We, The Gypsy Assassins, are quickly finding the hardest part of these contests to be choosing a winner. I think this weeks Monday Night Raid will have to be something which you enter and are drawn at random.... *hint hint*
Again, we want to thank everyone who was kind enough to make a treasury for us! It really was very difficult to choose...this time there were swords involved and an incident with an innocent bystander. But we finally came to a decision!
*DRUM ROLL*
The Wonderful......The Creative.......The AWESOME........
FLOOFBALL (http://www.etsy.com/shop/floofball)
Her FANTASTIC treasury Seven Sins Weren't Nearly Enough.... has won her a brand new, made especially for her, zill bag! Here's the link to the treasury: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4db88504cf0b8eefa7da4ada/seven-sins-werent-nearly-enough?index=0
Thanks again to all who entered! It was wonderful and fun! We'll start the whole thing again tomorrow!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Weekly Raid 4/25: Treasury Hunt
We're going to try posting a different contest every week and see how it goes. So if you like dueling others for free loot check our blog every Monday for the Weekly Raid!
This week's contest will be a Treasury Hunt
The Challenge: Make an Etsy Treasury using one of any Gypsy Assassins item. Think outside the box, be creative, have fun with it! Once you've created your treasury post a link to it in the comments below. You can post more than one treasury if you feel inspired! We will pick the treasury that we like the most and the creator will be named this week's winner!
To learn how to make an Etsy Treasury go here.
The Loot: One of our reversible zill bags! We will pick a design just for you. Zill bags are great for zills, but they are multi purpose so anyone can find a use for this prize.
Results will be announced Sunday night on the blog and our Facebook Fanpage
Good Luck!
This week's contest will be a Treasury Hunt
The Challenge: Make an Etsy Treasury using one of any Gypsy Assassins item. Think outside the box, be creative, have fun with it! Once you've created your treasury post a link to it in the comments below. You can post more than one treasury if you feel inspired! We will pick the treasury that we like the most and the creator will be named this week's winner!
To learn how to make an Etsy Treasury go here.
The Loot: One of our reversible zill bags! We will pick a design just for you. Zill bags are great for zills, but they are multi purpose so anyone can find a use for this prize.
Results will be announced Sunday night on the blog and our Facebook Fanpage
Good Luck!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
And The Winner Is......
Hello Lovelies! So here we stand, at the end of our glorious contest ;-) And we have picked a winner!!!
It was difficult to decide. Really difficult. Words and daggers were thrown and an epic battle of wits ensued....but you don't care about any of that, now do you?
So, without further ado.....the name of our new hip scarf is........*drum roll*
DEATH BY SUNSET!!!!!!
Will the clever one known as Wendy please step forward to claim your prize?
What can we say? The name rolls of the tongue, implies the skirts color, and includes 'death'. What is there not to love?
So thank you to all who entered! We will be having more contests in the future. Possibly even next week ;-) Hint. Hint. Hint.
It was difficult to decide. Really difficult. Words and daggers were thrown and an epic battle of wits ensued....but you don't care about any of that, now do you?
So, without further ado.....the name of our new hip scarf is........*drum roll*
DEATH BY SUNSET!!!!!!
Will the clever one known as Wendy please step forward to claim your prize?
What can we say? The name rolls of the tongue, implies the skirts color, and includes 'death'. What is there not to love?
So thank you to all who entered! We will be having more contests in the future. Possibly even next week ;-) Hint. Hint. Hint.
Friday, April 22, 2011
How to Conquer your Fear of Covering a Bra (Part 1)
Part One: Planning Your Attack
First off let me say there are many website that detail how to cover a belly dance costume bra. Here are two really detailed ones:
-Shira's Ask the Belly Dance Costume Goddess Article
-Jewel's Article (pdf)
With that said, if you're reading this article and salivating it's probably because you've already read those tutorials and the project is still very daunting for you. Fear not, assassins, every target will eventually fall. I will attempt to guide you through this mission, should you choose to accept it, and show you some helpful tips and tricks to get you through quickly, efficiently, and unscathed. I will also link to other websites to show you what I am talking about, particularly when it comes to different materials. You don't have to buy your supplies from these sites, they are just examples.
Why cover a bra? Why not just decorate straight onto the bra?
Although many dancers do this and get away with it, there are a few things to keep in mind.
