On my way to Jackson, Mississippi

I am packed and ready to be on the way to Jackson, Mississippi for Project Tutu.  I worked a little more on my “practice tutu” this week.  Since my machine had to be sent via UPS, I had to do all of the trimming by hand.  Took a little longer than it normally would, but it was good to practice some hand stitching.

Pinning the trims in place

 

Finished Bodice

  Packing was a bit tricky.  I think I will have to bring another suitcase for clothes!!

More later with pictures from Jackson and what our project will be!

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Project Tutu

On June 23, I will be traveling to Jackson, Mississippi to participate in the first ever Project Tutu sponsored by Tutu.com.  I am fortunate enough to have the sponsorship of my employer, The Richmond Ballet.  I have been practicing for the past few weeks, timing myself to find out how long it takes me in the construction process of the tutu. 

The skirt took a little over 5 1/2 hours from cutting the net to steaming the skirt.  I didn’t tack the skirt but that usually takes me a little over 1 hour.

.  When the last few rows are being attached to the panty, it’s kind of like trying to put socks on a wiggly two year old.

Stitching the back seam of the panty

I chose an 8 piece bodice for the practice session.  We will be provided with patterns in the competition, I just used one I had available.  The bodice took a little over 2 1/2 hours to get to the “ready for hand stitching stage”

I am using a simple gold lace and trim design for this tutu.   I will be hand stitching the bias strips and lace onto the bodice, and adding rhinestones once the trims  are attached.

Bodice with trims pinned.  These will be moved around a bit to get the placement just right

Technorati Tags: ballet,classical tutu,tutu.com,project tutu,pink tutu,professional tutu

Tutu.com Facebook Tutu Design Competition

Earlier this year, Tutu.com announced that they would be holding a tutu design competition.  The winner of the competition would have their tutu in a fashion show along with the tutus of current ballet costume designers, vintage tutus and tutu.com designs.  The fashion show is being held at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi.

I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the top 6 finalists, and then, as one of the two selected to be featured in the fashion show.

My tutu design is a 9 layer black and white tutu with white enhanced silver sparkle tulle in between the layers.  The 12 piece bodice is white bengaline, with a nude inset. 

I used techniques from “The Artful Ribbon” to make the ribbon flowers with ribbons I found at local craft stores.  Some are solids, some are fun prints, like polka dots and zebra prints.  I wanted to use the black swirls to create a fanciful look. 

The ribbons on the bodice and skirt are white grosgrain ribbons with quotes from famous choreographers about dance. 

I used different findings, beads and rhinestones to complete the decorations.  The large rhinestone flowers in the center of the black flowers are clasps from a rhinestone belt someone gave me.  I love using found objects in unusual ways in decorating my costumes.

The completed tutu

 

 

 

 

      Hooks and bars hand stitched to the basque using a blanket stitch.

Sugar Plum Fairy Classical Tutu

In the coming weeks, many ballet companies and schools will begin the audition process and planning for the seasonal Nutcracker performance.

I have been working on several classical tutu designs for the Nutcracker. I wanted to share pictures of my latest creation for the role of Sugar Plum Fairy


This is a 10 piece bodice with a 9 layer 14" classical tutu. The 10 piece bodice pattern is a very flattering cut and looks good on a wide range of sizes. I chose this because it is easy to alter to a larger size or two as well as a smaller size or two. This is especially helpful for pre-professional companies and schools who have a wide range of dancers each year.


The bodice and skirt have been constructed to ensure that it will last for many performances and seasons. With proper care, a well constructed tutu can last for 10 - 15 years. The skirt is built on a panty of high quality powernet and has been quilted for strength and durability




9 skirt layers are graduated from 3" to 14", and the edges have been scalloped to give the skirt a

very soft look. All of the layers have been hand tacked. I decided not to hoop this tutu. I wanted to give it a very soft look and feel when it is moving on stage. It is my opinion that too many tutus are hooped now a days, and not in a pleasing or flattering way. While there is a time and place for hooping tutus, I don't believe that every one needs a hoop.The decorations on the skirt plate are light, and should not cause the skirt to sag.




