sequins comes in handy when you have to fix your belly dance costumes and re-do some beading/sequin work. There are many ways to sew sequins, but in this video, you will… Read more →