-If you don't cover the bra you can only wear it with something covering the sides and back like a vest. This reduces the usability of the bra. What if it's incredibly hot out and you don't want to wear a vest? What if you have a peasant top you want to wear under the bra instead? You get the idea.
-Many dancers frown on performing in an uncovered a bra because it "looks like a lingerie bra with coins on it" and thus is considered "unprofessional"
-Covering the bra with an appropriate fabric enhances the aesthetic of the overall design.
-When you cover the bra you also add reinforcement so it's sturdier and lasts longer.
-Covering a bra also gives you the know-how to add removable fabric inside that can be washed to reduce any 'bra funk' smells.
Choosing a Bra
Being that I am a bustier dancer, my bra requirements are pretty stringent. However, it doesn't hurt for ladies of all sizes to use these high standards for a costume bra. They will carry more weight and undergo more abuse that your everyday bra, and they need to last a long time. So let's be picky.
1) Stiff, sturdy cups. Trust me. You don't want the dreaded "cutting glass" incident to happen to you. Plus you need stiff cups to support the heavy decorations.
2) If you plan to keep the side straps instead of making your own from scratch, make sure they are very strong. You don't want something that's thin, stretches a lot, or is made of lace. It won't hold up to the extra weight of the decoration and your dancing.
3)If you can find a bra with some light boning that's even better. Just make sure it's comfortable and you don't have boning jabbing you anywhere.
4) Get something that's a little bit on the larger side in the cups. They may get smaller, sometimes as much as a full cup size smaller, so keep that in mind.
TIP: Bras that are made to be strapless tend to have much more support built in than strapped bras, so look there first.
Don't worry about the color, it won't be showing. Don't worry about the shoulder straps, they won't be staying long.
Choosing your Fabric
The color of your fabric will depend a lot on what you want for your design, but the type of fabric can make your first bra easier. I find that stretch velvet is a great first time fabric for covering a bra. The stretchiness make it easier to mold to the cup, the fabric doesn't fray, and it's easy to find. It also looks very nice because of the texture of the fabric and even if you're using black it helps to get rid of the "looks like a bra" look. If you want something non-stretchy with a design, try a pretty cotton. Thanks to the popularity of quilting there are plenty of cotton prints to choose from at any fabric store.
Some fabrics to avoid are anything that frays or catches easily. Brocades can be very picky, so save those for when you feel more comfortable. Lame is shiny, but frays like crazy and the strands can catch easily. Keep in mind if you will have something like thin tin coins on your costume that those can easily catch on some fabrics, so avoid anything that will snag easily. Also avoid stiff and/or thick fabrics. Cottons are ok, but stay away from things like upholstery fabric. They can be very hard to work with on a small scale item like a bra.
I typically buy at least a yard of the fabric. I like to have lots to work with and I make sure I have enough for a matching belt. This is important if you're choosing a fabric that is very unique. If you decide down the road that you want to make a matching belt, good luck finding that fabric again.
Choosing your Decorations
There are many options when it comes to decorations. I'm going to narrow down to some of the easiest and fastest.
1) A Fancy Trim
I love to buy fun trims from Cloak & Dagger at the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire every year. This is a super fast and easy way to add some really nice looking decoration to the bra. It looks great lining the top of the bra but you can be creative and put it wherever you like. You can also find beautiful trims at fabric stores and other places online like Etsy.
2) Sew on Shisha Mirrors
You can find these online at places like this one or sometimes you can find them at a craft store. If you're handy with embroidery you can also make them yourself. This looks great on tribal and tribaret costumes.
3) Chainette Fringe
Chainette fringe is a great alternative to beaded fringe. It's lighter, more durable, and a lot less expensive. It's also much easier to find because any fabric store will carry it in stock, or you can easily purchase it online.
4) Re Purposed Dance Jewelry
This is a great way to add shine and jingle! Find an inexpensive dance belt or other piece of jewelry (such as this, this or this) and take off the parts you want. sew them straight onto your costume and voila!
5) Re Purposed Hip Scarf
Have an old hip scarf with a rip in the fabric? Find one in the sale bin? Just take the crochet part off the fabric (by cutting/seam ripping very carefully) and sew it right onto your costume. Hint: a dab of fabric glue on the thread holding the coin will help it last a little longer by preventing the metal coin from wearing into the thread.
