100 pieces are never enough.

This is the finished product...... (guesting tutu for Melody Herrera)

Guesting Season is upon the ballet world, and Principal dancer Melody Herrera of Houston Ballet has many special performances on her plate. She came to me with the need of a good universal tutu: Sugar Plum, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and any other classical rhinestone, and tulle draped lead role that may come her way.

The above sketch i sent Melody turned out to be what i like to call a "splash and a hand" design. It's a bunch of wavy lines, loops, and squiggles. In the construction of this tutu I've challenged my self to really read the design and convey as much of what i put on paper as possible.
Below is the start.

The picture above is the very fist layer of several on the center front panel of the bodice. The flat lining is cotton twill topped with a cream file, the colored floral pieces are dupiono silks that i will applique' and the edge of the pieces are airbrushed with a soft pink floral so that they blend into the rest of the bodice which is more pink.

Below is the next layer of embroidery, and beaded lace that tops off and tones down the applique' and painting.

I was very lucky to found a lace with patterns that are a mirror image, it makes the frankensteining cut and piece work of the lace much easier. Once the lace is applied and drips onto other bodice pieces i will incorporate a few petite silken flowers and some additional crystals and bead work.

I will post more pictures as the tutu starts to take shape.

The Amazing Aran Bell!

This is the third year I've had the joy of designing for up and coming ballet star Aran Bell. Aran has received numerous awards and honors from the Youth American Grand Prix ballet competition. The first custom costume i made for him was a Don Q. jacket, and last year a Paquita Tunic. This season he will be dancing Solor from the classic ballet La Bayadere.

Pictured above is the Back Neck section of this years costume. As usual I've sandwiched several fabrics together to achieve color and texture of the design. For structure and breath ability the first layer (flat lining) is a taupe cotton twill. Atop that is a green dupioni silk edged with a bias strip of a yellowy gold dupioni. To blend these pieces together i used the airbrush with a iridescent holly green and a piece of lace as a stencil. The top layer of fabric is a "bollywood" embroidered net. To add interest to the top layer i will attach some hand worked china silk ribbon flowers, and paint into some of the gold cording to tone it down in places. Today I'm working on the upper section of the sleeves, which will be made from a darker green dupioni and they will be "continental" or North American smocked, this will give them a woven and very expensive look. ........ more pics to come.....

Ok the sleeves are underway....

Dragons are to Seldom Toddler PETS !

Is it Halloween time AGAIN ?????
My sweet little niece is gearing up for her third Halloween and she told her mom she wanted to be a dragon princess. So taking inspiration from South Dakota resident Markie Scholtz -puppet mistress and creator of Dragons are to Seldom Puppet Shows, I decided little Laura could have a unique princess dress, and a dragon puppet to play with anytime. I will put process shots on once my youngest client picks her favorite picture.