A Newsletter dedicated to costume for Middle Eastern Dance, Danse Orientale, Raks Sharki, and Belly Dance.

Spring 2002 Editorial - A Time to Regroup

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. Return To Spring 2002 The Style File New Booklet Editorial - Time out for Regrouping Costuming on a Shoestring Project - Tribal Hair Extensions The List - Dance Publications Q&A Reading List   Read More on the Web on these Middle Eastern Dance eZines www.bhuz.com www.gildedserpent.com For a more complete list of links, visit the Links Page

A Time to Regroup The past six months have been grueling for our country and our dance community. After 911, I received a few pieces of hate-mail, experienced a slowing of sales no, sales came to a complete halt, as our nation reeled from the tragedy. For several months, I was numb and began to look for other kinds of work to keep my business afloat during the recession. Living in the San Jose area meant that I experienced a double whammy effect as the .com industry continued to ignite and melt into a puddle of ooze. Many of my friends and clients were loosing their jobs. Everyone I knew was feeling discouraged and helpless. To keep myself busy, I took on other sorts of costuming projects. Below are some of the more unusual garments that I designed and created during the post 911 lull. I thought I would share with you a few of my non-dance designs. Folks send me e-mail all the time, asking to see some of my work and so I thought this would be a chance to share with you the pieces that were for me, a catharsis during a time of crisis. I looked for projects involving beautiful garments, whimsical costumes, and finally, after several months of sewing work, I returned back to my first love, dancewear. In December, after a three month break, I decided to plunge back into my writing and began working on a fun little project called Style File. I was inspired while sitting at an event called Shimmy Fest, sharing a table with the Bay Area MECDA group. These supportive ladies chatted and helped me work through some of my random thoughts. During the course of the day, I constructed a rough outline for what would become the Style File. The booklet is like a field guide for identifying costume styles. The text is paired up with some of the best illustrations I've ever drawn. I'm proud of this booklet, and we sold out of our initial print run at Rakkasah 2002. Other projects have been on hold for months and I am finally back at work. I am working on the website overhaul begun last year, and has been sadly neglected. My site will start to look QUITE different over the next few months. In the summer, keep your eyes open for my new book Stuff and Fluff, this is the handout for my bra-making workshop turned into a book. There will be a future Costumer's Notes devoted to bra-making issues. I hope you continue to enjoy Costumer's Notes! If you haven't yet had a chance to subscribe, now's the time. The next issue will be all about using sari fabric for costume design. Happy Costuming! Dawn "Davina" Devine Brown Photographs by Tor Amundson January 2002 Davina as Tiger, January 2002 Tiger Tribe rides again. In January, Sabra and I got out and danced for the first time in many months. Love that body suit? It was made using a modified Kwik-Sew pattern #2711.   TigerTribe January 2002 Sabra on the Left, Davina on the Right   Violet the Bunny. Isn't this the perfect Easter ensemble? Violet was made by the talented artists at Critters by The Bay.  With the economy as poor as it has been over the past six months, I looked around for projects.I frequently get requests from folks for pictures of my design work. Here are a few of my non-dance costume designs. Here is proof that there is a costume for "Every Bunny." This costume was made from vintage lame' fabric with appliques and fringe from Sugar Petals.   Violet the Bunny in Purple bedlah. Violet is available for parties and events. Visit her website at: http://www.crittersbythebay.com/ The ensemble was composed of a bra and belt set, a straight skirt accessorized with matching gauntlets and a collar. FittingViolet was a challenge because of her tail! The belt is designed to scoop up over the tail while the skirt dips below. We added movement and flash with long palettes stitched to the chainette fringe. They catch the light and accentuate the movements.   Seurat the "Iron Artist" Coat inspired by the character Chairman Kaga from the Japanese television show "Iron Chef." Seurat's head and feet were constructed by the owner. Another costume I designed in Dec/Jan was this fabulous coat. Covered with sequined fabrics crafted into appliques that were heat bonded to the surface and then edged with bias binding made from gold and black snake-skin lame'. This costume sparkles dramatically under stage lights. The technique I used to make these appliques will appear in the next edition of Costumer's Notes.   In November/December, I worked on this lovely bustle dress. This was a fun project that transformed an old prom dress (black bodice, plaid skirt) into something more spectacular. I appliqued re-embroidered lace to the bodice, pulled the skirt up and edged it with wine colored velvet. Lace and velvet tabs and a cut velvet skirt were added below. The lovely hat was designed and made by Ami who's modelling it. For more images of costumes, visit my gallery pages.