5) Sew on Coins and Bells
You can use the thinner, lighter coins or the heavier tribal ones. Just keep in mind that the thinner coins tend to eat through thread, so dab some fabric glue on or wax your thread. Alternatively, you could link them onto a chain and sew the chain onto the bra instead. For heavier coins, keep in mind they are VERY heavy and the weight will add up. If you intend to make a full coin bra of them I suggest you save that project for later because you will need to seriously reinforce your bra to hold all that weight. Better to do something easier first and tackle that harder project later.
Bells are also really fun to use because of the nice tinkling sound they make. Make sure you put at least two bells together in a cluster and give them room to move so that they can make contact and jingle.
You can get coins and bells online but check your local craft store too. Usually you can at least find bells, if not some coins.
6) Jewelry Nick Nacks
I've found some very interesting decorations in the jewelry isle that made for great little costume add ons! Fancy chains are also fun to play with. Be creative!
Things to avoid/keep in mind:
-Cheap beaded and coined trims can easily unravel and may not stand up to heavy dancing.
-Beading is time consuming. Undertake at your own risk.
-Sturdy beaded fringe is extremely expensive and heavy. Even the sturdier stuff is delicate.
-Appliques can look tacky if not done well, so proceed with extreme caution.
Other things you will need
-Needle and matching thread
-Scissors
-Pins
-Measuring Tape
-Bias Tape or Sturdy Braided Elastic
To Be Continued...
Gear up and stay tuned for Part Two. We will be covering how to plan and prepare your bra and how to cover the bra cups. Coming soon!
First off let me say there are many website that detail how to cover a belly dance costume bra. Here are two really detailed ones:
-Shira's Ask the Belly Dance Costume Goddess Article
-Jewel's Article (pdf)
With that said, if you're reading this article and salivating it's probably because you've already read those tutorials and the project is still very daunting for you. Fear not, assassins, every target will eventually fall. I will attempt to guide you through this mission, should you choose to accept it, and show you some helpful tips and tricks to get you through quickly, efficiently, and unscathed. I will also link to other websites to show you what I am talking about, particularly when it comes to different materials. You don't have to buy your supplies from these sites, they are just examples.
Why cover a bra? Why not just decorate straight onto the bra?
Although many dancers do this and get away with it, there are a few things to keep in mind.
-If you don't cover the bra you can only wear it with something covering the sides and back like a vest. This reduces the usability of the bra. What if it's incredibly hot out and you don't want to wear a vest? What if you have a peasant top you want to wear under the bra instead? You get the idea.
-Many dancers frown on performing in an uncovered a bra because it "looks like a lingerie bra with coins on it" and thus is considered "unprofessional"
-Covering the bra with an appropriate fabric enhances the aesthetic of the overall design.
-When you cover the bra you also add reinforcement so it's sturdier and lasts longer.
-Covering a bra also gives you the know-how to add removable fabric inside that can be washed to reduce any 'bra funk' smells.
Choosing a Bra
Being that I am a bustier dancer, my bra requirements are pretty stringent. However, it doesn't hurt for ladies of all sizes to use these high standards for a costume bra. They will carry more weight and undergo more abuse that your everyday bra, and they need to last a long time. So let's be picky.
1) Stiff, sturdy cups. Trust me. You don't want the dreaded "cutting glass" incident to happen to you. Plus you need stiff cups to support the heavy decorations.
2) If you plan to keep the side straps instead of making your own from scratch, make sure they are very strong. You don't want something that's thin, stretches a lot, or is made of lace. It won't hold up to the extra weight of the decoration and your dancing.
3)If you can find a bra with some light boning that's even better. Just make sure it's comfortable and you don't have boning jabbing you anywhere.
4) Get something that's a little bit on the larger side in the cups. They may get smaller, sometimes as much as a full cup size smaller, so keep that in mind.
TIP: Bras that are made to be strapless tend to have much more support built in than strapped bras, so look there first.
Don't worry about the color, it won't be showing. Don't worry about the shoulder straps, they won't be staying long.
Choosing your Fabric
The color of your fabric will depend a lot on what you want for your design, but the type of fabric can make your first bra easier. I find that stretch velvet is a great first time fabric for covering a bra. The stretchiness make it easier to mold to the cup, the fabric doesn't fray, and it's easy to find. It also looks very nice because of the texture of the fabric and even if you're using black it helps to get rid of the "looks like a bra" look. If you want something non-stretchy with a design, try a pretty cotton. Thanks to the popularity of quilting there are plenty of cotton prints to choose from at any fabric store.