The skirt plate is stitched onto a layer of diamond net for stability and to allow for the decorations to be removed for cleaning, or to change to suit a different role. The plate is simply hand tacked underneath the cording on the basque and held in place that way.




The bodice overlay is also constructed on diamond net, and removable. I used several different pieces of lace, appliques and trim for the decorations on this tutu. Most of them were purchased at either Gail K's in Atlanta or Mary Jo's in North Carolina. Both were in my stock. Often when I am passing through a quailty fabric store, I will be a half a yard, or a yard of lace, even if I don't have a project that needs is right away. I always know that it will be used eventually.


This tutu is available for purchase for $450.00 I have it listed on Ebay, or you may contact me directly.

Confessions of a Ballet Mom...or How in the World Did I End Up Here...

My career in costuming started innocently enough. When my daughter was 10 or so, she started classes at a new ballet school. This school had annual Christmas productions, and they had just purchased new costumes for the show. I was asked if I could help sew the sequin straps on the costumes. I said yes, knowing that it would be an easy job. Little did I know what I was getting into.

My next assignment was to make the lead costumes for The Wizard of Oz. I was chosen to make the Wicked Witch and Dorothy. The costumes turned out very nice, but I noticed when the girls were on stage, the skirts didn't flow just right. They made the girls look like they were wearing umbrellas when they twirled. I thought to myself, I can do better than that!

I started researching making costumes for dance, and found several resources. One book in particular, How to Dress Dancers by Mary Kent Harrison has become one of my favorites. It is an older book, and one well worth the price. The author focuses on every aspect of dance costumes, from women's leotards, to men's tunics.


Armed with my new found knowledge, my next assignment was decorating tutus for the fairy roles in Cinderella. Although I had seen tutus on stage, I had never really worked with them, and quite frankly they scared me. I knew tutus were expensive, and I was terrified of "messing the whole thing up".

The first ones I worked on, were catalog costume tutus, pre-made ones, that just needed embellishment. While researching decorations for the specific roles, I ran across beautifully decorated professional tutus and noticed the difference in the ones I was working with right away.

I also made the Ugly Stepsister and Evil Stepmother costumes for that production. Those were really fun. My daughter danced the role of the Stepmother, and, of course, was fabulous.

I kept the pictures of the gorgeous tutus I had seen in my mind, and was determined that I was going to learn how to make one. That is when I found Tutu.com, and Claudia Folts. In 2001, I attended the Basic Tutu Seminar and it changed my thinking on costuming and I fell in love with making tutus.

Over the next few years, I continued to make costumes for Courtney's studio and picked up a few other customers along the way. In 2005 I decided I was going to take a leap of faith, and quit my job to pursue a career as a costume designer and maker. I really didn't know how it was going to happen, I just knew that it would. I landed jobs with several pre-professional ballet companies, and a few ballet schools and individual customers.

In July 2007 then I came across a job ad for a costume shop manager at a professional ballet company three states away. I submitted my resume thinking, "what the heck". A few days later, I received a call and the next thing I knew, I was on my way to interview for the job.

The job interview coincidentally, was during my next Tutu School seminar. With the encouragement from the girls at the seminar, especially Claudia, I kept the interview, and was offered the position to begin the end of August.

It has been a whirlwind of a year, and this Friday marks a year since I packed up the car and moved to Virginia. Working with professional dancers, in a professional shop has been exciting, scary, exhilerating and wonderfully exhausting!

I learned a since I started my costume making journey, and have had many great teachers along the way. I look forward to passing along the knowledge I have obtained to other ballet moms and those interested in dressing dancers for the stage.

I plan on posting progress on projects I am working on, how-to's and anything else I find interesting.

Until next time...