When I make beaded appliques, I like to mix in a rhinestone chain. 🙂 Rhinestone chains are great for defining the shape of the applique, which is a big plus for dance costumes. (Vague shapes don’t show well on stage.) And of course, rhinestone chains add lots of shine, and they are much quicker to sew on than… Read more →
Beaded appliques are perfect for decorating your dance costumes with… or even your evening dresses or bags! They make everything look so fine and polished! 🙂 And so they come with high price tags. Can you make one yourself? Sure you can! 🙂 In fact, making your own beaded appliques is actually simple and… Read more →
I love beads, and beads are necessary for decorating dance costumes with. They add colours, shine, and movements to your costumes! 😀 But just walking through a bead shop without knowing much about them is overwhelming! 🙁 So here’s a quick guide for beads for beginners, so you can confidently shop for beads for your costume… Read more →
This dress project was born inside of my head about a year ago. On Sparkly Belly’s Facebook group, one image of a belly dance dress was shared, and many people were liking it. When I see a popular style, I have to re-create it! 😀 So here’s what happened: Learn how to make this… Read more →
A few months ago I did a review on Swarovski’s shimmer effect rhinestone series, which was initially introduced to me by Alisa at Har-Man Importing. And last month, she sent me another new line of rhinestones, called Star Bright. Thanks, Alisa! Sign up for the free course & start making costumes! Star Bright is an Austrian Crystal collection, and Har-Man… Read more →
Since I launched my latest costume making course, Aurora Convertible Skirt Premium Course, I received questions about what to wear under this type of skirt that has cutouts. Click the image to check out how to make this skirt! Generally, you can either wear nude colour underwear that doesn’t show, or some dancers wear boy shorts in nude colour. For… Read more →
Some tools can make a world of difference 🙂 Today I want to share with you 3 of my favourite sewing tools that made a world of difference to my costume making. After I met these tools, costume making has become easier, faster and more fun! 😀 If you are looking to upgrade your sewing tools, I highly recommend these. I’ll include… Read more →
I like belly dance costumes that have decorations sewn onto the skirt. 🙂 For this type of skirt, you don’t have to wear a separate belt, which can be more comfortable for some of you. At least for me – less opportunity for costume malfunction 😉 But how do you sew decorations to the stretch waistband of… Read more →
I’m not a big fan of belly dance costumes that are any more naked than they already are, but sometimes that “naked” design details on costumes can be visually interesting and also create beautiful lines. And when I say “naked”, I mean those cut outs that show your skin or details that mimic the colour of your skin.… Read more →
In my last video, you saw how to make a heart shaped beaded applique. And this week I want to share with you this paisley beaded applique. I love paisley designs, and they look great on costumes in every colour. Let’s get started! Download the free paisley patterns here! To make these paisley appliques, you need: Felt – to use… Read more →