Some fabrics to avoid are anything that frays or catches easily. Brocades can be very picky, so save those for when you feel more comfortable. Lame is shiny, but frays like crazy and the strands can catch easily. Keep in mind if you will have something like thin tin coins on your costume that those can easily catch on some fabrics, so avoid anything that will snag easily. Also avoid stiff and/or thick fabrics. Cottons are ok, but stay away from things like upholstery fabric. They can be very hard to work with on a small scale item like a bra.
I typically buy at least a yard of the fabric. I like to have lots to work with and I make sure I have enough for a matching belt. This is important if you're choosing a fabric that is very unique. If you decide down the road that you want to make a matching belt, good luck finding that fabric again.
Choosing your Decorations
There are many options when it comes to decorations. I'm going to narrow down to some of the easiest and fastest.
1) A Fancy Trim
I love to buy fun trims from Cloak & Dagger at the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire every year. This is a super fast and easy way to add some really nice looking decoration to the bra. It looks great lining the top of the bra but you can be creative and put it wherever you like. You can also find beautiful trims at fabric stores and other places online like Etsy.
2) Sew on Shisha Mirrors
You can find these online at places like this one or sometimes you can find them at a craft store. If you're handy with embroidery you can also make them yourself. This looks great on tribal and tribaret costumes.
3) Chainette Fringe
Chainette fringe is a great alternative to beaded fringe. It's lighter, more durable, and a lot less expensive. It's also much easier to find because any fabric store will carry it in stock, or you can easily purchase it online.
4) Re Purposed Dance Jewelry
This is a great way to add shine and jingle! Find an inexpensive dance belt or other piece of jewelry (such as this, this or this) and take off the parts you want. sew them straight onto your costume and voila!
5) Re Purposed Hip Scarf
Have an old hip scarf with a rip in the fabric? Find one in the sale bin? Just take the crochet part off the fabric (by cutting/seam ripping very carefully) and sew it right onto your costume. Hint: a dab of fabric glue on the thread holding the coin will help it last a little longer by preventing the metal coin from wearing into the thread.
5) Sew on Coins and Bells
You can use the thinner, lighter coins or the heavier tribal ones. Just keep in mind that the thinner coins tend to eat through thread, so dab some fabric glue on or wax your thread. Alternatively, you could link them onto a chain and sew the chain onto the bra instead. For heavier coins, keep in mind they are VERY heavy and the weight will add up. If you intend to make a full coin bra of them I suggest you save that project for later because you will need to seriously reinforce your bra to hold all that weight. Better to do something easier first and tackle that harder project later.
Bells are also really fun to use because of the nice tinkling sound they make. Make sure you put at least two bells together in a cluster and give them room to move so that they can make contact and jingle.
You can get coins and bells online but check your local craft store too. Usually you can at least find bells, if not some coins.
6) Jewelry Nick Nacks
I've found some very interesting decorations in the jewelry isle that made for great little costume add ons! Fancy chains are also fun to play with. Be creative!
Things to avoid/keep in mind:
-Cheap beaded and coined trims can easily unravel and may not stand up to heavy dancing.
-Beading is time consuming. Undertake at your own risk.
-Sturdy beaded fringe is extremely expensive and heavy. Even the sturdier stuff is delicate.
-Appliques can look tacky if not done well, so proceed with extreme caution.
Other things you will need
-Needle and matching thread
-Scissors
-Pins
-Measuring Tape
-Bias Tape or Sturdy Braided Elastic
To Be Continued...
Gear up and stay tuned for Part Two. We will be covering how to plan and prepare your bra and how to cover the bra cups. Coming soon!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
WANTED: Name For Newest Creation...There is a Reward...
The Gypsy Assassins will NEVER back down from a challenge.....but sometimes we would rather bribe someone else to do some work for us so we can go do things which entertain us better (like tormenting those who oppse us for entertainment!). This is where all you lovely people come in....
We have a new accent skirt. It's wonderful! It's fantastic! We can't think of a name! So we want YOU to name it. Yes YOU! Actually, we want all of you to suggest names for the skirt. Whoever comes up with the name we choose will receive three (yes THREE!!!) hair scarves! We'll even let you pick colors ;-)
So here it is....
We have a new accent skirt. It's wonderful! It's fantastic! We can't think of a name! So we want YOU to name it. Yes YOU! Actually, we want all of you to suggest names for the skirt. Whoever comes up with the name we choose will receive three (yes THREE!!!) hair scarves! We'll even let you pick colors ;-)
So here it is....
And again here....
So go on!! Think of a name and place it in the comments here! We'll pick a winner on Saturday the 23rd!
You know you want too....
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Costume DIY #1: Easy Harem Pants (from PJ's!)
For our first blog post we would like to share a fun and easy DIY pair of harem pants anyone can do. This is great for when you need pants quickly and cheaply!
You will need:
-A pair of PJ pants (more on this below)
-Scissors and/or seam ripper
-Elastic in 1/4 inch - 1/2 inch
-Needle and matching thread
1) Make sure your PJ pants are in a fabric that will pass for harem pants. Anything satin looking will do. Preferably you want pants that are baggy and a little too long for you. Also, make sure there is either a strong elastic or drawstring top that fits you (or alter it if you have the sewing prowess to do so). Try places like Goodwill or Savers if you on a tight budget. You can probably get yourself a pair for only $2 - $3.
2) Take your seam ripper/scissors and find the casing in the bottom hem of the pant legs. Look for the seam going vertically. There is probably two, so use the one that would lie on the inner ankle if you were wearing the pants, since that will be seen less easily. Open up that seam on just the inside.
3) Slide your elastic into the casing. If you're having a hard time getting it through try putting a safety pin on the edge and using that to push through the casing. It will pull the elastic along behind it and make things much easier. You can see an example of how to do this here
4) Now you need to find the right fit for your elastic. You can either measure your ankle and make the elstic a bit smaller than that, or put the pants on and mark a good spot on your elastic. Make sure you can get your foot in and out easily but that the elastic is tight enough to keep it in place on your ankle.
5) Sew the elastic closed so it makes a loop, and make sure to sew it over a few times so it's strong. Repeat on the other casing.
6) Now sew your seams back up. We suggest using a blind stitch for the cleanest look. If you aren't familiar with this kind of stitch it's not too hard and you can see a great instructional video here. If you want to use another stitch that works for you go for it!
You're done! We've used this trick many times to make cheappie harem pants that are also super comfy. They still work great as PJ pants too. If you find your PJs are creeping up at night this solves that problem and makes them multifunctional.
If you wanted to embelish your pants a bit you could ppen the outer seam to show a little leg or sew a pretty trim down the sides.
Enjoy!
You will need:
-A pair of PJ pants (more on this below)
-Scissors and/or seam ripper
-Elastic in 1/4 inch - 1/2 inch
-Needle and matching thread
1) Make sure your PJ pants are in a fabric that will pass for harem pants. Anything satin looking will do. Preferably you want pants that are baggy and a little too long for you. Also, make sure there is either a strong elastic or drawstring top that fits you (or alter it if you have the sewing prowess to do so). Try places like Goodwill or Savers if you on a tight budget. You can probably get yourself a pair for only $2 - $3.
2) Take your seam ripper/scissors and find the casing in the bottom hem of the pant legs. Look for the seam going vertically. There is probably two, so use the one that would lie on the inner ankle if you were wearing the pants, since that will be seen less easily. Open up that seam on just the inside.
3) Slide your elastic into the casing. If you're having a hard time getting it through try putting a safety pin on the edge and using that to push through the casing. It will pull the elastic along behind it and make things much easier. You can see an example of how to do this here
4) Now you need to find the right fit for your elastic. You can either measure your ankle and make the elstic a bit smaller than that, or put the pants on and mark a good spot on your elastic. Make sure you can get your foot in and out easily but that the elastic is tight enough to keep it in place on your ankle.
5) Sew the elastic closed so it makes a loop, and make sure to sew it over a few times so it's strong. Repeat on the other casing.
6) Now sew your seams back up. We suggest using a blind stitch for the cleanest look. If you aren't familiar with this kind of stitch it's not too hard and you can see a great instructional video here. If you want to use another stitch that works for you go for it!
You're done! We've used this trick many times to make cheappie harem pants that are also super comfy. They still work great as PJ pants too. If you find your PJs are creeping up at night this solves that problem and makes them multifunctional.
If you wanted to embelish your pants a bit you could ppen the outer seam to show a little leg or sew a pretty trim down the sides.
Enjoy!
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